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Crafts
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The fresh scent and sentimental meaning of the aromatic dried herbs make this wreath a welcome housewarming gift. Include sage for health, thyme for bravery, rosemary for friendship and remembrance, bay leaf for success, cinnamon sticks and whole nutmeg for spice, and
lavender for domestic virtues and a quiet life.
The finished wreath will be 14 to 18 inches in diameter. Create your own assortment from the following list or choose whatever dried plants and herbs are readily available.
Ingredients
Yarrow
Globe Amaranth
Baby's Breath
Bay leaf
Chamomile
Cinnamon sticks
Dusty Miller
Pearly Everlasting
Germander
Lady's-Mantle
Lamb's Ear
Lavender
Marjoram
Whole Nutmeg
Oregano
Rosemary
Queen Anne's Lace
"Silver King" Artemisia
Southernwood
Tansy
Thyme
Lemon Thyme
Sweet Wormwood
Sweet Woodruff
Lemon Verbena
Yellow Bedstraw
Garden Sage
Tools
10-inch straw wreath (available from florist or garden shops)
Fern Pins
Florist tape
Florist wire
Paper clips
Masking tape
Method
Use the florist tape to make small bunches of the herbs and flowers. Wrap the florist wire around the top of the wreath to form a loop for hanging.
Starting at the top of the wreath and working in one direction, alternate the bunches of herbs on the inside and outside edges of the wreath, slightly overlapping. Vary colors and textures. Work in a top layer for accent or to fill in any holes, if necessary.
Use the masking tape to hold 3 cinnamon sticks together at one end. Tape them to a flattened-out paper clip. Repeat with remaining 3 cinnamon sticks. Attach a satin bow to the base of the wreath and tuck cinnamon sticks on both sides.
This will keep indefinitely, but it is fragile, so store it in a safe place. To keep the herbs at their best, place the wreath in a large, clear plastic bag.
To make this a housewarming gift, label the wreath with a house-shaped card. Write a message in the windows explaining the meaning of the herbs.
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