Autumn Potpourri

Dried Flowers and Herbs
2 cups deer's-tongue leaves
2 cups patchouli leaves
1 cup balsam fir needles

Essential Oils
20 drops patchouli oil
10 drops sandalwood oil
8 drops vanilla oil

Fixative
1/4 cup cut or ground oakmoss

Textured Elements
1/2 cup orange peel
1/2 cup sassafras root bark
1/4 cup sandalwood chips
1/4 cup cinnamon chips
1/4 cup vanilla bean chunks

Finishing Touches
1/4 cup vervain blossoms
1/4 cup silver-painted pinecones
1/4 cup foxglove flowers
1/4 cup silver glitter

Foxglove Facts
It was believed that if you picked the tall spires of foxglove -- the  most legendary of fairy flowers -- you would offend the fairies, but  growing them in your garden would surely please the pixies!

The delicate pink or white, bell-shaped blossoms are covered with tiny flecks that are said to be fairy fingerprints.

Foxglove derives its folk names of fairy gloves and fairy caps from these splendid blossoms, which became props when the fairies played dress up. Other names include fox's glew and, because of the poison found in its exquisite "cups," witch's thimble and bloody bells.

Digitalin, obtained from the blossoms of foxglove, is used to treat heart ailments.