Creating Autumn Treasures

How do I use my dried herbs and flowers?

Welcome to my wee corner of Substack. I am a seasonal artist living on the Isle of Arran, off the west coast of Scotland. I am the custodian of approximately two acres of land that includes a woodland, a meadow and my wee garden. I offer a seasonal book arts project for paid subscribers if you are interested and you can read more about that HERE. Grab a cuppa and lets delve into our relationship with the shifting seasons…..

‘How do I use my dried herbs and flowers?’ This must be my most asked question and it is a good question. If you don’t use them your home can quickly become overwhelmed by dried plants with no sense of what you will do with them. I use mine in a huge range of creative projects but I thought I would share just a few…..

I do most of my drying on a wicker room divider in my studio out of direct sunlight. I do dry some above the fireplace in my kitchen but you have to be careful drying in the kitchen as moisture from steam and condensation can turn your plants brown as the dry. They can also suffer with mould.

Here is just a small list of my favourite things to dry -

• Lavender - Old English variety is the best, I find

• Oregano when it has just gone into flower as it holds the plum colour when dried

• Hydrangea flower heads - dry these slowly in a vase with a inch of water in it letting it evaporate

• All mints - stems full of leaves all season long

• Heather stems - laid flat on a drying rack - an old picture frame with muslin stretched and staped on it

• Cosmos seedheads in loose bunches

• Poppy seedheads - make sure you sprinkle the seeds in your garden first

• Statice flowers in a variety of colours in loose bunches

• Honesty seedheads in loose bunches

• Chamomile flowers on a drying rack

• Strawflowers in loose bunches

• Rose petals on drying rack

• Rose hips in small bunches

• Sage in small bunches

• Calendula flower heads upside down on drying rack

• Thyme in small bunches

• Grasses in small bunches

Once things are dried I store them in baskets around the studio again out of direct sunlight and this means they are immediately available for use. Smaller material like petals go in recycled jam jars in my studio.

I began making scented gifts using an old faithful lavender plant and this was where my journey got underway. To this day I still make lavender pouches, bags and pillows. This wee batch was made from an old damaged vintage tablecloth that I bundle dyed using plants from my garden.

Since these early days though I developed a signature product that I called a ‘dream pillow’. I spent a long time researching the different properties of herbs and flowers in order to make different recipes designed to aid a restful sleep. I tend to make these seasonally now.

Those that know my work know how much I love pockets and at this time of year pockets are spinning off my worktable. I love these wee autumn pockets from a few years back. I make my own smudge sticks that have anti-viral properties and are excellent for cleansing our homes. I use them a lot in my studio to support my creative thinking. I often add in other things and in the example above I added in a cinnamon stick and a hand rolled beeswax candle. I buy my wax from a lovely seller on Etsy and they are so easy to make and make lovely gifts.

I make small Tussie Mussies which were first introduced in the Elizabethan era but gained real popularity in the Victorian times. The idea is to make a small posy of flowers drawing on their individual meanings to send a wee ‘hidden’ message with the gift. I often drop mine in wee pockets, of course I do.

One of most popular ever makes was a range of ‘spirt dolls’ stuffed with herbal and flower mix gathered from the hedgerow just beyond my garden gate. I write about that hedgerow HERE. I printed my fabric using plants from the hedgerow making each wee doll completely unique. Braided dried dandelion stems held the tiny flower offering. I loved making these and must add it to my ‘to do’ list.

Of course, one of my favourite use of herbs and flowers is to make seasonal wreaths that I then let dry slowly. I always make an autumnal wreath using the glut of herbs at this time of year and this one goes above my fireplace to dry slowly. Then, as the festive season approaches I take some things out and pop others in.

One of my favourite things to do is to include wee bottles with dried materials in my gift options. They look beautiful lit from behind and they are my smallest treasures. I always have some in my own studio.

For me, it is these small personal touches that I hope make a real difference to my customers. I grow 99% of the herbs and flowers myself, many from seeds or cuttings. I then harvest and dry to ensure I always have something I can use to at least finish a gift. This time of year sees me doing the following -

• Making head and eye herbal soothers

• Making dried flower scented gift boxes

• Making, drying and storing smudge sticks

• Hand rolling candles

• Making dream pillows

• Making and curing my own potpourri from my flowers and herbs

• Creating Tussie Mussies to dry and even press

• Making wreaths for my home and a number of loyal island customers

• Making more pockets than I dare to count

In all of this I am led by the flowers and plants that find their own way deep into my creative soul.

Until next time,

Fiona xx