A very pleasant Christmas chore.

Pomanders the quintessential Christmas decoration.

Pierce oranges with toothpicks first, then insert cloves.  Makes for quick and easy work.

Pomanders have long been a Holiday tradition. Their fragrance  fills the house with Christmas  cheer.  

 Making Pomanders is a perfect project for children and grown ups alike. 

Use a sturdy toothpick to punch little holes into oranges, lemons or limes. Insert whole cloves into fruit. Cover  entire fruit with cloves in different patterns.  Spice-rich aroma will fill your house. 

Pomanders will keep for years. 

 Place them into a bowl and toss in a mixture of powdered 

cinnamon, 

nutmeg,

allspice and cloves.

Cover completely, turn often

 making  sure you have enough of the spice mixture to cover fruit. In about two weeks your finished pomanders can be hung into closets or cupboards.

Pomanders make lovely Christmas presents. 

Have fun , Gina. 

https://betweennapsontheporch.net/

The best way to get into the Christmas Spirit

Is to sit down with a cup of tea, or a glass of mulled wine,

assemble oranges, cloves and a knitting needle. 

And make a few Pomanders.

They add just the right festive touch.

 Nothing, except maybe a fresh Christmas tree, says welcome more than the scent of oranges studded with cloves.  

A simple plate with a few candles and pomanders make for an instant centerpiece. 

A few simply painted wooden hearts add to the merriment.  

Yes, don't be shy, paint them yourself.  All you need are a few wooden hearts and acrylic paints.

While the paint is still wet why not add a few circles and dots to clear glass Christmas balls. 

Or glue on paper scraps.  

Toss a few golden acorns (remember, you made them last week) into the melange and you're set for Christmas.  

Have a great week my dear Friends,

Gina 

Too much is not enough Part II

Too much is not enough.



That's my Motto and I'm sticking to it!

It said so on the inside of a pair of shoes I once owned.

The shoes are long gone but the Motto has stuck.

Happy Christmas decorating my dear Blogging Friends

Gina

Pomanders and much more...

Pomanders are pretty and  fill the home with fragrances of Christmas.

Pierce oranges with knitting needles first, then insert cloves.  Makes for quick and easy work.

Look what pretty dried roses. They will keep you happy all winter long.

 Roses are the easiest flowers to dry.  To ensure that they keep their vibrant colors place roses in a little water (only the stems not the rose heads) the night before.  The next day is when they go into a container. Slowly pour sand over the flowers until they are fully covered.  Place in dry and warm place for a week.  Pour sand off slowly. 

Our friends Christine and Steven drying Hollyhocks for the first time using sand from the Home Improvement store.  It is less expensive than the white silica type and actually gives better results. 

Can you tell which Hollyhocks have been dried?  It's those in the top left corner. Make sure that the sand is also dry or flowers will turn brown.

Dried Hollyhocks look fragile, they are actually quite sturdy.  You can glue them into Christmas wreaths.  But remember that they must be kept inside.

Pansies dry quickly and easily in sand.  However, these pansies, along with all the other little flowers, have been pressed in old books.  No need for a fancy flower press.

Think of all the special Christmas decorations you can make yourself. 

For a little extra inspiration you might want to order (Amazon) this very special book by Barbara Milo Ohrbach entitled "The Scented Room".  It contains easy-to-follow instructions.  Ms. Ohrbach has written several other fine books but this one remains my favorite.

You will find easy instructions and recipes for Floral Water, Wet and Dry Potpourri, Lavender Bottles, Scented Pillows, Pomanders, Wreaths and much more.  My personal favorites are the sachets made from antique floral ribbons. 

Happy creating, my dear Blogging Friends

Gina

Pomanders

Is anyone still making Pomanders?

Pomanders have long been a Holiday tradition. They look and smell so festive. Making Pomanders is a perfect project for children.

Use a knitting needle or crochet hook to punch little holes into oranges, lemons or limes. Insert whole cloves into fruit. Cover the entire fruit or add only a few cloves. Either way, the spice-rich aroma will fill your house. A pretty ribbon tied around the middle, gives them an extra special holiday look.

Pomanders will keep for years if you toss them into a mixture of powdered cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and cloves. Turn pomanders often and make sure you have enough of the spice mixture to cover the fruit. In about two weeks your finished pomanders can be hung into closets or cupboards.
Gina