Paper Making with Friends

Ohhhhhhhhh, I had so much fun while Cecile and Marcel visited from Belgium.  We went so many places and did so many things together that it is hard to keep everything straight.  One thing that always happens is I over book myself and end up committing to do something not realizing that I have guests at the time...so...this time my guests opted to help me out and then go to my meeting with me.  

I belong to a Lace Guild made up of some wonderful women and we meet once a month close to Waynesboro,  PA.  At the meeting we always do something that prompts us to learn, whether it be something new or another technique for something we already know.  Well this month I had volunteered to show the ladies how to make paper sachets and we used homemade paper!  I will take you through a quickie process (pics and all) of how Cecile and Marcel assisted me in my quest to make a multitude of paper for the class.  

 Here is my deckle in the sink.  I had already made quite a few sheets prior to this so the water and surrounding area are quite ucky. (w?) lol  

 This is my handy dandy blender that I blended up some beautiful purple paper in, along with the lavender that my awesome friend, RuthAnn, had given me.  It was quite a concoction, let me tell ya.  I smelled like a big LAVENDER PLANT when I was done! lol  

 These were my paper sheets as they came out of the deckle and I left them on the counter to dry.  The good thing about making homemade paper is that you have the choice to add whatever that you like to your paper as it is being blended.  I have made paper with little snips of gold lame in it as well as tiny pieces of gold thread.  It really adds to the paper.  This time I used entire stalks of lavender with the paper that I had torn-just to give it an awesome smell and wonderful texture.

This was Cecile helping by ironing the paper after I had taken it out of the deckle and sponged out the extra water.  She put it in between two couching sheets to dry them out quickly as our humidity must have been about 120% that day! *sigh* 

Here is Marcel, supervising this time.  Actually, he helped out by taking the paper from the kitchen counter to the dining room for Cecile to iron then made sure each was put into a telephone book for pressing later.  

I have the coolest friends!!!

Well, I just wanted to share this with you today.  I love being able to craft and being able to share with friends so this was a win/win situation.  I hope you have a groovy week!

*hugz and blessings*

Elizabeth

Start a New Life with Me!

Good morning!  I hope your week is going well.  I know mine is buzzing by and it is a little melancholy with my son headed out the door to college in Hawaii next Monday morning, so I thought I would brighten things up a bit and share something I love to do with you!

I don't know if many or any of you have ever started a plant before.  Lots of people are afraid to do this but in all actuality, it is one of the easiest things to do.  It just takes a bit of courage and Chutzpah.  If you set your mind to it, you can do it pretty easily, and if it fails, don't fret, you can have another chance!  Being in the military we have lived in several states and a couple of countries and during this time I have met so many wonderful people who have taught me so many wonderful things!  One of them was how to start new plants.  Her name was Mrs. Wilson and she lived behind us when we lived in my husband's hometown of Camden, Arkansas.  She took me (and my daughter Michille who was teeniny at the time) under her wing and showed us what we can do to help God make the earth more beautiful-by making things bloom.  I will always remember her and the love and kinship that we shared together.  

Anyway, enough with the reminiscing and onto the semi-tutorial.  It is quick and painless. I promise.  lol  

You will need:

Potting Soil

Xacto knife

sharp blade to slice off rose plant

Washed/clean gallon milk jug

Rootone or some other root starting medium

Oh, and your rose! lol

First of all, you will need a container to put your cuttings from your roses in so that they may be protected.  I know it looks majorly tacky but I used a milk jug container washed it and cut it in half so I am able to lower it when bad weather comes (such as the possible hurricane remnants this w/e) and the plants will not be too traumatized.  I used a knife to cut it all the way around but left  a bit of it attached right by the handle so that I could use it as a hinge/carrier.  Next I poked several (probably 7 or so) holes in the bottom of the jug.  I used an ice pick, you may use what you need.  After which I filled the bottom part of the jug with potting mix that has vermiculite in it so that has the proper "airiness".  lol  It will help it not to be too heavy so that the roots won't have to fight much to get started.  

Next open your Rootone or other root starting medium and then cut about 4-5 inch segment off the end of your rose bush, ensuring there are some leaves so that the plant can continue to get sunlight through its "solar panels" and hopefully gather enough energy to make roots and more leaves!  Immediately dip the end of the root into cool water and then into the rooting medium then lightly "poke" the plant down into the potting soil in the bottom part of the milk jug.  You should be able to get at least 4 cuttings in there.  Water it lightly and put the top half of the milk jug down on days that the weather is bad.  The jug will act like a terrarium if you keep the lid closed and occasionally flip the top back for more sunlight.  You don't need to water too often, just water when it becomes dry to the touch (about a fingertip down) and don't over water, just moisten lightly.  You don't want to drown the plants, just enough to help them to root.  Leave them for a few weeks, checking the water level and sunshine level and then when you see new little "red tinged" leaves, you will know that it took!  Leave it in the potting mix a couple more weeks and then transplant to a pot and voila!  You have a new rosebush!

If you have any questions, please email or call me.  

*hugz n blessings*

Elizabeth