Old Fashioned Herbal Gifts

Finding the perfect gift isn't always easy if you are
Trying to be creative and unique. Nothing is more
Memorable or heart felt than gifts you create yourself
To help encourage relaxation and pampering. The
Following old fashioned recipes can be made easily
Made and packaged for friends and family. Add them to
A pretty wicker basket decorated with a silk bow and
Lined with old fashioned lace for a special touch.


Rose water
Ingredients:
3 cups rose petals
3 cups purified water

Pick the rose petals just after the dew has been dried
By the morning sun. Place in a glass or porcelain
Container and pour boiling water over the petals.
Allow to steep for two days, stirring frequently.
Strain and bottle.


Peppermint Skin Toner

Ingredients:
1 pint vinegar
1 pint purified water
1 cup mint leaves

Place all ingredients in a glass or enamel saucepan
And bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Pour into a
Glass jar and allow to steep for four days. Strain and
Bottle. Be sure to label with a pretty card and
Ribbon.


Lavender Sachet

Ingredients:
1/2 pound lavender flowers
1/2 ounce dried mint
1/2 ounce dried thyme
1/4 ounce ground caraway
1/4 ounce ground cloves
1 ounce sea salt

Detach the lavender flowers and leaves from the stems
And mix with the other ingredients. Place in small
Bags made of silk, unbleached cotton or cotton with
Die-fast color. Sew shut and tie with a ribbon if
Desired. You can be creative with this mixture and
Sew heart shapes that can then be decorated with
Miniature ribbon roses and ribbon.


Herb Closet or Drawer Squares

Place handfuls of each of dried lavender flowers,
Rosemary, one tablespoon each crushed cloves and small
Pieces of dried lemon peel together. Sew small cotton
Squares about four by four inches; leaving a space
Open. Stuff with herb mixture. Tie several together
And wrap in tissue paper tied with raffia. Attach a
Note explaining that these will protect clothes from
Insects and can be placed in drawers, closets or
Boxes.


Herb Honey

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon fresh herb
Or 1 tsp. Dried herb
1 pint honey

Choose an herb such as thyme, lavender, mint, rosemary
Or even rose petals. Bruise fresh leaves slightly and
Place them in the bottom of a small saucepan. Pour
Room temperature honey into the pan and heat over low
Heat very slowly. Stir the mixture until the honey is
JUST warm, about 2 minutes. Pour the mixture into
Sterilized jars and seal tightly. Store the jars at
Room temperature for about one week to blend flavors.
Then reward the honey in the same way and strain out
The herbs. Recap. Jelly jars work well for this. Tie a
Ribbon around the neck with an attached tag with
Suggested uses such as: sweeten tea or punch, use in
Salad dressings, combine half and half with
Butter to use as a spread for waffles, pancakes,
Muffins or bread.


Sinus Headache Pillows

Cut two pieces of material 10"x 4" and sew together or
Use OK TO WASH IT glue. Making a bag , leaving one end
Open stuff your bag with the ingredients given after
Mixing well in a bowl

1/2 of flax seeds
1 part crushed spearmint leaf
1 part crushed peppermint leaf
1 part lavender buds whole
1 part eucalyptus leaf
1 part rosemary leaf

Stuff your bag with the mixture and then sew up the
End. These make great gifts.



Potpourri

In a large, glass or stainless steel, bowl combine;

Cups rose petals
2 cups lavender
1 cup rosemary
1/2 cup oakmoss
1/2 cup cinnamon chips (or 6 broken cinnamon sticks)
1/2 cup lemon peel
1/4 cup whole cloves

Mix well.

In a separate bowl combine;
1 cup Orris root
20 drops lavender essential oil
25 drops rose essential oil
20 drops rose geranium essential oil
20 drops lemon essential oil
15 drops rosemary essential oil.
Mix well!

Combine this with the potpourri. Put in a sealed
Container in a dark cool place(cure) for a minimum of
Three weeks(I cure all my potpourri for six weeks).
Gently shake the mixture at least every other day.