Don't forget to poke the photos to enlarge!

Saturday, September 3, 2011

It's a Success!....So Far....

I just pulled the weeds out of the silica gel. They are holding together and don't look at all bad. After I got them out and dusted them off, I sprayed them with a gloss varnish, hoping that it will help keep them together. These are tough little weeds and I do think that they will last. I may just have to go out and look for some more. I am going to install them on the side of the staircase as soon as I get everything glued down to the board.

One caution....The silica gel had a lot of dust coming up from it as I poured it in the container with the weeds initially. I am thinking that it wouldn't hurt to wear a mask. There wasn't so much when I pulled them out. I think maybe, because it had been setting here so long it got extremely dry.

Tessie never listens....I had to pull her out of the grass this morning. Look at the bottom of her foot. I did warn her.... She is accusing me of criminal negligence, getting her messy and is insisting upon a foot bath.

The yellow flowers that she is holding are going to be sunflowers. They are the dried heads of a daisy like plant that I had in the back yard. I can't remember the name, but the dried up flowers, if handled carefully and painted yellow, turn into sunflowers.

I only have these four left. The bad freeze got the plants this year. They were at least ten years old. I planted new ones to take their place, but no flowers the first year.

The next ones are a native grass. They come out with a little white flower. I just let them dry right on the plant and after they dry out, I collect them. On the left is the dried husk of the flower....On the right is the head after it is painted. very nice for foxgloves or something of the sort. I also use them, painted white, for the flower stalks on yucca plants. Poke the photo to get a closer look.

Go look around your neighborhood. I think that you will be surprised at what minis you can find just growing under your nose.

I still need to paint some stems green and put on some leaves. Then I have to scrub a certain witch's feet.

See you tomorrow.

7 comments:

Kathi said...

I'm so happy to hear that the silica gel worked. Time to go gather some weeds! Love your little foxgloves. :D
I haven't forgotten the sunflowers you sent to me. I'm going to plant them in Grandma's garden next to the garage...
Back to work! I'm tackling the closet first. If I don't post for a few days you'll know I got lost!

Maria Ireland said...

They look wonderful. Thank you for showing this. Hugs Maria

Norma Bennett said...

This is a fabulous idea, and at last one can claim to have a reason to 'cultivate' weeds in one's garden ;)

Mary said...

You have a great collection of mini dried flowers. I'm with Kathi, Love the mini foxglove. I'm going to have to take a closer look around my yard. I do have some tiny wild daisies but I have not had any luck drying them.

Unknown said...

I think I am going to have to crawl around my backyard! I love the mini foxglove.

Kleine Vingers said...

The painted grasses look very good.
Nice idea.
Miniature greetings

Fabiola said...

A very good idea. The result is excellent.
Bye Faby