How I enjoy the annual ritual of "harvesting" my lavender: years ago I planted lots of lavender shrubs in my garden, the Umbrian rustic version, which is said to have a stronger scent AND a longer-lasting scent than others. While I have never compared it to any other lavender, I know from my years of personal use that the heavenly scent lingers in my drawers and linen closet from harvest to harvest.
As I brought in the stems and delicately separated the flowers last week, the entire house had a delicious scent which lingered for days in every room. What a lovely job - something I love to do.
The timing of the harvest is very important: it should be at the end a long, dry spell to ensure the strongest concentration of the oils. This year is EXCELLENT since we are were in an uninterrupted LONG, DRY, HOT, period which has lasted for months when I harvested.
lavender sachets - beautifully hand-woven on antique looms with an Etruscan "good luck" grape motif
the heirloom christening bibs with hand braided ties and borders
an assortment of runners, center pieces, tray covers, doilies, pillows and sachets
a runner and an exquisite embossed neck scarf
another runner and another embossed neck scarf
On sale for our guests at Genius Loci, either as souvenirs for themselves or gifts, we fill beautiful hand-woven sachets made for us by Brozzetti Textiles on antique looms with our very own lavender which I harvest by hand myself. The little exquisite sachets have a grape motif with the Etruscan rendering of the bunch of grapes (stylized grapes not touching each other, a symbol through the centuries of good luck).
They have been immensely popular. We even have a list of orders for them with the new lavender, which I will be sending out in early Ocotber, just in time for guests to replace them in linen cupboards and drawers.
I may have about a dozen extras this year and would be happy to send them to you if you would like to keep a "the essence of Umbria" in your linen closet, handbags, or drawers.
Comments (2)
Mary, those are lovely photos and I'm extremely happy with my lavendar sachet! First, it made my suitcase smell wonderful and now, it's in one of my lingerie drawers (or at least, it's supposed to be -- I keep pulling it out to admire it!)
I see "my" gryphon pattern as well in your photos. Hmmmm, I'm beginning to think that I may need more of these.....
Posted by sandrac | October 1, 2008 11:07 PM
Posted on October 1, 2008 23:07
These look devine - how I love Lavender - I love your runners, doilies etc too. Have you ever thought of doing an online shop?
Your posts make me want to go back to Italy - keep them coming.
Posted by Lilly | October 1, 2008 11:41 PM
Posted on October 1, 2008 23:41