Lavender(Lavandula) is a native of the Mediterranean region and is one of my favorite garden plants. I can’t help but be inspired by the beautiful varying shades of purples the different species produce, as well as the intense fragrance.
Its name comes from the Latin root lavare, which means to wash, and because of it’s soap-like scent and relaxing properties, lavender was used frequently in laundry and baths to help purify, rejuvenate, and control unpleasant odors.
Because my mother’s family is Spanish, the scent of lavender was everywhere growing up. My grandfather used lavender water as cologne (Agua de Lavande), and its heady fragrance and antiseptic properties were also present in lotions, essential oils, bath gels, soaps and other toiletries.
Even today I gravitate towards lavender-infused items such as candles, air fresheners, drawer sachets as well as the requisite soaps and lotions. I also use dried lavender blossoms in my kitchen, mixing my own version of Herbes de Provence with plenty of lavender, making simple syrup for cocktails, or using the blossoms in recipes for sweets, mixing the dried blossoms directly into teas, cookie dough, sugar glazes and homemade ice cream.
A word of warning: Because the scent is so strong, a little bit of this herb goes a long way.
Lavender was a popular garden plant during the Victorian era not just for its wonderful scent, but for its medicinal properties, and has been used as an antiseptic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-convulsive, and anti-depressant.
The Lavender Hour design has been named for an old saying, referring to the time of day, just before dusk when the sky is no longer blue - but is not yet dark. During this time of the evening, the sky takes on a lavender hue. It’s also that time of the evening when the day is done, and we reflect back on what we did during the daylight hours - and make our plans for the next day.
To capture the colors of this useful and pretty flower, I’ve stitched a set of hand embroidered Lavender Hour napkins featuring a simple sprig of flowers using embroidery thread in variegated colors of green and lavender, using just two basic surface embroidery stitches and two colors of six-strand embroidery floss.
Its name comes from the Latin root lavare, which means to wash, and because of it’s soap-like scent and relaxing properties, lavender was used frequently in laundry and baths to help purify, rejuvenate, and control unpleasant odors.
Because my mother’s family is Spanish, the scent of lavender was everywhere growing up. My grandfather used lavender water as cologne (Agua de Lavande), and its heady fragrance and antiseptic properties were also present in lotions, essential oils, bath gels, soaps and other toiletries.
Even today I gravitate towards lavender-infused items such as candles, air fresheners, drawer sachets as well as the requisite soaps and lotions. I also use dried lavender blossoms in my kitchen, mixing my own version of Herbes de Provence with plenty of lavender, making simple syrup for cocktails, or using the blossoms in recipes for sweets, mixing the dried blossoms directly into teas, cookie dough, sugar glazes and homemade ice cream.
A word of warning: Because the scent is so strong, a little bit of this herb goes a long way.
Lavender was a popular garden plant during the Victorian era not just for its wonderful scent, but for its medicinal properties, and has been used as an antiseptic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-convulsive, and anti-depressant.
The Lavender Hour design has been named for an old saying, referring to the time of day, just before dusk when the sky is no longer blue - but is not yet dark. During this time of the evening, the sky takes on a lavender hue. It’s also that time of the evening when the day is done, and we reflect back on what we did during the daylight hours - and make our plans for the next day.
To capture the colors of this useful and pretty flower, I’ve stitched a set of hand embroidered Lavender Hour napkins featuring a simple sprig of flowers using embroidery thread in variegated colors of green and lavender, using just two basic surface embroidery stitches and two colors of six-strand embroidery floss.
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