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The first show of annuals is fading away in the garden, leaving behind their seed pods and making space for the next wave.
This is a good time to make some very personal favours, gifts to special friends, thank-you’s to a dinner hostess. I’ve found an idea that seems to please, costs nothing and takes less time than required to write this post !!
To make these little packets of home grown seeds, you’ll need some greaseproof or waxed paper, a sewing machine, paints and …… some seeds. Here I chose seeds from a pink lupin.
To create a tiny and very simple watercolour, don’t get ambitious, keep it simple, naive even. You’re not looking for a botanical print – unless you’re clever enough to do that, then just go for it !! – For the lupins, I first painted in some rough lines showing the position of the lupin heads and some foliage beneath.
Next I dotted in some of the lupin colour, blotting with kitchen paper as I went to keep everything soft.
I painted in the name of the flower, again as simply as possible
To make the seed sachet, I simply folded a piece of waxed paper in half and machine sewed each of the long upright sides, making a sachet open at the top.
I popped the seeds into the sachet, you don’t need very many, and sewed the little painted paper onto the top of the sachet to seal the seeds inside. Voila ! I told you, it was quicker than this post to finish !
Oh yes, and just for fun I added the words ‘de mon jardin’ – from my garden.
Any flowers will do for this, providing they are easy to draw – Nigella is good because they are so vague and fluffy! Have fun!
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20 comments
What a delightful idea! Your watercolors are just lovely, and I love how handmade and personal this is. So nice to be able to share a little bit of your garden. I love it!
How charming! A truly lovely and unique gift and way to share your garden.
I must try this idea; I know I'd be a happy recipient of such a gift from a friend's garden! I've visited your blog a few times and it charms me. I must add it to my blogroll, assuming you are in agreement. Enjoy your day.
I Love it! What a wonderful idea…I think I need to borrow it for the farm!
Happy Summer!
xo
Caroline
Beautifully simple and pleasing idea!
Have you ever received these from other gardeners? Bet they make you smile, like yours must make them!
A really lovely idea. So simple and chic. With my less than wonderful artistic ability I will give it a go.
These are sweet hostess gifts.
I love the water colour images that you have painted.
I might do this with my foxglove seeds from my bungalow garden!
Sharon~
Where m'dear, do find the time in your busy days to do this lovely wonderful pleasantry!!?? I must get together with you and learn your secret on time management!! ;}
B
xo
I absolutely love this idea. It is so creative and personal. I really would like to attempt to do the water colour.
Paula
beautiful! Lupins are a particular favorite of mine. Our new home, in Alberta, Canada does not have one single perennial or annual flowering plant. I hope to remedy this for next summer!
This is a wonderful idea for a gift. I love the watercolour idea.
Lupins are so gorgeous and I seem some germinating in my garden here now, but they are the indigenous kind and have shorter flowerheads. Your seed packets are so simple yet so pretty Sharon. I think even I can manage those being artistically challenged and all…lol
Veronica
http://www.tasselsandtwigs.blogspot.com
Beautiful idea and it looks so fun to do. First step, learn where are the seeds on those flowers in my garden!
Very clever and creative, Sharon. You have a true talent with painting!
XO,
Jane
una idea davvero semplice e originale per etichettare i semi ,che sinceramente non so mai dove mettere .grazie per averla condivisa . Un saluto Ornella
You ARE a clever girl! What a fun, and meaningful, idea!
Much as I love painting, even the most simple of these would be a stretch for me! Drawing is definitely not a talent of mine!
lovely
sharon, how many more talents do you have? this is so lovely and personal
x
debra
How beautiful, and what a great gift for special people ~ Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!
Very nice and doable!