herbal alchemy

Losing Faith and Coughing Like Crazy

2012-01-10T17:10:00.001-08:00

Late November through December for those in retail it's like tax time for an accountant.The beginning of December I found myself feeling just a little under the weather.I was confident that with some tea and tinctures I would be just fine in a few days.As time passed I seemed to be getting a little worse not better.I did all of the things that make sense, including good food and good sleep and I

Elderberries & Jam

2011-09-04T10:09:00.000-07:00

‎8 cups berries. I used 6 blackberries and 2 elderberries. 5 cups sugar. a dozen little garden sage leaves. bring to a boil, then let it boil for 2 minutes. add 2 tsp agar powder. boil 1 more minute. pour into hot sterilized jars. voila!

New Sandalwood Blends

2011-04-02T09:51:00.000-07:00

I was making Knitter's Hand Balm for Knit Purl and a couple of mail order customers last week.During the process, there is a time when you just have to wait.In my amazing workspace, waiting is lovely, as I am surrounded by all the most amazing scents and sights, recently organized by the lovely Julia DaRosa. (thank you!)I found myself thinking about my beloved Sandalwood oils and although they

Cottonwood

2011-02-06T10:50:00.001-08:00

Oh Cottonwood, how I love you.your scent is warm, inviting, comforting and intoxicating all at the same time.When I am harvesting and processing cottonwood buds I feel like I am reaching back in time, as if I am with all of the people who have used and loved this tree for centuries.the sticky resin is the magicsome of the buds look old and decrepit, like a strange animal talon. While some of

the other

2011-02-06T10:42:00.000-08:00

my other blog is more about the store, this one as it turns out is more about the herbal side of things.check the other one out and let me know what you thinkxo

Sunday Perfumery

2010-08-02T08:58:00.000-07:00

When I make perfume I like to listen to Joanna Newsom. She's odd & quirky and her singing makes me get into a zone that is perfect for listening to the essence of smell. That probably doesn't make sense but it works for me.However, Joanna Newsom is not the most appropriate retail background music and we are retail even if I am geeking out in the back room.Today, Sunday, I went in with the

Lavender Sugar Cookies

2010-07-11T21:05:00.000-07:00

I wanted to make something special for an event at the store and I wanted it to be simple.Simple = sugar cookies + lavender = SpecialI tried the recipe once to make sure they would be "good enough" for the art opening and they were.I made them again to everyone's delight including the guest of honor, our artist of the month Trish Grantham, who has turned into our featured artist for the past 2-3

Protection Tea

2009-09-22T13:23:00.000-07:00

I had a request from a friend to help her protect herself psychically at her job. I believe she was looking for a little spiritual guidance, and that is fine, I have loads of that, but I like things to be grounded and supported by earthly things, plants in particular.So does she.For awhile I was anticipating the work to prepare something amazing for her and as is usual for me as soon as I started

Datura

2009-09-09T20:23:00.000-07:00

I don't know why I am posting two poisonous plants in a row, but here they are and aren't they gorgeous?Again, let me say, this plant is poisonous. I do not recommend ingesting it in any way. I am sharing my own personal experience in an anecdotal way.Datura is known by many names: Moonflower, Jimson Weed, Devil's Weed, Angel's Trumpet and Thorn Apple are the most popular.It belongs to the

Scotch Broom

2009-09-07T14:47:00.000-07:00

Scotch Broom is generally an unloved plant.Considered a noxious weed by most, I don't recommend planting it, nor do I judge you for ridding your property of it. What I do hope is that the next time you happen by it is to take a small moment to recognize and appreciate it's beauty.It looks almost as sexy and exotic as an orchid to me.As we begin the descent into Fall, I find myself romanticizing

Antique Keys

2009-09-05T21:09:00.000-07:00

I have a thing for keys.Old keys.Not valuable per se, but cool, funky, lovely, old keys.I've been collecting them since I bought a cigar box full of them a million years ago.It seems like every 4th or 5th person I see these days is wearing a key around their neck.Some are old keys and many are charms made to look like real keys.Tiffany's even has a line of them.Symbolism of keys is epic and

Calendula Harvest

2009-09-05T17:22:00.000-07:00

Many of the rewards for harvesting this amazing flower are obvious. The warm sun, the golden light beaming back at you, the buzz and dance of the honeybees and just the quiet joys of being in the garden. However, my favorite thing is the scent. The scent of the flowers themselves, but especially the smell that lingers with me. The flowers are full of resin and your fingers become sticky with it

Potion Making - Purification

2009-08-01T09:48:00.000-07:00

The Purification Potion can be used to purify, clear and bless a space or a person in offices, clinics, cars and homes.Magical HerbsRosemary - clears the mind as well as spaces, reminds one to stay presentWhite Sage - clears and dispels negativityCedar - clears while making a channel back for positivity and healing to flow back inLavender - gently purifies with love and peaceBay - protective and

Potion Making - Beginnings

2009-07-31T11:20:00.000-07:00

I began with the Purification Potion about 8 years ago. It was part of a year long project that I embarked on where I focused on one plant and one goddess for each month for a year.Rosemary was one of the monthly herbs.During the month, I made different tea blends, studied historical uses, burned it, made hair rinses, wreaths, face scrubs and steams and so on.It was during this time that it

Shirley Temple Cherries aka organic maraschino cherries

2009-07-14T16:33:00.000-07:00

When I was little we rarely went to restaurants and when we did it was generally for a special occasion.We would always wait to see if a grown up would suggest for us to order something to drink. The girls would get Shirley Temples and the boys Roy Rogers. It never occurred to me to want a Roy Rogers, even though I liked lots of other "boy" things.It's funny to realize the only difference between

Rose Conserve update

2009-07-14T16:20:00.000-07:00

Well, as I always say, so much of medicine making is about the experience. The making of medicine is what's healing to the maker and those around her.I'd love to say that the rose conserve was a miracle.It is, and yet, one of the jars did eventually mold.It took over a month, so if I had either refrigerated the jar or used it up in that amount of time, it would've been just fine. But my goal was

Rose Harvest & Conserve of Roses

2009-06-02T19:22:00.000-07:00