Friday, July 27, 2007

My Chicken!



Ok this is Miss Little Innocent Chicken, her funky twin is soon to come! My husband doesn't understand the funky thing so I made a regular one for him since he supplies my yarn demands. See I really do crochet... lol



Something else that I worked on yesterday I'd like to share with you. I knew that I had to get this done before the flowers started to wilt outside. Every year I make one, and if you have a nice big hydrangea bush outside you should try it. I actually think I have around 8 because they have been my favorite flower since I was a kid. Anyways here is somewhat of a tutorial in pictures.





These are the cruddy, dusty ones from last year. They usually don't look this bad, but the husband smokes in the bathroom where they are... so... they look cruddy!





Here are my new beauties that I cut and striped of their leaves. The bugs are ugly so please shake outside well.








Now we all know we have a bunch of these twist ties hanging around the house. I love to use these with all things plant related. Yeah they sell them, but you don't see them anyway, and it's always good to recycle! Right?







You kinda play around with the stems, and align your colors the way that you like them. Speaking of color I use coffee grinds in the spring before blooms to make my blues more blue. Just sprinkle around your bush... ummm you know what I mean! BTW... that is my ugly tatooed hand there.



Find your most secure or prettiest flower and secure that to your nail, screw, or in my case towel hanger. If you fight with them enough, and twist enough... (no don't dance) you may soon have something that looks like this. A bow is needed but you get the point.


It's like having a bouquet of flowers in the bathroom. When they begin to dry some of them just don't make the cut. Usually the pink ones go first. Just keep adding to them till the summer is over. The blue, and purple always last through the year. There are many ways to flower dry, but I find the upside down method the best for me since it is the easiest.

When I vacationed in Nantucket, MA years ago I met a vendor with a cart on the street selling dried hydrangeas. She bundled them up with fancy ribbons holding them together. They looked so cute, and she was making a lot of money (I was watching stunned). Not being shy I asked her how she dried them. She said that she held them over a candle which absorbs the water, which dries them up quickly. I have never tried it, but if you do let me know how it goes. Please just don't burn down the house!!!

Have a great weekend all~

18 comments:

Betharoopie said...

Cute chicken, and beautiful decorating! Have a lovely weekend!

Mimi said...

Cute potholder!
Those flowers are lovely, what a nice decor you made! Hope I can find some flowers to dry sometime, that interests me too ;)

Pink said...

Wow! I love the hydrangeas, so pretty - the chicken's cute too.

Unknown said...

bock bock!

It's sooo cute and
I love the flowers they are gorgeous.

Deneen said...

Love the chicken!

The hydrangeas are gorgeous!

Jewels said...

oh, gorgeous flower idea!
Love that new chicken in the flock too.

Chie said...

Love the chicken potholder your beautiful hydrangeas!!

Karen said...

Kelly, you really do crochet! I love the chicken and the flower arrangememts; you've really been crafty :)

StitchLuva and Yarn said...

your chicken is so cute, now i want one!! great idea with the hydrangeas. those are my favorite flowers.

Cindy said...

I love your chicken colors! I made one out of "Swimming Pool" and a purple ombre (threw the ballband away before I noticed what color it was!). Go see them at my blog http://wwwLubbockarmadillo.blogspot.com (there is not a "dot" between the www and the L).

Kenyetta said...

The chicken is adorable! I tried to dry my graduation roses, used a whole bottle of hair spray, hung upside down etc. no luck!

WELCOME TO TuttleTime! said...

OMG, I absolutely LOVE that chicken. Must have pattern. Do you have it online or anything? Where did you get? I want to make a couple...too cute!!!

Oh, you visited my blog and commented about St. Thomas. I do not recommend a vacation there, but I have only been there twice for my job....so my attitude may not have been all there. Also, I am from Hawaii, so I am MUCH more picky. The water is blue and gorgeous, but I would recommend another island...or a cruise. As I mentioned Destin (specifically Sandestin was awesome). Lots to do for the kids and the pools were beautiful! www.sandestin.com

Have fun and stop by again any time. :) Angie T.

DixieRedHead said...

love it! you are so crafty!

Anonymous said...

I am sure michele wanted me to find out about your creativity. Why else would she send me here..:D

Anonymous said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog! I've always loved hydrangeas since I was a kid too. I love what you did with the flowers! I'll have to try that next year, my hydrangea is already past it's prime for this year (we bloom early here).

Valerie said...

Your chicken made me giggle. And what a great idea for hydrangeas!

Thanks for the comment on my Presto Chango sweater. You have to tell me, though, what podcast did you hear me on? Maybe I'm sleep-recording with Yarn Thing (Marly), but I don't remember being on a podcast. ????

Tracy said...

Ooo those flowers are so pretty. I love hydrangea too, they were in my wedding bouquet.
DH bought me a bush in a pot, which has since deflowered, but the leaves are growing nicely. Maybe by next year I'll have some beautiful flowers.

OlĂ­via Freire said...

Lovely flowers and chicken. I will make one for my kitchen . Bye