RE: Drying Queen Anne's Lace
At 11:33 AM 4/6/99 -0400, you wrote:
>I've been drying QAL for many years mainly for use in wreaths
>and bouquets. I *like* partially opened flowers as well as
>hanging some. The umbels become a lovely soft greyed green and
>are rather structural-looking.
>
>However, I do dry most of mine rightside up. Since I dry lots
>of flowers that need to be propped up, I've made drying racks
>that I have come to love. I just make a simple frame using
>1x3"s and cut lengths of 2x2"s for legs. I just slip each leg
>into a corner of the frame until it is level with the top of the
>frame and screw it in. Then I stretch a piece of 1/4" aluminum
>window screen across the frame and staple it to the outside of
>the frame. Viola! And ... they stack, leg on leg. You can
>make them any size you like. I also use these for flowers I
>think are too delicate for binding & hanging, like delphinium
>and full-blown roses that I want to use flat.
>
>The older QAL flowers get, the more they take on a gently aged
>look. I like that for some things and often use them for
>wedding type bouquets where the bride is using off-whites or the
>buyer wants to use pale yellows. That's also why I don't spray
>them with a fixative of any kind. I don't find they are so
>delicate as to need it. If you use a fixative, they won't
>yellow.
>
>Susan, I have some that are 5 years old and just get more
>beautiful. They look like antique lace.
>
>Jaime
>
>> So *not* upside down (traditional), but rightside up with stems
>> through something to prop them up. And you spray with hair
>> spray first? Aerosol or pump? Sounds like silly questions,
>> but all details can help.
>>
>> How long did you find them to last? Longer than one year?
>>
>> Susan Saxton, zone 6b
>jknoble@warwick.net
>Z6/5, NW NJ
>"I have no particular talent. I am merely inquisitive."
> A. Einstein
>
I must be missing something here. This sounds like a screen-topped table,
but you say you're drying QAL rightside up. Viola or not...Margaret
---------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off this list, send email to majordomo@mallorn.com with the
message text UNSUBSCRIBE PERENNIALS
