The answer to "what in heaven's name is this?"

 I've had some good chuckles over some of your guesses. Among my favorites: yard-rakings, bird feed, snail bait, crushed tumbleweed, and a compost pile...really? a compost pile?!! I have to admit that it doesn't look terribly appetizing, but if I could turn the photo into a scratch 'n sniff patch, you'd be able to tell that it smells divinely of lavender and spice.

Yup, it is indeed potpourri - as several commenters correctly guessed. If you look closely you'll see lavender, whole cloves, coriander, and cinnamon chips. The tumbleweedy-looking-stuff is oak moss. I mixed up this batch (and infused it with lavender essential oil) a few weeks ago. I'm using it to fill some hand-embroidered sachets I'm making for Christmas gifts.

In case you're interested, I got the recipe and ingredients here, from the San Fransisco Herb Company. They have all kinds of herbs and spices for really good prices, if you don't mind buying in bulk. This particular potpourri is meant to be used in sachets, so it's made of small bits and isn't terribly spectacular looking. But they have recipes for beautiful, chunky ones, too.

The first time I placed an order from them was years and years ago. My friend Sharolyn, and I (see yesterday's post) mixed up a batch of this same recipe. Making (and smelling!) it again brought back a lot of fun memories: don't scents do that?!!

If you want to make some yourself, I highly recommend going in on an order with a friend because it makes a big batch. And plan ahead, once mixed, potpourri needs to sit in an air-tight container for at least two weeks before being used.

Come back tomorrow, I'll be posting a tutorial of a more 'scrap-friendly' use for this fabulous-smelling (if rather funny-looking) stuff!

Kim

Comments

[Rachael Emmertson]

I am *so* glad it's not compost. (grin!) I love the San Francisco Spice company. It's a great way to stock up on all those Scandinavian spices. The herb company is one I now need to try. What a fun project!

[emily pitts]

oh that just smells so yummy, even through the computer screen!