Garden De' Arte

Compliments of Michele

As fall approaches and the long fronds of the iris begin to yellow and wither, and the sunflower is hanging its weary head....collect the spent items and make a wonderful Garden De' Arte.

Here's how:

Supplies: Wilted Iris fronds Empty salt box Shallow pie dish Water Plaster of Paris Scissors rafia (optional) Withered Sunflower head Acrylic paints and brushes Elmers or another standard white glue Country fabric ribbon

Directions:

Snip approximately twenty or more soft, pliable but yellowing fronds from the iris plants.

Snip off a medium-small sunflower head, leaving the stem about 5 inches long and the seeds intact.

Lay these items aside.

Cut the top off of a cardboard salt box and discard the top.
Wipe the salt box free of salt residue inside.

Lay aside the salt box.

Rinse the fronds and pat dry. Begin with three fronds. Snip and trim ends and begin braiding them. At two inches from the end, braid another trimmed frond into the braid and continue until you have a long braid. It should be long enough to cover the salt box completely.

Pour the glue into a round shallow dish such as a pyrex pie plate. Drench the braid in the glue and begin wrapping the salt box, tightly fitting the braid in place a row at a time starting at the base of the box until the box is covered with the braid to the top. Set aside to dry.

Paint the sunflower. Choose a standard color sunflower or go crazy with a different color.

Paint the center brown.

Paint the pointed backing, yellow like the petals of the original flower, or the other color you chose.

Paint the stem green. Let dry.

Next day:

Fill the center of the salt box with plaster of paris mixed with water per the directions.
Place the sunflower in the plaster of paris.

Prop it up against something until dry.

Spray gloss or paint on gloss the "vase" saltbox.

Satin finish the sunflower.

Finish with a country fabric bow with rafia.