Using nature's materials

[posie]

So many things can be made from the gifts Nature gives us. My favourites are Fir Cones, which look so good in Christmas decorations, Table centres etc. The tiny cones from the Alder tree can be used to decorate all sorts of things, and can be strung to make necklaces, bracelets, and hip belts. etc....I love going for a walk and collecting all sorts of nature's gifts to take home..........Posie....

[loripo]

I've not tried making anything, just collecting shells, rocks etc for decoration like this...

[artdemole]

fir cones and dried wood are good to put scented oils on.Lasts for ages.Some nice branches can be used to go in container with chocolate eggs and small Easter decorations hanging from cotton.They will brighten up the table.

[posie]

Lori, that's a lovely arrangement, I especially like the colours. That's what I meant really, not necessarily 'making' things, but using things to create something either useful or decorative. I needed to poke out a thinnish pipe the other day, that had a light blockage, but needed something firm but pliable, ended up using a long thin piece off the weeping willow tree, it did the job perfectly, didn't cost me anything, and I only had to walk a few yards to get it......More photos of things would be nice ......Posie..

[posie]

Originally Posted by artdemole

fir cones and dried wood are good to put scented oils on.Lasts for ages.Some nice branches can be used to go in container with chocolate eggs and small Easter decorations hanging from cotton.They will brighten up the table.

I have never thought of doing that for Easter, Art, Done some stuff for Christmas, but that's a good idea. I always make little birds'nests at easter and put the sweet coloured 'eggs' in and hide them in the garden for any children that visit, if it's wet out I put the nests in clear plastic bags, out in the bushes, and make the little ones wrap up in wet weather gear and go out in the rain to find them, all the more fun !..There must be lots more Easter things to do.........Posie..

[loripo]

A very posh shop in the Kings road has table settings for Easter - nests made from some twiggy material (my daughter makes similar foundations for flower arrangments from trimmings of clematis branches) and also what look like birds eggs (I must have a closer look as they looked very realistic, but were set out on a display stand so I couldn't get really a good look) but small Easter eggs would look good and be edible

[posie]

..You could combine Art's Idea and have a table centre with a 'tree/bush' of twigs, with a small nest down in the middle and the Easter decorations and small easter eggs hanging on the higher branches, like he said. OR have a homemade nest of eggs of chocolate, fudge, marzipan etc on a base of piece of wood with the 'tree' beside it....Posie..

[tom00_uk]

Originally Posted by artdemole

fir cones and dried wood are good to put scented oils on.Lasts for ages.Some nice branches can be used to go in container with chocolate eggs and small Easter decorations hanging from cotton.They will brighten up the table.

this is very common across Europe, people go as far as getting curly hazel and decorating the path up to the front door as well,

[posie]

Originally Posted by tom00_uk

this is very common across Europe, people go as far as getting curly hazel and decorating the path up to the front door as well,

That's a nice idea Tom, there are lots of things you could use for that, not necessarily curley hazel.

[Monkey Orchid]

I love picking up small natural objects to bring home... Whenever I go somewhere new I often come home with a stone or a piece of wood or bark, pine cones, empty snail shells etc. It brings a little bit of nature into my living space.

One of my favourite things is a piece of slate I picked up in Dinorwig slate quarry, Snowdonia - it is plain dark slate grey except near the top there is a perfect silvery circle like a full moon. It stands on a shelf in my room, along with a piece of driftwood from Lyme Regis, some red kite feathers given to me by a kite nest surveyor, a pine cone from Kew gardens, and some eucalyptus leaves from the Maini in Greece. I love the way each object holds something of the place it came from.

Stones with holes through them are a particular favourite as well... I've got so many of these now, scattered around the house and garden.

Anyone else got anything particular they like to collect?