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Fall Crafts
 September
is the time to start working on your fall crafts, or at
least planning them out, harvesting the last of your
herbs and flowers and beginning to think about holiday
gifts. It's never too soon when the gift is
homemade. In my craft kitchen I make soaps, bath
salts and powders, powder puffs, potpourri, candles,
dried arrangements, gift baskets and put away bulk
herbs. Most of my ingredients come from my own
garden and those I cannot grow come only from New
Mexico. Nature in the southwest offers an
abundance of materials for crafting. Pine cones,
thistles, berries, herbs, chiles, beans, and pine
branches and needles to scent with.
Nature in the southwest offers an
abundance of materials for crafting.
Pine cones, thistles, berries, herbs, chiles, beans, and
pine branches and needles to scent with. During
the summer I have usually hit the yard sales for unique
and one-of-a-kind supplies such as old fruit jars,
crocks, kitchen utensils, flower pots, wrapping paper,
ribbons and bows, baskets galore and anything else that
I can possibly use in my craft kitchen. By September I
am ready to begin organizing my finds, making lists, and
seeing what remains that I will need to purchase for the
coming craft season, as I will work right up to
Christmas. In September I usually begin on
the projects that are the most time consuming or are
going to take the longest. some homemade items
need time to set or cure, although some must be made
fresh at the last minute. You decide based on the
gifts you choose. Crocheting is a great fall pastime
that allows me to relax while being creative and
productive. Pot-holders, afghans, shawls, caps,
and scarves are all easy to crochet and do not require
patterns unless you want to get fancy. September is
one of the best times to purchase fall items at farmer's
markets such as chile ristras, wreaths, pumpkins and
more. Craft shows will also begin to pop up.
Take the time to explore, get inspired and renew your
interests and ideas. In our part of the southwest
we have the annual Peanut Festival which is filled with
crafts and art from venders from all over the southwest
and Texas. It is an exciting festival and once
cannot help but to get inspired and come home ready to
craft! Use September to kick off your fall craft
season. When the holidays roll around, you will be
glad you did!
Here's a partial list of
items to gather or purchase in September while
they are marked down or still available:
- End of summer items at
nurseries such as pots, gardening items to
place in a garden-lover's gift basket.
- Herb plants from the
nursery that didn't sell.
- Fall flowers to dry such
as mums if you did not grow any.
- Anything at the farmer's
markets that cannot be purchased after
season. Freeze, can or dry perishable
items.
- Hit the last of the yard
sales while the weather is still great.
- Send your kids or
grandkids on a treasure hunt, they'll love
it and you will reap the rewards. Children
can gather pinecones, berries, flowers,
sticks, gourds, anything that you may want
to use in your nature crafts this season.
Better yet, take a family picnic and
everyone can enjoy helping you search for
your crafting treasures.
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