Art

As yule approaches, I'm starting to think of all the things I like to do!  One particular craft I love to make is a Yule pomander... or several Yule pomanders to be more accurate!  A Yule pomander is simply clove studded citrus fruit, most often oranges or clementines.

Contrary to popular belief, the studded pomander isn't really an "ancient tradition."  In fact, the earliest recorded usage of the word pomander is from 1470AD in reference to an apple shaped golden trinket that emanated a lovely aroma(1).  Throughout history, a pomander is recognized as a case, often shaped as fruit and often made of precious/semi-precious metal, in which a perfume is stored(2).   The word pomander being used to describe clove studded citrus fruit is a relatively new development, though that doesn't mean, necessarily, that the act of making pomanders by studding citrus fruits with cloves is a new tradition.

Bathing in the middle ages was thought to be a prelude to sin(3), so the people found ways to mask the odour of unwashed bodies.  A good way to do this was to carry a pomander.  This is also the reason why bouquets and flowers have become a tradition at weddings, thus the word "nosegay," meaning something to make the nose gay, or to nose the smell(4).  That many awful smelling people in one place needed an awful lot of flowers!  They were also believed to protect against illness, though there is no evidence in favour of this claim.

These days, pomanders are also used as a sort of potpourri, or air freshener.  They can be placed in dresser drawers and closets, or can be used decoratively in bowls or hanging from ribbons.  If you have a Christmas tree, they can be used as tree decorations as well.

For a detailed guide on how to make your own yule pomanders, see the night at home guide.  Also, may I highly reccomend using organic fruit if you're going to undertake this craft? ;)

>Original post from Twilight Windchimes Blog

1: OED quotation 1 from definition 1a
2: OED definition 1a
3: A Short history of bathing before 1601
4: Flowers for a period wedding

Am used to having upload links, as listing the URL to the pic usually doesn't work for me. This is a link to my Fractal art, made with a TieraZone27.exe fractal generator:

 

http://picasaweb.google.com/harmonykieding

 

 

The dogwood cake plates are getting lots of play lately. They are kind of a nightmare to make because so many elements have to come together: the plate part, the stand part, the flowers part, and of course, the glaze part. I have many many dogwood cake stands that have not come out. When people ask me why they cost so much I want to tell then it’s because only about 75% of them come out perfectly. Since I can’t say that without sounding a bit grouchy, I usually keep it simple and tell people it’s a complicated piece to make. Anyway, the picture here to the left will be making and appearance in December issue of Sunset magazine, perfect timing for Christmas! ! I think this picture looks so good, I know lots of people are going to order because of it. We’re going to get cracking on making them right now so we’ll be ready.

Speaking of the Dogwood cake stands here is some eye-candy for you courtesy of Veronica from Veronica's Test Kitchen: