"It makes a great deal of sense to fast-dry materials that otherwise would consume a lot of preparation time. Drawing on the talents and projects of 10 designers who work with herbs, fruits, and vegetables, and Mother Earth's other produce, Cusick offers crafters more than 60 patterns to copy. Wearable walnuts and seed jewelry, bath powder, and herbal lip balms are only a few of the final results."--Booklist. "...concentrates exclusively on handcrafted items made from natural materials....Most are easily completed and suitable for young people working under adult supervision....Recommended."--LJ. 128 pages (all in color), 8 1/2 x 10.
Dried materials lend themselves to any number of crafts, but they generally take so long to dry or are so expensive to purchase pre-dried that some crafters overlook them. Fortunately there is an alternative--armed with this book and your microwave oven, you can preserve all sorts of natural materials quickly and with relative ease, not only flowers but fruits, vegetables, grasses, nuts, seeds, mosses, and even popcorn. Once you've mastered microwave drying, proceed to the book's nicely handled project section for ideas on using the elements in wreaths, sachets, wall hangings, baskets, and more.