V is for.....

Sorry Carolyn, but I've chosen Violet too! Never mind it is such a pretty flower that a whole bunch would be lovely! I have never had violet in my essential oil cupboard but my book tells me that it was a symbol of fertility in Ancient Greece and was highly revered by the Romans while the Anglo-Saxons considered it a good remedy against evil spirits. It has sedative properties and so can overcome insomnia and reputedly restores the bonds of friendship. It can be helpful with cystitis especially when there is a sharp pain in the lower back, however it reputedly can cause sensitisation so caution is advised, which is why I have never stocked it. It can soothe the throat, help with irritating coughs and assists in expeling catarrh. Appears to help with headaches and giddiness but importantly, is a strong aphrodisiac and reputedly restores libido! Now this  doesn't fit with my remembrance of it in my grandmothers time when dear little ladies in lace and lavender used pretty bottles of parma violet scent!

For my tag I used a background wash of violet and mauve distress inks and faintly stamped a woodland set of wild flowers as the violet favours damp woodlands and shady places. Then I punched the flowers and the leaves, coloured them with inks and then used glossy accents over the top and left them to dry. I found an assortment of lace and coloured it with various inks to match for the bottom as with the ribbon at the top. the verse was on a piece of material in my patchwork stash that I adhered to a piece of paper with faux stitching. Then I coloured a V and stuck down the flowers.

The last part of the alphabet is a struggle for me with this theme, only one more oil to go so I will have to use some ingenuity for W, X and Z, that is if I can remember where I put it. (My ingenuity that is!) I am looking forward to seeing what new themes we will have in store. Have a good week everyone. Hugs Barb x