Tussie Mussie Instructions

Tussie Mussie Flower guide and instrustions:

With Credit to: By GERALDINE ADAMICH LAUFER

ANGELICA
inspiration

ARTEMISIA
power, dignity, silver moonlight, sentimental recollections, unceasing remembrance

BASIL
love, betrothal, best wishes, ­hatred

BAY LAUREL
success, personal accomplishment, glory, achievement in the arts, reward of merit

bee balm
compassion, sweet virtues, your whims are unbearable

BORAGE
courage, bluntness, directness

BOX
stoicism

BROOM
humility

BUGLE
cheer, most lovable

BURNET, SALAD
a merry heart, joy

CALENDULA
health, joy, remembrance, ­constancy, the sun, affection, disquietude, grief, jealousy,­ ­­
misery, cares
caraway
for prevention of infidelity

CHAMOMILE
energy in adversity, comfort, patience, help against ­wearisomeness, plant physician

CLOVER
good luck, good education, hard work, industry

COLTSFOOT
justice shall be done you

COMFREY
home sweet home

CONEFLOWER, PURPLE
skill, capability

DILL
irresistible, soothing

DITTANY
birth

DOCK
patience

FENNEL
worthy of all praise, force, strength, thinness

FEVERFEW
good health, warmth, you light up my life

FORGET-ME-NOT
true love, hope, remembrance, do not forget me

FOXGLOVE
insincerity, a wish, decision, I am not ambitious for myself but for you

GARLIC
protection, strength, courage, good luck

GERANIUM, SCENTED
preference, gentility, comfort

GINGER
safe, pleasant, comforting, warming

HOPS
mirth, rest, sleep, beer

HYSSOP
cleansing

JOHNNY-JUMP-UP
happy thoughts

LAMB’S-EARS
support, softness, gentleness

LAVENDER
devotion, luck, success, ­happiness, distrust, soothing the passions of the heart, ardent attachment

LEMON BALM
sharp wit, understanding, healing, love, fun, relief, rejuvenation, sympathy, social inter course

LEMON VERBENA
attractive to the opposite sex, responsibility

LOVAGE
strength

MINT
warmth of feeling

MINT, LEMON
virtue, homeyness, cheerfulness

MINT, PINEAPPLE
hospitality, welcome

MUGWORT
travel, to overcome fatigue, ­conception, comfort, be not weary

MYRTLE
marriage, love, married bliss, fidelity, passion, peace, home, joy

NASTURTIUM
patriotism

NETTLE
cruelty, slander

NIGELLA
perplexity, embarrassment, ­independence, prosperity, kiss me twice before I rise

PARSLEY
festivity, feasting, thanks, ­gratitude, useful knowledge

PENNYROYAL
flee

PEPPERMINT
warmth, cordiality

PERILLA
role reversal

PINKS
lively and pure affection, ­fascination, sweetness, boldness, newlyweds, dignity, taste

POPPY
forgetfulness, sleep, oblivion, evanescent pleasure

ROSEMARY
remembrance, devotion, fidelity, wisdom, good luck in the new year, your presence revives me

SAGE
domestic virtue, wisdom, skill, esteem, to mitigate grief

SAGE, JERUSALEM
pride of ownership, earthly ­delights

SAGE, PINEAPPLE
hospitality, esteem, virtue

SAGE,PURPLE-LEAVED
gratitude

SANTOLINA
aggressiveness, pursuit wards off evil

SAVORY
mental powers

SOAPWORT
cleanliness

SORREL
parental affection, joy

SOUTHERNWOOD
jest, bantering

SPEARMINT
warmth of sentiment

STATICE
never-ceasing remembrance

SWEET CICELY
gladness, sincerity, rejoicing, comfort

SWEET MARJORAM
blushes, mirth, consolation, joy, happiness, kindness, courtesy, distrust

SWEET WOODRUFF
eternal life and rejoicing, cordiality, athletic victory

TANSY
hope against miscarriage, I ­declare against you

THYME
activity, bravery, courage, strength, manger herb

VALERIAN
accommodating disposition, drunk and blousy

VERVAIN
good fortune, wishes granted

VIOLET
modesty, faithfulness, humility, simplicity, loyalty, I return your love

WORMWOOD
affection, absence, bitterness, protection for travelers

YARROW
health, to dispel melancholy and heartache, sorrow, healing of wounds, war

NO-MUSS TUSSIE-MUSSIES

Step by step

Materials

Fresh roses, herbs, other flowers, and leaves
Waxed floral tape
Pruning shears or scissors
1 finger cut from a cotton-knit glove
Tapestry needle
Elastic thread
2/3 yard 3-inch-wide lace
1 yard double-sided satin ribbon about 1/2 inch wide to match or complement one of the flower colors

2. Trim all the stems to 5 to 6 inches long and strip the leaves off the lower half of the stems.

3. Choose a rose or other prominent flower for the center of the tussie-mussie, surround it with sprigs of herbs, and bind the stems together with floral tape. The warmth from your hands makes the waxed tape stretchy and able to stick to itself.

4. Surround the center flowers with concentric circles of herbs alternating with flowers, securing each circle of stems with floral tape. Take care to keep the tops of the herbs and flowers even, forming a mounded or mushroom silhouette. Continue to add circles until the tussie-mussie is 4 to 6 inches in diameter and all your floral symbols have been included.

5. Frame the tussie-mussie with a circle of larger leaves (such as lamb’s-ears, ivy, or scented-geranium leaves), overlapping them evenly around the outside edge. Bind these in place with floral tape.

6. With the pruning shears, trim the stems to 3 inches long, or about the width of your palm.

7. Slip the glove finger up over the cut stems to make a smooth handle by which the tussie-mussie may be carried. Because it is absorbent, it will hold moisture around the stems and help to keep them fresh. I use inexpensive cotton-knit gloves from a photography store, at a cost of a dime per finger.

8. Thread the tapestry needle with the elastic thread and sew a running stitch along one edge of the lace. Then tie the elastic to form a circle. Pull the resulting stretchy collar up over the stems and tuck it under the frame of leaves. Real lace is not only beautiful, but it is also more durable than paper lace doilies, which tear when wet. Antique lace may be used, or the lace can match a wedding gown or party dress. Even the most inexpensive lace looks lovely.

9. Finish the tussie-mussie by tying the satin ribbon around the stem handle right below the lace. Tie a bow. You may also tie overhand knots in the ends of the streamers for good luck, slipping a sprig of rosemary or statice (remembrance) into each one.

10. Write out a little gift card listing the plants and their meanings.