Read Online Gossamer Ghost by Laura Childs - Free Book Online Page A

women.
    â€œThis will be a much finer cheesecloth,” said Carmela, unfurling a bolt of fabric. “There are actually seven different grades of cheesecloth and this is one of the better grades, with a much tighter weave.”
    So Carmela showed them how to cut the cheesecloth into six-inch squares, fill them with small mounds of potpourri, and then tie them with a piece of pretty ribbon. “It’s kind of like a reverse ghost,” she said. “And smaller.”
    â€œYum,” said Baby, scooping potpourri. “This is a rose petal mixture?”
    â€œAnd we’ve got lavender potpourri as well as orange citrus,” said Gabby.
    â€œThese would work beautifully as gifts,” said Baby.
    â€œThat’s the general idea,” said Carmela. “Once you’ve tied your ribbon, you can add little embellishments like silk flowers or beads or small charms. And remember, cheesecloth can be dyed, too.” She pulled out a square of lavender cheesecloth, added the lavender potpourri, and tied it with a piece of pink silk ribbon. Then she attached a small, brass butterfly charm.
    â€œI want it,” said Tandy. “Pleeease?”
    Carmela smiled and handed the potpourri to Tandy.
    â€œThe other thing you can do with cheesecloth,” said Carmela, “is make your own tea bags.”
    â€œYou’re kidding, right?” said one of the women.
    â€œIt works perfectly,” said Carmela. “Especially since we’re using food-grade cheesecloth.”
    They all stared at her, fascinated.
    â€œWhat you want to do,” said Carmela, “is cut your cheesecloth into a circle. You can freestyle it or use a template.” She picked up her scissors and cut a freestyle circle. Then she placed it on the table for all to see, and dipped a spoon into a bag of loose tea. “This tea is chamomile,” she said, dropping it into the center of the cheesecloth, “but you can use any type of loose tea that you like. Then you simply tie your homemade tea bag—very tightly, I might add—with a piece of string or thread.”
    â€œThis has been eye-opening,” said Baby. “And lots of fun, too.”
    â€œWait,” said Carmela, holding up a finger. “We’re not done yet.”
    â€œHuh?” said Tandy. She voiced what everyone else was wondering.
What next?
    â€œWho doesn’t love a long, relaxing soak in the tub?” said Carmela. “But for that you need a bath bomb.”
    â€œKaboom,” said Tandy. “You just said the magic words. I think I’m going to like this.”
    â€œWe’ll make our bath bombs using eight-inch squares of cheesecloth,” said Carmela. She glanced up. “Gabby? You’ve got the herbs and things?”
    â€œRight here,” said Gabby. She set four medium-sized tins in the center of the table.
    â€œHere’s the thing,” said Carmela. “You want to add a scoop of dried lavender to aid with relaxation, two scoops of oat flakes to soothe your skin, dried parsley for cleansing, and dried chamomile for that extra zap of relaxation.”
    â€œI can feel the
z
’s coming on now,” joked Tandy.
    The room grew quiet then as all the women worked diligently, measuring, filling, and tying, seemingly pleased with the new crafts they’d learned.
    Carmela was pleased, too. It was fun coming up with new craft ideas, and she especially loved the teaching part of it—watching the lightbulb come on as her crafters decided to add a silver tassel here, a blue and white Chinese bead there.
    Tandy finished her bath bomb, plopped it down in front of her, and said, “Do you think my little ghost is dry yet?”
    Gabby reached a hand out and her fingertips brushed the cheesecloth. “He’s still a little damp. Give it another few minutes.”
    Baby passed around her cookies then, and they all chatted and munched and waited for their ghosts to