Thank you so much. Gosh, I had forgotten about my rose beads, which are now respendlently gracing my neck. I knew today's outfit needed something. The smell coming off them is delicious. Warm regards Astar

Thank you. I'm here to share all that I have gathered in my 55 year botanical journey. This year my plans are to return to the real living botanical's & share how to create beautiful floral arrangements from flowers/plants grown in the home garden or purchased from the market or gathered from the side of the world or picked across the fench. Very warm regards Astar

Thank you Ellen, warm regards Astar

Happy New Year Converse. Dogwood is a beautiful botanical and one of my favourites either with flowers or just the gorgeous red stems. Warm regards Astar

Happy New Year Jesse, thank you for you continued support. Planning is well underway for 2025 and I'm launching back into fresh botanicals - well, maybe the odd faux! Blooms from the garden or market or those found on the side of the road or those over the fence. Warm regards Astar

Thank you Jenni, I can't believe that Christmas has gone and here we are, it's another YEAR. Much happiness for a new year ahead. Kind regards Astar

Hello and thanks for reaching out. In my experience not really. I think it adds another level of depth. Hope this helps? Warm regards Astar

@AstarsPlace THANKS

It's what I call, a lotion bar. Easier to apply to the skin. Warm regards Astar

Happy Holidays and merry Christmas to you Jesse from the bottom of the world. I've just finished chatting with my son who is currently in Winnipeg. 'VERY COLD here mum'. To warm him up, I flicked to video and shared just how glorious it is here today as we enjoy mid-summer. The house is decorated, the table is set, and prep is underway for a larger-than-life family Christmas dinner tomorrow. Turkey, ham and all the trimmings and then come Boxing day, I will be slipping into several weeks of relaxed holidays. As the family leave, the place gets a deep cleanse, the day bed is set up in the garden and that's where I can be found. I have a mile high pile of books yearning my attention. YES 2025. It has a most wonderful ring to it. I'm changing things up and heading back to fresh botanicals. I think the world will like that. Plans are underway for new botanical adventures. China & the spring. Kitties - well, we've had a few broken vases. Their current joy is fallen leaves and skidding all over the studio floors. They want out into the great outdoors, but... that's a no. Birds live outside! Warm regards, Astar

Thank you Judy, & I return the words to you. 2025 sounds fabulous & in being always the optimus & in a pro-active state, I'm so looking forward to a re-boof, relaunch & new mind-set. Onwards & upwards. Happy holidays, Astar

Thank you Cynthia, & I send best wishes for the holidays & Christmas to you & your family. Decorating is finished here, table is set & dressed & now I'm onto cooking. Christmas is such a joyous time. Personally, I think it should be all year round. Warm regards Astar

Yes yes yes. I'm working on it now. Warm regards Astar

Merry Christmas, happy holidays & lets add in - wonderful thoughts for 2025. Hello Cheryl, it is always great to receive your cheery messages. After much thought, I finally decided this design would be the foundation for my Christmas decorating. Something very festive about berries. The year is nearly over & I must add, it's been a very good year & its marvellous to have out renovations finished. I feel very posh climbing those stairs & seeing freshly painted walls, new wall paper, floors & new improved modernized efficient bathrooms. 2025 has been plotted & planned out & I'm returning to 'all things botanically fresh'. Flowers to grow, flowers & foliage gathered + what to do with flowers purchased from the market. I might have to throw in the odd faux, but to get my hands on fresh - fills me with delight as is a botanical adventure to China. Covid threw us all into unrest, but time has healed & launch I shall. Much love & warm regards, Astar

@@AstarsPlace Hey Astar! How fabulous for you - about your renovations and all! I am so happy for you: you, dear beautiful lady, deserve as much beauty and poshness as you can get... and then some! I am loving my faux florals - indoors and out. But it occurred to me reading your comment that while I do everything indoors and my 2nd floor outdoor porch in faux, there are still all the flower beds around our house that could afford me a chance to, as my mom says, "play in the dirt" with live. This had not occurred to me before reading your comment, so I thank you for springing the thought loose! Too, I think for the first time in her life, my mom was intimidated by having to maintain her gardens by herself last year; and maybe my helping would ease her mind and bring back some of her pleasure...? Here's to more and more days of beauty and - "all things botanically fresh" - to love in 2025! ;)

Very pleased I could help. The method works a treat. I have lovely cream roses I purchased from Winward Silk 20 years ago. This is the method I use when a spruce up is necessary or I usually just give them a shake to remove excess water & then dry them flat on a thick towel... in the sun. Warm regards, Merry Christmas & happy New Year, Astar