DIY Lavender Eye Pillows and a GIVEAWAY
June 18, 2010
Greetings friends, happy Friday ! You all know I’m on a lavender kick lately as I’m harvesting my plants in my garden. I’ve made plenty of bouquets this week to give to all my neighbors and friends. My entire house is filled with the scent right now.
Lavender is one of the most soothing herbal remedies, so much so it helps you sleep better ! So this week, I put my dried lavender to good use by making some eye pillows with linen fabric and simple embroidery.
Here’s my step-by-step how I made these lavender eye pillows:
Supplies: Fabric of choice; fabric lining (optional); dried lavender (approx 1.5 cups for each pillow); organic rice or flax seed; sewing machine; embroidery hoop & thread (optional); ink jet printer; scissors; masking tape; cardstock.
First, I cut my linen fabric to approximately 8” x 10”, then used masking tape to attach it to cardstock. Make sure your fabric is perfectly flat to the cardstock or it will cause a paper jam.
Next, I centered this image below in a Word document, then ran it through my computer printer ! Printing with black ink comes out dark brown on the linen.
Note, the ink when dry is steadfast to the fabric and won’t run, but try not to get it wet, because it can bleed just a bit.
I hand embroidered the details of the lavender sprig to the linen with a small hoop and some deep purple thread.
Next, I cut some fabric lining to the same size as my linen, then sewed my lining and printed linen inside out on three sides. The lining is optional, but I think it helps keep the outside fabric texture smoother to the touch, especially if using these on your eyes.
To create lavender filling for pillows, combine 2 parts dried lavender to 1 part organic rice or flax seed. You can use less lavender if necessary, but I have plenty so that’s my math and I’m sticking to it. If you’re short on lavender, you can also use essential oils to enhance the scent of your flax seed or rice filling.
Fill your pillow with the lavender mixture, then hand sew fourth side together.
That’s it, easy peasy !
Use them for relaxation, headache tension, or even tucked in your pillowcase or bureau drawer. And did you know lavender is a natural moth deterrent ? Place them in your closet as a repellant ! Or just leave them next to your bed as a soothing scent to drift away to slumber.
Here’s the best part ! I’m giving FIVE of them away to you, my lovely readers, PLUS a bundle of fresh lavender, from my garden to your door.
To be eligible, simply leave a comment – the FIVE winners will be chosen by Random.org. Giveaway ends Monday June 21st at 8 p.m.
****** THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED ******
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Tags: eye pillow, lavender
Oh I love the scent of lavender, unfortunately I can’t seem to grow it in my garden here in Georgia! Also, made you Best Marinade EVER recipe with chicken this past week and it was an absolute hit, it is my go to recipe from now on! Grilled it this time, but can’t wait to try it on the stove top with the amazing sauce!
Aaahh, lavender – it’s my go to stress reliever, relaxation inducer and insomnia remedy!
Ohhhh, how I love the smell of lavender. Wish it would grow here in AR!
These are so beautiful! What talent you have!!
ooh. yummy!!lots of entrees here but i will try anyway.
tahnks for great instructions too.
your embroidery is sooo perfect!!
blessings
barbara jean
I would love to win one of these, thank you!
These eye pillows are lovely and yet so simple. Wonderful how-to with detailed instructions. I am thinking I may have to learn how to grow lavender. :)
I am so crazy about lavender! Just threw out my old eye pillow, and so I would be so thrilled to have a new one, LOVE YOUR BLOG! Thanks! :)
What a great idea & such a great gift! I bet it smells heavenly! :-)
I love your website. I read it first thing every morning. And I love these lavender pillows! Thanks for all your great ideas.
Gorgeous Kate as always!
Lovely!
I love reading your blog to jump start my day. Thanks for the giveaway!
I recently discovered your website and I cannot tell you how much happiness it brings to my day to see all of your creative and inspiring ideas. I absolutely adore your blog and this giveaway is fantastic! I would LOVE to win this contest because I am dying to make the lavender lemon cake that you posted a few days ago. :-)
These make me swoon! Love them! Very insightful to see the fabric run thru the printer – can’t wait to test that trick! My Monday is now a little more inspiring… :)
These are awesome! I have to try this out!
I love your pillows! What kind of printer do you have?
Thanks,
C
I love fresh lavendar! and you do an awesome blog!
Oh, I love this giveaway! We had potted lavender at our wedding 12 years ago! It smells so wonderful! My husband secretly LOVES lavender scented lotions! Shhhh, don’t tell him that I told you! I would love to surprise him with this amazing prize on our anniversary next month!! Nice work!
mypatzer at yahoo dot com
These are just beautiful!
I planted two lavendar plants this spring. they are still tiny but hoprfully in a few years, and with a few more plants, I can harvest my own too!
I love these, they are so beautiful and simple. I love the smell of Lavender. Growing up in Scotland, my grandpa had a massive lavender bush outside, so it always reminds me of home. Unfortunately I haven’t figured out how to grow it here in Florida without killing it. :o(
Would have NEVER thought to put linen through the printer. Can’t wait to try that. The little sachets would certainly make lovely little gifts. Thanks for the nice tutorial!
So beautiful, Kate. Thanks for sharing your bountiful lavender harvest! :)
Those look so sothing! I love lavendar and I’m inspired to try this project. Thank you for sharing.
These are beautiful! Thanks for the tutorial. You are so creative, Kate!
These look so lovely! I may try my hand at these soon.
Lavender is my absolute favorite! Thanks for sharing the tutorial.
These are perfect – their beauty lies in their simplicity!
Thank you for the tutorial :)
I love love love Lavender!
How beautiful! Thanks for sharing the tutorial.
Oh, how lovely! Thanks so much for the chance to win! I love your blog, by the way :)
This would be a wonderful present for my constantly harried S-I-L! Thank you for the lovely tutorial.
Oh, lavender is so good for falling asleep! I have tried to grow it,but mine always seem to die! I would truly love a pillow, and always enjoy your tutorials. I am going to try to find a “diamond in the rough” this summer and re paint it, just because you have inspired me!
simply beautiful!! thank you!!!
Pretty, pretty, pretty!!! Love the color of these flowers and the smell is awesome. Would make a great present for my birthday, which is today :-) CJ
LOVE these. I have made rice heat packs in the past, but this is such a lovely alternative, and I bet they smell amazing. You are so clever to print on linen! Thanks for sharing :)
I loooooooooove lavender!
Those are so nice. Please enter me.
These are sooooo pretty and I could drift off to sleep just reading about them. Perhaps I should plant lavender next year?? Great ideal using the card stock to run the linen through the printer! great tip!
I love these. How creative and fun! Thank you for sharing the step-by-step instructions.
Those little pillows are beautiful! A little piece of luxury for sure. I’m so excited for our upcoming lavender festival this July.
Love lavendar and just tried my hand this year at growing it. I’ve planted 6 plants … they are SO pretty!
oooh i love these! and i love fresh lavendar. thanks for the give-away!
Oh count me in! I love lavender :D
Wow, what a wonderful idea. I’ve been trying to grow lavender, but it doesn’t seem to agree with this south texas heat this summer. It’s all dried out :P
Okay, so… there’s almost 600 comments here. The chances that I’m going to win one of these things is slim to none.
BUT!
They are absolutely adorable. I love lavender. And I’ve had you added to my feed reader and have been quietly reading for about a month now.
I figured… why not come out of hiding and say hello? Especially when I could MAYBE win an adorable item in the process lol.
So… hello there! :) And… please add me to the Random Counter Thingy! =)
Also: Keep up the good work! I enjoy reading your posts!
Love these babies! Great giveaway!!
What a great idea! I need to go cut some of my lavender tonight!
Such a great idea. I love it! Now, if I could only find the time to try to make one for myself.
I wish that I was a talented gardner! However I seem to kill every plant I get, including the lavender one I got as a gift earlier this year. What a fantastic idea. Very Cute