Spring Cleaning and Making Lavender Sachets

Guess you could say I must really love Doodling . . . posted twice!  Oh, well, let's move on to something new......

Spring Cleaning! This is a time to clean, freshen, organize, etc. Speaking of freshen, years ago I made fabric and knitted sachets for all my drawers and closets but somewhere along the way I stopped and started onto something new. I guess you could say that sachets are "Old-Fashioned" but they do serve a purpose and can be customized any way and for any occasion.

Browsing one of my favorite blogs, PurlBee.com, I came across a tutorial for sachets. I decided that it would be fun to do some again. In their blog they chose to use chintz as the top fabric and organic canvas for the backing of the little sachet pillows. I decided to use vintage cotton prints and linen for the backing. My stuffing is a bit different as well, but the same results can be achieved either way. Here is the way I made mine. Make some for yourself, your friends, teacher presents, etc. 

I used a charm pack of vintage cotton prints.   I placed one of the squares onto of the linen and cut a square measuring 4". Take your squares to the iron and press down 1/4" on one side of both fabrics. Now pin for sewing . . .

As you can see I chose to make more than one at a time. Now sew around three sides leaving the pressed 1/4" edge (top) unstitched except making sure you catch the folded edge in your stitching on both corners. Turn right side out and push out corners carefully especially if you are using linen as you can poke a hole in your fabric. Press and get ready to stuff.

Using a small amount of stuffing place in the pillow pushing all the way to the bottom. Now add 1/8 cup of dried lavender or any dried herb that you prefer. I just like the scent of lavender in my lingerie drawers.





Add another small amount of stuffing.   Pin top and slip stitch the opening closed.

Now using a needle and thread sew a straight stitch in the middle of your pillow making it tufted. Make several stitches in the same spot and tie off in the back. Of course, you can add a button, bead, etc. to embellish your pillow.

These are so much fun to make and quite addicting. Make one or a dozen, embellish or not, give away or keep for yourself, just have FUN!

 

Jump on over to KnitClutch.com and check out the portable, quilted, and unique clutch bags for transporting knitting projects wherever you go...stylish and functional!

"I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple

things of life which are the real ones after all."

--Laura Ingalls Wilder

Spring in Georgia and Doodling...

Well, Spring in Georgia has turned into Summer...temperatures already in the 80's almost into the 90's.  However, for the past two days we have had more spring-like weather.  So we have been outside a lot planting our vegetable garden and flower beds.  I love to watch everything grow and so do our grandchildren.  Our youngest who is 6 now always looks forward to planting radish seeds with her granddaddy and loves to pick them when they are ready, but does not like the taste of them.  The process is what she enjoys.  Speaking of which, a lot of my art work is just a process that I enjoy!  I spend quite a bit of time dreaming up new things to do whether it be painting or sewing. . .just creating is stimulating and the process to get to the end is so satisfying.  This is not to say that everything I picture in my minds comes out that way, but who knows until you try your idea if it might work.

At present I am making my KnitClutch bags for knitters and crocheters to easily grab the project and go in what I think is a bit stylish.  OK, I do love making these bags and making sure that they are all different in some way.  They seem to be well accepted and that amazes me since I made the first one for me to have to take along to doctor visits and anywhere I might be waiting.  Who knew?

I do draw inspiration from other artists and one of my favorites is Alisa Burke.  She awakened in me my doodling past-time and how to turn it into useful and everyday items.  You should check out her blog ... alisaburke.blogspot.com.  She has some wonderful ideas!

She had a great idea about recycling cereal boxes … just paint on them. Here’s my first attempt . . .

Empty cereal box, painted with gel medium, painted with black acryllic paint, painted with crackle medium, painted with different colors of acryllic paints, and then doodled on. When finished, I did add white to help make it pop.  In other words, layering this project is important.

Next I decided that I would take a plain piece of muslin and doodle on it making my own fabric. Here’s how this project progressed:

Plain white muslin. . .I do not use PFD (prepared for dyeing) fabric or even prewash the fabric for my doodles. Bet I will hear from someone on that one!

I start with a lot of different size circles and then fill them in with flowers or zentangles or whatever I feel like doing in the moment. Add dots wherever I want to fill a space and not too much thinking or planning, just playing!

Finished!

You might also try doodling on paper and seeing what you can do with it. I decided to cut out a specific section on one of my doodlings and framed it. This is how it turned out . . .

Thank goodness I had this simple craft to turn to. It has really kept me a little more sane and balanced!

"Dance to the music of your dreams; the steps

will bring you joy."

-Anonymous

Sometimes I just have to play!  What better way to play and relax than by doodling?  I love to create my own fabrics and papers for some of my crafting and thought you might draw a little inspiration from this post!  Alisa Burke is great with doodles and you should check out her blog ...
alisaburke.blogspot.com.

You should try this very relaxing project and let your creative juices flow!

I decided that I would take a plain piece of muslin and doodle on it making my own fabric. Here’s how this project progressed.

Plain white muslin. . .I do not use PFD (prepared for dyeing) fabric or even prewash the fabric for my doodles. Bet I will hear from someone on that one!

I start with a lot of different size circles and then fill them in with flowers or zentangles or whatever I feel like doing in the moment. Add dots wherever I want to fill a space and not too much thinking or planning, just playing!

Finished!

You might also try doodling on paper and seeing what you can do with it. I decided to cut out a specific section on one of my doodlings and framed it. This is how it turned out . . .

Thank goodness I had this simple craft to turn to. It has really kept me a little more sane and balanced!

"Dance to the music of your dreams; the steps

will bring you joy."

-Anonymous

HAVE FUN!!!