"Witch" Crafts

Herbal Pillows for Aches and Pains

Headache Pillow

Lavender, the flower heads, dried
Euculyptus.
Rice
Stretchy velvet(crushed velvet)

Use about 3 parts lavender to 1 part Euculyptus. Use about a cup to two cups rice depending on how big your pillow is.  You can make it longer to be wrapped around the kneck or just about a foot long to be placed on the forhead. All you do is make a tube rectangle on the sewing maching,  leaving room for it to be opened.  Mix the herbs together with the rice and pour into the tube.  Sew top on.  You may add a silver loop, or tie the ends with the ribbon.  You can zap this in the microwave for about 100 on defrost(med) or keep it in the freezer. Just mush it around to get the natural scents to come out. You can heat it for the neck, cool it for the head, or just work it between your hands to activate the scent... simple aromatherapy! May be used warm or cold.
 
 
 

Rice Bag Heating Pads

Bag #1
Using cotton cut a rectangle or square.  Stitch two sides (one long, one short), reinforcing the stitches and finishing the seam w/a zig-zag or other locking stitch.  Fill the bag with uncooked long-grain white rice. NO CONVERTED, BROWN OR "MINUTE" RICE.  If you want to , *any* of a variety of aromatic herbs could be added to the rice (bay leaves, lavender buds, eucalyptus leaves, etc.)  They just have to be completely *dry.* You might also want to experiment with some other forms of grain for the filling.   DON'T fill the bag completely!!  It should have at least four or five inches unfilled at the top.  Use an inch or so of this material to fold down and stitch the bag closed; the rest is to allow the filling material to shift around so  that the bag can be comfortably molded to the body.  Depending on your microwave and the size of the bag, 2 to 3 minutes on high is usually plenty.  Hope this helps!

(You may substitite bird seed or corn that does not pop. This can be bought at a feed store.  Its the kind of corn to feed animals.  I'm not sure of the exact name. Its wide and  flat.)

You may make a pillowcase a little large than your bag to wash if it gets soiled. DO NOT WASH THE RICE BAG! You may edge the bag or pillowcase with ribbon or lace if you wish.

Note: If you do not wish to sew, you may use an old athletic sock and tie a knot in the top.