Hi everyone:

Thanks to everyone who asked for eye pillow directions. To save time, here goes:

I buy flax see at my local health store and lavender from the potpourri venders at the local Christmas City, but many craft stores or botanical shoppes may have it, too. I mix 3 parts flaxseed to one part lavender buds. The bags I make are usually sewn from silky or satiny scraps, about three inches wide by seven inches long. the trick is not to overfill them--remember, they'll be resting on someone's face. You want them to be flat with some movement of the contents. sorry, but this part is really hit or miss. Try one and lie down with it across your eyes--if you fall alseep, you've done it right; if it feels like the family cat is sitting on your head, remove some filling!

Good luck--Judi

BTW, I made a long bag with a giant sized buttonhole at one end and hung it on the inside of the guest bathroom door--a lovely fragrance for thatroom and an easy way to use up leftovers.

Here is one I found and copied: (originally from Adele)

Headache Pillow  I am going to make "headache "pillows for all my kids teachers. I made one out of Swiss Batiste with embroidery, monogram, faggoting etc. for a special friend.  Took a long time to make and was a lot of work.  Then I got the idea to use pretty Linen hand towels. Fold in thirds so the pretty border is like the flap on an envelope. Sew up the inside side seams so the thing looks like an enelope. Make a "pillow" out of 100%cotton flannel and fill with uncooked white rice, regular not minute, sew up the opening on the flannel bag. Write instructions to put the flannel bag in the microwave for 1-1 1/2 min. then put in the pretty pillow cover and place it on whatever aches, neck,head,shoulder whatever.

Enjoy, Karen

here is what I have developed over the years: 5" x 9" two pieces of this , they are supposed to be made from silk , I have seen them in yoga catalogs made from sandwashed rayon 1 Cup flaxseeds, sew rst just like a bean bag , turn, fill with the flaxseed and finish final edge, I do dec stitching on one side (the other side is meant to be against your eyes so leave it plain , the stitching would irritate) you should enclose some sort of instructions, because most people don't have a clue:*to ease strain on your eyes* lie down-place pillow over your eyes for 10 minutes, relax!!

have fun!!kim in 0hio

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Victoria Rouch

While awaiting formal instructions for the herbal heat packs, I made some just like the pricey ones I saw at the mall kiosk before Christmas.  I used rice as a filler and it worked fine.  Gabygirls is right, though. You've got to "play" with the amount of filler until if feels right. The one I made was in a rectangular shape that could be worn around the neck or laid on any sore muscle.  The one I made tonight was for our neighbor who is also a farrier and shoes my ponies.  I had about 1/4 yard of "horseshoe" print fabric (99 cents), and got a twenty pound bag of rice for under five bucks. The only thing I was short on was herbs and our grocer didn't have a supply of fresh dried herbs.  However,  I remembered that I had several boxes of CelestialSeasonings Herb Teas, which are just ground herbs anyway, so I emptied a few teabags (chamomile, mint, lemon zinger, and peppermint) in the bag after I added about three cups of rice.I sewed the seam and then tested the bag in the microwave. After only about a minute and a half of heating it stayed hot for forty-five minutes and smelled wonderful. The lady at the kiosk told me for a stronger herbal smell you can spritz the bag with a little water before popping it in the microwave.  As a final touch I made a nice little instruction sheet on the computer complete with a pretty border and pinned it with a little gold ribbon onto the bag.  My neighbor was thrilled with his gift and I was thrilled to give it to him.  Now the next time my neighbor strains his back trying to trim the hooves of my ponies he'll be able to go home and use his heat pack on his sore back!!

Happy sewing! Victoria

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Jacque

A dear friend sent me one of these to ease the tension in my neck from sitting too long at the sewing machine or puter... ENJOY!! It's just the right size, shape and weight for shoulders and neck! HIH, Jacque

BED BUDDY: Just take a pair of long tube socks (get the longest ones you can buy). Cut the cuffs off both. Cut about one and one half inches from the one sock.  That is the sock that goes in the inside. Serge the cuff back onto the bottom of the socks.  Going thru all layers.  Fill the outside layer with rice. I think it's about half a bag . I can't remember how much the whole bag of rice holds but it is the most commonly sold quantity. A couple pounds I think.  You don't want it too full but full enough to retain the heat. After filling, serge the other cuff on thru all layers. Heat in microwave for 2minutes.  You can look at the one you have to see what was done.   Just make sure you fill the outer layer of sock with the rice.