Once assembled each sachet was repeatedly stabbed with old sewing machine needles so the dried lavender within could do its job.
Super scenter sachets
Use What You Have
Many mushroom makes
A giant catering tin of mushrooms was a bargain buy but once opened presented a ‘waste not want not’ challenge. I have paired them so far in:
chestnut stuffing – with breadcrumbs and herbs
Pasta sauce, boosting the usual tomato and onion base and topped with truffle oil
Savoury pancakes with cream and garlic
Chicken and mushroom pie – pastry bottom and lid, broth based gravy
Potato mushroom curry
And the rest is now in the freezer awaiting inspiration. Ideas welcome!
Pyrography prettified
We seem to have accumulated a mountain of butter knives so I prettified the unused ones for gifting.
I don’t have pyrography tips for writing or fine detailing, but I do have the tips for heat setting jewellry crystals so created some simple patterns.
Plumptious pillows and comfortable cushions
Multi media pillows have been created to use up some of the fabric stash. I combine free motion, appliqué, hand embroidery including lots of French knots, fabric pen drawing and pearl drop embellishments.
Cross stitch samples
Short quotes stitched and framed in recycled photo frames. These take longer to plan than to make to centre the words as each of my available frames is a different size.
Rosemary harvest ideas
What to do with all this rosemary? Ideas to date:
Rosemary and tomato salt, includes dehydrated tomato skins to give pretty red flecks in the final mix
Rosemary oil from cold marinaded olive oil to be gifted in pretty bottles for foodie friends to enjoy
Rosemary facial toner from simmering sprigs in water and then diluting the strained result in apple cider vinegar
Mini envelopes
I made a stack of these for advent ‘calendar’ bunting. I used squares of 15 cm lightweight paper (and half A4 sheets of magazine papers), scissors and glue. That’s it.
With pretty side face down fold 1 cm in from the right, then 1 cm in from the bottom then bring the left side over to the (folded) right edge and crease, then finally fold down 3 cm from the top.
Unfold and cut along the crease lines. Chamfer (angle off) the edges as shown.
Glue the pretty sides of the two 1cm remaining tabs. this leaves the top flap open until filled when it can be stuck down or tucked in
These pockets are great for little gifts or gift cards and can hung on a tree or sewn into bunting. Halloween versions are fast and an advent series could be hand numbered and pegged on a string.
Lavender harvest
As this season’s harvest is being dried I am trying to use up last year’s lavender. Bags, eye masks and headache pads are now in production!
Placemats converted
A quick and straightforward sew converted elderly placemats into storage bags and pots.
I folded a mat in half so that the fringed edges became the top hem then seamed both sides to make a simple bag. Then I boxed the bottom corners to give it structure.
Because these are heavyweight mats the finished article stands up well.
Smaller bags were made by chopping a mat in half and following the same simple sew.
Upcycled, re usable cleanser pads
A clear out of surplus hand towels too good to dispose of led to today’s make. Sets of make up remover pads to pair with my diy cleanser.
Sandwich the towel (bindings cut off) between sheets of cotton and pin. Then draw circles using a jar of glass as template. I use a Frixion heat removable pen.
Zig zag around the circles. It doesn’t matter if you go off piste a bit.
Then cut around the lines with pinking shears. Voila.
