Wax and Bubbles

Relaxing eye pillows are used in spas world wide and massage therapist have been using them for years as well, but for anyone who knows about eye pillows they know that they are for more than just relaxation, they can also help decrease eye puffiness, help with migraines, and take as a travel pillow that won’t take up much room on an airplane or train as well. Here’s how to make your own.

Materials needed:

1/2 yard of fabric such as cotton, flannel or even silk if you want. Wash and dry the fabric.
1/2 cup dried flax seeds
1/2 cup dried buckwheat seeds
1/2 cup dried lavender and chamomile, mixed together to make 1/2 cup

What to do:

Mix the above ingredients together in a large bowl to make about 1 1/2 cups total for the pillow filling. Cut about 4 1/2 x 10 inch rectangle and then cut another the same size so that you have two panels the same size and same shape.

Place the two panels together with the right-sides facing each other and stitch a 1/2-inch stitch along the raw edge of the materials. Be sure and backstitch on the ends. Leave about 4-inch open on the side to pour the filling into the case. Stitch once more along the same stitching about half and inch from the other stitch on either side to help reinforce the stitch and the filling won’t come out.

Fill the pillow with the mixture with a spoon or a large spout funnel. Once you have filled the pillow with the mixture, fold the raw edges of the opening under and then pin. Hand-sew a straight stitch twice along the open seam. Tie off the thread at the end and then tie the two threads from the two hand stitches together to reinforce the closure. Once it is secure lie back and enjoy.

Lavender is one of the most popular essentail oils to use when you are sleep deprives or stressed, so why not use it for other aliments as well. Your eyes are the windows to your soul, so you must take care of them in everyway possible. When your body and mind are stressed your eyes show the prove of this. With a simple craft of making an lavender eye pillow you can help relieve your stress and help you eyes in the long run as well. Here’s how it’s done.

• For the pillow: You will need 1/2 yrd. of fabric. Be sure and wash it, dry it and iron it before starting.

• For the filling:
1/2 cup flax seeds
1/2 cup buckwheat
1/2 cup dried lavender
1/2 cup dried chamomile *if you are allergice to any of the above, please consider using a different dried herb*

• To make the pillow: Mark two 4 1/2 by 10-inch recatangles on the side of the favbric. Cut along your marks and create two panels. Place the two panels rigth sides together and stitch a 1/2-inch sesm along the edge. Backstitch over each end. Leave one of the 4-inch sides open, so you can add your filling. Be sure and stitch another stictch reinforcement seam around the edge to guarantee the filling won’t fall out. Turn the panels right side out and spoon in the filling to fill the pillow completely. Fold the opening where the filling was put inside over and stitch by hand the opening sot hat is completely closed. If you want you can reenforce this stitch as well.

You can heat this pillow in the microwave for about 20 seconds and apply it to your eyes. Lie back after a hard day and enjoy the lavender and chamomile benfits it brings.