Creative Mom Cafe

It’s the day after Thanksgiving. Are you trapped in a crowded store searching for sales or at home resting and relaxing? If you’ve been doing your best to make your gifts yourself this year chances are you don’t need to get out today. So to help you enjoy staying in today here’s a wonderful relaxing gift that you can make. Though you may want to make two, one to give and one to keep for yourself.

Today’s gift idea is an herbal eye pillow. It’s a soft small pillow filled with relaxing herbs and flowers. Place it across your eyes while sleeping to help you drift off to sleep more easily. First you will need fabric to make the pillow, something soft and smooth that will feel light against the eyes. Silk, satin, and velveten are good choices. You will need two rectangles, about 5 inches by 12 inches to create the pillow. The sleeve of an old blouse works perfectly for this and is a great way to recycle. And since there are two sleeves you can make two! Making the pillow is simple, place right sides together and hem along 3 of the sides about a 1/2 inch in. Leave one short side open for stuffing. Turn it right sides out and you are ready to add your herbs.

Now for the stuffing. Here is what you will need.

• 1/2 cup whole flax seeds
• 1/2 cup lavender buds
• 1/2 cup peppermint leaves
• 1/2 cup crushed rose petals
• 10 drops lavender oil
• 5 drops peppermint oil

Place all the dry ingredients in a small bowl and stir until mixed completely. Add the oils slowly while continuing to stir. This will make sure the oils evenly coat everything. Add the mixture into the pillow, but be sure not to stuff it too full. You want the pillow to still be floppy so that when laid across your face it will lay down. Once you have filled the pillow tuck in the open side and hem it by hand.

You do not need to keep this pillow refridgerated, but flax seeds can become rancid. The best way to store your relaxation pillow is in a zip seal bag inside a cool cabinet or drawer. It should last for about 6 months before starting to go bad. Whenevr you can’t sleep just pull it out and place it across your eyes while resting. The calming scents and the wight of the pillow will help sedate you into dreams.

sleep, pillow, eye pillow. 30 Gifts in 30 Days