Anyone know what to fill hanging sachets with? I'm going to scent them with lavender flowers, but am not sure what the bulk of the filling should be. I would just fill the whole thing with lavender, but the pillows are 5"x5" and lavender isn't that cheap around here (unless someone knows a good NYC source!). I guess it needs to be something puffy and light, and I like the idea of it having a grainy texture...
corn, rice, beans are too heavy.
hmmm...
should I just go with batting?

Why not use recycled paper that's been shredded up? or fabric scraps that are too small to use otherwise. how about rice krispies? (hee hee, that's what "puffy and light" made me think of!) or maybe just a combination of batting and some flax seed or something? (I've gotten flax seed in a big bag at GNC - lots of locations in manhattan)
well, good luck anyway!
:)
amy

Dopey me. I checked at my Coop and they sell lavender so I bought it all. :) I have it with me to work with at the NYC gathering later, so my bag smells nice today!

My mom is like the potpurri expert of all time and she says that all potpurri loses it's smell rather quickly with just the flowers, that's why it is soaked in essential oils. YOu might want to soak the lavender or other stuffing in lavender essential oil, too. Also rose petals are good, they retain their scent for a long time and blend well with other scents. But hey, if it's lavender, it's lavender.
Also something groovy would be cedar, and cedar also keeps the moths away.

Hmm, that's really good to know kmartdollie, thanks for the info. I've already stuffed one sachet with lavender so I guess I'll see how long the scent lasts. Next time I'll soak the flowers in oil.

jennyfeet-

i'm obsessed with your hanging sachets after seeing you with them last week! what kind of material was that again? i covet.

oh, and when i was in NH this weekend, i found a coop there that had good prices on herbs, but still not as good as the one you were talking about. i did (finally) pick up some essential lavender oil, and i think i'm (almost) ready to commit to a book about herbs and stuff to learn more.

athos

:) My sachet and eyepillow was a big hit at the shower we threw for my brother's fiancee. They were passed around and everyone kept going "ooh!" Along with the soap I made for favors and the handmade invitations, I came out of that party looking like a star. But they were all such simple projects I felt like just sitting everyone down and showing them how to make it all- my dad reminded me that even though the steps may be simple, if you're not crafty the end result just isn't that impressive. After that I tried to just enjoy the compliments without any "it's so easy" disclaimers.

The fabric I used is this really pretty iridescent blue silk I picked up at P&S Fabrics (355 Broadway between Franklin & Leonard--a few blocks below Canal-- thanks Caleythistle!) It's that kind of Indian nubby silk and after making those small projects I really want to buy more and make a skirt and bag! I don't have a sewing machine yet and haven't made much in years but I need to have more of that fabric in my life. Pillows! I need silk pillows!

If you need some lavender flowers or rosebuds, just let me know- they are so cheap at the PS Coop and I'd be happy to provide!

so the shower went really well! great! did you ever figure out how to keep the soap from getting cloudy? and it sounds like your dad has some good sense there. i'm trying not to 'undervalue' my skills anymore, but it's kind of hard to not immediately respond with the 'it's so easy' stuff.

hmmm... i'll check out the fabric stores by me in the garment district this week. maybe i can find something similar. if not, i'm up for trying the p&s fabrics place. let me know if you do decide to go back for more of it - we could have a shopping field trip!