Inspired by Tessa Evelegh's gorgeous Lavender: A Heritage Book of Creative Ideas
A dip into my box of ribbons and embroidery threads produced the raw materials in the perfect colours.
The book gives instructions for simple closed sachets made from pieces of silk, decorated with velvet ribbon and pretty buttons (pictured second from the left at the top of the cover - above), but I've gone for plain white cotton with the top left open (secured by a ribbon) so that the lavender can be refilled or freshened with a drop of essential oil.
It's so long since I did any embroidery that I'm very rusty (and even began yesterday without a hoop) but with the right tools for the job this morning I'm making progress. Bag number one is sitting on my desk as I type and the fragrance is wonderful!
Later:
The second one is now finished. In answer to Lisa's question (in the comments), I made up the designs - if you can call anything as basic as these, 'designs' - as I went along.
Ooh, ooh, what lovely little bags!
Gee, thanks Karen, just when I was reducing the amount of stuff I'm shipping to the US, I'm finding myself acquiring another book!
Posted by: Cheryl | 11 May 2008 at 12:55 PM
The little bags look so fresh and cool.I can smell the lavender already.
Posted by: Anne | 11 May 2008 at 02:39 PM
Hi Karen: The little bag is lovely. I also like your colour selections, some of my favourites. I am thinking I should perhaps pay a visit to the bookshop quite soon. Thi book looks very interesting.
Posted by: Donna | 11 May 2008 at 03:15 PM
Very pretty, indeed. Is the design yours?
Posted by: Lisa W | 11 May 2008 at 05:11 PM
How pretty! You may feel rusty, but it certainly doesn't show.
Posted by: Francesca | 11 May 2008 at 06:23 PM
What delightful sachets. Did you freehand the word Lavender? It's so neat and uniform. I agree with Francesca; your "rustiness" doesn't show.
Posted by: Fiberjoy | 12 May 2008 at 05:32 AM
I can smell the lavender too ... how gorgeous. 'Lavender' is going straight to the top of my wish-list.
Posted by: Angela Young | 12 May 2008 at 10:48 AM
A belated comment on your sachets -- they are lovely. I especially like the lineup of your embroidery threads as I am a sucker for color. Recently, I almost found myself buying wools for a kind of primitive hooked rug just because I liked the gradations of color. I hope you will keep a few of these for yourself!
Posted by: Avice | 12 May 2008 at 01:22 PM
So beautiful Karen, I am imagining that heady, summery scent.
Posted by: Rebecca | 16 May 2008 at 12:56 PM