Rising Sun Art Market

REVEAL Showcase preparation

Oops, this is a bit of a last-minute announcement, but the Rising Sun Christmas Art Market is tomorrow!

Rising Sun Arts Centre, 30 Silver Street, Reading RG1 2ST
10.30am – 5.30pm

Skycarrots and I will be there, and there will be cake and mulled wine in the bar area – conveniently close to my stall.

Come and join us for some original Christmas shopping, away from the mad rush of the town centre!

(This afternoon I will be mostly mounting badges onto Moo cards, and backing my ampersand embroideries with felt.)

Calming influence

Lavender bags

Here we go – matching lavender bags, to go with yesterday’s wheat pads.

These are half the size of the wheat pads, so approximately 10cm (that’s 4″) square. They’re made in the same way, with a recycled polycotton inner bag which contains the lavender. How I made these without spilling tons lavender and wheat into the guts of my overlocker, I’m not too sure! There’s approximately three ice-cream scoops of lavender in each little bag. Measured very scientifically, I can assure you.

As you can see, the little loop makes them easy to hang up wherever you like!

I’m thinking of making some cinnamon and clove bags to hang up at Christmas, for a seasonal scent. Some cedar or pine scented bags might be nice too, to keep the moths at bay from your wardrobe or knitting stash…

These are also on their way to the Art Market, but when I return I’ll be making some more. I’ve been asked to make a tutorial too, so I’ll make a new page for that when it’s done.

Winter Warmers

Basket of wheat pads

I swear by using these little wheat pads to relieve pain. You can pop them in the microwave to warm them up, or in the freezer to cool them down. These little ones are a perfect size to drape across your forehead or cuddle up to your stomach.

They’re made from milling grade organic wheat kernels, which I bought from Brow Farm. Each bag has an inner pouch made from recycled polycotton – this contains the wheat. The outer bag is made like a tiny pillowcase, and can be removed for washing. These are made from offcuts of quilting fabrics that I bought before I made the switch to using only organic and sustainable materials.

This basket full of goodies is on its way to the Rising Sun Art Market on the 22nd. All I need to do now is print out the instruction sheets, which read as follows:

to use hot:
remove the inner wheat pad from its cover, and place in the microwave. Half fill a mug with cold water, and place this inside the microwave with the wheat pad. Heat for one minute. Continue to heat in ten second bursts until the desired temperature has been reached. Once heated, replace the wheat pad inside its cover.

to use cold:
remove the inner wheat pad from its cover, and place inside a plastic bag. Place the wheat pad in the freezer until cooled. Once cool, remove the wheat pad from the plastic bag, and replace inside its cover.

Next up – making some matching lavender sachets from the leftover fabric.