DIY Lavender Wand

The lavender from last week's Lavender Festival is still working it's magical wonders on me and our home. I thought I would create a DIY post for making those magically wonderful lavender wands.They are rather fun, quick, and easy to make.

The wand in this tutorial is not as big as the ones pictured above, however it is still fragrant and just as lovely to scent a drawer or closet.

What you will need:
11 or 13 fresh lavender reeds (picked from a lavender plant). It is quite important that the lavender is fresh and green as the reeds are pliable and not rigid.
1/8 inch wide ribbon (or 1/4 inch, but no wider) I used 1/8 in wide.
scissors

So to get started, cut your lavender reeds where they grow from the foliage of the plant. This will encourage new growth for the plant.You need an odd number of reeds and for your first attempt 11 or 13 is just right.

Strip your reeds of all the little foliage, so that it looks like this.

Next, bundle your reeds, so that the base of the lavender buds on each reed match up in the bundle.

Tie your reeds together at the base of the lavender buds with your ribbon, leaving one tail rather long (about 24 inches or so) for weaving in and out of the reeds.

So cute, right? I know, but it gets better. Now, fold the reeds over the lavender buds, so that the reeds are wrapped around the lavender buds. The reeds will encase the lavender buds. Does that make sense?

 Does that picture help? What about this one?

Are you still with me? Ok, so lets keep going, shall we? Here is where we get to weave the ribbon in the reeds.
Move the reeds around a bit so they are roughly even, all the way around the lavender. As you begin to weave and tighten the ribbon, this will shape up better. Make sure the short tail of your ribbon is tucked in well. Start to weave the long tail of your ribbon over and under each reed. It doesn't matter if you start over or under, just make sure you stay with your pattern.

Kinda looks like a spider, doesn't it? So keep gently weaving over and under each reed. When you reach your starting point, you will start your second row, which will automatically go over the reeds you wove under, and under the reeds you wove over. The beauty of using an odd number of reeds.

So now, all you have to do is keep weaving around, gently tightening as you go. Just keep weaving, just keep weaving, just keep wea-ving, wea-ving. . . (sorry, it just popped into my head). As you weave further down the lavender buds, your weaving will start to get smaller.

Now all we need to do is tie off your ribbon. First wrap the ribbon around the wand base one time and tie a half hitch in the ribbon, securing your woven ribbon.

Next, take your ribbon and make one loop on the right side of the wand, so that the ribbon is trailing behind the wand. The picture makes more sense.

From here, make a second loop on the left side of the wand, with the ribbon trailing on top of the wand.

Now, tie the two loops together like you did when you were learning to tie your shoes.

See how the ribbon tail is up? Pull it down over the first tie of your loops, and then tie your loops again to make a knot.

Trim off the ribbon tail and you are finished!

Set this lovely wand aside to dry for a few days. Give the bulb end a squeeze, inhale the relaxing, peaceful aroma, admire your handiwork, and slip it in a drawer or closet. Or package it up for a gift, or even use it as a gift topper. When you need to freshen the scent, just squeeze the bulb a few times and it will stimulate the lavender aroma again.
I LOVE these, and since I had a wonderful harvest of Lavender this year (thanks to the wonderful merchant at the Ferrell Shop in Oak Ridge), I am making several for gifts and for my linen closets. The more you make, the easier and faster it goes. Do you think you may try one? I would love to see pictures.

Heaps of love,

Shannon

Where Shall We Go?

In Oak Ridge, TN there is a wonderful event that happens in mid-June. It is the Lavender Festival and it is wonderful!!! Crafty local vendors come and display their talent and wares. Musicians sing and play their instruments all day as you wander and peruse the many splendid creations. Lavender, heavy and exotic, perfumes the air with its bouquet. Can you smell it? Allow me to share some of what we saw.

Look at those wonderful Lavender Wands. The reeds of lavender are bound around the lavender buds and woven with jute or ribbon. All you do is gently squeeze the bulb and the lavender scent wafts to your nose. Great for stashing in drawers or trunks.

Literally lavender by the yard! This was a full yard of lavender tulle with lavender buds sewn into 6 inch pockets the whole length. 

 

There were people milling around the festival with these bunches in their bags, hands, pockets,and purses.

Isn't this lovely bunch amazing? I can picture it centered on my table or perhaps on my mantle. The room completely transformed by the aroma (sigh).

You get bunches like that large one from lavender plants like these. Aren't they gorgeous? The bumblebees were busily buzzing around each bud. Can you imagine how happy and relaxed they were? (giggle)

The girls and I stopped for a snack of French Beignets and Kettle corn (the food couldn't all be provincial),

and a craft of making lavender sachets. The girls have slept with those sachets under their pillows since Saturday. They say the sachets give them sweet dreams (ah, precious, aren't they?).

We visited my favorite farm Honey Rock Herb Farm . They have the healthiest lavender plants. I have two that are super huge and prolific. The farm has so much more too. Go check them out. They are the greatest!

We saw these GORGEOUS garden sun catchers

that were also good children catchers (note the lavender sachet in her hand).

Look at these wreaths. Aren't they superb?  I loved them both so much. Which one do you like?

Lavender was infused into everything; the air, the water, the lemonade. . . 

and yes, the ice cream as well. There was so much to see and smell and do. It was a grand day.

When I'm starting to feel sick...

...here are the preventative measures I take to keep a cold at bay. 

1.  Drink more fluids.  I try to drink more water, juice, and herbal tea.  I love this kid's Cold Care Tea - I use 2 bags per cup to make it a little stronger.
 
2.  Up my local honey intake.  Local honey is important because the bees have gathered pollen from all the plants indigenous to your area.  The allergens in honey are delivered to your body in manageable doses - helping you to build up an immunity to them.  I try to eat wild local honey once a day, but when I am starting to feel ill I up my intake.

3.  Netti Pot.  I've only recently started using this - at the recommendation of my sister.  It is very effective though - removing irritating allergens and soothing inflammation in your nasal passages. 

4.  Essential Oils:  I use my Adult Cold and Flu Rescue (which I finally listed in my Etsy shop). 

It has a combination of Lavender, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, and Peppermint essential oils.  These oils are antiviral, antimicrobial, decongestant, and anti-inflammatory.  I roll it on my lymph glands on my neck, and on my wrists 3x a day.  Inhaling deeply after application. 
So far, I don't feel any worse than yesterday(when my symptoms first presented) - hopefully that means this thing will be short-lived.  (although I do feel like I am writing this post in a fog - hope you can understand my watery-eyed, sleepy-brain self).  I'm off to take a nap.  Stay well and warm!
jessica

Sleep in Heavenly Peace

Do you have trouble sleeping?  I do.  and I have several friends who struggle as well.  It seems I can't quite turn my brain off.  The house is finally quiet and I can think - and so I do - but I can't stop.  Sometimes I just have trouble falling asleep, and sometimes I just can't seem to get into a deep, restful sleep.  If you struggle too - here are a few natural remedies that you can try.

• Essential oils:  Lavender and Chamomile are excellent choices to use as a sleep aid.  I have a mixture of them in a bottle by my bed - I rub some on my wrists and neck every night.  You'll find that Chamomile is a little pricey, but it lasts a long time because you only need a drop or two.  
• Warm bath:  It's difficult to fall asleep when you are cold.  Your body can't relax.  A warm bath will relax muscles and increase circulation warming you up so you can drift off.
• Full Belly:  You'll read in a lot of places that you shouldn't eat right before bed.  Perhaps that is true for some people. I like to eat a small snack though, because it is very hard for me to fall asleep if I am hungry.  I sleep more soundly as well.  Just remember to eat something sensible - like a piece of whole grain bread with peanut or almond butter, or a handful of almonds.  Combine that with a warm cup of Chamomile tea and you should be good to go.
• Distraction:  Since I have trouble turning my mind off - I often listen to something to keep my brain occupied long enough for me to fall asleep.  Music doesn't work for me - it's not distracting enough.  I need to focus on other people talking - like a movie or tv show.  I have a small portable dvd player that I hook headphones into - I close it and it will continue to run so I don't bother my hubby with the bright light.
• Eye Mask:  Helps tell your brain - "hey, it's dark so go to sleep".  Plus the routine of putting it on is another signal to your mind and body that it is time to turn off.

I hope you find these helpful.  If any of you have tips for finding dreamland, please share in the comments!

jessica

Feminine Essential Oils

As women, we have our own special set of physical discomforts and emotional fluctuations.  Today I wanted to share with you some of my favorite essential oils that aid in womanly discomfort.

Clary Sage - has a calming effect on the nervous system, lifts minor depression, and, as an anti-inflammatory, it eases the discomfort of premenstrual cramps.  You can add a few drops to a warm bath, or mix with a carrier oil and massage into your lower abdomen.

Rose Geranium - relieves mild depression and anxiety, and balances hormones.  It is anti-fungal and anti-bacterial.  This is the first oil I turn to when I am having PMS.  I usually put a drop on the inside of my wrist, rub my wrists together and inhale deeply.  This fragrance of rose geranium is quite strong, but the more you use it the more you will love it.

Rose Geranium and Lavender at the Keys Creek Lavender Farm which I visited in CA.

Lavender -  of course.  Lavender heals all.  If you never know what to use or if you have never used essential oils before, start with lavender.  It is safe for all ages and produces feelings of peace and calm - aiding in balancing those dreadful mood swings.  I like to put a drop on the outside of my eye mask, pull it down over my eyes and go to sleep.

So those are my top 3 essential oils for women.  Just a note - if you have never smelled essential oils before, they can seem very strong and some people think they are downright stinky.  Unfortunately we are used to more synthetic fragrances (dish soaps, lotions, shower gels, shampoos).  Essential oils are in their pure state and can be very overwhelming.  I want to encourage you to keep trying them anyway.  The more you use them, the more you will come to appreciate the potency - and certain oils will become your favorites.  If you have any questions about this post, or about essential oils in general, check the Contact Me section for my email or leave a comment on this post.  Have an aromatic day!
jessica

p.s. A good place to purchase quality essential oils is Floracopeia.

Summer Skin Care

Today we are going to discuss skincare strategies for summertime and beach-going. Your skin is your largest organ and it is SO important to take care of it - and to put quality products on it, not products that will clog your pores. Since your skin is the first thing a massage therapist treats, it is important for us to know the proper products to use.


Pre-beach:

• Exfoliating Sugar Scrub

ingredients:
1 cup of sugar
3/4 cup of jojoba oil, safflower oil, or in a pinch...light extra virgin olive oil
15-25 drops of essential oil, depending on your sensitivity to smell
lavender, chamomile, or peppermint would be nice
(Do NOT use citrus oils when you will be going out in the sun. They are
phototoxic, meaning they will cause your
skin to burn. The oils are designed to attract the sun to the citrus fruit, while
it is on the tree, to help it grow.)
I use sugar as opposed to salt, because then you can shave your legs and the salt won't sting your legs. Massage into skin in a circular motion while in the shower. Use caution as the oil may make your shower slippery.

• Sunscreen:

My choices for sunscreen include:
Kiss My Face Sunscreen
California Baby No-Fragrance Sunblock Stick
Alba Botanical Kids Mineral Sunblock


Post-beach:

• Sunburn Soak

If you do happen to get a sunburn, this soak will help your skin heal overnight. Fill a bath tub with warm, not hot, water. Add 10-15 drops of Lavender essential oil(shocking right? ;). You can also add some oatmeal flour or use this oatmeal soak.
Lie in the tub and relax and let the lavender work it's magic.

• Chamomile Tea Hair Rinse

Chamomile can condition hair and make the surface more shiny. Brew 1 tea bag for 10 minutes in very hot (just stopped boiling) water. Remove the tea bag and let it cool. When you are in the shower, pour it slowly over hair, starting at roots. Massage into scalp and hair and let sit for 5-10 minutes. Rinse as usual.

• Skin Repair Breakfast

These ingredients contain vitamins and minerals necessary for the skin to repair damage.

Yogurt Smoothie:
1 cup of lowfat vanilla yogurt - contains vitamin A, aids in healthy skin
1 cup of frozen berries, such as blueberries, strawberries, or blackberries - contain antioxidants used to kill free radicals caused by sun damage
1 T. of flax seed - delivers essential fatty acids that help your skin produce good, moisturizing oils
(you may also sprinkle walnuts on the top of your smoothie once blended. They will do the same thing and are sometimes easier to find at the store.)

Blend all of these ingredients together and pour into a glass.
Pair with a toasted piece of whole wheat bread -contains selenium. Studies show that even skin damaged by the sun may suffer less consequences when high levels of selenium are present.

Enjoy your healthy glowing skin!
jessica

Lavender Part 2:

I hope you all have taken the time to go buy some Lavender essential oil, because today we are going to talk about how to use it. I have two categories of uses: health and home.

Health:
This is how I use Lavender in my family to keep us healthy. It can be used many other ways, these are just my favorites.

• Preventative health:

If you have been exposed to an illness or disease, when you get home, give a lavender rub to you and your family. Mix 4-10 drops of lavender in with a carrier oil, such as jojoba, olive, or safflower and massage into skin. Here is an example: Last week, Ryan, myself, and my mom all had that terrible 24 hour stomach bug. Charlotte was obviously exposed to it - we were the three people taking care of her. I got sick first, and once we realized what it was we started massaging lavender and sweet orange oil onto her about three or four times the next two days. She did not get sick. Now, there is no way to know if she would have gotten sick without the oils...I'm pretty sure she would have, but it certainly did not hurt her to put those on. I would also give her the massage during the terrible swine flu season if we had gone to the mall/playground - she never got the flu.

• Healing:

Lavender is a wonderful oil to use to heal all kinds of ailments. I use it when I have any kind of skin lesion, such as a bug bite, a burn, or some unexplained bump. Yesterday, Charlotte had this really weird bug bite on her back and I put lavender on it - it was totally gone within about 30 minutes. My sister's friend was making fried jalepenos and she was handling so many peppers that they burned her hands. She tried about 3 different ointments, specifically for burns, until my sister convinced her to put lavender oil on them - the burning stopped immeditately- for skin problems, when you are treating a small area, you can put lavender oil straight on your skin, with no carrier oil - you can even do this on infants. Just use a small amount.
Lavender is also an anti-viral/anti-bacterial oil - meaning it will kill germs and viruses that are in your body. Put a drop or two on the inside of your wrists and rub them together - inhale deeply. The combination of absorption through skin and inhalation will make the oil more effective - it works really well with colds, because the particles go straight through your nose to your lungs - where most colds are - and then into your bloodstream.
I also take lavender baths- if you have a sunburn this is a really good idea. Last summer, I had very bad sun poisoning and I took a lavender bath in the evening. In the morning, the sun poisoning was pretty much gone - I am not making this up - it is amazing stuff!! I love it. Use 10-15 drops for your bath, and I usually dilute it in milk so that it will dissolve and not float on top- oil does not mix with water.

Home:
This is the way I use lavender around my home.

• Laundry detergent:

I make my own laundry detergent - I'll talk more about that later - and I alternate using homemade and storebought - the homemade isn't quite as good at cleaning the washer itself, so you need to alternate to keep your washer really clean. Anyway, lavender is a great addition because not only does it smell great - it kills any bacteria that may be on your clothing/linens.

• Cleaner:

You can add lavender to bleach, hydrogen peroxide, or alcohol(i used vodka b/c it is cheap) to make a disinfectant for your bathroom and kitchen. Lemongrass is also a great oil to use for this.

• Linen spray:

Drop 20-30 drops of lavender oil into water, and add a little bit of sugar as a preservative. Pour this into a spray bottle, shake, and spritz onto your pillows or comforter before bedtime (test an inconspicuous area to make sure that it doesn't stain your lovely linens).

• Air freshener/germ killer

You can buy these wonderful scentball diffusers, that will diffuse the oil into the air in your home, not only smelling great and helping you relax, but killing germs that may be floating around in the air.

So those are my favorite ways to use lavender essential oil. If you have any questions, email me here. Have a lovely day
jessica

Lavender Part 1:

I love lavender so much that I have to talk to you about it in two or three parts- Today we are going to talk about the oil itself and what it does.

Therapeutic Grade Lavender Essential Oil

• It is distilled from the French, sweet, or true lavender plant
• It takes 250 lbs of raw lavender to make 16 oz of essential oil
• Once distilled, the essential oil must be kept in a dark container and away from direct sunlight

Therapeutic Uses for Lavender

• Stress-relief
• Relieves Insomnia
• Heals skin abrasions such as: burns, sunburns, infections
• Relieves mild depression symptoms
• Anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-microbial

How do essential oils work?

• Essential oil molecules are so small that they are able to cross the blood/brain barrier
• Only alcohol, drugs, and essential oils can do that
• This means they can affect the signals your brain sends to your body - helping the body to naturally heal itself
• Most effective when inhaled and absorbed through the skin

Lavender is the safest and most versatile oil. It can be used on infants, pregnant and nursing women and all other children and adults (there are a few adults who are allergic so it is always important to test a small area first). Next time we will talk about how to use this oil - but I wanted to give you time to buy some first. You can try your local health food stores or order some at these websites:

Cosmicflower

Mountain Rose Herbs

If you are interested in learning more about all of the essential oils this is my favorite reference book by Julia Lawless:

Lavender

So, lets talk about lavender. If you are interested in using essential oils you should start with lavender. It is the safest and most versatile oil. In addition to my massage therapy license, I am also a certified aromatherapist. This just means that I have studied essential oils in depth, and know how to safely use them medicinally.

Lavender can be used to heal all kinds of ailments, but I will just list my favorites.

• stress reduction



• skin abrasions/burns



• anti-viral



• anti-bacterial



• insomnia

So how should you apply lavender? You can mix it with a carrier oil, such as sunflower, jojoba, safflower, or olive oil and massage it into your skin. Use 4 or 5 drops to a 1/4 cup of oil. You could also put a few drops in some milk and pour it into your bath (the milk helps the oil distribute through the water, otherwise it will just float on the top). You can put several drops on a cotton ball and inhale deeply if you don't want the scent to stay on your skin.

How do essential oils work?

Please be careful when you use any essential oils. They are not merely a fragrance, they are a powerful, concentrated substance.

Lavender is safe to use on infants, pregnant/nursing mothers, and everyone else (except the few people who are allergic to it).

Lavender Eye Pillow Tutorial

Good Morning! Well Mother's Day is a month away and here is a lovely gift you could make for any Mommy you know! Select some lovely fabric, I chose Anna's voile of course, mainly because I had scraps left over from Easter. The voile is nice though because it feels so soft against your face. Once you have selected your fabric you will also need to gather rice, lavender buds, and a fabric to use for lining.

Step 1: Cut out four rectangles, 5" x 8"

Step 2: Do any embroidery you would like to add now. I chose to put the words "Dreaming of fabric..." on my front piece.

Step 3: Lay fabric right sides together (including lining) and stitch three sides, using 1/2" seam.

Step 4: Fill the pillow with about a cup of rice and 1/4 cup of lavender buds. If you are sensitive to smells I would use less lavender. Experiment with what smells good to you :) You can either grow your own lavender and dry it or buy some here.

Step 5: Tuck the raw edges in and top stitch your opening.

Step 6: Wrap and send your gift...or enjoy it yourself ;)