Christmas in July Tutorial

A special thank you to Robyn at Motherlode Toad Factory for the Lavender Sachet Tutorial.

Lavender Sachet with a Kanzashi Flower

Dried Lavender is widely used in cooking, crafts and bath products. It can be used as a Potpourri, in Bath Salts, Soaps, and Scrubs, to Perfume Closets, and Linens, and to freshen up Rooms. The fragrance of Lavender is reputed to calm and relax and to relieve headaches. Lavender is a wonderful plant to have in your landscape. It is easy care and deer resistant (very important where I live.) It is widely used in cooking, crafts and bath products. I have five mature lavender plants in my front yard and each year they provide a lot of dried lavender and add beauty to the area as well. Lavender plants are available at most nurseries and I encourage you to try a few in your yard.

Dried lavender is available online and at some craft stores. To make a simple sachet you will need the following:

Dried Lavender
Fabric ( one plain or print for the body of the sachet and a contrasting fabric for the flower.)
Matching Thread
Button or other embellishments for flower center

Cut on doubled fabric a 4" square for the Sachet Body. (I'm using a scrap of flannel but cotton or cotton blend work equally well.) With right sides together, sew (by hand or machine) around three sides and slightly into fourth side, leaving open for stuffing on one end. (I like to round the corners.)

Turn right side out. Stuff with dried lavender, firmly but allowing for closure. Hand sew opening closed with edges turned in.

Kanzashi Flower

Traditionally a hair ornament in Japan this flower can be creatively used in almost any craft. You can make these with any number of petals. I am making an eight petal flower.

With contrasting fabric, cut 8 (3") squares. With right sides out fold into a triangle. Fold top corners of triangle inward. Use an iron to press the edges down. Turn over to backside. Fold corners in and press again to help hold the shape. Fold these two edges together and turn over to front side. Trim off bottom, unfolded edges to the length of petal you want. Mine are about 1 1/2".

I place these folded petals onto a large pin to hold them in shape until stitching. When all eight petals are folded, stitch together and pull into shape.

Put beads, other small flowers, buttons or whatever you have on hand, into the flower center. Stitch or glue flower to top of sachet. These make great gifts and do sell well at fairs (and make your linens smell wonderful!) Make the flowers in several colors and use as a hair ornament or pin. Put matching fabric on backside to help hold in place.

Here's another use for the dried Lavender (home grown & dried only!)

Lavender Shortbread Cookies
 Ingredients
1 1/2 cups butter, softened
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup sifted confectioner's sugar
2 Tbsp lavender flowers, chopped fine
1 Tbsp chopped fresh mint
1 tsp. finely grated lemon peel
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/4 tsp. salt

Directions
Cream butter and add next 5 ingredients. Mix with electric mixer on low until light and fluffy. Add the last 3 ingredients and mix well. Divide dough in half, flatten, cover and chill until firm. Preheat oven to 325 degrees . Roll out to 1/2" thickness on floured surface and cut into 1 1/2" circles; press designs on top. (Or, you can use cookie cutters.)

Bake 18 to 20 minutes on parchment covered cookie sheets. Cool slightly and transfer to wire rack. Approximately 2 dozen, depending on size of cookie.

Optional: When cool, dust lightly with powdered sugar flavored with lavender flowers.