ABOUT LAVENDER: 12/1/10

HNY to all you Lavendeers!

I just finished closing the books on All About Lavender for the year. Even sent off my local and state sales taxes. There is still much more to do that is more cumbersome -- like inventory -- but that's for another day. We've had some good snow so the plants will be watered at least for the next month or so. I have had a great year with my sewing and Salons. I've always enjoyed entertaining and the Salons are just like having friends over to visit. We have a good time. My sewing has improved quite a bit. I want to get really, really good at making beautiful throw pillows so I may seek out some help for that.
It's new year's eve and all is well. Con has been over in Denver visiting kids and grandkids and plans to come home tomorrow -- hope the roads are clear. You never know until you get to the tunnel or Vail pass what the weather will be. It can be ok and then half hour later they may close the road. But, of course, we have nothing like the snow problems they are having back east.
In a little while I'll start my wild and crazy NYEve celebration .... starting with a hot oil hair treatment, then finishing up the egg nog, and reading the final chapters of Fannie Flagg's "Daisy Fay Harper." Do I know how to party? or what? O, and I better finish off the ice cream that's left in the freezer ... Con wants to lose a few pounds, so no sense leaving temptation in his way - I'm real nice like that.

Blessings

Sewing is done for the year.

This peach satin pillow was my last sewing item for the year. A man wanted it for his mom who has back problems and thought that a buckwheat hull pillow may help her comfort level. The Japanese have used buc in their pillows for centuries so there must be something to it. I plan to make one for myself to test it out. This one is peach satin on one side and cotton in a pattern on the other side - then trimmed with ivory. One end is open (can be tied closed with a hidden ribbon) so the muslin liner can be removed. Along with the buc there are several cups of lavender buds. The picture doesn't do it justice, it's a very pretty color. I must admit that I had trouble sewing the trim at first. I did a practice run on another piece and though I could do it on this one. But only three corners were good, I just couldn't get the fourth corner to look right. I finally gave up and took the trim off the top and bottom and left it on the sides.

So I'll be practicing when I get time because I'd like to get really good at making beautiful pillows.

I got quite frustrated as I hurried to get my final custom orders done by the deadline and Con heard me muttering to myself. I wondered aloud if there was a saint who helped sewers -- like St. Christopher for travelers and St. Anthony to find things. Con looked it up and came back with the answer -- St. Anne! My niece's name. So St. Anne has become my new best friend. *****************

This picture is of a Snow White fleece neck wrap. I had found a remnant with enough material to make two. When I went to the party in Delta at my friends home, I took them along with others to sell. One of the ladies was recovering from cancer surgery and was encouraged to rest on the sofa. After heating the liner in the microwave for 1 minute, I put it into the fleece cover and wrapped it around her neck. She loved the warmth and the aroma and fell asleep in a few minutes. It was rewarding to see my product so useful to someone. Have a Happy New Year. Rosemary 12/28/10

Merry Christmas!
     I'm heading out to Delta to a friend's home for a women's get-together. We have been friends for 25 years -- it is so hard to believe it. Other than cutting her waist-long, blond hair, she doesn't look any different. Some people just don't age well.
     She invited me to set up a table to show my lavender items. I have been sewing like crazy to get ahead of the game because sales are good. Yesterday the door bell rang and there was a young woman who was handing out business cards for an insurance agent. So I took the card and then gave her one of mine in return - fair is fair, right?
     When I answered the door I was pinning a neck wrap and it was still in my hand. When she read my card and looked at the furry neck wrap in my hand ... yep ... out it came. "Do you like lavender? O, I love lavender. This is a neck wrap I am making from fake fur with satin cuffs (similar one in photo below).  Very cool.  It's washable. You remove the inner liner and put in the microwave" ... yada yada yada. When she reached over and felt the material, I invited her in.  My living and dining room were still set up from my Tuesday Salon -- how convenient. She bought a neck wrap for a Christmas present for her mom. She was happy, I was happy. I went back to my sewing.

HobbyLobby had just enough remnant to make these two cute neck wraps -- little girls would love them. More on kids and lavender later.   FORGET THE PHOTO --- IT MAKES ME SO MAD Just won't download .... me or the computer?????   I hate this thing sometimes. There, I feel better now.   Later.

2 New Neck Wraps finished for a friend

I just finished these two large neck wraps made of washable fake fur. They are beautiful. When you see them, the first thing you want to do is wrap them around your neck -- naturally. They are large - 9" wide and 32" long because I want them to wrap around not just the neck, but also the top of the shoulders where a lot of tension sits. Inside is the muslin liner made with 16 pockets of lavender, flax, and buckwheat hulls. The lavender is for the fragrant aroma, the flax hold the heat, the buc gives softness and flexibility. When the buc rubs against the lavender, it releases the aroma.

Lavender really does induce relaxation and my friend's story reinforces that fact. These are custom ordered because she bought 2 of them from me last month at a house party. Her kids and hubby all fight for them ... so she ordered one for everyone. Smart woman!
Peace in the household!

Last of the Season "Lavender Sachet Salon"

I’m inviting you, friend, once again to my home
with a happy day greeting and a pretty bad poem.

It’s the last of this year’s Salon events

lavender-filled items for the ladies and gents.

Eye pillows, neck wraps to heat up and feel

stiffness melt away as your tired muscles heal.

Let lavender sooth your tension away

with a soft “Comfy Pillow” at the end of the day.

A “Pillow Case Liner” in your pillow to sleep
gives a long, restful night without all the sheep.

A Yardley Soap Gift Box stashed in a drawer

when the neighbor with cookies shows up at your door.

Stockings and mitts made by sweet Christmas elves
and prices reduced to move them off of my shelves.

Bring a friend next Tuesday between 4 and 6:30
you can browse everything without pressure or worry.

I look forward to seeing you before this year’s end
Peace and Christmas blessings I wish you, my friend.

Rosemary Litz All About Lavender

aboutlavender@yahoo.com 970-241-8450 http://aboutlavender.blogspot.com

TUESDAY, 12/14/10 ANYTIME FROM

4-6:30 My home, 500 Walnut Avenue

Janet Provence will also be here showing her latest, beautiful Miche Handbags

Saturday was so fun!!!

The Christmas Faire on Saturday was great fun. I sold a lot of items, particularly the new neck wraps and eye pillows. People seem to buy them as gifts for others at this time of year. They do make a great surprise gift for the females in your life. Attendance was very good. All of the vendors appeared to be making sales. This year there were a few non-lavender crafts and they seemed quite popular. Lots of people came and it is so fun to see people I have seen in a while. talk with old friends. My sweetie husband, Con, worked hard putting up my booth and helping pack up when it was over. He's such a great guy. We've both made so many new friends through our membership in the Lavender Association and he enjoyed chatting with many of them at the Faire.