Our contemporary celebration of Mother's Day really began in the early 1900's, when Anna Jarvis began a campaign to have a day to memorialize mothers with a recognized holiday. Her own mother, Ann Jarvis, cared for both Union and Confederate wounded soldiers during the American Civil War. Today the day is celebrated with bringing moms flowers and gifts.

Consider these easy-to-sew gift ideas:

Lavender Sachets - make a heart shape for a template or use a simple square shape. Trace shape onto doubled fabric, cut out, place right sides together, and stitch around edges leaving an opening in one side for turning right sides out, press, then fill with lavender buds. Hand stitch opening closed, add a ribbon loop for hanging.


Fabric Flower Brooch - cut a strip of fabric approximately 20-inches by 4-inches, fold wrong sides together, press, Hand stitch along the length of the raw edges with a long running stitch pulling up to gather. The gathers will want to naturally roll into a flower shape. Add a pretty button to the front and glue a pin back to the back. Can be attached to the side of a cap or visor, to a tote bag, or pin to a pretty t-shirt or blouse.

Aromatherapy Rice Bag - a soothing natural heating bag that can be used over and over. Cut a pretty printed fabric or use a new terrycloth face towel that is a rectangular shape. Fold fabric so that the right sides are together. Stitch around all open edges leaving an opening for turning. Turn fabric right side out then press. Fill with scented rice (uncooked rice scented with a few drops of an aromatic oil), or a mixture of uncooked rice and lavender buds. Hand stitch closed. To use, microwave for two or three minutes till warm.

Little Handprint Keepsake - put a little fabric paint on a little one's hand, then press onto a square of plain light-colored fabric or muslin. Stretch the fabric into a wooden embroidery hoop for an easy to hang framed handprint. Print out a handprint poem, cut out and hang from the top of the hoop with a pretty ribbon. Some handprint poems to consider, "Here is my hand so tiny, so small, to hang somewhere upon your wall." or "Here's a special hand print a memory that's true, so you'll recall the very day I made this just for you!"

Sleep Mask - print out a sleep mask template, cut two from soft fabric (flannel or satin is nice), cut one from soft felt slightly smaller than the template. Stack all together with the right sides facing outward. Slide a length of elastic to insert into either side of the mask then stitch all together at the outside edges. Trim neatly.

Sleep Masks from Pinterest.com

Sew happy, sew inspired. Happy Mother's Day!