FitSugar

DIY Holiday Gift: Scented Eye Pillows

FitSugar — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 03:47:05 PST

I love an eye pillow during savasana. The added prop makes the end of yoga class even more relaxing. You can give the gift of relaxation and make your friends and loved ones eye pillows for the holidays. DIY gifts add a more personal touch to the giving season, and you'll save yourself some dough. Since you don't need a large amounts of fabric for this project, you can probably use old scraps, making your gift eco friendly too.

Here's what you'll need:

fabric, something soft and luxurious - flannel is great
flax seed
dried herbs of your choice: roses, chamomile, peppermint, lavender
sewing machine or thread and needle
straight pins
bowl
measuring cup and tablespoon

Learn how to whip up an eye pillow.

Etsy Find: Lavender Relaxation Eye Pillow

CasaSugar — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 08:30:33 PDT

If the botanical patterns of this Lavender Relaxation Eye Pillow ($9) weren't enough to have you reaching for your wallet, let me tell you that it's filled with flaxseed and lavender buds to send you into deep relaxation mode. It's the perfect way to soothe the tired eyes of blushing brides who are stressed from all the wedding planning they've been doing, or just those lovely hard-working single gals! Whoever wears it will look super-cute as they're snoozing away; it's available in a variety of patterns, including Amy Butler fabrics, if you're a fan of hers. But, watch out soon-to-be weds, don't sleep through your ceremony!

Relax and Unwind With an Eye Pillow

DearSugar — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 11:00:00 PDT

Sometimes when your body and mind need to relax, you need to help coax it along a little. If you don't have the time for a salt soak or massage, and you aren't in the mood for a cup of tea, you've got to try using an eye pillow!

They're filled with flaxseeds, and often contain dried calming herbs like lavender and chamomile. Just place one over your eyes, and breathe in the peaceful aromas. The gentle pressure of the flaxseeds and soothing darkness can relieve tension headaches, eye strain, or stress.

Here are some of my favorites:

Jaisalmer Eye Pillow	Hugger Mugger Silk Eye Bag with Neck Pillow
Moss Green Eye Pillow	Microwavable Warm Whiskers Eye Pillows
Kovalam Eye Pillow	Silk Eye Pillow

Relax Already: Bring an Eye Pillow to Work

FitSugar — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 15:15:00 PST

If you stare at a computer all day long, you've probably found yourself squinting, which can cause major head and neck pain.

To relieve eye and head strain, keep an eye pillow at work. You can place it in the fridge for a few minutes, and then go someplace where you won't be disturbed (go to the bathroom or your car if necessary). Place the pillow over your closed eyes and allow yourself to just take in the cooling relief.

Try to find an eye pillow that's made with natural ingredients like flax seed, dried lavender, peppermint, and chamomile.

I found these made by Barefoot Yoga. They're $15.50/17.00, which is more expensive than most, but they're made out of silk, and they come with a zippered storage pouch to keep your eye pillow clean.

Fit's Tips: Feeling crafty? You can also make your own really easily. Just buy fabric, flax seeds, and dried flowers and herbs. You can even make them for your co-workers and have designated eye relaxation breaks.

View 6 Photos ›

Earn More Money By Changing Up Your Office Space

LearnVest — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:15:07 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Most of us spend about 40 hours per week at work - in other words, the majority of our waking hours.

And nearly all of those hours are spent sitting at our desks. It’s a definite problem - and not just because we’re missing happy hour or quality couch time at home.

There’s no shortage of discouraging research pointing out the evils of a sedentary lifestyle and claiming that sitting will actually shorten our lives.

But, conversely, making a few tweaks to the way you sit - and the space you sit in - all day has been proven to make you a happier, healthier worker, busy earning your killer salary.

And, scientists say, the happier you are, the more you tend to earn.

In an effort to make the time spent at our desks as productive (and as profitable) as possible, we’ve combed the research for the easiest, most effective tips to soothe your mind and body when trapped in a cubicle . . . or corner office.

Just follow these four steps.

1. Make It Comfy

When we say “comfy,” we mean “ergonomic.” It’s an unfriendly word for a friendly concept: basically it means “intended to provide optimum comfort and to avoid stress or injury.” Friendly, right? Besides, an awkward workspace can lead to major health issues, including disorders in your joints or tendons, so a little tweaking of your cubicle can go a long way for your well-being. Line up your body correctly by following these two principles:

Your feet should be flat on the floor and your elbows should be even with your desk. This can be achieved either through adjustable chairs or - if chairs are a hot commodity at your office - a combination of step stools and pillows.

Read on for more tips.

Untapped Resource: Antique Suzanis For a Steal!

Angela Swinderman Elias — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:00:39 PST

While clicking through dozens of pictures during a late night Google Image search for suzanis, I stumbled upon the mother ship. If you're a sucker for central Asian prints like suzanis and ikats, you must check out Uzbek Craft, an online store stocked with Oriental textiles. Aside from offering fabrics, they also carry pretty pillows and jewelry. My favorite though, is their gallery of breathtaking vintage suzanis, which are astonishingly reasonable at a price range of $50-$300.

There are several stages to creating these magnificent textiles. First, a pattern is drawn on the fabric to serve as a guide for the embroidery. Then a group of artists, usually family members, work on embroidering separate panels of fabric using colorful silk thread. Once the panels are complete, they are sewn together to create a cohesive piece of cloth.

The layered process of creating a suzani is reflected in interior designer Kathryn Ireland's approach to incorporating the prints in her work. The varying patterns and pops of color in the suzani pieces she uses make for eclectic and warm spaces. Keep reading to see some of my favorite examples of Kathryn Ireland's layered suzani rooms!

Jonathan Adler Transforms Taboo Topics Into Groovy Style Statements

CasaSugar — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:16:48 PST

Interior designer, potter, and color-enthusiast Jonathan Adler takes happy chic to uncharted territory this month with the launch of his new toilet paper roll covers for Cottonelle's Spring collection. The three limited-edition roll cover designs are available online, and at just $2 per cover, practically everyone can afford to stash their spare rolls in Adler's signature style.

We caught up with Adler to chat about his Cottonelle collaboration and so much more! Keep reading to get the skinny on his bathroom must haves, bucket-list mantra, squeaky-clean lifestyle, and why he'll never use the male form in his designs.

Learning More About Tangerine Tango, Pantone's Color of the Year: An Interview With Leatrice Eiseman

CasaSugar — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:01:15 PST

Each year Pantone, the global authority on color, reveals its choice for the color of the year, signaling the color direction for interior design, fashion, cosmetics, and graphic design. This year, the color is Tangerine Tango, a vibrant shade that will breathe new life into 2012's color palettes. I recently chatted with Pantone's resident color guru, Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, about what the color means for the new year. Let's learn more about Tangerine Tango!

CasaSugar: Were there any major influences that contributed to Pantone's decision on Tangerine Tango for 2012?
Leatrice Eiseman: The Color of the Year selection process is very thoughtful and time consuming. To arrive at the selection each year, Pantone quite literally combs the world looking for color influences. This can include the entertainment industry and films that are in production, traveling art collections, hot new artists, popular travel destinations, and other socio-economic conditions. Influences may also stem from technology, availability of new textures and effects that impact color, and even upcoming sports events that capture worldwide attention.

CS: What colors do you suggest pairing Tangerine Tango with?
LE: It goes well with many colors that make for unexpected combinations. For example, pair it with an elegant wine color, such as Syrah or a Rhubarb Red. It's great with a slightly greenish blue, like Vallarta, or a hot pink called Cabaret for a retro look. Of course, it's always great with warm taupey tans like Tiger's Eye, and a special favorite of mine is a deep yellow green called Winter Moss. And there is the summertime staple of White Alyssum and Tangerine Tango.

Keep reading for more tips on decorating with Tangerine Tango and more gorgeous photos!

To Give and to Receive: Top Gift Choices From Old Village Hall's Scott Hill

Angela Swinderman Elias — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 11:00:30 PST

A longtime lover of the arts, Scott Hill worked odd jobs at galleries and played with his rock band, the Heroine Sheiks, before landing a freelance gig building retail windows at Ralph Lauren. Passionate and undeniably talented, he became the director of creative resourcing and design for the company before eventually opening his own store, Old Village Hall, in upstate New York in 2004. Five years later, he opened a second location in New York's East Village. A testimony to Scott's keen eye and eclectic taste, the shop is filled with vintage curiosities and local artisan goods, which are also sold on the shop's website. The real treasures, though, are Scott's creations. Inspired by everything from flea market photos to historical documents, Scott silkscreens photos and text over fabrics like classic toiles and Belgium linens. He uses the silkscreened fabric to reupholster antique furniture and also makes throw pillows, totes, and more.

See which gifts Scott is looking to give and receive this year by checking out his gallery of picks!

Source

Interpreting the Emerson Spring/Summer 2012 Metallic Trench Into Home Decor

Elka Karl — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 05:00:40 PDT

Splotches, splatters, and blotches, oh my - who would've thought that these happenstance brushstroke marks could look so chic. I'm loving the dramatic, Jackson Pollack-meets-Shibori look of the Emerson metallic trench, which was added to Emerson's Facebook page this week. Happily, it's also perfect for translating to the world of home decor.

The trench seems like it was made to coordinate with Brooklyn design firm Eskayel's painterly patterns, from its Splatter Spell Granite Fabric ($155, top row, left) to its Splatter Spell Granite Basket ($320 middle row, right) to its coordinating Splatter Spell Pillow ($135 - $195 bottom row, middle left). I'm a huge Eskayel fan, and these pieces would add a gritty, artistic vibe to your home. The Brooklyn, NY based design studio, which was founded by designer and painter Shanan Campanaro, creates gorgeous patterned bespoke wallpaper textiles, and home accessories, which are all locally sourced and fabricated in the Northeastern United States. You couldn't go wrong with adding some of Shanan's work to your home.

For a more structured pattern, the CB2 Inkwell Modern Organic Linens ($25 - $110, bottom row, left) from artist Matthew Lew render a similar look to the trench in a modern primitive ikat pattern. Crafted from organic cotton percale and featuring deep indigo and blue certified-organic dyes, the pattern gracefully walks the line between abstract pattern and tribal ikat.

Do you have your eye on something else in the roundup? Shop by clicking each image.