This Artist DIYed a Pocket-Sized, Scented Pillow to Comfort Her Son

by admin March 16, 2020

Portland, Oregon-based ceramic artist Martina Thornhill isn’t just coming up with simple projects to keep her own mind off the COVID-19 outbreak as she hunkers down at home—she’s also thinking about her toddler son, Dodge. “I’ve definitely noticed how much of this stress my own child has picked up on,” she says. So, on day two of social-distancing, she crafted a source of comfort in the form of a tiny cushion filled with dried lavender and whip.

Dodge was actually the one who gave Thornhill the idea, as he’d been carrying around a pouch of florals he found in her dresser drawer and smelling it often. “The sachet had a drawstring and the potpourri mix kept falling out, so sewing a little pillow for it just seemed natural,” says Thornhill. The aromatic token has seemed to calm him—plus it gave her something to do with her hands.

The Supplies

fabric in a hoop — Photography by Martina Thornhill

Scissors
Thread
Fabric
Embroidery hoop
Needle
Filler of your choice

The How-To

back of embroidered fabric with plant design — Photography by Martina Thornhill

hand holding a tiny pillow — Photography by Martina Thornhill

Thornhill embroidered her design on a scrap piece of fabric before cutting the material into a small rectangle. It only needed to measure 2” x 3”—just big enough to fit in a pocket or a child’s hand. Next, she folded the fabric over so the outside edges faced each other and hand-stitched everything closed except for one corner. Then, she flipped the pillow inside out and filled it with lavender and whip before sewing it shut. (Psst: Peppermint and sage would work well for this, too.) “I think it’s so important to be spreading simple ways to stay occupied and calm amidst all the stress of this pandemic,” says Thornhill. The artist has already her sights set on the next DIY that’ll bring peace of mind.