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Introducing Kimberly {and her Heart Hand Warmers}

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There is a special guest today at Fox Hollow and she is sharing with us how to make Hand Warmers. The cutest little heart shaped hand warmers ever!
 
Please give a warm (no pun intended) welcome to Kimberly. Actually, she is more then a special guest, Kimberly is a new, monthly contributor here at FHC. I know you’re going to love her!

 

 

Hello Fox Hollow Cottage friends, 
I’m Kimberly from
 
 

 

I’m thrilled that Shannon has invited me to be here and to meet all of you and I’m looking forward to getting to know you better in the coming months!

 

 

If you ever have a question or if there’s something that you’d like to see in a post, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment or send me an email. I’m always willing to do something new or to provide information or clarification.

 

 

Have you ever heard the saying, “Cold hands, warm heart”? 

 

 

I live in the Midwest and I always thought that the saying was a built in excuse for those of us who live in states where the temperatures dip below freezing beginning in October and last, (for what feels like an eternity) until early May.


 

I think that those of us who live in the Northern half of the middle of the country are good-natured people most of the time.
 
Well… so long as you don’t count those days where we’ve had to brave blizzard like conditions to remove six inches of snow from the drive more than once  in 24 hours….

 

 

…or the times during January and February that we don’t see the sun for a week.  Other than that, most Mid-westerners are down-right cheery. Many of us do, however, suffer from  cold hands (and toes, and noses) for most of the winter…even with our down filled and arctic-rated thermal mittens.

 

 

Today, I’m going to share my secret remedy for chilly fingertips: Rice filled, “Warm Hands Hearts”. Because after all, there’s no rule that says that you can’t have warm hands and a warm heart…Right?!

 

 
 

Warm Hands Hearts

Materials:

  • Wool Felt (Fleece also works well)
  • Scissors
  • Sewing Needle and Embroidery Cotton
  • 1 to 1 1/2 Cups Uncooked Rice (any variety except instant). I used mixed long grain and wild.
  • Lavender buds and Essential Oil for scenting the rice. I use dried lavender from my garden. (Optional)

To make the warmers:

  • Cut 4 hearts from the felt. Mine measure about 4 inches across and 4 inches from top to bottom.
  • Using embroidery cotton, sew a simple blanket stitch around the edge of the heart leaving a one inch opening for filling.
  • Place the uncooked rice in a bowl. Add lavender and 2-3 drops of Essential Oil, Stir. (Optional)
  • Fill the hearts with rice. I use a simple funnel made from a piece of paper.
  • Stitch the opening closed.

To Use:

Place the hearts in the microwave for 10 to 20 seconds dependent upon how powerful your unit is. Do not over heat as the rice can get very  hot and may cause burns.  Place one warmer in each jacket pocket and enjoy warm fingers for up to 20 minutes!  These warmers may be re-heated indefinitely.
 
I happen to love having  Warm Hands Hearts in my jacket pockets….not only do they keep my fingertips toasty, they smell nice.

 

 
Of course, if you’re making them for your son (or, for that matter any male over the age of about nine), it’s best to skip the lavender and opt for a more manly scent like cedar, eucalyptus or clove. My youngest loves peppermint.
 
 
Also, based upon my personal experience, if you’re making them for the men in your life, it’s also a good idea to make them in the shape of a rectangle… in a color like grey (or black) with contrasting stitching in a color like black (or grey). Apparently, when you’re a guy who carries hand warmers, subtlety is a good thing.
 
 
You know, just in case one happens to fall out of a jacket pocket… in front of a bunch of other guys.
 
 
xo,
Kimberly
P.S. I also happen to know that larger sizes (filled with an entire bag of rice) make wonderful warmers for chilly toes when placed beneath the blankets at bedtime. They can also be frozen and used as cold packs. Enjoy!
 

 

 

 
I am so excited for you (and me!) that Kimberly will be stopping by the hollow monthly to share with us as a special contributor. Her visits will bring something a little different then you might normally see here at Fox Hollow Cottage. 
I’m super thrilled, because after all.. isn’t it our 
differences that make life interesting? I think so!

Want Kimberly more then once a month?
You can find her at Serendipity Refined
and at the following social media sites;
Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter & Google+



I hope you enjoyed her post about keeping Winter hands warm. That tutorial on making your own Lavender Heart Hand Warmers makes even me think I could manage to sew a few stitches 😉 

What a lovely Valentine’s gift they would make!

Comments

  3. breida with a b. says

    I’m happy to see Kimberly (and whatever project she’s working on) WHEREVER she is!! Congrats to both of you – and you know. . . i prefer the grey hand warmers myself!
    breida

Introducing Kimberly {and her Heart Hand Warmers}

DIY Hand warmers: wool-felt-heart-hand-warmers-diy-how-to-make-tutorial
 
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