Here's a Good Thing that will be useful after a long, hard day at work: a homemade heating pad using dried cherry pits.

Tools and Materials
Sewing machine
Iron
Fabric (about 1/2 yard will make at least one)
Machine-sewing thread in coordinating color
Bone folder
Scissors
Dried cherry pits or buckwheat
Lavender oil (optional)

Heating Pad How-To
1. Fold a 20-by-14-inch piece of fabric in half lengthwise, right sides facing.

2. Sew one short side and one long side with a 1/4-inch seam allowance.

3. Fold the open end out 1/4 inch and press it.

4. Clip the corners, being careful not to cut into the seams. Turn the fabric right side out.

5. Use a bone folder to push out the corners and make them sharp.

6. Fill the bag a little less than halfway with dried cherry pits or buckwheat. If desired, the pits or buckwheat can be mixed with a few drops of lavender oil before filling.

7. Close the open end of the bag with a top stitch.

Resources
Martha used cherry pits from tripledorchards.com and buckwheat from buckwheathull.com.