Repurposed Wrapping . . . Have Yourself a Greener Holiday

I adore wrapping paper, especially handmade. The colors. . . the designs. . . the store displays woo me as I peruse the shops. If I so much as walk near Paper Source, I feel my heart race and my hands perspire.  But, as a lifelong tree-hugger with a reduce, reuse, recycle mentality, I force myself to stop. Visions of crafty supplies: rescued ribbons, vintage fabric scraps, and saved pompoms dance through my head.  I hoard ephemera of all types, you just don’t know when something will come in handy, do you?

So, into my studio I go to collect accessories that fit the season or occasion… leftover wrapping paper, fabric scraps, buttons, ribbons (I even once saved a student’s rejected watercolor and turned the paper into hangtags). Not only do I save a bundle (to spend on rescuing more vintage items), but I created a unique OOAK (one-of-a-kind) gift.

 

Save a tree this holiday season and have yourself a greener holiday!

As always…with love, Barb

Holiday Memories with Recycled Vintage Fabrics

Our family’s favorite time together is dinner time. I know the trend for “open concept” living is all the rage, but for us, the dining room, closed off from the busy-ness of our lives, is where we love to gather.

The dining room table has always been a foundation for creativity, whether used as a worktable or for planning, but never more so than around the holidays. From those iconic Thanksgiving apple turkeys to individual placecards adorned with mini pinecones or river stones painted with each guest’s name, holiday projects were both a way to formalize the meal as well as a source of entertainment for the children and adults alike. Creativity ruled; we didn’t care about “perfect”.  My husband likes to joke that his formal Yankee Grandparent’s motto was “children should be NOT seen and NOT heard.” Not in our household!

Now that the kids are flying the coop and I have more time on my hands, I love making table runners from my vast collection of vintage fabrics. The textiles I use depend on the occasion or season. Nubby vintage chenille with its amazing array of color and textures is perfect for a baby shower. Textural bark cloth from the 40s blends beautifully with the smooth elegance of vintage velvet for winter nights, and the delightfully colorful fabrics of vintage Lilly Pulitzer adds a real pop of color in welcoming back Springtime.

Recycling fabrics . . . whether you scored yardage from estate sales, selected vintage clothing from Goodwill or inherited a box of Grandma’s linens from a neighbor . . . will make you feel proud about your resourcefulness and the textiles you choose can provide the beginning of what will become one of your family’s favorite treasures, your stories.

As always…with Love, Barb