Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Green a little green

I am pretty far from being as green as a girl can be but I try. I have found many little ways to be greener that are so easy and really don't take any extra effort, just a different kind of effort. One of my longest lasting green habits is the use of cloth napkins. The habit started in college when some friends and I lived in a house we called "The Green House". It was a theme house and the inhabitants were supposed to come up with a theme that would benefit the campus community in some way. It was really just a ploy to get ourselves into a house sophomore year and only one of the five of us was a staunch environmentalist beforehand. (Hi Allison!) She first made us a stack of cute little cotton napkins and I think she would be pleased to know that to this day a paper napkin has yet to be used in my home. I have a lot of them and they even have their own little hamper in the laundry room (which is right off the kitchen) where we toss the napkins when we're done with them. Then I can just throw them into the wash anytime I have room in a load of laundry.
Of course, after three years of marriage and using the same napkins, my stash is getting awfully dingy. They still work fine but it is much more enjoyable to dab your lips with something pretty. And so:

Pretty little napkins, kind of made from the pattern in Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts. I used 18" squares and jumbo rick rack. I made two of each because I only had enough rick rack for four but that is just fine. There are plenty of dinners for two around here.

6 comments:

  1. Those are beautiful. I've been thinking a lot about going green these past few weeks, and this might be a good way to start. I think I'm going to take the bus to work on Friday! I'm super excited/nervous. Excited because I get to knit, and nervous because it's something new.

    Thanks for the name game on my blog, I'm not really a joiner either, but Junie is such a sweetie that I felt compelled to play! :)

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  2. Cute napkins, I love those fabrics and the rick rack too.

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  3. Oh gee... every time I come around you get me inspired, and you've done it again! I have the Patchwork book and I love the projects. I hesitated to start the napkins, even though it's a favorite, because I didn't quite get the 2nd part of attaching the rick-rack... something about folding it under or over... I wish the book had more photographs, because I need to see everything. Yours look so fresh and inviting!

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  4. Hi! Stumbled upon your blog from a link from the fab Aunt June. :)
    You guys are seriously giving me a quilting itch.... I have never wanted to do patchwork or quilty stuff before, but now I think I just might order me up that Last Minute book and surprise the heck outta my mom, aunt and cousin (all prolific quilty types) for Christmas. :)

    I think I must make the switch to cloth napkins also! My kitchen is in serious (dire!) need of some cuteness. :P
    Do you store them in a basket or something on a counter?

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  5. Anonymous8:19 PM

    I'm on a napkin making kick; I am TOTALLY loving your fabric and the ric rac.

    Definitely beautiful and inspiring.

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  6. I used that green tile FMF fabric to back a quilt a few years ago. Got it at my local quilt store for $5/yd. on sale. That was before everyone was Jonesing for FMF and it got so scarce. Are your napkins double thickness with the rick-rack sewn in between? Excellent greening. I have been using cloth for some time made with a rolled hem on my serger, a great tool for napkins and tablecloths.

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