Posted on Wednesday, January 19, 2011 | By Tammy Silvers | 1 Comment

My “Fabric Stash Go Green” Campaign

Aren’t homemade gifts simply the best?  Really.  Nothing says “I’ve been thinking about you – and you are important to me” like a gift made especially for you.  We are lucky to have a friend that does wood carving, and each year he blesses us with a new creation.  As our collection grows, so does the visual reminder of a dear friendship.  And this year, there was an extra added bonus – his oh-so-clever wife packaged our latest carving in one of those handy-dandy reusable grocery bags.  This one is sooooo cool – it is extra wide (think paper bag wide), so it really holds big items easily.  It has become my go-to bag, despite being bright (BRIGHT) red and emblazoned with a green tree and “Merry Christmas” across the top.  It housed multiple bags with those gift returns we don’t like to think about.

This past weekend, it was the carry-all for a care package for my college daughter, crammed to the top with college student necessities (ie food that doesn’t really have to be prepared! – JUNK FOOD).  And….that red bag got me thinking.  I’ve been working toward being more “green” in my lifestyle.  And I have a fabric stash (don’t we all?).  Yes, it is insulation for the sewing room, keeping one (ok -two) walls nice and toasty.  But it is taking up space and all my excuses for fabric shopping.  So I began my “Christmas Go Green” campaign.  So far I’ve stitched up basic bags from my stash of Christmas fabric in multiple sizes – no real measuring.  More of a “what can I get from this cut” approach.  And being the optimist that I am (don’t listen to those nay-sayer friends of mine – really, I am an optimist – sometimes!), I planned on the bags being used and reused for years to come, so I even went the extra mile and gave them all nice french seams – no raveling here!  Each has a coordinated tie stitched into one side of the bag, making them durable and convenient.  And wrapping next year will be so much faster!  And I still have Christmas fabric left!

And then I got to thinking about those other holidays – Valentine’s Day, Easter, birthdays.  So I’m looking at the stash again – and at some other cool bag ideas.  Ok – so I still drive a gas guzzler, I do admit to using paper plates in moments of desperation, and I am guilty of buying bottled water.  But…my quilting is a little “greener” and my stash a little smaller.  So now it’s off to boost the economy and buy some more fabric!

Tammy Silvers

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