Bring the handkerchief back!

This set of six 1960s cotton handkerchiefs are still available in the shop!

Do you ever get those random flashbacks? 

You'll be sitting around thinking about nothing in particular when suddenly you'll remember something you'd forgotten about for years and years. I love these little flashbacks. It's like reading an old diary and it makes me realize just how complex the human mind really is. Our subconcious thoughts always seem to be just under the surface ready to pop up unexpectedly like an uninvited guest to Sunday brunch. Not that the guest isn't welcome, it's just a surprise. Hopefully a good surprise of course, although I'm sure we all have some suppressed memories we'd rather not remember (like my entire awkward puberty phase during grades 7/8).

Anyways, I had one of these today. 

 I can remember once, many years ago, it was my foster dad's birthday and I wanted to make him a gift. I must have been 10 years old and crafting and art stuff was my jam (still is). It was at this age that I was also taught how to sew so I put my new skills to good use and made him a handkerchief. It was a crude and poorly made little thing - with uneven stitching and my first attempt at embroidery as I added his initial in one corner. I'm guessing it's still kicking around the house somewhere...

The funny thing is that I actually use handkerchiefs (Or, hankies as you may call them. (I'm an odd mix of progressive and traditional here - if my friends didn't think I was "old lady" enough, now they certainly know I'm an old soul). Not only that, but they were actually passed on to me from an old lady. A wise old lady at that, because not only does reusing scraps of fabric reduce waste but they can come in pretty patterns and be a great addition to any fashionistas outfit (not really - but I do feel pretty nifty whipping one out on the bus). 

I would love to see these being used more. I'm guessing compared to tissues, they have some social stigma to them. People probably believe they're unsanitary (not true if washed properly) or just enjoy the ease of disposal because standard tissues can just be thrown away.
But really, we all know making garbage isn't good right??

If that isn't enough to convince you, I'll just leave these gorgeous hankies right here for you....

Photographed by Jen Rodriguez.  Aren't they dreamy? 

xoxo

Brittany