Replacing Broken Glass Frame

I purchased a vintage framed print for $4.00 at a thrift store. The original glass was broken. I wanted to keep the original frame so I took the artwork to a local glass store instead of a frame store. The glass store could take out the broken glass without damaging anything and replaced a new glass(41"W x 17"H) for $20.00. It was much better deal than reframing at a frame store. I am very happy with the result.

Reuse Vintage Cosmetic Containers

Don't you love antique and vintage cosmetic containers?

I remember my mother's beautiful lip stick holders, powder containers,cream contaniers, and etc.
They were made of metal or ceramic with detailed decorations and were not only containers but also artworks.

I started to reuse vintage cosmetic containers in stead of throwing a lot of disposable cosmetic containers.
It is a pleasure to use something beautiful every day.

Vintage 1973 Santa and Kewpie Christmas Plate

Have you started Christmas shopping?

My friends told me that they have already started their holiday shopping as some retail department stores have already started to sell 2009 Christmas items at discounted prices.

I love vintage Christmas items very much.
Especially, it is interesting for me to find vintage Christmas items made in Japan for American market.
They were made in Japan but I didn’t get chances to see them while growing up in Japan.
They are rather new to me but have something so familiar with my childhood.

New and Vintage Handkerchieves

In stead of using paper towels at public places, I started to carry a handkerchief with me and try not to use paper towels as much as possible.

Can you buy new handkerchieves in your area?
It is hard to find new handkerchieves available in the U.S., isn't it?

I have a lot of handkerchieves that I purchased in Japan.
Japanese carry a handkerchief as a "must have" item and there are so many new handkerchieves available in many designs in Japan.

Besides Japanese handkerchieves, I love American vintage handkerchieves.
To me, they are special treasures.

Handmade Cloth Napkins

Can you sew?

It is easy to sew cloth napkins.

I have been using cloth napkins instead of paper napkins and have made several cloth napkins.

I just cut fabrics, double fold, baste, and machine stitch.



It is fun to sew various sized cloth napkins with faborite fabrics!

Vintage Treasures Milk Glasswares

Don't you love vintage glasswares?

The attached vintage milk glass snack tray sets are one of my favorite.
It is fun to invite girl friends to come over for a tea with this snack tray sets with a lot of treats.




I also love to use vintage everyday kitchen glasswares especially Pyrex and Fire King.
It was a score for me that I could purchased the attached Pyrex nesting bowls set in great condition.

Beautiful Japanese Silk Remnants

I love sewing and crafting.
I love new fabrics as well as vintage fabrics.
Especially, vintage fabrics which remind me of my childhood are my favorite.






The attached photos are Japanese silk remnant that I purchased in Japan.
These small pieces are hand tied and dyed.
The silk fabrics are very soft and delicate.

These remnants will be large enough to make doll clothes, accessories or garment embellishment.
I was so happy that I could purchase them in Japan as I can’t find silk fabrics in the U.S. easily.

Furoshiki Wrapping & Wine Bottles

Instead of buying a wine bottle sized paper bag, a piece of cloth, furoshiki can be a unique reusable wrapping cloth to bring a bottle of wine for a gift.
For the attached photo, I used a Japanese standard sized furoshiki (approx. 35” x 35”).
Can you see I tried to make flower petals around the top of the wine bottle?
As the material of the furoshiki is very flexible, I could enjoy wrapping the wine bottle like doing paper folding, origami.
It is a fun to utilize furoshikis for gift wrapping and creativity is unlimited!

3Rs Reuse: Unfinished Vintage Embroidered Table Cloth

I love antiques and vintage articles especially handmade items.
I purchased an unfinished vintage hand embroidered table cloth and had a fun time to complete it.

Global Furoshiki Community

It was great to hear from Mandy and myfuroshiki regarding the former blog, “3Rs Japanese Reusable Wrapping Cloth Furoshiki posted on July 8.

Mandy and her partner run an organic earth tone furoshiki business, “Persimmon & Pine” in Seattle, WA
www.persimmonandpine.com

My Furoshiki and her sister run a cute modern Japanese motif furoshiki business, “My Furoshiki” in England and Australia.
www.myfuroshiki.blogspot.com

It is very interesting to see various furoshiki designs at their business.

It is also great that furoshikis have been rediscovered their eco-friendly value beyond Japan!

3Rs: Japanese Reusable Wrapping Cloth Furoshiki

Furoshikis are wrapping cloth originated in Japan. There are various sizes and designs and can be used for multiple purposes such as carrying items, gift wrapping, protecting garments in the closets and etc. They are light weight, easy to carry in the bags and flexible to fit various sized items to be wrapped.

Ms. Wangari Muta Maathai , who has been an ecologist for the Green Belt Movement in Kenya and won the Nobels Fredspris in 2004, was deeply impressed by the Japanese value, “Mottainai” and furoshiki.
“Mottainai” means not to waste.
Ms. Maathai has been introducing furoshiki to the world through her Mottainai Campaign.

For this coming holiday season, can we start to use reusable wrapping materials like furoshiki ?
I am going to change my wrapping materials from papers to reusable cloth or bags.

3Rs Reduce: Pencils

I started to use pencils instead of pens so that I can reduce the amount of plastic garbage.

3Rs Reduce: Self-Winding Watch

When my watch with a battery stopped working, instead of replacing a new battery, I re-started to use my self-winding watch.
The wind-up watch was my first watch given by my grandfather in 1970’s. I didn’t use the watch for 30 years or so but works just fine.
I am going to use this self-winding watch so that I can reduce the amount of consumption of batteries.

3Rs Cloth Napkins

Reduce Household Garbage:

My husband and I stopped using paper napkins and started to use cloth napkins.