inspired by soulemama's post yesterday, i decided to share our love of hankerchiefs as well...
it began in my childhood. my father always had a hankerchief handy in his pocket. always. in fact, i would venture to say that i don't recall a time he was ever without one. i can still remember gathering them from his pockets and underneath his pillow to be washed. and the fresh smell of my mother's blue cheer detergent as my sister and i folded them up into neat little squares, one by one, after they were washed and dried (along with his soft, white fruit-of-the-loom t-shirts). how is it that something that was so simple and mundane at the time...brings about such joy and happiness now as a memory? sometimes words just aren't enough.
as a grown woman and mama myself, i have chosen to use hankerchiefs for all of the best reasons - better for the environment, adhering to more sustainable home practices, much softer on the nose, etc, etc. but i must confess, i never thought of using anything but hankerchiefs (is there anyone who really likes the feeling of paper tissue?). and as a result of collecting over the years, my extensive oilily bandana collection suits this important purpose perfectly. something beautiful and useful. what more could you ask for?
also, what has worked well for us is to keep them close by and handy in one of our bedside tables (which just so happens to have little drawers perfectly sized for each squarely folded, but definitely not ironed, hankie). they fit in quite nicely with our shoe and slipper cubbies...
i adore the colorful fabrics. and as with all cottons, they just get softer and softer with the constant use...
but if you don't have a handy little drawer to use, try making one of these ingenious hankerchief dispensers that amanda created. my, my...she comes up with the cleverest things, doesn't she? thank you for the inspiration, soulemama!
happy tuesday,
shelley
