Upcycle the 1930’s – Cafe Curtains {Green in 365: Spring}

 

This is Day 64 of the Green in 365 series!

Note from Emily: As your decluttering around your home, keep your eye out for things you can repurpose around your home and give new life to in a meaningful way the way Renee did. I love her curtains! 

By Renee from Joyful Mom

I like to keep pretty things–quilts too many for the number of beds in our house, linen table runners, doilies, and the old fashion card table coverings… did I mention the tea-cup collection?

I have inherited my grandmothers and my aunts handmade treasures. These women taught me how to sew, quilt, cross stitch, crochet, and knit (a fail until I started again 25 years later). These women fed my creativity and my inability to sit still by teaching me how to use my hands to make beautiful things. The old adage “you can’t take it with you” should have an amendment to it  – but Renee can take it for you – keep it safe and honor it.

I kept these heirloom linens and quilts near my sewing table for inspiration. Then we moved! As I was unpacking I found my stack of inspiration and wanted to do something special with it – so I kept the pile out – moving it through the house trying to find a home for it.

As we unpacked and began making the house our home I wanted to use what I had rather than buy something new. The kitchen in my new house is beautiful – but the blind for the window was old and bent – years of kitchen goo that I couldn’t clean off. I couldn’t take it anymore and took it down!  Leaving a very large window naked.

I found a spring rod and started hanging fabric (my fabric stash is way too big – as and ex-quilter – need I say more?)… then I passed my pile of linens and quilts! It was and ohh ohh ohh moment, I dropped everything and starting hanging different combinations.

A simple spring rod with cafe clips – holding two generations of memories clinging to fabric. I look at the detail in the embroidery and I wonder if she had a zillion colors to choose from or just a few? I wonder if she ever would have thought that her art would be so inspiring.

I think about the hours and hours spent with fabric, needle, loving hands adorned with a simple gold band. I wonder what it would have been to live life so simply and frugal. Our generation goes out of our way to be frugal and not waste, but for those generations it wasn’t an option.

I have a few more linens, do you have any suggestions for me? How have you reused a family keepsake or heirloom around your home?

Renee is passionate about living her life with intention. She inspires and encourages women to find their authentic purpose. A writer, speaker/coach, artisan, wife, mother to 4 kids and 2 angels. Renee shares her journey of blessings at Joyful Mom–in everything give thanks.

Find all the Green in 365 posts.

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