Scrappy Wrapping
Stack of scraps
I have a stack of scrap circles, each about 5 inches in diameter…some came from an old quilt I disassembled, and others were from my grandmother’s unfinished quilts. I am not going to make up the quilts…
.
.
Printed chiffon
…so am finding other ways to use the scraps. This month I wanted to use some of the lighter-weight circles as wrapping for tiny books, so I separated out 25 circles of 1930’s printed cotton chiffon, and ran a bit of cotton string around the edge.
.
.
printed book pages
The books are not scraps. I downloaded a computer file for making accordian-pleated dollhouse size books…
.
.
glue sticked and drying
…here is a view of the production-line book assembly.
.
.
baker’s string
I threaded a hanging loop string through the book spine…
.
.
Note
…and wrapped it in an explanatory note.
.
.
chiffon circle
The book was placed in the chiffon circle…
.
.
Gathered
…then the string pulled to gather up the fabric. A numbered label added…
.
.
scrap paper
…made from scrap paper…
.
.
Twenty Five
…I made twenty five little Jane Austen books, and wrapped them in scrap cloth. The little wrappings are meant to look a little like reticules, a kind of little purse carried by elegant ladies in Jane Austen’s day.
The gifts are part of my contribution to the Crafty Advent Calendar. Twenty five people each make 25 of the same thing, numbers them the same, and we exchange gifts at the end of November. Then we open one gift a day throughout December – it is so fun!
.
.
Avidly
Tomorrow is Jane Austen’s birthday, so I chose this gift to honour her. The Quimper Hittys got the books that didn’t work out for one reason or another, and are avidly reading up about life in the early 1800’s, but now they want reticules too!!
.
.
.
.
ScrapHappy is a group of bloggers (links below) who post monthly about using up scraps! All genuine scraps are allowed, and any material. Blog posts are published on the 15th of the month – I really love to see what people are doing with bits and pieces saved from the scrap heaps! If you think you’d like to join the group, contact Kate who devised it with a Swedish friend – her blog is the first link below:
.
.
Quimper Hittys 
Those are great little presents for your friends! Why am I not surprised that the Hittys now want reticules?
The Hittys would like to have dressed up in their Georgian outfits, and carried reticules to a Jane Austen tea but that clothing always seem so summery…what did they do to keep warm way back then!?
I think they did have coats when they went outside but i suspect they sacrificed comfort for looking attractive – as women have so often done!
Alas, yes.
Oh what fun it is to see what the Quimper Hittys read (and make!).
We are glad you think it’s fun – we definitely had fun with the project!
How totally delightful! ❤
Thanks! we had fun putting it all together – and using up the hundred-year-old scraps!
of course the Hittys like Jane Austen, the little books are wonderful and the reticules are perfect. A good use for that scrappy pile of scrap circles.
Some of the taffeta circles are so fragile, we can’t imagine they would have been very good in a quilt, other than just to look at.
How wonderful, great use of scraps and I bet the recipients will be delighted!
We hope so!
I love this!! The books are adorable and the use of the fabric to make little bags is inspired!!!
Thanks! It was fun, and I enjoyed finding a way to wrap 25 gifts that was quick and appropriate, And I had all the materials to hand – yay!
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a Hitty in posession of a reticule is everything an elegant lady should be… Lovely use of scraps!
Yes! That is exactly what the Hittys think!