Going Green with a Wedding Request

Just a week ago, my sister-in-law called me with a request. Could I make a ring bearer pillow for her nephew's wedding, she asked. Seems the bride had been shopping and didn't love what she saw so they thought I might be able to help. I said yes, of course, anticipating the fun I'd have as I did my best Project Runway imitation. Send in Tim Gunn, I thought, and I'll show him I can "make it work!"

Two days later, I received an email. Can you make another for a second young ring bearer, it asked. Sure, I said. So I got to work.

Why write about it here? Two reasons. First is that I've been on a mission to declutter my house and I'd be able to use fabric and ribbon and lace that was already taking up space in my sewing boxes. And second, because when I went to the fabric store to pick up one more piece of ribbon I experienced a "go green moment."

I paid for the ribbon - the beautiful wedgewood blue seen above - and the woman selling it asked me if I wanted a bag. When I said yes, she told me that if I didn't take a bag, I could fill out a small raffle ticket and have a chance to win a $10.00 gift certificate to the store. Of course I then declined the bag because who couldn't carry a small piece of ribbon and I could win a prize.

What a great idea for a small retailer where customers generally don't bring their own fabric shopping bags. All of that money saved on buying paper bags that would end up in a recycling pile or worse, in the trash, or on plastic bags that would carry their negative environmental impact. And I'll think about that fabric shop first when I need to make another purchase. Which, given the yards and yards of fabric and the many notions that I have, may not be for awhile. Unless there's another wedding request. But hey, Halloween is rapidly approaching and that means costumes!

The pillows were finished and given to the groom's mom today. Tomorrow Pat and Anna take their vows, a young couple just beginning their married life. To them go all best wishes for a joyous day and a wonderful future.