Thursday, September 27, 2007

The Glistening Hankie

I’m a simple southern girl from coastal North Carolina despite currently residing in Tucson, AZ. Growing up I was taught that a lady never sweats. One absolutely does not have pores that exude anything—way too tacky for words.

Instead, your dewy complexion is the result of glistening. The term has fallen to the wayside but isn’t it ever so lovely anyway?


One should always be prepared for these delicate moments with an appropriate bit of fabric to gently, very gently, pat one’s skin. No desperate sloughing off the skin cells in public no matter how much heat or how many hot flashes you’re enduring.


You can buy and use a pretty vintage handkerchief. Some of you have these already and may be saving them for precious. The concept of not using something because it’s too precious makes me feel sad. Each of us is precious in our own right and we deserve to use special things every single day.




The other option is to make your own easy-to-sew trimmed handkerchief. For my project, I am recycling my absolute favorite cotton lawn nightgown that’s falling apart from being loved so much.



You could also simply buy the finest cotton fabric you can find (polyester or other plastic-fantastic fabrics will absolutely not do) and either crochet, tat, or otherwise cheat like I did and buy ready-made lace or other assorted trim that makes you feel all girly.


Cut a 12-inch square from your fabric. Turn under each edge 1/8” and press. Turn that under another 1/8” and press again. Then sew around all four sides.



Pin your trim around the edge of your fabric square and sew either by machine or hand. You could embroider a little something, too, but my fabric print is fine as it is.



Y’all can go forth now and glisten beautifully!

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a great idea. Recycle Recycle Recycle

Anonymous said...

What pretty post. You wrote that up so well. It does indeed make me want to make my own hanky for those "glistening" moments :<)

Rosie
www.rosieswhimsy.wordpress.com

a pink-bee said...

What a neat project! Thanks sweet Junie! I will make some- always love how in the movie "You've got Mail" Meg Ryan , using one:)
crystalx

Kristie said...

Beautiful, and you are so clever to find a way to hold onto your favorite nightie--literally!

Linda said...

I love hankies..always have one in is my purse, but never thought of making one. You have the neatest ideas, and now I have a new project to look forward to.

Linda

Lilli in Vancouver said...

Lovely, very ladylike hankie :)

Lisa said...

My family's from coastal Carolina, too ~ have known those delicate lovely southern women with pretty handkerchiefs, have some vintage hankies, myself. But your idea of making one of an old loved piece of fabric is perfect; so pretty.

Anne said...

What a lovely idea, dear June. I should have known you are a sweet southern belle from your ladylike ways. My dear mother always carried a hankie and made sure I huge collection of them. They are all white, all are pure linen, and each of them have tatting around them done by a special friend of hers. I used to carry them always but when some of them became threadbare and stained with lipstick I started saving them. I'm going to go get one to put in my purse right now and put the rest of them where I can get them to use.
I love your project of using a favorite fabric. I have a pair of jammies that are so threadbare but I love how they feel to wear. Recycling them as hankies is the best idea ever. Thanks!

Lena said...

This is a nice idea June. My husband's grandma always had a pretty hanky in her purse, or in her pocket, and she was very ladylike indeed.
Your hanky turned out very pretty!

cherry said...

Hello...first time here. What a neat idea! Waste not want not! I love vintage hankies...have a few that were my G. Grandmothers...I love to decorate with them. Need to add you to my faves so I can visit often. cherry

Kristi said...

Cute! This reminds me of another children's book we love. "Joseph Had a Little Overcoat" by Simms Taback. Joseph's overcoat was worn out so he made it into a jacket and so on and so on until he was down to a button. When he lost his button he wrote a story about the whole thing to prove that you can make something out of nothing.

Junie, I wanted to let you know where to get a photo book made up. We got ours at www.winkflash.com. They are having a sale for a book with any amount of pages for a flat rate. It ends tomorrow! Maybe you can hurry and get photos uploaded. I'm sure other photo printing sites have books too.

Maize Hutton said...

When I was in Japan recently, I discovered all the women (and some men also) carry little hand towels to blot the sweat from their brow. It's not cool to wipe your sweat with the back of your hand there.

Amanda Jean said...

that is beautiful! what a great idea.

Gumbo Lily said...

I like the idea of turning something old into something new and beautiful like your hanky. I have "lady hankies" and I love to keep one in my purse, but I do use tissues too (I try to buy pretty tissues when I can find them).
~Jody

Mrs.Kwitty said...

Ya'll are so genteeeeel JunieMoon.
Love your delicate little hankie.
Smiles, Karen

Anonymous said...

It's possible that we were raised by the same magnolia queen southern mothers. Mine made me walk with a book on my head for posture and sit with my ankles crossed. I was always a tomboy and climbing trees--- I glistened alot! Nice little tut, sugah!