Guest Author - Jill Florio

You've just finished a holiday project. How about reusuing, or using up those ends of balls of thread/yarn, or scrap fabric and ribbon?

BellaOnline Tatting site editor Gillian Buchanan says, "I always find that it really goes against the grain to throw away those oddments of yarn or thread and fabric. There often isn't enough to do anything much with them; yet pure wool and cotton is so expensive now that it's a shame to waste it. I have things like Knox's Linen skeins from around 1910 which I can't use, because the original owner cut the folded end to use them for embroidery. It's such a shame because the quality is incredible."

I agree, and am always seeking unique and USEFUL ways to make the best use of all the resources in my home. I hate to throw anything away if there is a possible use for it. Smart businesses do this too! Think of the donut holes sold by bakeries...what else ya gonna do with the little wads of dough?

Here's an Inter-Bella Brainstorming to get your green Christmas juices flowing!

• Buchanan recommends some ideas for using up those scraps of thread you can´t bear to throw away in her Tatting article, Using up Oddments of Thread.
  
  
• Old, ratty Christmas balls can get a new life by tying or glueing old ribbon pieces and fabric scraps around them. This would be a good kiddie project, for evenings around the fireplace. You can glue sequins on them, old buttons, or pieces of old, brkoen costum jewelry. Take a look at what you have lying around. Glue a loop at the top for tree-hanging, or place those "new" balls in a silver tray, glass bowl, or rustic basket lined with pine boughs.
  
  
• Bits of ribbon (or little pieces of leftover wrapping paper, fabric materials, last year's christmas cards, whatever can be glued together in strips)can be made into festive holiday garlands, just like the construction paper chains you made as a kid. But this way, you are recycling! You can use all-ribbon for a delicate look, or mix and match materials for a festive, eclectic mood-setter!
  
  
• How to Make a Quilted Doll Blanket - BellaOnline Doll Making site editor Susan Kramer has a wonderful idea for using those old fabric scraps - make a doll quilt! That would make an adorable gift - or you could use the blanket on a tabletop to accent your coffee table centerpiece. You could make a quilted runner for a mantle, your sofa console, or for the dining table. I could also see making a small quilt into a lovely Christmas Tree Skirt, given the right shape. I'd ask Susan for more of the sewing details...
  
  
• Kramer also has an easy christmas tree ornament idea using ends of yarn skeins - Making Boy Yarn Dolls and Girl Yarn Dolls!
  
  
• And a wonderful gift for the craft-minded: I put together a huge basket of leftover ribbons, button, fabric scraps, tubes of glue, tubes of fabric paint, and bits of crafty whatnot, for my mother-in-law, who is just nuts about making things. I'm sure it will be her favorite Christmas present, and one she can play with all year!
  
  The Living Simply Holiday Articles
  Book Review - Decorating With Candles