Stripes and Solids

Blooms, Blues.

A tiny nosegay crafted from vintage crepe paper.

Precious Paper

About ten years ago, I stumbled across the motherlode of vintage crepe paper at a junk sale in Tacoma. It was a huge box filled with smaller boxes of assorted colors, patterns, and textures of crepe, and each box contained at least a dozen packs. I did a quick inventory once, and I think there were nearly two hundred folds. Even though I have this huge stash of crepe paper, it's so precious to me, which makes it difficult to use. I know there's more out there in the world, but it's getting more scarce (and more expensive) by the day.   I'm guessing any of you crafters out there using vintage materials have a hard time letting go too. Once it's gone it's gone.

 But yesterday,  I was brave enough to crack into the stash, and make a bouquet.

 I love working with vintage crepe, it has such a lovely quality. It's the perfect weight and easy to manipulate. It holds its shape so well when formed into a flower. Even though the paper is decades old, it feel so much stronger that what's manufactured today. You would think it would become more brittle in time, but that hasn't been the case.

The packs have been tucked away in their boxes and away from the sunlight,  but the colors have faded, or darkened in some cases. The tones they've become are incredible and subtle, and unlike any shade you can by today.

I'm going to continue to use the paper, but in moderation, of course, and only for very special projects.  I need to pace myself so it lasts my lifetime.