We're taking these vintage handkerchiefs out of the closet and making them part of the everyday.
How can you not with prints pretty as these?
Just like yesterday's project, we'll put one of our favorite hankies inside a frame. 
But this time, we're turning the frame into a useful tray!
I have this stack of floral handkerchiefs sitting inside my sock drawer. In a not so distant past, every lady carried one and I bet, if these hankies could talk, they'd be muttering, "Bring us back in style!" 
Part of that stack is this handkerchief I got from a pink & green swap. Isn't it pretty? The pink rose really grabs your attention. 
I love it so much, I think it's worthy to be framed. 
Here's the blah...an old handkerchief.
Here's the Tada!...an old handkerchief, but one that's personal & sentimental.
It's meant for best friends to share and pass on.
Each lady's name and wedding date are written (or embroidered) on the handkerchief. 
It marks that special day when she was a bride. 
Then it's passed on to the next bride!
This has all the elements a bride needs for her wedding day:
Not to wipe those tears away, though!
...to Tada! -- it's now a bridal pouch!
The blushing bride can use this to carry the important things
Add a small bottle of cologne, a compact, lipstick and a sewing kit. 
Once a blah...
...now a Tada!
It's easy to make: Just sew two same-sized handkerchiefs together (or one hankie on top and a regular piece of cloth on the bottom), leave a big enough hole on one side, insert the pillow and seal the hole by more stitching. Sew on a piece of ribbon (use a color that matches your theme) at the center. I suggest you sew through the pillow to achieve that little dimple at the center. 
A vintage handkerchief, whether received as a gift or found in a flea market, is a perfect accessory for a wedding. Weddings are also a good time to break tradition... 
Don't use the handkerchief the way it's supposed to be used (use tissues instead). Use it to cover a book (ex. Bible) that you want to be part of the ceremony. Another alternative is to cover a handmade booklet that holds your vows. This way, something simple turns into something special! 
This week's blah is an old handkerchief. 
Make the handkerchief part of the bouquet. 
Tada! Something old & something new for the blushing bride!
Blah: a plastic box that, until recently, contained some scrumptious chocolates. 
Tada!: a shadow box showing off some travel memories of New York City!
Each bead came from a different city. I purchased them at craft stores or souvenir shops by the piece, by the bag or as a bracelet that I took apart. 
...This Tada! necklace!
In The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy has a pair of ruby slippers...all she has to do is put them on, click her heels and away she'll go! This is my version of Dorothy's ruby slippers. I simply look at the red bead and I'm off to London. Or I can rub the turquoise bead and I'm transported to the blue beaches of Puerto Rico. The amber bead takes me back to a South African safari and the crystal blue bead reminds me of the mosaics in Morocco. 
Look at these shells...they're not the perfect shape but I picked them up for their smoothness and sheen. Some even have natural holes in them.
All I had to do was slip them onto a silver chain, add a cute fish charm and Tada! -- instant souvenir! 
Here are some ordinary, everyday things I've picked up from vacations past: pebbles, sea shells, a feather and a little bit of sand (packed into an old film canister). These can be displayed in small bottles or glass dishes, but here's what I do with them: 
I add them to my scrapbooks!
I transfer the sand and shells into a miniature zip bag and glue this on the page. Add a feather (or pressed flowers if the destination isn't seaside) for a tactile and three dimensional scrapbook!
Let's say you find yourself at the touristy section of your vacation. Do you make a bee line for the souvenir shop or do you avoid it like the swine flu? I make a go for it and get myself a bunch of postcards, then I send some to family and friends. Even in this age of Facebook and Twitter, nothing beats giving your status update (or the answer to the question, "What are you doing?") on a tangible piece of paper that traveled across the world! 
But here's the Tada!: I send myself a postcard to my address back home. I use different formats like the traditional letter to myself; a list of things I want to remember (ex. the soothing Thai massage, bargain shopping at the night markets and meeting a baby elephant in Bangkok, Thailand or pistachio gelato, buying herbs & spices at Campo dei Fiori and seeing the Colisseum in Rome, Italy); little sketches or phrases in a newly learned language.
I always get a kick out of finding a postcard in the mail when I've returned from a trip. As you can see, I've collected quite a few and if I need to take a break (but can't afford it), I simply fish out these postcards and I'm instantly whisked away. 
Presenting the Bon Voyage Bucket! 
Hmmm, wondering what's inside?
Like the basics: a sleep mask, ear plugs and a pair of socks (plane blankets aren't big enough to cover your toes!). 
I also include tissue paper, anti-bacterial hand wipes, a travel toothbrush, toothpaste and moisturizer for face & lips (all in 3 oz. sizes as required by airlines for any carry-on liquids). 
And because this isn't your generic amenity kit, I threw in some mints, vitamins or a packet of dietary supplements, energizing aromatherapy oil, relaxing chamomile tea and a handmade bookmark with a prayer for a safe journey.
I get myself a plastic container -- you know, the ones where they package take-out food.
I add these colorful liners that not only make my snack tray pretty, they make very good compartments for the nibbles I've prepared: cheese & crackers, nuts and dried fruit!
I like using these plastic containers because there's less garbage after the meal, food keeps it shape (no flat sandwiches), there's less mess and it can easily be stuffed into your carry-on luggage or handbag.
You can choose whatever you want to put in it and you're sure it's healthy! Here I've selected some banana muffins, an apple and raisins that I can eat with coffee or tea while watching an in-flight movie.
Depending on how long the flight is, you can pack smaller snacks that you can enjoy in between naps and reading. I think these containers I got at a Japanese store are ready for the job. 
I've filled them with fruit (blueberries), protein (hard boiled eggs) and sweets (my favorite dark chocolate)...hey, everyone deserves a treat! You can also use these for kiddie snacks -- one for each child.