Sitting in a Tree Blog

I just made my first attempt to sew a practical/green favor. Hmmmm….. Canvas totes may be a little too difficult for a novice, but even if they’re all wonky, they’ll be made with love… I’ll give it a couple more tries before I throw in the tote.

Last night, I got this:

I also ordered a sewing machine from the store that I’m supposed to be boycotting (I know I’m weak). I should get it in the next couple days. I’m so excited about making things. What shall it be? Pillows?

So there’s a lot of silliness in weddings. I feel it is my job to sift through the truly ridiculous and find the worthwhile. Favors is in a rather grey area. They can be really stupid and useless.

On the  other hand, for reception sites like ours, where we cannot afford to out do the ambiance, favors could add to the aesthetic. Being the ever-practical being that I am, I have started searching for something edible (or drinkable) as a favor and I came up with the following idea:

I actually thought of this idea on my own (at least I think I did), due to the large number of coffee shops Jo and I frequent and the cute little $10/lb. brown bags of Columbian Hazelnut we get from the Garden (local grocery store) and store in our freezer.

I will not be putting a picture of Jo & I on the bag. Instead I think I’ll use the owls from our invite to create the subtlest hint of a theme (Jo said no themes). I can get an awesome price on the bags here: http://www.papermart.com/Product%20Pages/ViewCart.aspx . Coffee is another story.

Other ideas are cookies, chocolate covered pretzels, little trees in burlap sacks, plants or tea tins. All of these I’ve seen online. The first two ideas require cooking, which I consider more of a task than a pleasure. The plants and/or trees wouldn’t travel well for those who fly in. The tea tins, which I posted earlier, might get a bit pricey and tedious. I think the tins will cost more than the tea. That seems backwards to me. I really do love packaging; I just can’t afford it.

I was thinking the idea of making silly little gifts was a waste of time and money, but I really like this idea. It’s simple and, well, I like tea.

http://www.stylemepretty.com/2009/03/25/diy-project-tea-tins/