In my quest to find a pretty bandanna for my family’s new female puppy (pink! pink! I finally get to dress someone or something in pink!), I stumbled upon a bag of vintage cloth handkerchiefs I’d picked up at estate sales over the years.

As I was tying the very pinkest hanky onto my pup’s neck, I realized I could tie them together and create a bunting. I’d been saving them for some inspired project that wouldn’t be too feminine in my mostly male household, but over the years all my ideas had been shot down — “No, dear, you cannot frame them and hang them all over the living room and bedroom.” “Well, honey, they don’t really work as pillows on the dinosaur and rocket quilts.” “Sweetums, I just don’t think they’ll work as napkins, especially when all the kids really eat are mac’n'cheese and caesar salad.”

So obviously, I was thrilled by my “discovery,” and decided to take it one step further by ironing the kerchiefs into triangles and then neatly tying them together. I think the results are terrific, and I may even be able to convince my husband to let me hang them in our bedroom. If not, then I’ll at least bring them out for birthdays and other special occasions. Finally, something easy to do with one of my stashes of pretty vintage things! Now I just need about 30 more ideas for my other collections.