Mr Darcy is so helpful. Suggest he pick up a bag of large cinnamon/cassia sticks when visiting a favourite Asian grocery and he arrives home with four bags!  The bark smells so good and represents great value. Some of it has now morphed into Sew 348 – Christmas decorations and potpourri bags created from a repurposed sheer silk shirt.

I’ve been looking at this op-shop found shirt (see photos below) for a while, wondering how to best utilise its embroidered silk fabric and clear plastic buttons after deciding I didn’t want to wear it as a top. With the arrival of the bark, it’s repurpose was determined.

I began the filleting process, cutting off the bottom of the sleeves to create bags and making strips across the bodice to become ribbons and bows. After sewing closed the bottom of the sleeve off-cuts, these bags are filled with bark chips and star anise then secured with a narrow tie (cut from the hem of the shirt).

After neatening the edges of the bodice ribbons using the overlocker (or zigzag stitch), I wrapped them around a large piece of bark, beginning with the button strategically placed near one end, then wrapped it down around and back up again before doing up the button again to hold the ribbon in place. I made hanging ties by threading pieces of eco-dyed T-shirt ribbon through the hollow centre and knotting in place. More #nowaste and natural Christmas decorations that can serve you throughout the year, as potpourri.