I grew up in the 1960s in a house full of women. All I knew of or cared about napkins were the ones set out at meals, either the paper ones on weekdays in the kitchen in front of the 13-inch black-and-white Sony, or the cloth ones on the Saturdays and Sundays when we all sat at the dining room table. So imagine my surprise and later regret when somehow I poked my little hands into the wrong place in the wrong bathroom and discovered a package labeled “Feminine Napkins.” Huh? Since when did girls and boys need separate napkins?
Fast forward through times as a young man when I used all types of napkin-ish devices, including paper towels, the back of my hand, shirt sleeves, the shirt sleeves of my friends, what have you. No longer, though. Today my home has proper napkins. Really nice ones, ones that have numbers, and ones that, after washing and drying, need to be folded so their numbers show. Yep, I do some laundry.
![No.-Napkins-1-5-9-again-550x413-2_th[1]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3txE-F8JjR2ULM-SHlKCCjTYGalwbSRW0T0VD2B-uZnyKP23MdDAoa6EyZzZwIra_xreVuQ1j-Juia0syEHyPyq4kCltWkKIWRtibAzipXL-NErbg_78mhbhxEPkrF5QCqxhEOb9NHJ8/?imgmax=800 "No.-Napkins-1-5-9-again-550x413-2_th[1]")
Odd enough that our napkins have numbers (“Do you want to be 3 or 47 tonight?”); odder yet that I needed to ask Linda for help in learning how to lay them out and fold them on the half, then on the sort-of-thirds, in the right sequence for their ultimate conclusion – soft, thick, dropcloth-quality napkins that are stenciled with numbers like sacks of potatoes that were shipped to the U.S. troops headed across Germany in the winter of 1944. (“Odder Yet” seems like it could be my DJ name on an Amish radio station – if there was such a thing. Can the Amish broadcast via lantern power?)
The napkins with numbers are great, a really creative idea, sturdy and comfortable and absorbent –the ultimate test of a napkin, right? – and we all have fun with them, arguing with laughs over who gets which napkin and whether it’s good to have a high or low number.
![No.-Napkins-1-5-9-too-550x413-2_thum[2]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBA-R4JR26SELeTI5brwMSrgJdNxyiSlXNHxiQUZoJAtkfLe6Nn6VgY_0BuiUfZhRAz2EMZqE3vb9gl4pj3zLEvfpgkyfGJ8qk3AXMbVwJUDLbnEvGljjPgUdQCkl4p4-sinc2xcJ2z8/?imgmax=800 "No.-Napkins-1-5-9-too-550x413-2_thum[2]")
And hey, as long as I am Number One, napkin-wise, I’m happy.
![No.-Napkins-Final-Close-Up-550x413-2[2]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNlZBoEmHpD3M7da05msN6xaC490qmcD1fECYHB1_0OpLaJSmJGroS2B8FtBKfzHfP7KqVrZwd07hhjqQt2AngBNeZkC72QwZDhOGmtDDBq0Mm69U_K1v9mhhk4OAw1FTAbmyb5UahZVM/?imgmax=800 "No.-Napkins-Final-Close-Up-550x413-2[2]")
-------------
P.S. From Linda: Ladies -- and gentlemen -- he's being modest. My husband does all the laundry in this house.
i love the napkins!!! i want some!!! :)
ReplyDeleteI am cracking up at this post! Can't imagine my husband writing a post about napkins and it being as interesting as this! They're cute, too, by the way!
ReplyDeletelove the napkins. I don't recall reading if you stamped them or used a stencil and some paint.
ReplyDeleteI actually have some white ones that I purchased from Williams-Sonoma and have number stamps to stamp them with, but not sure what type of stamp ink or paint to use. I don't want the numbers faded. Would you share what you used?
I hope this is a hint about what you'll be doing on your upcoming Etsy store- they're awesome!
ReplyDeleteWhy yes it is, Whitney. Thanks for the "shout out."
ReplyDeleteI totally enjoyed that post! The hubs is a great writer! Love napkins...fabulous fabric!
ReplyDeleteLove the post...you and your husband must laugh a lot together:o) Your napkins are lovely too and so, so practical. Do you have a post telling us how you made and stamped them?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carrie
LOVE the pillow tutorial you posted to Home Stories A to Z!!! And the napkins are soooo cute! I had to laugh because I too wish I had an English accent, everything sounds so much nicer!! haha..
ReplyDeleteHow did you get your husband to do laundry???? So now you are talented, creative, inspirational and clever, too! Those napkins are fabulous and I can't wait to see the ETSY shop!
ReplyDeleteblessings,
karianne
OK, your hubby is a hoot! I think it's great that he's your sponsor AND does your laundry (and writes witty blog posts)! I need a sponsor like that. ;^)
ReplyDeleteDo you loan him out. A laundry man, how can I get one of these without mine getting his nose out of joint. HMMMMM! Needs more thought! Sending you every good wish for an amazing year. So glad I found your wonderful place, I will follow on my way out and hope you will find the time soon to come visit me and do the same. I look forward to engaging more with you in twenty twelve. For now I am off to see more of your very special place! Cheers Specialk XoXo
ReplyDeletethese napkins are AWESOME!!!! i have to admit -- we have a on in common hubby here does the laundry!!! : ) gotta love it! : ) sending hugs...
ReplyDelete