Making and sharing freshly baked breads is as ancient as time itself. And baking breads throughout the holidays is a standing tradition in my family. Nothing says holiday more than the wafting scent of baking bread on a cold winter’s day and the delicousness that is the first slice spread with warm butter and my favorite jam. It’s pure heaven!
I love making fresh bread and giving them as gifts snuggly wrapped in crisp brown paper + a fresh linen bread cloth all tied with twine. It’s a beautifully simple presentation that needs little else. But during the holidays, when you want to make a special gift just a bit more special, a handpainted bread cloth is the perfect way to take your gift to that next level.
Painted bread cloths are a fantastic project for little hands who want to be a part of the gift for relatives and friends. Adding their own stamped art or simply drawing their own creations with paint pens is the perfect way for them to participate. But if little hands aren’t available, stencilling is another quick and easy way to make a beautiful handmade piece that your recipient will enjoy well beyond the holidays.
But these painted bread cloths don’t have to be the frilly variety that your grandmother coveted in years past. Instead, make them modern by using fresh designs in bold colors that will be beautiful enough to use year-round. It’s as easy as using your favorite stencils in your favorite colors. Simply purchase a set of linen feed sack cloths at your local grocer, wash and dry them (no fabric softener), then paint away. These gifts couldn’t be easier.
For this year’s holiday gift-giving, take the bread cloth from antiquated to modern by creating bright happy designs that can be enjoyed well beyond the holidays. Fresh bold patterns are a fun way to share this tradition in a way that’s fresh and new.
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