Rosina Wachtmeister

What do paper napkins, a worn-out tote, and paper off-cuts have in common? They’re all part of today’s year-end “ScrapHappy” post, a challenge put forth by Kate at Tall Tales of Chiconia.

My friend Pauline sent me these cat napkins several years ago after a kitten with perfectly divided facial markings stowed away in my husband’s car.

Original art by Rosina Wachtmeister.

We kept her, of course, and named her Tessa. Pauline had the napkins in her craft stash, but once Tessa arrived, she sent them my way.

A tortoiseshell cat lounging comfortably in a woven basket, playfully twisting on her back with a green wall backdrop.

I’ve moved the napkins around my craft room, pulled them out several times, then put them away again. Pauline was a dear friend and a good soul. She was crafty, clever, and wise. We met through blogging. After she passed, these napkins seemed too precious somehow. I can hear Pauline telling me to get over myself and to get on with it, so today I turned two of the napkins into cards.

Early next year, I will send the cards to Pauline’s daughters in New Zealand. I’ve made two, and hope to make a few more.

The tote bag came from my friend Marcia, who lived part-time in Madrid for several years to be close to her son and grandson. I used the cotton tote as intended, but after a wash, it lost its stiffness.

A cotton tote bag featuring a black silhouette of a stretching cat with the quote 'Mi trabajo es dormir, alguien debe equilibrar las energías del planeta.' — Translation: My job is to sleep; someone has to maintain the balance.

The image delights me, and I couldn’t bear to toss it, so it sat for a time, too. I’ve turned that muslin scrap into a toss cushion, using the last of my pillow forms. Kismet.

A decorative cushion featuring a black cat silhouette and a humorous Spanish text that translates to 'My job is to sleep, someone must balance the energies of the planet.' The cushion is sitting on a gray couch next to a purple pillow.

The off-cuts of Christmas paper make the perfect bookmark, and since I regularly replenish a supply in our Little Free Library, I enjoyed using these scraps with some seasonal flair. There is very little “make” here, just a punch at the top threaded with a bit of cord. I stamped “Peace” in black ink, a sentiment worth sharing, and one that offers hope.