Nostalgia Made Me Do It
If you asked me to name one of my favorite places in the world—aside from home with my husband or back home in Spain—I’d be torn between a thrift store and an antiques store. Or maybe the perfect answer is somewhere in between the two. These days, it seems like everyone is thrifting, crafting, and leaning into a sense of nostalgia. I think I’m right there with them.
When I was living in Spain, I don’t recall there being a thrift store in my hometown. I understood the concept, though, and knew they were popular elsewhere. Then I moved to Sweden, where thrifting was a big deal, and after just a few months, I could draw a very accurate map of where the best stores were located. Moving to the U.S. took the thrifting (and “antiquing”) experience to the next level. Here, both are deeply embedded in the culture. And I say this as a seasoned visitor to Savers, Goodwill, and many other treasure-filled places, where I often find “my people.”
There’s something magical about the raw, storied items you find in a thrift store—and even more so in an antiques store. I easily spend at least an hour in each visit because I love to explore every department and see every single “new” thing that’s come through the doors. At thrift stores, books and fabric are my favorite. At antiques stores, I adore everything—from china and quilts to old toys. Lately, I’ve been collecting vintage fabrics and headpieces.
When I’m not out exploring, I often find myself on Pinterest. I’ve had an account since 2012 and would argue it’s one of the best platforms ever created. My dopamine spikes every time I find a beautiful new item for one of my inspiration boards. That’s where this story begins. Years ago, I started a Pinterest board dedicated to jean fabric projects—things like cushions, fabric balls, letter cutouts, and a star garland. I collect these ideas because I know I’ll want to make them someday. They all involve upcycling, which aligns with both my values and the aesthetic of my home—a mix of country charm and Scandinavian simplicity (or at least that’s the look I’m aiming for).
As for the star garland, it’s a lovely design, though the stars in the original inspiration photos were flat. I wanted something with volume—like a string of tiny pillows.
I found a good pattern online, took an old pair of my husband’s jeans, and began the process three weekends ago by slowly removing all the threads. It was time-consuming, but working slowly is good for both the body and the mind. I’m committed to repurposing every bit of material—nothing goes to waste! Afterward, I washed and ironed the fabric, then cut out the stars and saved them for the following weekend.
Last weekend, I tackled what I considered the most challenging part: sewing each of the sixteen stars inside out and trimming the tips so they’d be crisp when flipped. The most rewarding part happened this weekend, when I filled the stars with natural cotton and stitched them together into a garland. I attached the string at each end—and in case you’re wondering how I got the stars pointy—I used a round-headed chopstick to push out the corners. Et voilà, I made a garland of stars!
It has just the right weight and looks beautiful against the pink walls of my studio.
Like many of the items saved to my Pinterest boards, this was a nostalgia project. The garland even feels like it belongs to the same era as one of the vintage quilts I found in an antiques store. It’s a little rough around the edges, but also soothing and whimsical.
This project, stitched slowly over three weekends, brought me so much joy. I hope it stays in my family for years—carrying a little bit of nostalgia, love, and denim with it.
