Fairfield and Westport CT Real Estate Guide

Local insights on buying, selling, and living in Fairfield County

Tag Archives: holidays


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Wrap It Right: 5 Reasons to Go Fabric This Holiday Season! 🎁🌲


The holidays are a time of joy, connection, and giving—but they can also create a mountain of waste. According to Julia Skylar at SierraClub.org, Americans spent a staggering $12.7 billion on wrapping paper in 2017 alone, much of which ended up in landfills. Wrapping paper often contains glitter (a microplastic!) and bright dyes, making it non-recyclable. Yet many people add wrapping paper to their recyclable bin and unknowingly contaminate all their recyclable items that then need to go to the landfill.

There’s a better way to celebrate: wrapping your gifts in fabric!🧣This practice, inspired by the Japanese tradition of furoshiki, not only brings an elegant and thoughtful touch to your gifts but also helps cut down on holiday waste. Here are five compelling reasons to embrace fabric wrapping this season:

1. Eco-Friendly and Sustainable 🍃

Fabric wrapping is reusable, reducing the need for single-use paper and cutting down on waste. You can use the same beautiful cloth year after year, keeping materials out of landfills and sparing trees in the process. Plus, it aligns perfectly with a greener lifestyle, making your holiday celebrations more environmentally conscious.

2. Adds a Unique and Personal Touch 🤗

Unlike mass-produced wrapping paper, fabric wrapping lets you infuse personality into every gift. Choose patterns and textures that suit the recipient’s style, from festive plaids to chic silks. It’s not just a wrapper; it’s part of the gift itself—an elegant keepsake your loved ones will treasure.

3. Cost-Effective Over Time 💰

While fabric may cost a little more upfront, it’s a one-time investment. By reusing cloth each year, you’ll save money in the long run. Plus, you can utilize items you already have like scarves, bandanas, or thrifted textiles, making this an affordable and sustainable option.

4. Inspires Creativity and Conversation 🌟

Fabric wrapping invites creativity! Learn different folding techniques, tie intricate knots, or embellish with natural elements like pinecones and sprigs of greenery. Your stunningly wrapped gifts will spark admiration and might even inspire others to adopt this eco-friendly tradition.

5. Rooted in Tradition and Meaning 🌝

The Japanese tradition of furoshiki dates back centuries, emphasizing thoughtfulness and respect for both the gift and the environment. Julia Skylar’s wrote, “The Japanese word Mottainai means it’s a shame for something to go to waste without having made use of its potential in full…The cloths themselves then become part of the gift—you give one away and get a different one in return. Making use of full potential, as it were.” By incorporating this practice into your holiday celebrations, you’re not just giving a gift—you’re sharing a story and a deeper connection to cultural heritage.

How to Get Started with Fabric Wrapping

Ready to give fabric wrapping a try? Here’s how:

  • 💡Choose Your Fabric: Repurpose scarves or cloth napkins. Look for festive colors and patterns.
  • 😇 Learn Basic Techniques: Here’s how to make a wrap using a fabric remnant and three quick tutorials for simple furoshiki folds and knots.
  • 💝 Add Decorative Touches: Use ribbon, twine, or natural accents to complete the look.
  • 📣 Spread the Word: Share your creations on social media and inspire your friends and family to join in!

A Holiday Tradition Worth Unwrapping

This year, give your gifts a little more meaning and a lot less waste. By adopting fabric wrapping, you’re making a festive statement that’s as good for the planet as it is for the people you love. Let’s make this holiday season a little brighter and a lot greener, one beautiful wrap at a time. 💫

Share your thoughts below!

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#Furoshiki #FabricWrapping #SustainableLiving #EcoFriendlyHolidays #GreenChristmas #ReusableWraps #HolidayTips #ZeroWasteGifts #GoGreen #PlanetFriendly


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How Did Your Favorite Holiday Tradition Start?

Happy Holidays! Our family tradition of doing a craft after dinner (and maybe a few drinks) was born in 2006 when my family and my husband’s family celebrated the holidays together for the first time.

My mother, @niki_ketchman is a professional artist and made the suggestion that we all make our own ornaments together. She brought a big box of miscellaneous items and materials from her studio and poured them out on the table for everyone to browse. What came naturally to her caused everyone else complete anxiety at first! We all just stared at the pile drawing a complete blank and glancing side to side to see if anyone else knew what to do. Then gradually we each picked up a button, a piece of fabric, a glittery thread, a shiny piece of metal, a section of wire, etc. and the creative process began to evolve. To everyone’s amazement, we each created something special that we never expected.

It turned out that the ornament pictured above that Mark’s mom created that night was the one and only ornament she made before she lost her battle with pancreatic cancer.

Ever since then, Mark has carried on the idea and made it a tradition. So we have painted ornaments, wine glasses, dinner plates, and this year, aprons! We have had a blast doing it, (now that we’ve gained some confidence). The best thing about it is that we incorporate the items from previous years into each year’s decor and festivities, and it enriches the ambience while bringing back the fun memories of holidays past!

What is your favorite holiday tradition and how did it start?

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#holidays #holidaycraft #holidaycrafts #familytradition #holidaytradition #family #familyfun #drinks #homeactivities #homesweethome #homeiswheretheheartis #MyHomeisMyCastle #YourCastleMyMission


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Family Finds New Home in Old Hill

The journey was long for Eric, Roberta and their young son and a new puppy.  Of course, it would be a big lifestyle change from an apartment in Manhattan to a house in the suburbs. First of all, when you could routinely have any nationality of cuisine delivered to your doorstep within 20 minutes, anything less seemed quite inconvenient.  Add to this the perspective of coming from a classic doorman building on the Upper West Side near parks and subways with magnificent pre-war details and 11-foot ceilings, and you were starting with high expectations… as you should!  There was no pressure to move, but it was time for a new experience, a home to spread out in with a yard, an active town, and excellent public schools.

Roberta was drawn to the open space and pastoral scenery in upper Westchester County, New York.  Eric wanted a town with direct train service to Grand Central to make the commute to his Park Avenue office as painless as possible.  The family began their search in Westchester, but after evaluating the homes, amenities and property taxes there decided that Fairfield County Connecticut would be a better fit.

So they set their focus on Westport and rented a summer house there to get to know the town.   Their wish list included a neighborhood with a country feeling and a location on a quiet street, but not too far from the train.  The home needed to be something special- an older house with charm and good bones, or maybe a new construction with timeless style.  There needed to be at least an acre of property with bucolic surroundings.  The ceilings had to be high, and the flow had to be practical as well as aesthetically pleasing.  The architecture had to be true to its form and consistent throughout. High-quality details such as wide plank wood floors and large windows for ample natural light and pretty views were key. A front porch was a plus, and so was a pool.  Last but not least,  the chemistry had to be there.

So we looked.   And we looked.   Over time, we found that the Greens Farms and Old Hill neighborhoods had the location and feeling that Eric and Roberta were looking for.  We saw many, many homes that had many great features. But finding the perfect blend was not easy- as a typical suburban home would not do.   See what Eric, as well as other clients, thought about the process.

Eric & Roberta in Westport

Finally, after two an a half years, the winning home was found!  It was gorgeous.  It was custom built and designed by talented architect, John Fifield.  It had the special combination of flow, uniqueness, proportions,  elegance and setting.   It had a romantic wrap around porch and a pool.   It had the chemistry!

And that’s how the story begins.   A family’s quest leads to their new castle in Old Hill.

…a few months later, all is well!

Photo Jan 07, 11 41 26 PM