The Ties That Bind

Recycling, up cycling or re purposing stuff is not a new concept.  My aunt Julia Ann would call it using and reusing what you have.  Whatever you call it, it makes good sense.  Having said that, I found a relatively simple way to re purpose a man's "out of style tie" into a bow tie.  I thought about posting the how to and all the pictures today, but with Christmas and New Years upon us, I felt compelled to write this instead.The sole reason for all of this is my four and a half year old grandson Mason.  He knows what he likes when it comes to food, toys, TV shows, books and yes, even fashion.  He likes his cowboy boots to have "pointy toes" and he loves bow ties. His paternal great grandfather, a surgeon, wore them as an alternative to a tie that would hang down and get in the way of a patient examination.   Daddy, Mason's maternal great grandfather, a traditional tie man, offered some of his ties to be re purposed. If Mama could have, she probably would have "donated" more.  Dad also made the special gift of one of his (Mason's great great grandfather) father's ties to be remade.


When I give these bow ties to Mason, I will tell him about the men who wore those ties before him.  I will show him the pictures of the ones no longer with us.  He sure does love Papa (Daddy).  I know he will think about each one of these very special men each time he wears one of his bow ties.