Home is where the heart is

In 1910 Fathers Day was celebrated for the first time at the Spokane YMCA in Washington State The occasion was conceived by Sonora Louise Smart Dodd to honour her father and war veteran William Jackson Smart who raised six children as a single parent For 60 years Dodd pushed for official recognition of the event and in 1972 US President Richard Nixon signed a Congressional resolution declaring the third Sunday of June as Fathers Day Meant to be a tribute to fatherhood and paternal bonds it has prompted celebrations across the globe ever since In light of the pandemic gifting can be a challenge due to delivery delays and the safety of it all But its not too late to make something unique right in your home Its also a special way of contributing to the global conversation around sustainability by reducing landfill waste So we invite five upcycling experts to share gifting ideas that you can tryDo it neatYou want to ensure that your project reflects a little bit of skill and effort and doesnt end up looking like a basic craft project asserts Meghna Nayak owner of Kolkatas LataSita an ethical and zerowaste label that upcycles old sareesBottle lamp Use your dads empty favourite alcohol bottle as a stand for the lamp A hole needs to be drilled at the bottom half for the wiring to be inserted If you dont know how to do this and set up the bulb and wiring consult an electricianBottle lamp made by NayakApron Cut the sleeves off a mens shirt remove the collar and make neat armholes The buttoned side will be the front of your apron while the leftover fabric can be used to make neck and side straps as well as pocket patches and tea towels If youre inexperienced with sewing choose a checked shirt and use the lines as guides for the measurements Nayak advisesapron by CAMVIN on YouTube Coupon book Collect and arrange old paper and staple at one end On each sheetcoupon write things you can do for your dad mdash giving a head massage or taking over a chore that is his responsibilityColour correctUpcycled gifting is not just an economical option but also a personalised one reckons Kolkatabased Sreya Saha who specialises in upcycled customised apparel As funky shoes might not be every dads cup of tea a painted Tshirt or jacket with a personal element works best mdash like the logo of his favourite football club But you cant just pick up fabric paints and get on to the job Saha warns Mix the paint in fabric medium to avoid cracks And paint a white patch before drawing so that the pencil lines are visible she sharesGreen thinkingA shoe planterAccording to citybased Madhvi Khaitan Pittie cofounder of Workshop Q an ecoproduct manufacturing company upcycled gifts are pleasantly surprising which is why its never too late to give it a goShoe planters There is no such thing as too many plants Use dads old shoe as a pot for your next plant Fill soil in the toe area first and proceed towards the heel Sow your seeds and help him nurture themTie placemats Make a patchwork of your dads old ties by arranging them in a chevron or crisscross pattern Sew it to secure and laminate itGo vintageSometimes you can make memories out of the mundane and thats what Mumbaibased Akanksha Kaila Akashi of Refash a platform for upcycled brands aims for with giftingTea cup candles Pick a vintage tea cup mdash China will give the best feel Melt wax in the centre and insert fragrances if needed and finally add the wickFamily puzzle Take an old puzzle and stick your family picture on it Cut pieces according to form and play a game with your dadFabric paper diary In a blender add fabric strips and water Then add newspaper pieces After pouring the mixture out use a screen to scoop out the pulp Use a towel to soak excess water and iron to flatten the paper Cut trim and bind the sheets together to make a diaryUse and showMeenakshi Sharma founder of Use Me Works which is a Delhibased onestopshop for upcycling suggests gifts that are sure to please the eye and are handy tooDenim organiser by Use Me WorksDenim organiser Cut along the zipper line of the jeans to split it into two parts Lay them vertically and sew the middle so you get to see four pockets You can add extra pockets from another denim pair if you want more space to add stuff into the organiser Use the extra strips of fabric to make handles above the belt area so that it can be put to hangAn upcycled bottle made by participants at a workshop conducted by SharmaLively bottle Give character to your spare wine bottle by first painting it wrapping a strip of fabric across and bind the cork with jute strings Add oval eyes cut out of paper to make a faceCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and a complete guide from food to things to do and events across Mumbai Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates MidDay is now on Telegram Click here to join our channel middayinfomedialtd and stay updated with the latest news