doing the dishes

Not long ago I ordered some crochet washcloths from DebzCreations.  I don't know her personally, but she only lives an hour or so away from me.  I was delighted to find such pretty washcloths from another Wisconsin seller, and nearby too.
I got these 

and these

They're wonderful.  I kept one of the sunflowers as a face/shower cloth and use the others in the kitchen.  I like them much better than my ordinary discount store dishcloths.  I enjoy having and using lovely and functional items, made by other creative people. 

When my mom (a fantastic wonderful mom) came to visit I had the big sunflower cloth at the sink.  Later I found it put aside and one of my ordinary cloths wet over the faucet.  I asked her why she didn't use the one I had out.  She said it was too pretty to use. 
I told her that they were made to be pretty and to be used.  We're supposed to use them, enjoy using them, wear them out and then buy new handcrafted ones!  Human handiwork, made with care and made locally, should be our everyday ware.

After thinking it over, I dug into my gift stash and picked out a gift for myself, some tea towels that I got from artgoodies last year.  I had her print them in pink ink and they still make me smile.

I put them in the top of my towel drawer, and started using one tonight. 

You know- I gave a set of those cute dishtowels to my mom last Valentine's Day.  I think she doesn't use them because she's afraid to get them dirty

Let's face it.  The kitchen is dirty work.  Washing dishes is dirty work.  So why not make the tools beautiful?  Use them.  Wear them out. Buy more beautiful handcrafted kitchen ware.  That's what it's for.