Originally Posted by QuiltnCowgirl
Get a clear glass canister to put the old notions in. That way you can keep a part of sewing history, and use your "new to you" sewing box :)
When my mother-in-law passed away, I took out "one of each" for my two daughters and bought small sewing boxes to put them in and gave them for Christmas - although neither daughter sews (but they do cross-stitch to beat the band!), they had their grandmother with them. Since there was soooooo much, I bought some shadow boxes and made "vignettes" in each one, highlighting groupings of like/similar items (needles in their "book" case holders, spools of thread and a couple of notions, pin cushions - you get the idea) and found a small thimble display case for the several that were stashed away in her several sewing boxes. These are on my sewing room wall in a no-traffic area that I can still look at when I'm sewing.