I love the wreath idea.

How about putting them inside a large clear glass jar with a nice decorative lid. Or I've seen lamps where you can put things inside a clear base, that would be useful as well as letting you enjoy the memories. Of couse, it would all depend on the size of the items you have.

I like the wreath embellished with her sew things. Maybe put in your sewing room. Not all wreathes have to hang on walls.

How about framing them in a shadow box.

I hope you can get the box fixed. Most of those things are fixable. If you don't want it, probably someone else does. If you can't fix it, probably someone else can. We have Mennonites near us, and one has a shop for refinishing and fixing furniture. That box sounds like an heirloom to me.

Shadow box!! Easier to keep clean and can be added to if you find other objects!!

Making a shadow box with some of the items would be a beautiful tribute. My grandmother tatted and made the most beautiful lace edging on handkerchiefs among many other items. When she passed my aunt had one made with the item my grandmother was working on. It has the shuttle, the thread and the handkerchief on black velvet. I have it now and it hangs just outside my sewing room door so I see it each day.

My same thought! I have a clear glass base lamp and am planning on placing anything that will fit pertaining to quilting/sewing in it. I have grandmothers, moms, mine and even scissors from great grandmas' sewing baskets to put in. I may even place a few fabric scraps found with the sewing items in there. Get to see anytime I want and NO dusting every little piece. I am currently looking for pictures of them to place in with the others.

The sewing wreath is a great idea, my daughter made a gardening wreath for her grandmother. But the lamp idea is fantastic since like she said no dusting and what a great conversation piece.

Great ideas, please keep them coming. To respond to the message about her sewing box, it was probably $5 at KMart in the mid 70's. Definitely not an heirloom! Moms idea of sewing was to repair a hem or sew a button back on. I honestly don't believe I ever saw her do anything crafty or creative. So I have nothing she made..... Her sewing box has a bunch of buttons that came as spares with blouses that she bought. Maybe I can see them in the outline of a butterfly( her favorite creature) and work from there. I love the idea of the shadow box! Thanks, and I look forward to more ideas!