What should I do with this?
 

I have my moms sewing box but the box is cracked and broken. Need to get the pincushions, spools of thread and all of the other various things out. I would like to have them where I can see them, as mom has been gone since 2002 and this stuff has good memories for me. We had little in common but my crafting and her sewing box so that makes it even more special. Any ideas for what I can do with all of this? I was thinking of a wall quilt, embellished with her seeing things but not sure. What do YOU think???? Thank you for your ideas!

Without knowing what kind of things you have how about a wreath maybe a grapevine wreath embellished with all her sewing things. That would be a combination og both your crafts and her sewing.

I think that's a wonderful idea. I'm sure you can think of clever ways to attach them. You could also buy a shadow box frame - they sell them at Micheal's, Hobby Lobby and JoAnn's.
We have a few of my DH grandmother's kitchen tools - her rolling pin, wooden spoons, grater, etc. I got a small slat wood box that looks like an old fruit crate - used small gauge wire and wired the items onto the bottom, and hung it on the wall in my kitchen. Like you, i couldn't see the point of having them tucked away in a drawer somewhere.
I'm sure you will get lots of good ideas from the folks here. Good luck - and please share a picture of your final project.

i love this idea donna

This is funny that you are talking about your mom's sewing things today. I am passing on her sewing box things to my niece today along with a new janome sewing machine I bought her. She is nine and my sister is going to teach her to sew on it. She will love having her grandma's sewing things. She has always loved family and enjoyed being around us. My mom passed away before she was born, so this will be a nice surprise for her.

All that being said, what a great idea to have a nice shadow box reminder around to enjoy her memory.

I think both of these are great ideas.

I was traveling and came across a cute idea where a lady took a vintage bird cage and put all kinds odds and ends in there just kind of piled inside. She had a little lace (or was it a doily?) on the bottom that you could see peeking out between the items but it was cute as could be. I wish I had taken a picture but I kept wondering if I found a cute little bird cage what could I put in it to put it on display. What a conversation starter and cute, cute, cute! Maybe one of those little lanterns that are so popular right now would work the same way, especially for little things...they wouldn't scoot out if there was glass to hold them in. Just a thought.

How about a shadow box with the items arranged with fabric and pictures? The boxes come in many sizes and would look good if you had a block she completed but didn't use or a tattered quilt (obviously a small piece) she made that you could use as the backdrop.

I agree with this idea. My DD has a shadow box of my Mother and Father's memories...antique curling iron, glasses, shaving cup & brush, to name a few. The shadow box is made by my uncle from my grandmother's drawer frames from her treadle machine with glass shelves and drawers are refinished and used for wall hanging to hold antique brass from harness.

I love this idea!!! Will be doing this on my own for my 3 daughters.

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!

I have seen small tables (like coffee tables) with the center being a sunken, glass topped area. In the sunken area were items belonging to special memories of grandparents or any other treasured items.

That is a good idea about the wall quilt. I do have a shelf my DH made for me that goes across my sewing room about 12" from the ceiling. I display many of the items that belonged to my mother regarding sewing along with a few antique sewing items that I have. Either way, the items on the shelf so high seldom get much dust. I know you treasure those items.

My 9 year old DGD likes to sew so gave her a basic machine for her birthday. My mother had given me my grandmother''s wooden sewing box. Now my DGD also has her great, great grandma's sewing box to hand down to a sewer of her own someday.

This shadow box was my idea too. There are some that have a glass over the top which is a great way to keep dust off of precious items. How about a glass table top with a space for special items?

How about buying a lg glass container at wall mart.iv'e seen them,you can put all kinds of things in them.They come with a lid.There thick and I have a friend who has buttons,and old spool of threads in hers.