In many ways, I'm old fashioned. I love handcrafts, such as knitting, crocheting, sewing, embroidery, etc. I love the idea of living in the country, growing our own food, though I know my romanticized idea of it and the reality of that lifestyle are vastly different. I prefer the wardrobe of the 40's and 50's. I prefer the transportation (sexy, beautiful cars) of the 40's and 50's, some 60's and the muscle of the 70's.
So, it comes as no surprise to realize that I want to create a hope chest for Little M. She's currently 9, and I have no doubt in my mind that she'll want to be married as an adult. Her personality is one that tends toward needing to be around others fairly constantly and she fantasizes about her future family.
When I Googled images of a hope chest, all the modern ones look like some variation of the box above. To me, that looks like a small casket. Not very hopeful!! Antique chests are more ornate and look like something precious to be handed down, and are far more my style. Something more along the lines of this:
Now to be fair, I don't know what her style will be, and I'll definitely go for something timeless, rather than something that screams "vintage" since she's not always into that. I've looked up what traditionally goes into a hope chest, and find it fascinating.
Often it's household items for the newly married couple, along with precious things from childhood, and handmade linens for the new home.
As Little M loves the lacy things I've made before, I've compiled quite a list of shawls to knit for her, to be kept in this chest until the day it's given to her. There's no possible way for me to make all of them unless I was a retiree or something! I also want to hand embroider some "tea" towels for her, but I'm not sure how that will go. I'm not an experienced hand-seamstress, so perhaps some practice towels are in order first.
Have you given a hope chest? Were you given one upon moving into a new home? Even if the answer is "no" to both of these, what would you WANT to be in that chest for your new home?
So, it comes as no surprise to realize that I want to create a hope chest for Little M. She's currently 9, and I have no doubt in my mind that she'll want to be married as an adult. Her personality is one that tends toward needing to be around others fairly constantly and she fantasizes about her future family.
When I Googled images of a hope chest, all the modern ones look like some variation of the box above. To me, that looks like a small casket. Not very hopeful!! Antique chests are more ornate and look like something precious to be handed down, and are far more my style. Something more along the lines of this:
Now to be fair, I don't know what her style will be, and I'll definitely go for something timeless, rather than something that screams "vintage" since she's not always into that. I've looked up what traditionally goes into a hope chest, and find it fascinating.
Often it's household items for the newly married couple, along with precious things from childhood, and handmade linens for the new home.
As Little M loves the lacy things I've made before, I've compiled quite a list of shawls to knit for her, to be kept in this chest until the day it's given to her. There's no possible way for me to make all of them unless I was a retiree or something! I also want to hand embroider some "tea" towels for her, but I'm not sure how that will go. I'm not an experienced hand-seamstress, so perhaps some practice towels are in order first.
Have you given a hope chest? Were you given one upon moving into a new home? Even if the answer is "no" to both of these, what would you WANT to be in that chest for your new home?
I was in our summer house last weekend. The house itself it new, built just 3-4 years ago, but there another old house in the garden which is waiting to be demolished.
ReplyDeleteAnd on Saturday I first time went in to see what's there. There wasn't much, but from one room I found - can you imagine it - a hope chest! In perfect condition.
My husband thought it's about 50-60 years old and I'm surprised that no one else haven't discovered it before.
I'm going to keep my handmade stuff in it.
How cool! I would totally use it for that too in your situation. What a fun discovery!!
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