Vintage and Memories …

nostalgia

Bed-in-a Bag….You’ve seen them. A quilted bedding ensemble complete with pillow shams and matching sheets that come in a clear heavy-duty plastic zip-up bag…

My mother has a way of re-purposing almost anything. When it comes to the bed-in-a-bag “baggie”, for example, she’d either be storing blankets in it, beach towels, sweaters, table linens, seasonal clothes, or odds and ends.

Around the time my first child was born, she presented me with one of those clear thick plastic bags, complete with plastic handles, and inside were some very old things “baby’s things” that she had kept preserved for years. A blanket made of white pom-poms, strung together in a grid, then mounted on a smart-looking pink lining, apparently made for me by an old friend of the family. It was hand-made, and hardly ever used. I’m told that she had it displayed in my bassinet on my Baptism day. Other items in the bag were my first pair of walking shoes, my first grip-soled slippers, infant undergarments, the outfit that I wore home from hospital for the first time (my sister bought this for me),

baby bonnet:

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and sun hats,

several hand-made booties in addition to these ones:

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but most specifically my Baptismal gown:

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I had kept it for years, in that clear bed-in-a-bag baggie. The thought suddenly hit me that all it ever did was sit on the top shelf of my closet, never to be used, or see the light of day (which in hindsight, was probably good for the garment’s longevity). In addition to my own precious keepsakes, are the ones that I have set aside that belong to my own children. My children might decide one day, that these things are meaningful to them, or they may not. However, I believe that displayed in an appropriate fashion, they if nothing else, can hold a place in the past and serve as a talking piece for generations to come.

One way to preserve and display some personal treasuresĀ is by way of shadowbox or framed display cases. The following project takes only 30 minutes to complete, and makes a thoughtful keepsake, or special occasion gift for someone special.

For this project you will need:

  • 16″ x 20″ x 1″ display style picture frame
  • Decorative background papers (scrapbooking paper, remnant wallpaper, or wrapping paper)
  • Push Pins
  • Photos
  • Articles of clothing
  • Lace
  • Ribbons
  • Pieces of greeting cards
  • Other small collectible items

A display style picture frame can be purchased at any major arts and crafts supply store. This one isĀ 16″ x 20″ x 1″

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You might decide that the backing of the picture frame is adequate, however I wanted something a little more vintage-looking. These scrap booking papers were not quite the same size as the background, however the seams would eventually be covered.

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Arrange the articles of clothing first, then overlay the photos and other small items.

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When satisfied with the arrangement, secure the items with push pins.

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This method can be used for any type of keepsake display.

I hope you enjoy your weekend project.

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