| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| GaiasRose |
Posted - Sep 21 2006 : 07:59:58 AM
Are you making and/or keeping anything special for your daughters? Do you keep traditional Hope Chests?
When the girls each turn 13 they will be getting a Hope Chest from Daddy. I have started making quilt blocks for each of their years and when they get married someday....or whatever....they will get said pieced quilt. I also pick up linens and doilies, have made aprons of course, sheets and table cloths, and now I am looking for old China sets and other things like that....
There are also journals in their boxes (just totes for now in my bedroom closet) that I write to them in.
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose
blog: http://gaiarose.wordpress.com |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| AnnieT |
Posted - Oct 03 2006 : 06:54:42 AM
I love the idea of a dresser or "chest of drawers" instead of a trunk or "storage chest" for this. I always think the more practical you can make something (while still making it special, of course) the better.
Visit me! http://bramblestitches.typepad.com/ |
| jpbluesky |
Posted - Oct 03 2006 : 04:57:55 AM
Like Jenny, my hubby did the yearly Christmas ornament tradition for our daughter. Each year, still, he gives her an ornament, most of them crystal. Now that she is married, her tree proudly shows off the ornaments her daddy gave to her all her life. She really loves them. Now he guessed right! :)
Peace |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Oct 02 2006 : 10:22:11 PM
My oldest son is also 28. His ex-wife never seemed interested in things like seeing Corey's baby pics, or in having his collection of Christmas ornaments (I get one new one each year for each child and then when they move out I have saved them for when they are settled down and ready to take care of them) His new girlfriend (who I adore by the way) was so great when they came to visit over Labor day weekend one of the first things she asked was to see Corey's baby pictures!! I LIKE HER!!! she spent over an hour just loving looking at his baby book and pictures from when he was little through high school. She is a keeper.
I am good about saving things..just not good about organizing them. I need to get ON that!!
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| Celticheart |
Posted - Oct 02 2006 : 10:09:18 PM
Oh...I'm a saver of things for my kids. Many things for them all...boys and girls. Baby clothes, blankets, outfits from special occasions, birthday cards, reports cards, school papers, things from the newspaper--we live in a really small town and things from the paper are great like sports articles and the honor role, etc. Anyway you get the idea.
Recently I gave all of these things that I saved from when my older son was growing up(he's now 28)to his new wife. He was horrified and she was ecstatic! He played baseball from the time he was 5 until he was 18 so there were lots of sports pics from the papers. I had T shirts from Little League and AAU basketball. Not only was there good stuff but the bad things too. Letters from the school when when he would get into some trouble. She spent hours looking through all of it and then took it all home. Her reaction to everything was priceless and it made me glad I'd thought to save so much. Afterall, she's only known him for 6 years. This helped fill in the 22 years before that.
When they left he asked if this meant that I was turning over custody of him to her.
"I suppose the pleasure of country life lies really in the eternally renewed evidence of the determination to live." Vita Sackville-West
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| therusticcottage |
Posted - Sep 30 2006 : 08:30:32 AM
My youngest is turning 13 next March. What a wonderful idea to give her a hope chest! I have kept 3 of her special baby blankets -- ones lovingly handmade by some of my friends. I also keep special things from each school year and put them in a box to keep for her in the future. I have been doing this since she was in kindergarten. I still have special school keepsakes from when Missy was in school 30 years ago. From time to time I get them out and remember how excited she was when she gave me the special item she had made for me -- especially the Mother's Day treasures.
Handmade purses and bath delights at www.rusticcottagecreations.com |
| jpbluesky |
Posted - Sep 30 2006 : 05:35:01 AM
When my daughter was growing up, each time I would go to an antiques show, I would purchase a piece of Buttercup Gorham sterling silver. When she married, I gave her a set of 8 place settings along with a cake knife for her wedding cake and a serving spoon, sugar spoon and butter knife. I gave it to her in a vintage silver box that was my grandmother's. Also, I kept a recipe book going all through the years. I first bought it when she was 18 months old, and kept filling it as the years went by. I gave it to her at her wedding shower. I wish my mom had done things like this, so that is why I tried to do a few little things. Then my daughter turned vegetarian, and does not use the recipes!! :) And she rarely gets out the silver. Oh well.....I guessed wrong. But I tried!
Peace |
| Jana |
Posted - Sep 29 2006 : 10:12:02 PM
I have a big old cedar chest that was my mom's. In it is a MESS! However, when I do get to it, I will sort it out and put little hang tags on each item. I have a few items of clothing made for my daughters (even a smocked day dress my mom sewed by hand for a friend of her's son back in the 40s, when boys wore day dresses, too. This woman sent it to me when I had my first baby). I have embroidered linens made by my grandma. A knit baby set made by a sister-in-law, and everyone's (including mine) first pair of shoes. I'm sure there's more stuff in there I'm not thinking of (oh yeah, my baptismal gown). I really do need to make notes as to what the items are, who made them and for whom!
Jana |
| Libbie |
Posted - Sep 28 2006 : 10:46:40 PM
I *love* the "treasure box" idea - I can't wait to begin these for my boys -- I'm mentally preparing myself for them to want to add rocks, sticks and other "treasures" of their own!
XOXO, Libbie
"Nothing is worth more than this day." - Goethe |
| BarefootGoatGirl |
Posted - Sep 27 2006 : 08:31:18 AM
Good point, Erin. My oldest son is 8 and he is saving stuff for himself. A couple months ago he used his own money to buy a photo frame that hit his fancy, he says that he is going to give it to his wife someday. Hubby likes the idea and is going to take the boys junking at pawn shops for old tools etc...
Trina
'
Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. Proverbs 27:23 |
| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Sep 26 2006 : 2:19:09 PM
Boys call them "treasure boxes" and they love them just as much as girls... My hubby has a couple of them!
Keep in mind that what boys think are treasures and what we might consider treasures may be worlds apart! Some of my DH's favorite items are broken watches, marbles and rocks. Who knew?
But anything that triggers a happy memory will work!
My Homesteading Journal http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com
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| Libbie |
Posted - Sep 26 2006 : 2:07:16 PM
I think I might start a "hope chest" for each of my sons after reading through this thread. I know it's a little non-traditional, but I am so inspired by all of the touching and tender ideas here. I have a few little things from my childhood that I just treasure - I'm so happy my mother saved them - and I'd like to be able to pass some similar things to my boys.
Sue - It's never too late! I think I'll start my own hope chest, too!!!
XOXO, Libbie
"Nothing is worth more than this day." - Goethe |
| junebug |
Posted - Sep 26 2006 : 12:31:43 PM
I agree Tina, having lost my Mom and MIL this year, I'm starting treasure boxes for my kids and grandkids to find one day after my passing. Just tokens that remind me of them and so they have a box of me! I always wanted a hope chest, is too late? LOL
www.herbalfarmstead.blogspot.com
www.countrypleasures.blogspot.com |
| BarefootGoatGirl |
Posted - Sep 26 2006 : 11:07:05 AM
Another thought on hope chests...If I fill my daughters hope chests now while they are young, they will always have something from me. My father-in-law died while his boys were in thier early teens and they have nothing from him. I don't mean to be morbid...but having something from a beloved parent who has passed on would mean so much.
Trina
'
Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. Proverbs 27:23 |
| suzyhomemaker |
Posted - Sep 23 2006 : 05:40:20 AM
Thank you for the Hope Chest idea. When I was graduating from high school, I checked them out in order to get my free little rectangular box that sits on my end table next to the sofa. It has some pictures in it from high school and college. The kids enjoy looking through it.
My husband was going to make me one, but he never did. We got his trunk, but I only keep bedding in it.
I have wondered where to keep some of my daughter's things. She turned 14 and has moved beyond dolls now. We ended up placing some in storage in the garage. Now I am thinking a Hope Chest could help make sure some of it does not get lost or ruined. She has some favorite books I read to her and her favorite American Girl doll, Felicity.
I would LOVE to start acquiring dishes for her. I once bought some Longerberger bowls for 1/2 price for her as she loved the white with blue edging. They are on the top of the cupboards at home so they do not get broke.
I longed for antiques and received some pink wine glasses from my grandmother and pink depression dishes from my mother (she got them at an antique store right before I married.) My daughter leans to modern tastes with bright colors in her newly decorated bedroom. I guess you can always just add some basic, pretty china and know that it may grow on her on as she ages more. :-)
What about linens? How do you know what size bed she may get? Maybe that is why you all are doing pillowcases and embroidered towels. I saved for Maddie a beautiful set of white towels that we received as a wedding gift and a beautifully embroidered white tablecloth her Godmother gave to me after her trip to China.
Now I am having our own farmgirl, Gloria Walls of Texas, do two cross-stitched bed tops into quilts for each of my kids. My mother in law did all the handwork. Gloria did the quilting and completion of the redwork chapter quilt for MaryJane. I can't wait to have her do these two for me. Have you seen the photo of the quilt i nthe latest MJF issue? She does such beautiful work.
Any other ideas for Hope Chest?
Country girl in NE PA |
| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Sep 22 2006 : 10:31:42 PM
This thread brings back so many memories. When we were kids growing up with my dad, we didn't have much in the way of linens, furniture, or even dishes that matched, and so my sisters and I had a closet that we deemed the "hope chest" and every time the carnival came around, we pitched dimes until we were blue, trying to win those little tea cups and saucers. We saved for years to try to get a matched set, and we went to all the garage sales/thrift stores/church bazaars we could find, searching for matched glasses, plates, linens etc...(Very hard to do in our extemely rural area as there weren't very many places to look for this kind of stuff.) After awhile, and with three of us collecting, the closet got pretty full - my dad thought we were so weird!
Luckily we had different tastes, so when we were older, we gathered the items that we had each collected and took them with us when we moved out to our first homes.
Instead of Wooden Hope Chests per se... my grandmother gave us each a set of luggage for graduation, including a trunk that served as our "hope chests".
My Homesteading Journal http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com
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| Carolinagirl |
Posted - Sep 22 2006 : 05:43:11 AM
For her fitst Christmas (she was only 8 weeks old), we bought my oldest daughter a handmade doublesided coffee table trunk. We thought she would like a piece of furniture to have when she gets her first home. Since she was born in 1999, we filled it will millineum stuff, magazines, newspapers, even 24 hours of video from the ABC network where they covered the changing of the century. There's lots of other keepsake things in there as well.
We are looking for a similar piece of furniture for my second daughter, and we will fill it with the same kinds of things.
I'm also starting to make some things for them to take with them- hand embroidered dishtowels, pillowcases, recipe books, things like that.
I wish I'd had that to come along with me.
Kim in NC |
| Tina Michelle |
Posted - Sep 21 2006 : 8:50:15 PM
I have boxes of the newborn baby outfits and first baby blanket/first shoes from all of my kids. For the girls I also have their first dollies in the boxes. I also have a few outfirs from up until they turned a year old, first baby rattle, or a special toy from their first year of life. I also keep a box for each child of their first drawings and awards.
Thanks Tasha for the idea..my oldest daughter is 15..I think I'll start a hope chest for her when she turns 16..although of course I never want her to leave ..but I know that all too soon that time will eventually come..maybe I just haven't done this because deep down I am kind of dreading that time..but know too that children must one day take their wings and fly from the nest. I'm just not one that is looking forward to that day... though it's a part of life that is inevitable that it will come.
~Seize the Day! Live, Love, Laugh~ |
| daffodil dreamer |
Posted - Sep 21 2006 : 7:44:51 PM
How lovely - I'd never even thought of starting a hope chest for my girls. I do make each child a special Christmas ornament every year so when they move away from home they can decorate their own tree with memories. But a hope chest is great - I'll have to start straight away - I have some gorgeous vintage tea towel designs to embroider, might start with those.
Thanks Tasha for the great idea!
Best wishes,
Jayne |
| bramble |
Posted - Sep 21 2006 : 10:57:23 AM
My Gran was always giving you something "for someday" so I started life with a very full "hope chest". I am saving things for my son that he can share with his family. Books he loved, a quilt made by his Grandmom and Poppy that we brought him home in. Maybe "someday" my grands will too. Who knows what kind of girl he will marry?! She might like family stuff, or( heaven forbid!) she might like all glass and chrome! I make scrapbooks for him with all his memorable paraphernalia and photos too. At 13 he is not interested in all that "old junk" but I know someday he will! Don't forget the guys, they're sentimental too even if they don't always show it!
with a happy heart |
| BarefootGoatGirl |
Posted - Sep 21 2006 : 10:24:12 AM
My oldest daughter (6) already has a little wooden box to keep her "someday" treasures in. It's not a hope chest, her daddy is going to build that later on, but it is a place to start her dreams. My parents waited until I was 13 to buy me a hope chest and would not let me buy any "someday" treasures until I had the chest...I think that was too long to wait so we have already started. It helps her stay focused on what God has planned for her as a woman and is fun. She is already picking up little pretties at thrift stores and yard sales (she has real linnen napkins with hand embrodery!) and she is making an embroderied pin cushin for it as well.
Trina
'
Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. Proverbs 27:23 |
| ktknits |
Posted - Sep 21 2006 : 09:05:34 AM
We have 2 daughters, and my husband found 2 matching Lane hope chests at a furniture store closing sale about 10 years ago. We got them for the girls, and I loaded them up with all the childhood "stuff" I wanted them to have. We kept them at our house until the girls were finally settled in their own houses. We live in Indiana, and we took Jenny's to her in Arizona a couple of years ago (when she was about 28). You should have seen the laughter and tears when we looked through all the stuff. Her husband was even into it! Lots of good memories!!
It's a good thing to do for your kids!
Kathy |
| lcelmer |
Posted - Sep 21 2006 : 08:55:42 AM
I have been saving special keepsakes for both my kids, (baby clothes, things I sew for them, special gifts etc) but I want to start a hope chest too... My grandmother left $ for each granddaughter on their highschool graduation to buy a hope chest in her will.. I got a lovely antique dresser instead (cedar chests make me sneeze big time!. :-) I am saving money for a chest for my daughter now, and am keeping an eye out for things to save for her... It is tricky though.. what I like she may hate... But she is only 3 so in another 20 years it may be in style again... :-)
Has anyone got a list of hopechest ideas or "stuffing"?
Lana C. :-)
Let everthing that has breath praise the Lord! Psalm 150:6 |
| GaiasRose |
Posted - Sep 21 2006 : 08:24:13 AM
That's what we are doing....13....a rite of passage, you know. No longer a little girl, but not yet a woman. OMGoddess I am tearing up thinking of it and I am quite a few years away from that with my girls yet.....WAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose
blog: http://gaiarose.wordpress.com |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Sep 21 2006 : 08:22:37 AM
A hope chest...what a wonderful idea. I wish my mom would have done that for me!!
I think we will have to start that tradition!! Maybe when they turn 13 since it is too late to do for 12th birthday for the oldest. Wonderful idea!!
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| CabinCreek-Kentucky |
Posted - Sep 21 2006 : 08:03:09 AM
i have boxes and boxes of treasures from when my girls were growing up. someday soon, i want to go through all the boxes and wrap and arrange everything really pretty ... and gift these treasures to each of them. i love that you are journaling for the children ... oh so important .. and all the 'little stories' that are soon forgotten!
i did not do a 'hope chest' for them as their 'tastes' were ever changing. but i am so enjoying helping them to decorate their homes now. xo
True Friends, Frannie
CABIN CREEK FARM
KENTUCKY
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