When Pop (Mum's Dad) was in India during the war, he sent home sewing boxes to Gran and to my Mum and her sister. He requested of the Indian craftsmen for their initials to be carved inside the lid of each box - when they arrived in England (about 1943 - my Mum was only 1 year old) the only one that did have the initials in the lid was my Mum's!
As a child I loved to look through my Mum's sewing box. And when I was old enough I was thrilled to be allowed to chose needles and thread from it to create my own little sewing projects.
I
really wanted a sewing box of my own. For one birthday I was given a sewing basket, full of reels of cotton, a needle case and needles, pins and a pin cushion and although I was thrilled with it, it wasn't a sewing
box.
Fast forward to my 21st birthday. I was just married and setting up my new home. Mum and Dad bought me my own sewing box! It wasn't the same as Mum's, but I was thrilled with it. I still have it today and it is a little the worse for wear, but it has tins of buttons, reels of thread, part finished projects and bits of ribbon in it and I love it.
However, when Gran passed away I was given the most wonderful gift.... her sewing box which Pop had sent her from India. Not only did I get the sewing box of my dreams, not only was it a lovely way to remember my Gran, but it was also full of all her sewing stash. I love that I have reels of cotton, elastic, scissors and needles that belonged to her, which she had used.
This is very precious to me (please excuse Willow - she is extremely nosey!).
This is brought to you as part of
Sian's Storytelling Sunday 3 - Pick your Precious. Do hop on over to her blog to find the links to many more stories about our 'precious' things.
21 comments:
I used to have a thing about sewing boxes when I was younger! I love this story and your very very precious sewing box x
What a lovely box! Your story has reminded me that my Grandma had a sewing box, one that folded out like steps. I always wanted one too but was given a basket. It was never the same and to this day looks almost as new as the day I got it! LOL I wonder what happened to my Grandma's one?!?!?! A wonderful story :-)
That really is a gorgeous sewing box and I'm not surprised it's so precious to you x
I have a sewing box that was made by an uncle of Mr M. Can you believe that no one wanted it in his family? I have its history written down and kept inside it - so my children will know how it cam to us. I am pretty sure it will be going to Miss Em and she loves to sew and craft
I have a sewing box that was made by an uncle of Mr M. Can you believe that no one wanted it in his family? I have its history written down and kept inside it - so my children will know how it cam to us. I am pretty sure it will be going to Miss Em and she loves to sew and craft
It's wonderful! What a gift. In the 1960's my dad bought my Mum a wooden sewing box which had been made in an RNIB workshop. It had a very distinctive wood-y smell and I bet your box has its own special scent too. I love this (and all those lovely old sewing things you have inside)
what a lovely thing to have I can see why it is so precious.
A perfect precious!
I am not very good at sewing at all, but I have always loved sewing basket or box. Yours is beautiful and what a wonderful tale :)
It really is gorgeous.
What a perfect story of precious things. How lovely you have the sewing box and it's contents. It is so special that you can handle things that your Gran used.
This sewing box certainly is a wonderful reminder of your Gran x
I love the look of all the vintage bits & pieces in it & I'd love a good root through it :)
Oh how lovely that you ended up with such a great reminder of your Grandma and the box of your dreams :) Looks practical and pretty!
What a beautiful piece & lovely memories of its origin within your family! Thanks for a peek inside it today!
What a wonderful treasure! Not only to have the box but all your Gran's supplies in it.
How wonderful that sewing boxes are a tradition in your family - and filled with lovely stash to boot.
What a beautiful sewing box. My mum has a black one decorated with Japanese ladies and butterflies/flowers that she brought back when my Grandad was posted in Hong Kong and I was forever poking my nose in it :-)
What a beautiful heirloom. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Rinda
Your gran's sewing box looks beautiful...there weren't any sew-ers in our family, so it's not a thing I've ever really seen!
Alson xx
I had a sewing box for many years, and took it with me to college only to find that my freshman roommate had exactly the same one! I wonder if anyone takes a sewing box to college these days. Now my sewing supplies are in a drawer and a couple of thread boxes. I've never seen anything as lovely as yours!
What a beautiful thing to have and all the more precious for knowing its wonderful family history.
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