|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
What do you do with those special items that have been passed down to you? Put them in the hall closet and hope the door will shut? Probably not a good choice for several reasons. First, you are unnecessarily creating clutter; second, if the item is very old and unstable, you will further the aging process; finally, and most importantly, what's the point of keeping these special items if the only time you enjoy them is when you move or get the bug to clean out a closet!
This summer my grandmother passed away and I was the recipient of many beautiful things, especially table linens. My grandmother enjoyed entertaining and her tables were always draped in an impeccable manner. As I started to sort through everything to see what I actually had, I found napkin-sized linens on which my grandmother had painted picnic scenes. They are so neat and I could not just stick them back in a closet for another 50 years.
But the dilemma was, what should I do with them? They were too precious to actually use as table linens, so I decided to have them framed to display in my daughter's room. I visited a local frame shop only to discover a vast range of options for preserving any and all types of mementos. For my project, the shop owner recommended conservation framing. The linens were very old and starting to discolor. The conservation frame process includes hand-stitching the fabric to a suede board, use of acid free mattes (very important because acid from papers and plastics can migrate onto your memento), and image perfect UV-filtering glass. The painted napkins turned out wonderfully and look great in my daughter's room. Now, every time I am in there making the bed or putting away laundry, I am reminded of my grandmother's big heart and gentle smile.
My Aunt Marcia has a particular knack for finding creative solutions for our family heirlooms. When my grandfather's health was failing, he always had a hand-stitched quilt over his shoulders for warmth. Family members had a very strong association between that quilt and my grandfather. After his death my aunt had the quilt taken apart and the pieces of fabric made into teddy bears for grandchildren and doilies for his daughters and daughters-in-law. In addition, a frame was presented to my dad containing his father's Bronze Star, the Executive Order, and the article from the newspaper, all arranged under glass using conservation techniques.
Many mementos are suitable for display, given the appropriate treatment. Things that may be considered include, but are not limited to: garments worn for a special occasion, a lone piece of china or silver, and special awards or medals. There are many conservation or preservation solutions available. Costs will vary depending on the size and detail of the project, but consider it a worthwhile investment in the preservation of a small piece of your family history. So run, don't walk, to your attic, closet or wherever you have hidden away a precious memento and find a way to put it on display now!
Copyright 2003 Bridget Messino
About the author: Bridget Messino is a Professional Organizer and co-owner of Clutter Free Living, Inc. Her work frequently appears on many Internet sites and on her own organizing site Clutter Free Living as well as in her monthly Home Organizing Newsletter How to Be Clutter Free. Subscribe to the FREE monthly e-newsletter by sending a blank e-mail to cflnews-subscribe@topica.email-publisher. com
Wind Chimes and more... I've noticed that in the two years since the major... Read More Every day I find junk mail waiting for me, whether... Read More "The real question is, why do you want it? What... Read More I recently had a conversation with a friend about clutter.... Read More Our children are probably the biggest clutter creators we have... Read More Each area of your home has a symbolic meaning with... Read More If you look at any major organisation, there is this... Read More Finish each day and be done with it. You have... Read More I like a room you can dance in the middle... Read More Home organization means being able to find your stuff when... Read More Take a look around you right now. Look away from... Read More To make room for new things to come into you... Read More After more than 20 years as an entrepreneur and a... Read More Staying organized can be a constant battle. The following organizing... Read More We previously noted that papers must be sorted before they... Read More Sometimes the task of keeping a clean, tidy house just... Read More After a long winter, this is the time of year... Read More Digging out from under stacks of paper might seem like... Read More Technology has given us the tools to reduce routine tasking,... Read More In a speech entitled "Organized Living in a Disorganized World"... Read More Getting and staying organized is critical to achieving your goals.... Read More Hasn't time flown? Already we're into the last quarter of... Read More What's an item that can help you organize every room... Read More There are eight distinct steps to constructing and executing an... Read More Clothes. Check. School supplies. Check. No doubt you've got to... Read More
Windchimes
for great gifts!
After the Clutter: 5 Steps to a New Daily Routine
Oh No, Not Another Interuption, How To Deal With Everyday Distractions
Tossing and Turning
The Five Ways To Ease The Process Of Eliminating Clutter
Kids Clutter: Organizing at Every Age
Clutters Side Effects: How the State of Your Home Affects Your Life
Organisation - Getting Back To Basics
Declutter for Sucess
The Clutter Campaign - Design Your Vision
9 Simple Strategies for Home Organization
Clutter & Creativity
Making Space - Letting Go of Clutter
Organizing Solutions for the Disorganized Entrepreneur
Home Organizing Tips & Gizmos
Digging out of Paper Clutter - part 2
5 Easy Steps to Making Housework More Manageable
Spruce Your Environment, Spruce Your Spirit
Digging out of Paper Clutter - part 1
Technology...The Culprit and the Tool
Getting Organized - Getting Fit
Getting Organized for Achievement
Spring into Spring
Organize (and Decorate) Your Home on a Budget with Baskets
A Personal Action Plan for Change
Family Management Tip #3: Getting Ready for the New School Year
I'm cheap and proud of it.I use and re-use things... Read More
Have you ever been totally overwhelmed by a massive task... Read More
Last year I attended a presentation from Parenting Expert and... Read More
Keeping on task and getting organized starts with a basic... Read More
Take a look around you right now. Look away from... Read More
Professional organizers and helpful-hint sources often recommend storage solutions such... Read More
What do you gain if you SIMPLIFY?Dictionary* says:to reduce to... Read More
Are you overwhelmed by clutter wherever you turn? Here are... Read More
1. A calendar is an essential organizing tool ? start... Read More
Ever wonder how they do it? How a short-order cook... Read More
For some reason, Americans think they have something to prove... Read More
De-Cluttering our lives can be an extremely liberating exercise. There... Read More
Buried under mountains of paperwork from your company? Do the... Read More
The following procedures will insure an organized and well run... Read More
Ever feel overwhelmed by all the papers, notices, artwork, and... Read More
Dennis is working as a factory worker during the day... Read More
How do you know if you need to clean out?... Read More
Every day I find junk mail waiting for me, whether... Read More
Have you ever felt so discouraged, your life so out-of-control,... Read More
Your closet is often the first thing you see in... Read More
When the things in your home start crowding in around... Read More
There is nothing worse then spending ten minutes looking for... Read More
'A well-ordered life is like climbing a tower; the view... Read More
Getting Things Done (GTD), is a productivity methodology designed by... Read More
At this point, you have probably run across some belongings... Read More
Get Organized - Organization |