I recently went junking with my mom and brought home this sweet, creamy, shabby recipe box as a treasure. I knew it belonged to me and would make a great addition to my craft room, but wanted to dress it up just a little first.
I purchased this flower on my junking trip too and loved how it looked perched on top of the recipe box, but also, wanted to dress it up a bit as well. I added a couple of Freckled Fawn's beautiful Filigree Leaves, some tea-stained fabric, and a trinket pin.
This little box reminds me so much of a sewing tin my mom had that I would sift through as I was by her side while she was mending, so I added White Seamstress Washi Tape around the top of the box to help remind me of those times with my mom. She was and is such an amazing seamstress. She would make my dresses and matching clothes for my Barbies out of the fabric scraps. I always thought this was so much fun.
To finish off my box I added a few vintage buttons near the bottom along with a Freckled Fawn Heart Wood Chip to symbolize the love that is attached to all of those wonderful memories with my mom. Now my little girl dresses her Barbies in those same clothes my mom made for my Barbies and each scrap of fabric is tied to many other memories.
Inside is a perfect place for my Freckled Fawn wood chips, Lovely Bits Stars, and Dew Drop stickers.
This is my new favorite treasure. I just love it and know of a little girl who will enjoy exploring what's inside.
Thanks for stopping by today.
Melissa
What a great find.
Posted by: linda in nc | June 11, 2013 at 04:32 AM
What a perfect treasure you found for yourself and how beautifully you decorated it. It must have been a thrill to come across it as well as the pretty flower.
Posted by: Patty O'Malley | June 11, 2013 at 04:41 AM
WOW, I have the same memory of my mother, making matching dresses for me and my doll! What a treasure!
Posted by: jan m | June 11, 2013 at 05:04 AM
I am such an admirer of your beautiful, heartfelt work! You just have that magic touch...everything of yours is gorgeous and speaks to my vintage loving heart! :)
Posted by: Katie Sims | June 11, 2013 at 08:52 AM
Oh, Melissa! What a beautiful little treasure this is, and how perfectly you have decorated it! My heart pitter-patters at all of your beautiful vintage creations! It has been a while since I last visited, and I am so glad I have a few minutes today to enjoy my coffee while browsing through your beautiful work! Can't think of a more perfect, rainy afternoon activity :)
Posted by: Ivana Camdzic | June 11, 2013 at 12:34 PM
That's so yummy. And, what a sweet story. I loved sifting through my Mom's button box while she sewed. And, she was so patient when we sewed for Barbie with many of her good fabrics. My grandmother also made some wonderful Barbie clothes that I wish I still had. Thanks for reminding me of the memories. Hugs.
Posted by: Troy Louise | June 11, 2013 at 02:50 PM
Hi Melissa, your lovely sewing box and story reminded me of my childhood. My Mum made clothes for my Barbies, and was so patient when I needed her help to manage the tiny buttons! (Obviously before the days of velcro)! Those clothes were also played with by my daughter who has now sadly passed the Barbie age. Thanks for rekindling some wonderful memories! I think I might do a layout and include some of those clothes with the stories.
Posted by: Jo R. | June 11, 2013 at 05:28 PM
Oh, what a sweet little treat I find today when I stopped by! So darling! And such sweet memories you'll have with this too.
Your last few posts are the most precious cards too! I'm always in awe of all your tiny, sweet details that you place on your cards. Sigh. :)
Posted by: Lisa Dolson | June 11, 2013 at 08:30 PM
What a great little tin box and fab flower! I adore boxes and drawers so I love it. All of the details you added, i.e. the white seamstress washi tape, buttons, wooden heart ... look perfectly placed. Neat story about your Mom's sewing tin. My Mom did some mending but no garment sewing. In her sewing tin, she kept spools of thread, needles, thimbles, snaps, safety pins, bits and pieces of fabric from clothes she mended, etc. She still has that box and I smile every time I come across it. :) Funny thing is ... before it became her sewing tin, it was where she stashed the Oreos. Heehee! (FYI- In the humid midwest, once you open a pkg of dry food, like cookies or crackers, they tend to go stale or get "soft" rather quickly. Many people transfer them to plastic containers or tins to preserve freshness.)
Posted by: Gabby | June 11, 2013 at 11:40 PM
What a gorgeous recipe box. I always love to look at your samples.
Posted by: Dianne Fike | June 12, 2013 at 04:30 AM
Beautiful altered sewing tin! Love everything you create, as you know :-)
Posted by: Jan Marcham | June 12, 2013 at 06:14 AM
what a fantastic tin! and I love how you added bits and pieces.
Posted by: sharon wheet | June 12, 2013 at 07:34 AM
Love this! So precious!
Posted by: Toni Storie | June 12, 2013 at 11:49 AM
I remember those days of going through a tin of sewing things too!!!! :) BUT, I remember my mom had someone knit my Barbie clothes! (My mom worked) AND I've knitted my daughter some Barbie clothes too! :) Which she LOVES! She even has my FIRST "Barbie," MIDGE! (Barbie's friend!) I LOOOOOOOOOOOOVE your little TIN!!!!!!! :) It's "DOLLED" UP WONDERFULLY!!!!!!!! ;)
Posted by: Becky Green | June 12, 2013 at 02:53 PM
SWOON! Love the way you've dressed this up Melissa!!
Posted by: Lisa | June 19, 2013 at 12:42 PM