I hadn't really wanted to post anything until I had started to piece together the museum. I mean, I'm still playing with ideas in my mind about where to put everything and what needs a shadow box and what doesn't. Some things can stand on their own, like this Boy Scout award for my grandfather from Berlin. The plaque says Presented by the Berlin Brigade to Ivan D. White, in appreciation for your outstanding contribution to scouting in the Berlin area. My grandfather was very involved in scouting. There are other awards and medals that have been boxed away for now, but I do want to display them; scouting was such an important part of his life and of the lives of my uncles. |
Jewelry is often such a personal gift, and that makes it a great way to tell a story. Think about how many heirloom or sentimental pieces you have in your family. The thing that I love so much about the jewelry that I have is that it's costume jewelry because my grandparents sold Sarah Coventry - so perfect to use in shadow boxes. Some of the best memories that I have of playing at grandma and grandpa's house involve that jewelry and playing dress up. They also add a lot of texture to any shadow box design! I'm really looking forward to putting the "Ami" creations costume jewlery into a shadow box. My grandfather told me the story behind this chocker, bracelet, and earrings. He said that this was some of the first jewlery that he ever bought for my grandmother. When they were getting married, she set in a store and wanted it, desperately. So he bought it for her. He said it cost him $25 in 1946, and that was about a month's worth of pay. But he loved her, and it was worth it. That is one of the stories that is going to go into my family history museum - and I have the jewlery that goes along with it. |