When you clean out a closet you go back in time . . .

This week, like every year at this time, I switch my fall/winter wardrobe of sweaters & jeans to my spring/summer shorts & tops. But I did something this time that took me down memory lane.  I said enough is enough. It is about time I give away some clothes I have not worn in years and will never wear again. As you get older, life changes occur, and you no longer dress like you use to, it is time to let go and start anew. Making three piles; one for donating, one for keeping, and the big one, to sell. Yes, I decided to part with some outfits that were so near and dear to me. These clothes actually identified me: stylish but quirky, expensive but worth its cost, and then there were the memories. Oh boy!

As I pulled each garment out, took off the protective cover, hung it up on the door to take a long look at it, I pondered on the time and reason when I wore it. My daughter was home that day so I took each and every outfit to her and asked her, “Do you remember this one?” Her reactions were funny and mostly her patience with me was appreciated as I sat there and recalled the story behind the outfit. She was present for all the times I wore these clothes, so she too, went down a memory path. Do you know that clothes have stories to tell? I could probably write an amusing book, each chapter a narrative about finding the dress, suit and gown, why I needed, mostly wanting it, and what it cost then. When I researched the designer label and found out how much it costs today, I was flabbergasted.

 After I pulled out the last outfit, I asked myself, now what do I do with all these wonderful clothes? You will never believe what solution I came up with. Especially me, the Family Museum Curator that advocates saving and preserving family heirlooms, not that a dress is a family heirloom, but its history is worth a fortune of memories for me.       

I decided to take a booth at our local antique mall and sell these vintage clothes along with other family things that are not wanted anymore. This was a difficult decision for me, but there comes a time when I had to stop holding onto gowns I will no longer wear let alone fit into. And now the work begins. It is not easy to prepare something to sell. There are several procedures that must be followed and there is also an expense that is incurred. I ask myself, will all this work be worth my time and energy? When I know, I will share this info with you.

Until then, here comes summer. The shorts and t-shirts reign supreme in my closet and when the first autumn leave falls, I will be at it again.

And don’t forget to get your poppy this Memorial Day. This is a great time to remember the lives lost to preserve American freedom. It's a solemn holiday most often spent by sharing a day off with loved ones. But as you enjoy being with friends and family, take a minute to remember everyone who can't be with their loved ones.

And let us not forget our brave men and women who are at this moment in time, protecting America and you & me!

 

 

What is it worth?

Did you know that the jewelry you own or especially the pieces you collect have a history of their own? For example, a Charm Bracelet. Be the bracelet gold or silver, and even the size of the charms do not matter because a charm is a charm and each one tells a story. If you have one, take it out of the jewelry box right now and look at it and ask yourself these questions:

When did I start collecting charms and which was the first one?  Which charms mark a significant event for you?  Did you buy it or was it a gift?  If it was a gift, was it engraved?

 This brings me to the main subject of this blog: engraved jewelry. When a piece of jewelry, be it a charm or a ring, is engraved, there is a lot of history in those few etches. What does it say? Does it have a name and date?

When and why was it given and inscribed?

This information may not seem important to you at this moment, however, if and when the inscribed piece moves on to a new owner, be it a member in your family or passed on to another relative, or sadly, sold to a stranger, its little bit of history will always be there as a reminder of the original owners life. Now if the piece is an antique acquired at a jeweler’s who sells antique jewelry, this inscribed piece can make the ring, brooch or Cameo valuable and pricy. That’s well and fine, but what about that history? It could be historical; a name & date of some famous person or marking a significant date. Or just simply lovely. The date of a marriage or anniversary, who gave it to whom, when and why.

So next time you go through your or a relative who passed away jewelry box, look at the pieces carefully. People often say, “If only this piece can talk.” These heirlooms do, in fact, talk. They can tell us a great deal about history, just like your Family Museum does. So instead of keeping that inscribed piece of jewelry hidden away, showcase it.

Put it into a shadow box with, if you have one, a picture of the owner. If not, and there is a date inscribed, a picture of a scene from that time. I have a shadow box displaying several little pieces of jewelry I collected over time. Putting this display together is fun and you can be creative while making it.

Remember, the history of a person or family can be found it some unlikely places. So look for it, read it and find out more, and treasure it always. Jewelry is more than a token of love; it’s History.