hope chest

As a young beehive, I set a goal to create a hope chest and put to good use the beautiful, antique cedar chest left to me by my grandmother, Marie Humble. As the decorated 3x5 notecards (from my Evening of Excellence presentation) still inside the chest explain, it was really a fun experience. Today I took out the remnants of the hope chest, and a few other sentimental items I've stored inside, to make room for bed linens. And I have to say, I think it was even more fun taking things out than putting them in. The chest's contents included the following:

Some of Grandma Humble's porcelain dolls. The girls gasped and put both hands to their mouths when they saw them, so awestruck were they by their beauty. I think they look lovely on a high shelf.

The Madame Alexander dolls given me by Grandma Humble. Their posable limbs may prove too tempting for awhile yet, and I'm out of high shelves. I've chosen another safe place for them in the meantime.

A note card revealing the steps required to make one of the girls' most favorite quilts. They couldn't believe I'd made it for them when I was just a young girl.

Two framed embroideries my mom stitched -- one of a little girl kneeling at her bed and another of a little boy with a fishing rod. When she saw them Ella exclaimed, "What's going on here? Why aren't you giving these to me!"

And, finally, a tooled leather belt made for me by my dad when I was Ella's age, along with two belt buckles -- one with flowers and the other with a horse head in turquoise inlay. Judging by her reaction, I think she loves them as much as I did.

So, it turns out that my hope chest is a treasure chest. And not bad for storing linens, either.