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View Full Version : Hope Chest Item Ideas (compiled from many)


StillJulie
05-22-2007, 07:17 AM
-Spiritual Journals
-Embroidered pillow cases
-homemade family recipe cookbook
-Their journals I have kept over the years (memories written in them)
-Teatowels
-quilts (I have Shannon's all pieced, Melissa's 3/4 cut)
-teacups and saucers
-pillowcases
-table runners
-dresser scarves
-aprons
-needle holders (wooden)
-dish towels

Anything embroiderable (lol) is embroidered...I'm buying teacups etc at auction to get the pretty antique ones for the girls...I let them pick them out.

I will also buy them a set of dishes that way....picked out by them at auction. I think the antique ones are far prettier than newer ones, not to mention more affordable! I may buy their silver that way too....

-Chirstmas ornaments: each year a a child mom got us each an ornament so that over the years we had our OWN when we moved out and had at least a few to decorate our first tree.

She also stashed a few more in our boxes that were "surprises"!

Each year we try to find ornaments that reflect something new in their lives that year....this year, for example, Shannon started guitar lessons, so she got a guitar ornament!


A cook book of recipes that they learn to accomplish while still at home, to have a 'catalog' of things they can pull from.

The tea cups and dishes...a must for us. We buy tea cups in all different patterns, and then have a very 'simple' pattern of dishes for them to set a table with, such as the Lenox Eternal (ivory china, gold trimmed pattern) and then different tea cups for each place setting. Makes a table pretty.

Some crafted items for their own children...a small quilt for a nursery, using scraps for burb rags, etc.

For some reason, our family the mom of the daughter supplies the wooden rolling pin, and Mr Missouri's family always gave an iron skillet that was well seasoned. who knew?

What do you store each dk's stuff in? I haven't gotten that far yet, but what I should I be looking for (at a good price)?

I still embroidering pillow cases.



Not sure what you're asking?
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What do we store them in IN the hopechest? Or what do we use AS a hopechest?

My Grandpa made each of girls us a cedar chest when we turned 16. Not sure about the boys....

My Dad has made my girls'. They are medium sized wooden chests with lift off lids, lined in cedar. Right now they use them as toy chests.

I just set everything within the cedar chest...never had a problem. The biggest key with a cedar chest is to avoid plastic bags etc. If you feel the need to wrap things, it should be in white or natural cotton or linen.



What about some nice looking boxes?

Kind of like this... only bigger. storage boxes
Hobby lobby always has sales or coupons... and they have more the type of thing I was thinking about. Something decorative. And you wouldn't have to spend a ton.... I love the idea of what you are putting in the boxes even more than the idea of a hope chest itself.



How about steamer trunks bought at auction?
They usually go quite reasonably around here...$20-30-ish.

You can re-line them, and throw in some baking powder if they're a bit musty.

But yes, really, anything would work....even those decorative stacking cardboard boxes....Underbed storage containers...anything really.



I bought a set of tiny gravy/sauce wisks for each of them also.

Boxingmama
07-16-2007, 09:35 AM
adding-

children's favorite books
handed down Bibles from parents/grandparents with notes etc

Saralynn
07-16-2007, 09:47 AM
My dad made my hope chest as a high school graduation present. I am already asking my dh to work together with my dad to make my girls, but much earlier. :) I want to start filling it, and LOVE the ideas posted above.

I'm very sentimental but like to have praticality thrown in there too. I have my Grandma's wooden rolling pin and will never part with it until I hand it down to own of my daughters. It is stored in a clean tube sock. :D

I would also like to collect metal cookie cutters for my girls. I love them. We already do an ornament a year for each one, started by dh's grandparents. Well, techinically, me, but Gpa & Gma S gave them each money, and with that money we purchased an ornament for each girl. I do it after Christmas though, when the price drops to 75% off.

Sara

kcsmom76
07-16-2007, 12:12 PM
I didn't read through all these but I have an idea.

I have written ds and dd "love letters" over the years and plan on putting those in there to read when they move out.

The "love letters" were written when they do something cute or sweet or melt my heart kind of things. I write them letters and stash them in my drawer. I have an envelope with their names on them and put in there when I write one.

Kelly
07-20-2007, 11:25 PM
You can buy really awesome LANE cedar chests at furniture stores and they last forever.