Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Wake Up Call

Do you have something you have loved for years that no one else knows about?  I ponder this because my vintage beauty is a bit of a mystery to me.


After my mother in law died I was the happy recipient of  her sewing supplies.  She had an old cookie tin full of tools and thread, a few pins and needles, a seam ripper, buttons, hooks, and a little compact with a spider and fly design.

Sewing Box / Treasure Box.


There were all kinds of sewing supplies in here along with the little compact. 
I cleaned it out and just keep buttons in here these days. 
The compact stays in a special place and I see it every day.

My mother in law, Mary, was on my mind Monday morning. I had picked up the little compact from its usual resting place and thought about using it for my "Vintage Thingy Thursday" post. Something cute and easy to blog about. I'm looking for cute, quick, and easythese days because there's so much work to be done in the garden - leaving me with little time for blogging. I carried it around the house, found a cord and wore it for a while. I wish she had told me a story or two about it. What did it mean in her life? I will never know, my husband doesn't remember ever seeing it when he was a kid - he doesn't remember what her sewing box looked like either.



Thunderstorms kept me awake Monday night.  I was in bed by 11:00 p.m. and at 3:00 a.m. I was wide awake.  I got up and had a glass of milk.  Went back to bed, started to doze and was awakened by THUNDER!!!!  Just one extremely close thundering bit of thunder.  That was it, I gave up and went in to the living room.  Sat in the quiet for a several minutes and then turned on the t.v. (this is not my normal morning routine).   BBC America morning news was "live" (always a good sign) at London's Westminster Palace where they were waiting for Queen Elizabeth II to arrive and to begin celebrations for her Diamond Jubilee. 

I stood there a few minutes and took it all in.  Sorry, not the Queen's speech or the fact that 60 years is a long time, I wasn't even too concerned that one of the men in the front row really needed to comb his hair... 


I was thinking about all the conversations I had had with my mother in law about "The Royal Family."  I remember her father was from Great Britain and she enjoyed following their Royal Family's adventures - we usually ended up talking about the clothes. I'm sure she would have liked the outfit Queen Elizabeth wore Tuesday (she liked everything the Queen wore). 

For a few minutes on Tuesday I felt close to Mary. Maybe the rain and thunder were just there to help me remember someone I have loved. Was it because I had her on my mind that I had this fun coincidence? (This is where I confess I did not get up early last year to watch the "Royal Wedding." It takes a bit more than that to get me out of bed.)



I don't know all the stories about the little compact, life goes on. I enjoy having it in my life reminding me of Mary.

I'm joining Suzanne at ColoradoLady for  Vintage Thingy Thursday.  Stop by in you would like to see other vintage items.

Also, my blogging pal, Annie, of Annie's Ruby Slipperz is having a giveaway.  Annie explains it all at Annie's Mystery Baby Give Away or something like that.   If you quilt or know someone who does check out this fun chance to win.

Was it a gift or had she saved and bought it for herself?
Or maybe she found it years ago in someones sewing basket?

One more thing - If you wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep, just ask "Why am I up?" The answer will come. 

*

17 comments:

Joy@aVintageGreen said...

Unique compact. Lots to think about. I like peeks of the Royals. Tough job I think.

Sue Catmint said...

this post make me think people we love don't really cease to exist, they stay in our minds and our hearts. I still have my mother who will be 100 this year, and it is extremely disconcerting when she phones me to ask if I would like her to come over to do some cooking for me! I adore the treasure box the spider web compact. They are superb works of art in their own right, pity they can't talk about their past lives and your mother in law.

TexWisGirl said...

LOVED this post! LOVE the compact. SO unusual and unique. LOVE that you carried it around and wore it. LOVE that you had your awakening moment to share with her. perfect...

LV said...

Whatever the true history of this compact is, it is a keeper.

Denise :) said...

What a darling little piece! Come into my parlor said the spider to the fly! :)

Sue McPeak said...

You have a very special treasure in your Spider Web Heirloom. Since it was found in a sewing box, I'm betting it has more to do with sewing than as a compact.

During the Victorian Era,quilters embroidered spider webs on their highly embellished crazy quilts. They thought they were a good luck symbol for the quilter and a necessary part of each crazy quilt.

Now you have another idea to explore about your MIL's sewing box and it's treasures. I bet some of the buttons are collectables as well.

HolleyGarden said...

How unusual. What a wonderful reminder of your MIL, even if you don't know much about its history with her.

Bev said...

Beautiful piece.... wonderful post.... don't have to many of those sleepless nights...but when they come...I'll remember your post:)

Ann said...

Even though I'm deathly afraid of spiders, I love the little compact. The mystery of its life makes it absolutely precious. What a wonderful way to hold Mary in your heart.

Donna@Conghaile Cottage said...

Your story was beautiful...I LOVE your compact and it could easily be one of MY favorite things. I especially love anything with spider webs on it. I have quite a few brooches like that. When I was little I was afraid of spiders BUT "GOD blessed me with 3 sons" and that changed how I felt about all creepy crawlies. They taught me to love all creatures and because of them I am a master gardener now! I am so happy you enjoyed your visit to me, YES the header picture IS MY HOME! Our family are old world builders and this is one of our creations...You can see it better in lots of my posts...
Thank you for visiting me...
Have a wonderful weekend,
Hugs,
Donna

Roslyn said...

I love all things vintage sewing related, but the compact ....maybe it was simply a pendant.

Thoroughly Modern Me said...

What a beautiful story. It is very fun and personal to have her sewing box and particularly this mystery locket. It was probably as special to her as her sewing box.

My Sister Made Me Do It.... said...

What a lovely post! I so enjoyed all of it, from the chuckle at not being concerned over the man who needed to comb his hair to the bittersweet recollections of your MIL, Mary. I love that the spider compact seemed to call you to join it in remembering someone you both loved........

NanE said...

Oh my gosh, how precious and unusual is that, I love it! I don't think it's unusual that your hubby doesn't remember it, men just aren't in to that kind of stuff. Now if he had a sister, I would think she would remember it. Have a wonderful week, Nan

Claudia said...

Love the compact and the story you've told is so lovely. I have some things that were passed on to me and I don't know their story! Wish I did.

xo
Claudia

Pam Kessler said...

That is so unique. Now I'm going to sit here and wonder how it came to be her's too!

Barbara said...

Interesting compact and I see you have a tin showing Edinburgh Castle with the guards marching.