Thursday, January 7, 2010

salvaging old jumpers..

so I'm sure most of you know what a jumper is...but for those who don't...it's a sweater.
My wonderful Mum opened up 2 old suitcases when I found out I was pregnant 6 years ago with Little Miss A...
"Here you go" she said..."take a look through here"... there was a musty smell to all the fabrics...fabrics which I remembered wearing when I was small...fabrics which I had memories only from photos taken...this was touching, and special...thank you Mum!
I pulled out a Marimekko top...you know the classic one which has all those little bright coloured pockets,old knitted hats and gloves,dresses my Farmor(Grandmother) had made,undershirts(which my girls STILL love to wear)...then a Liberty Dress which I remember my Dad having bought for us for Christmas...green with pretty flowers...AND sweaters/jumpers which brought back Winter filled memories...times when we would spend hours outside playing in the snow building HUGE snowmen...great thick and warm woolen knitted sweaters...
jumpers I am SO happy she kept...they honestly were in good shape...I think one had a moth hole which I fixed...but other than that...both our girls have worn all the clothes which were salvaged.
Then there came a time when thoughts of storing again for another generation...or donating came across my mind...
WHAT TO DO???
I am a pack rat and hate throwing things out...especially memories and history. SO...I made these 2 necklaces from 2 sweaters...
The longest of the 2 falls just bellow my chest...and they look quite sweet with a simple jumper on.
I am really happy with the result...and know now I have memories forever which I can wear.
WHAT do you hang on to...and can't let go of in your Life?
Have a wonderful day...thanks for stopping by.
Char,ON

20 comments:

Apple said...

That is really cute!! I had one kinda like that (except made with pom poms) as a valance in my old house!! :)

andrea creates said...

Those look really pretty!
I hang on to everything.
Papers,schoolwork,toys,clothes,you name it....I'm such a pack rat.
Thanks for stopping by, and encouraging me about the snow :)

Country Wings in Phoenix said...

Oh Sweetie...
That is just the cutest darn thing I have seen. I absolutely love the two necklaces and you have your memories with you forever. They are not donated, but mental and visual as well. How wonderful. I bet you get lots of comments on them. How very sweet they are. Thank you for sharing today. I so love it when you do.

Country hugs sweetie...Sherry

Char said...

what a cool re-purposing of those and wonderful memories to carry with you. beautiful.

...Nina Nixon... said...

Everything I'm afraid, much to my husbands annoyance!!

I love your creativity and what a wonderful thing to make from old jumpers with the memories still being tied in.

take care,

Nina xxx

ps. snow - 'yay!!'

PROVINS said...

Ha ha thay are amazing!! Great that they now have a second life!!

The Stewart Stuff said...

I love, LOVE, L.O.V.E. it! You are just so creative and talented!!!

Shannon said...

Your necklaces are absolutely divine!! Love them.

aimee said...

what creative necklaces! they look like jumbo gumballs!

molly said...

what a brilliant idea :) I'm just the opposite. I hate stuff and love to purge. It drives the husband mad!

JuanitaTortilla said...

That is quite ingenious! I wonder how you got them into round shapes...

What I can't let go of? Like you, clothes and things that have been given to me.

-Juanita

Rachel Follett said...

This is so cool and clever! I love it!

Thank you for your sweet comments!

Anonymous said...

so pretty!

Cindy said...

such a great idea! i love the bright colors. enjoy your weekend!

Kriston said...

Such a cute idea!
I seem to hang on to little things like train or cinema tickets. I don't exactly know why...
Another cool trick with old jumpers is to cut in a straight line below the arm pits, so you have what looks like a tube, and to put a band around the top and make a jumper skirt! n_n

Stefanie Beyeler said...

Such a good idea and so very pretty!

I can't let go of paper scraps and love to make little notebooks with them.

isabelle said...

Oh!! so lovely!!!

Silke Powers said...

Oh, so very cute and such a creative idea!! I can't believe all the things you get done!! Do you ever sleep?! Hugs, Silke

Joslyn said...

oh these are totally fantastic! I'm smitten!

cupcakesandcoffee schwartz said...

ok--that is amazing and so cute. I love the description of the smell of memories for you:)

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