Since I was a little girl,I have wanted a heirloom hope chest. They are just beautiful and so traditional. In pioneer days, Many young women would have a chest filled with homemade quilts, aprons, dishtowels, etc. They make the things that they would one day need when they were married.
Today, these chests have so many uses. I have seen them used as coffee tables, sitting benches in entry ways and at the foot of beds. They have so much room to store things in.
I just checked my email and received a newsletter from Lowes creative Ideas. It contains the link to the directions for a Homemade Heirloom Chest. My husband could so easily make me one of these for my birthday. I am going to print off the directions and tape it to the mirror in our bathroom. Do you think he will get the hint? LOL
The link that they sent has my email address as part of it so I will have to work on the link. This is what I came up with. I hope this link works.
http://www.lowescreativeideas.com/0107/ci_heirloomchest_0107.asp?
Do you have a heirloom chest or have you ever wanted one?
[question posted by villageanne]
responses and comments:
Yay, your link works for me! So it looks like you fixed it up properly. Cool! ^_^ The heirloom chest pictured on that site is absolutely beautiful. I hope that your husband will get the hint and make you one for your birthday. That would be wonderful! ^_^ My family has a dresser around here that reminds me somewhat of the chest on this site, and she thinks that it might be an antique. But I don't have a personal heirloom chest. I would certainly love to have one that looks like the one on the site that you posted, though! ^_^ [shywolf]
This morning, the directions were missing from the mirror so I think he took the hint. Now if he gets the time to make it for me. [villageanne]
When I gradated from high school, a local vendor gave a small box that was a smaller version of their hope chest. They would give this gift to you to entice you into comeing into the store and maybe sell you one of the beautiful chests. I just took my gift. But.....I really wanted a hope chest. [ElusiveButterfly]
I got one of those too. It was made of redwood and called a Lane Chest. I still have mine. Though it dosen't look as nuce as it did when I first got it. Did a lot of moving since then [deebomb]
WOW! How pretty! I, also, have wanted one of these for a long time. I looked at the link and emailed it to my husband. LOL He is in Florida...we are moving after my son gets out of school, but he is already there. I told him this would be a beautiful WELCOME TO FLORIDA gift! LOL [chaygylmommy]
That was pretty sneaky! Bet you get one. Be sure and let us know if you do. LOL [villageanne]
When I was little, I always used to dream of having a hope chest. My mother (Mrs. Sensible-stick-in-the-mud) said that they are useless and of no value. So basically I knew that if I were ever to get one, I would have to buy it for myself as an adult. I hope your husband gets the hint, and better yet, that you get your hope chest! [Kaldonya]
I've always called it a hope chest. I understand it is very important they be made of or at least lined with cedar to protect the things inside. My mother's is beautifully carved. I never had one, but interestingly, my husband had a cedar chest which he used for general storage before we were married, and we used as a coffee table. Spanish girls of my generation still all had them, and as recently as the 1970s Spanish girls, especially in Andalucia, had them and filled them with linens they embroidered and trimmed with white lace crochet for when they married. Some of my friends spent part of every paycheck on something for their future homes, a set of stainless flatware, a teapot, hot pads, whatever they planned and went about collecting, together with the sheets, towels and tablecloth and napkin sets they embroidered and crocheted. [dhouston]
I don't think any one does that here in the US now they waite for a friend to give them a bridel shower so their friends can equipe the house or kitchen for them. But the way you did as a young woman is better yhen you get just what you need. [deebomb]
Yes I do have one. I was given for my graduation present from my parents. I still have it today and is full of pictures and photo albums. I should use it to store some old quilts I have since it is cedar lined inside. BTW mine has a cushion across the top to use as seating as well, works great [lifeiseasy]
My kids each have one of these *L*. When I was little, my mom called it a hope chest. She filled it pretty much as you describe. My kids have those things, but I also included small appliances such as an electric can opener and a toaster. I have a friend, who sells these at flea markets and antique shows. He combs auctions and estate sales to get his inventory. There are a lot of younger parents returning to this tradition. It's great to see. Good luck getting hubby to make you one! The link you provided is great! [jhrcsr]
I have had a trunk since I was an infant it was a neighbor lady's and it was hand made for her and she gave it to me. It has 2 layers and has eveything I have collected since I was a child, basically many brain in a trunk. [Island_Geko]
My mama always promised me one since I was a little girl. After I got married she bought one from a friend. We use it as a coffee table and store all our family photos and keepsakes in it. I lost Mama a long time ago but I will always remember that she always kept her promises and I will do the same for my children. [dm74728]
Yes, I did have one. In fact it is still across the street at my mom's house. There is probably still some stuff in it. Glad you reminded me. I didn't get married until I was 39. I think by then everyone had given up hope. lol [lucy02]
My sister had a hope chest growing up to put her keepsake things in it. Im having a baby and now I want to buy one for the baby to keep its stuff in it. I think they are nice! [amray767]
I used to have one of those carved camphorwood boxes, I used to love the smell when you opened it, I gave to a neice years ago sometimes I wish I had kept it....that one there loos very nice...I hope you get one made for you... [lilaclady]
Yay, your link works for me! So it looks like you fixed it up properly. Cool!^_^ The heirloom chest pictured on that site is absolutely beautiful. I hope that your husband will get the hint and make you one for your birthday. That would be wonderful!^_^ My family has a dresser around here that reminds me somewhat of the chest on this site, and she thinks that it might be an antique. But I don't have a personal heirloom chest. I would certainly love to have one that looks like the one on the site that you posted, though!^_^ [halyxx]
I always wanted to get one of these myself, but here it is soo expensive to get an antique one. Not many people make them any more. Im getting married sooon so sure hope I can find 1 i can afford. [melody1011]
this is a good thing but lost in the changing tradition... i like thik kind of wooden furneture... I have one of these but the only thing I keep in it is my Akai Samplers i have seen it mostly in a childs bed room... [red_dragon]
hey hold on a second. i dont know what is this heirloom chest, can any one explain mei this ? i am really very curious about it. help me out [samraf]
I had such a chest as a teenager. Don't know what ever happened to it. It is such a good idea and plan on one such for my daughter. Might need a bit bigger thing than a chest in this day and age. Thanks for this link, for art I will have my son build this according to the directions. We homeschool so this will help the process and serve a purpose! Thanks my friend. [Willowlady]
good for you to have a hierloom chest.. i'm sure when you have grandchildren they'll be thrilled to know about it.. [hellbaron]
When I was born, my mother was given a Hope Chest as a baby shower gift. I didn't know I had one, and as I grew up, my mother would fill it with things that I would need when I went out into the world on my own. When I turned 18, and went off to college, she gave it to me.. and it was full of things that she had bought over the past 18 years. A set of cookware, kitchen items, picture frames, blankets, all that stuff. I was so happy to have gotten it, and I'm waiting for the day that my 1st daughter is born so that I can get one for her, and do the same thing. I think it's lovely. [iamiramadnama]
I hope he gets the hint. I love to collect Victorian Porcelain dolls and my husband always askes what I want for my Birthday or Christmas and I drop him hints about the dolls and he never gets it! He does get me nice gifts but I would be so excited if he would get me something I could keep and cherish! Good luck and I hope you get your heirloom chest! [kimlot]
when i was 13, my mom bought me one. it is very handsome looking and i love to open it because of the smell of wood it gives off everytime it opens. (the kind of wood slips my mind at the moment) anyways, every christmas after she buys me something to put in it. measuring cups, plates, skillet and mesuring spoons. all from williams and soma (sp i know) i love it. [thewolf777]
I actually did want on at one point in time. I do want one now. I think it would be nice to keep everything from my childhood memories, my partner's memories, and my future children's memories in it. [k1tten]
My mother has a hope chest that her father built for her. Your right, they are great things. I have started chests for my 3 children, but since I couldn't build them a chest, it is a plastic storage box. I am hoping that they think the items that I have put inside are special & forget about the box. [nelltx]
oh that is very nice i like that [nikaka]
My hope chest is now sitting in our kitchen. It was given to my mother when I was a small child as a toy chest. When I got older my mother sanded it down and refinished it for me. When I first started working at sixteen, I bought dishes, kitchen towels, pots and pans, silverware, etc. and placed in it. When I got my first apartment, I hauled it with me and was ready for almost anything I needed. When I moved back home when my father was sick, I hauled it back. When I met my husband, I hauled it from Ohio to Tennessee. I have since refinished it again, and now it is a storage chest or seat in my kitchen. I think a hope chest is something that any mother could give their daughter when they hit their teen years. [gypsylady28]
THANK YOU!!! This is just what I want my brother to build me for my birthday! It wont have the fancy exterior routing, but I just love this! I had my mother's chest, which is similar, but it dryrotted in storage. :-( [Bee1955]
why just a chest full 0f dreams dream bigger and fill every corner of your house with items you would like to carry on to your own home good luck and dream big [lisamaria]
It sounds like a good idea to have a big chest like this. Storing sheets and towels can prove difficult if you dont have a big enough cupboard. We dont have an airing cupboard in the house we live in. It is rented. At my mum's house she has a good airing cupboard so she stores her sheets and towels in there. Plus she puts clothes on one shelf to air as well. I hope that you will get your homemade chest and your husband will take the hint. [organiclady35]
I do not have one of these chests but have dreamed of having one since I was just a little girl. My grandmother had one and I used to love to just open it and look at all of her beautiful things that she had stored away in there. I also enjoy looking at them in the stores as when you open them up they smell so good. I think that taping this to the mirror is a great idea. Plant the seed and watch it grow, this is what I always say with my husband. [cwgrlsarefun]
My dad made a hope chest for me and I love it. I have a few special things in in but I need to sort through it. I'd like to put more "special" items in it such as some blankets etc. I have so many family keepsakes that I probably need two or three chests. :) [independent_inAK]