While dividing the remainder into what I want to keep, and what I'll part with, I did find one ATC I'd completely forgotten about:
This little white box is tied with metallic green cord to card #576, which is titled "Every day is a gift -- here's one for you." I made it on 9/12/2012, and wrote two project categories on the back: Jewelry (#2) and Found around the House (#68).
So what's inside? I don't know. I can't remember what I made to put in the box.
There is something in there, however; when I shake it I can hear chain rattling. I also checked my personal journal from that particular month, and while I don't mention exactly what I made for #576, I did write that I was working on some steampunk ideas. Knowing me it's probably a pendant or bracelet of some sort, fashioned from something I found around the house and upcycled. I don't want to open the box and sneak a peak because I really did make it to be opened by someone else.
Would you like to be that person? In comments to this post, name something forgotten or mysterious that you've found in the past (or if there are no mysteries in your life, just throw your name in the hat) by midnight EST on Monday, October 6th, 2014. I'll choose one name at random from everyone who participates, and send the winner #576 along with a signed copy of any book I've written that is still in print. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something at PBW in the past.
Tossing my name in the hat. My family purchased an old dresser from an auction. Looking through all the drawers, I found a small skeleton key that was too large to fit any of the jewelry drawers, but it looked very lovely on a leather cord as a necklace!
ReplyDeleteI'll throw my hat in as well. I recently found an old file folder full of clippings/photocopies from my first state job working with old newspapers at the state library that I thought was thrown out years ago.
ReplyDeleteFather Nature's Corner
Does the dead body of a hamster count? We had a hamster that was an escape artist when the girls were little. Usually we could find him within a couple of days. However, one particular day he escaped (his buddy stayed) and we couldn't find him. Living in the country in a double-wide trailer, I figured he had made it out the vents into the big, wide world. Several months later, as we were moving, we picked up the dresser to load it onto the moving van. There was Spike's little mummified body. The girls wanted to keep it, they thought it was neat. As he had crawled into my bed on one occasion and bitten me at 2am, I had no desire to keep the remains. If I am fortunate enough to win, I think I will leave the item in the box for a few days to drive my daughters (23 and 21) crazy. That's what mother's do, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteAfter my grandfather gave me a piece of furniture that he bought used in the 1920s, I found a small object behind one drawer that he swore he had never seen before. It's maybe one inch deep by two inches wide by 2 inches high, entirely made of cast iron, in the shape of a building with lots of windows, so that you can see through it. It is made in two halves that have been bolted together. My best guess was that it was a bank, since there's a place where you could insert a small coin, but I don't know how you'd ever get them out again. It remains a mystery.
ReplyDeleteJust recently we started preparing to set up our Snow Village for the holidays, and in the bottom of one of the boxes we found a small gold cross pendant on a chain. This particular box/house was purchased secondhand years ago, so we have no idea who owned it prior to us. The cross doesn't belong to me or any of the relatives, so I can only wonder as to who might have owned it. A Christmas mystery :)
ReplyDeleteI had purchased a used book and it seems that a previous owner had used an old photo as a bookmark, or perhaps was trying to keep the photo flat.
ReplyDeleteA small, indiscreet manilla envelope tucked away in a box a papers inherited from my mom's things. It had sat waiting for at least 10 years for me to open it. I found old black and white negatives from the 1960's of some vague and incomplete childhood memories. It was astounding to see some of those things again with adult eyes.
ReplyDeleteJust throwing my name in. Sorting through some really old receipts I found an 'I love you, mummy' note from my daughter. From the writing, she was probably around 6 or 7 years old - she is 22 now.
ReplyDeleteI don't have anything exciting to throw in but I did spend an entire morning last weekend searching through my financial records for a bank letter. It went back to 2008 and I knew I'd kept it, just wasn't sure where I'd filed it. I found lots of different & interesting paperwork along the way, and eventually, in the last file, I found it. Thank goodness too as they wanted me to pay them a considerable sum but thankfully my letter killed that idea - phew. I hope that counts. I love all the things you make, so I know I'll love the contents of the box if I'm lucky enough to win.
ReplyDeleteWhat a delightful post and giveaway. When I sorted through my photo albums I discovered old family photos which were treasures which I will clean up and frame.
ReplyDeleteWhen we were clearing out the garage we found old newspapers from the 1950's. Fascinating glimpse of life, the department stores adds, home prices and how the city was then. This interested me greatly.
ReplyDeleteI collect old cookery book and very often I have found shopping lists, handwritten recipes, receips and personal remarks at the side of the book. It gives you insight into other peoples lifes - for example remarks like "works also with half the sugar"..was she slimming or trying to safe money...?
ReplyDeleteOccasionally I will run across and old notebook with an unfinished story that I have no recollection of starting. I like the feeling of reading it, feeling like it is someone else's words, and realizing it isn't half-bad.
ReplyDeleteLynn,
ReplyDeleteI inherited some antique furniture from my great-grandmother and her sister, my great-great aunt. Two wonderful ladies, who after their husband died, moved in with each other. Even after they had to be put into nursing care, they lived in a room together. Anyway, my great-grandmother left us first, then a few years later, my aunt. My father went to North Carolina and began to clean out the old brownstone that was still owned, but vacant. Had lots of furniture still in it. I chose a desk made by handmade by their father, my great-great grandfather. Several draws and the top folds down and lots of nooks and crannies for papers. In one of the small drawers, I found an old bank register from the 1920's, prior to the big crash. It was my aunt's and she had beautiful writing. I also found an old business letter and the way words were used almost 100 years ago is so different and formal than our way of writing and speaking now. Truly a neat find for me and a surprise for my dad when I showed him what I found. I also got a few other pieces of furniture and a Lane cedar Hope Chest with the tags still on it from World War II era! It even talks about buying war bonds! I love history.
Tami
Jacksonville