Repurposing Mementoes

[Jules]

Have you any unique ideas for repurposing mementoes.

A couple of recent ones I heard about:

If you have old t-shirts that are special, you can have them made into a quilt. This seems ideal for the person who went to lots of concerts.

Those doilies or table clothes from Grandma can be made into something for the wall. Cut out a portion of them and frame it. You could have a few on the wall.

 

[hearlady]

I saw a coat rack made from the tops of kids sports type trophies attached to a finished board. I thought that was cool.

 

[hearlady]

I made each of my kids a t-shirt quilt from the tees saved from babies. Vacation trips, school trips, sports, baton, band, all the way to college. I didn't sew for a long time after that and had to get a new sewing machine.

 

[debodun]

From what I've experienced at my garage sale, I think a lot of people have "functional fixedness". I had hoped people would buy my items and re-purpose them, but to them a crock is a crock, not a planter; a gelatin mold is a mold, not to decorate a retro-themed kitchen or eatery.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Functional_fixedness

 

[Murrmurr]

I made all of Paxton's old receiving blankets into tea-towels and his fluffy, super-soft crib blankets into a kimono for my granddaughter, Ariel. Those weren't really mementos, but they became mementos after I repurposed them.

 

[fuzzybuddy]

From what I've experienced at my garage sale, I think a lot of people have "functional fixedness". I had hoped people would buy my items and re-purpose them, but to them a crock is a crock, not a planter; a gelatin mold is a mold, not to decorate a retro-themed kitchen or eatery.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Functional_fixedness

I think you need an artistic flair to repurpose stuff that looks cool. Most of us are artistic heathens.

 

[Remy]

Old doilies can also be made into curtains and valances. I bought a couple of runners at PAWS Thrift I may use for that purpose. Found these pictures online.

 

[Remy]

From what I've experienced at my garage sale, I think a lot of people have "functional fixedness". I had hoped people would buy my items and re-purpose them, but to them a crock is a crock, not a planter; a gelatin mold is a mold, not to decorate a retro-themed kitchen or eatery.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Functional_fixedness

I'm sure you are right on this. I have repurposed or used many thrifted items for things other than what they are meant for. Example a depression glass cookie jar without a lid makes a good utility holder in the kitchen.

 

[hearlady]

I'm looking at a hot pan pad that I repurposed as a corner shelf to hold my Bluetooth speaker. It's old enough to be considered a momento, and made in USA so you know it's old.