I have managed to clear out a bunch of personalized stuff, but I know there's still lots of it lurking at my parents house. I really should find a way to deal with that, but they are 6,000 miles away and I know they won't get rid of it even if I tell them to (they are pack rats, especially about sentimental stuff). I like the idea of donating trophies and medals to kids with cancer, or to theater groups.
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Posted 2 years ago #
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There is a new site that specializes in selling previously monogrammed items.
Posted 1 year ago # -
As a wedding gift from a former colleague, received a personalized paperweight from an important and well-known glass artist. Regrettably, apparently we got married a month later than we actually did--the date is wrong on it. Love that glass artist, love that paperweight, snort with laughter every time I touch it. Somehow it roughly manhandles my funny bone and it brings me base, lowbrow joy at human idiocy. It is very beautiful, really a collectors' item. And keeps me humble.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Oh, this is striking close to home today!
DH's mother made him a quilt. Now, she can do excellent work -- my son has a "Sun and Shadow" quilt on his bed that he cherishes. This one?
It's a "Lone Star" pattern, all cat prints. And in the center of each block is a cloth transfer of a photo of my husband as a child. She insists that it was designed to fit a queen-sized bed; it's easily eight feet long.
At the moment the enormous thing is in the cedar closet in the basement. What on Earth are we to do with this monstrosity?
Posted 1 year ago # -
just the thought of that quilt has me snorting with glee, Lucy! Your MIL just loves her boy, doesn't she? It's sweet, really.
Really, it is.
How about sewing a plain, heavy-duty fabric to the reverse and making that the top side? Then the shrine to cats & beloved son becomes a lining. You could even fold it, put a zipper around 2 sides, and call it a sleeping bag.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Oh for goodness sakes, to you it's clutter, to someone else it could be treasure. It's ok to get rid of it. You can consider this a note from your mother, hahaha.
Honestly, when people give me stuff that doesn't match my decor it really cooks my goose. They are "Junk Pushers", just as bad as "Food Pushers" at the family reunion.
Posted 1 year ago # -
chacha, something like the cover for a kakebuton? It's basically a heavy-duty envelope for a Japanese top quilt: http://www.folkwear.com/305.html The border is the top bit of the cover.
Amy, I would love to eBay the bloody thing and have done -- but my husband's mother IS one of those people who looks to see if her gifts are being used and will be mortally and vociferously offended if they aren't: I joke that if there were a university for supervillains, she would be offering graduate-level seminars in grudge-holding and passive-aggressive vendetta. There's a reason DH's brother has made his home in Japan for the last 9 years . . . .
My stepmother gave me bright orange towels and blue polyester king-sized sheets; I thanked her, took the gift receipt and RAN to the shop. So I can get rid of things if needed -- it's just that my stepmom is much cooler about it!
Posted 1 year ago # -
@Lucy -- "At the moment the enormous thing is in the cedar closet in the basement. What on Earth are we to do with this monstrosity?"
um.... take it out of the cedar closet, store it somewhere unprotected, and in a year or so, if she asks about it, tell the MIL that "oh I'm so sorry, but it got eaten by moths."
Of course, then she might just make another face-print quilt (does anyone else think that's creepy?), and then you'd have to do this all over again.
Maybe just do whatever you want with the quilt, and don't give in to emotional blackmail. (Easier said than done, I know.)Edited to add: I haven't had to get rid of things like that. I recently donated a well-worn sweater that my mom made me years ago -- it's cute, I liked it and wore it, but it doesn't fit me anymore. So it went to a charity shop, and someone else might end up enjoying the sweater (I hope), even though they'll have no idea who the person on the "Made for you by <my mom's name>" tag is. Not quite the same as actually having my name or initials on it. Or... you know... someone's face!
I do have a few books inscribed to me that will prolly stay on my bookshelves for quite some time. I s'pose I can white-out the inscription if I need to ditch the books at some point.
Posted 1 year ago # -
@lucy1965 I mean no disrespect to your MIL, clearly she cares deeply about her son and means well... but I almost burst out laughing when I tried to picture it (which would have been bad... I'm at work *cough*).
Anyway, have you considered one of those space saver bags? I haven't used them myself but my FIL swears by them (granted, I think he's addicted to vacuum sealing, but that's a funny story for another time). That way, you save on space and if she asks where it is, you can assure her that it is very safely sealed away from moths, dust and moisture so that you can use it in the colder months when snuggling up to watch a movie. She'll never have to know that you never actually break it out of the closet. :]
Also, how does your husband feel about it? Is he in limbo, between "I'll never use it personally but I don't care if it looks out of place in our home" and "We can't get rid of that - my mother made it for me"? Or is he as unhappy with it as you are?
Posted 1 year ago # -
To everyone: the main reason it is in the cedar closet (aside from it being 91 right now) is because I have mad giggle fits every time I see it. Please don't worry about hurting my feelings by laughing!
@GirlOverboard: He is absolutely miserable over it. His childhood was not a time he remembers with any pleasure, and yet there is his boy's face, over and over again. The required "let's embarrass him with this photo of him in the tub!" picture? It's on there. We are talking that level of "no real sense of other people's boundaries".
All of this is bad enough, but -- they are very twee cat prints. If our son were still five, he would adore them (said son is 22).
I'm thinking Space Bag unless she's visiting, and when we move to Scotland something dire can happen to it in transit.
Posted 1 year ago # -
If he hates it that much then he needs to get rid of it. It's a shame it can't be donated, but I wouldn't hold onto something that brought back bad memories. Cut it up and toss it out! You're right - "no real sense of other people's boundaries"!
Posted 1 year ago # -
o boy.
how soon can you move to scotland?
maybe it will get lost en route?Posted 1 year ago # -
If eBay is not an option, clorox might be. Liberally apply directly to fabric, and presto! Problem solved. I can state positively that this method works.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Lucy - Oh my it sounds even worse than I imagined. Okay, pending the move to Scotland, use it as a picnic blanket on the living-room floor. A few wine and cheese and Twister parties, and it'll be Done.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Wine, cheese and Twister party FTW!
(Okay, Amy's suggestion is more immediately satisfying, but that does sound like fun.)
Posted 1 year ago #
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