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What girl doesn't delight in going through the contents of her hopechest? Or adding to it, new decorations, tea cups, picture/paintings, house wares, books, etc? I have long since filled my hopechest or "hope-less chest" as we laughingly call them, and have since purchased a large wicker chest just to hold the books I'm storing for my children some day! I also have some a couple of boxes of things such as china :) and other dishes.
This morning Ali and I went off to Second Chance, our local second hand store, to scout for deals, because being dutch, I'm a penny pincher, and love nothing more than finding good deals and buys. So you can possibly imagine my delight upon my discovery of this.

One of those beautiful candle holders, brand-spankin'-new, with all the glass holders intact, and not a dent or scratch in sight. They sell new for around $30.00. The cost of this one second hand? $6.99. (happy dance)

:)


See? I told you it was full. (The ribbons are only in there because I don't know where else to keep them. :)

Glass pitchers, old-fashioned glass butter dishes, elegant coffee cups...




A red, white and blue quilt made by my great-grandmother, stacks of crocheted washcloths I made last fall/winter. 30 to be exact. Along with several dish towels (some of them from Laura, they're my favorite ones dearie!) and decorations, and homemade candles.

I love going through my hope chest, hoping, dreaming, and yes, being content where the Lord has me right now. :) But it brightens my day, and cheers me up. What's your favorite item in your hope chest?

The first thing to pack in a hope chest, is faith. ~Sarah Bernady

Do Dreams Come true?

I say it depends on the dream. In this case, it has always been one of mine to have a set of china for my hope chest. Not just teacups, teapot etc., but the whole shabang.

So, as you can imagine, when my grandma called and said that my great-aunt Shirley had a full set of china she didn't have room for any longer, she heart did a little skip. But there were questions to be answered.

What was the pattern? Was it pretty? Was it chipped? Or pieces missing? And the big one, I have two other sisters that also have an interest in the china, and no guarantees that I'll even get it.

So it turn out the china is beautiful, it's a set for eight, with dinner plates, and dessert plates, and soup bowls, and dessert/ice cream bowls, and eight teacups + saucers, and a sugar and creamer, and veggie bowl and gravy boat, and we'd all like to have it.

Only fair way to see who gets it? Roll a dice.

Which we did. After dinner. So who got the china?

Me. So, like I said, do dreams come true? This one did.

Homemade Beeswax Candles

Last Wednesday morning, in absence of violin lessons due to mid-winter break, I had some free time. I've made candles a few times before, and I find them to be one of the most beautiful crafts. I've made tapers and globes before, so this time I decided to try jar candles. They were easy and less time consuming and they make beautiful gifts and hopechest additions. Another plus is that they are unscented. (great for the people in our family with allergies) Oh, and if you buy pure beeswax you don't have to worry about soy, chemicals and other undesirable additives.

It's a fun project for a rainy/snowy/cold/windy day. I suppose we could just call them Washington days. :)

What are some things you gals have made for your hopechest?