toybox to blanket chest re- re- re-purpose...

This is my childhood toybox (back when kids had just enough toys to fit into a box this size...what is the world coming to?)

It's an old typewriter box - remember typewriters? And this was no electric typewriter. This was the real deal - and probably weighed 50 pounds. Years and years ago, my great grandmother worked at the local newspaper. When one of the reporters got a new typewriter, she saved this cool box from the garbage (turns out it's a hereditary thing). Also years and years ago, she covered the lid of this box with a little padding and some fabric and made it into a little storage ottoman (how forward-thinking of her!) Over the years it's been re-covered several times - by my great Auntie Gin, by my Mom, and by me.

I say re-covered, but not un-covered. Because beneath the most recent fabric is the previous fabric...going all the way back to the fabric that my great grandmother used to cover it in the first place. And somewhere in those layers is a letter that my Auntie Gin wrote to the future telling her story of re-covering this box lid. As I recall, it begins something like this

{it's a hot and rainy afternoon, and baby Beverly is sleeping...} I made the most recent cover out of fabric squares. It's gotten pretty ratty over the last few years, so I decided to update it and move it into our living room.

I installed a special hinge that keeps the lid from slamming down on tiny fingers...

I recovered it in this lovely blue chevron canvas...

And now we're using it to store blankets in our living room...







I'm so happy that it's out where we can all see it now!

*********

Linking up here:

Coastal Charm
Miss Mustard Seed

The Creative Spark at Clean and Scentsible

DIY by Design
A Bowl Full of Lemons

House of Hepworths

The Shabby Creek Cottage

Somewhat Simple

Tales from Bloggeritaville

A Little Knick Knack

At the Picket Fence

Chic on a Shoestring

Finding Fabulous