This year’s September box started when I found this perfect sewing basket. I cannot recall whether it came from an estate sale, or from my favorite antique store browsing, but I knew I had just found THE September Box for my mother.

This being our third year of this lovely tradition, I thought I might have trouble coming up with ideas to fill the basket. I did not. I love looking for items worthy enough for the box. I was at an estate sale this summer and found a tiny glass vial with a prescription label on it. It was holding a collection of glass head pins. Perfect! A perk of the tradition is thinking about Mom a lot!

Again not everything, I bought would fit and I had to designate some for Christmas stockings and wrap a few separately.

My mom just bought a bigger box!

We have outgrown the cigar box!!

The history on how the September Box is simple. I read a blog about an art camp on the west coast. The camp brings 20 or so artists from all over. Before camp, the teacher draws names and assigns camp sisters and then exchanges names and contact information so they can get to know each other before camp. Their assignment is to take a cigar box and decorate it and fill it with goodies their sis would love. The blog was about them exchanging their boxes. They were decorated so wonderfully and full of lovely things. I thought this was so neat and I shared the link with my Mom and she loved it too. Mom said “I want to do that. Why don’t we exchange boxes.” I readily agreed to this fabulous idea and we set the box exchange for September 1st which was plenty of time for us to gather things and the busyness of summer and then school starting have died down.

As I assembled my year-long gathering of gifts, Sawyer showed up to investigate, smelling and nuzzling his nose on the basket. They enjoy the ensemble too 

Mom and I met for lunch and were seated in the same exact table as two years ago. Mom opened hers first. My favorite part!

The handmade gifts mom put in my box last year inspired me to make her things this year. I created a little gathering of tidbits and embroidered them on an old quilt and used an old hoop as a frame. I also made some sweet little butterflies using old book pages and waxed linen thread. I sewed a few presents in pockets of wax paper. 

Embellishments, making even the tiniest of gifts feel extra special. 

I came across this little box of mascara at the World’s Longest Yard Sale. I couldn’t recall who used this in my past but knew I had seen it before. (Mom always had the pink and green Great Lash).  When Mom opened it, she said it was her mother who used it. She then demonstrated how she would take the tiny brush, lick it, then brush it onto the cake of mascara and then brush her lashes. Sweet memories recalled.Dad had bought mom some green depression glass while on the WLYS. Spotting this measuring cup with three spouts was just meant to be had. I found the little felted acorn garland on Etsy. Mom likes to decorate for fall.

When all the oohing and ahhing had ended from Mom’s turn,  I was presented with a large German tin, tied up with a sprig of fresh garden flowers. Mom said she had a personal shopper this year and so several treasures wrapped within were from my Dad. He is a treasure-seeking shopper too. I think he is quite enamored with our tradition. His birthday is the 15th and I’m going to surprise him with his own September Box! He will be so excited!

And again, the cats must check things out. Annie deciding if these flowers are edible.

A few things I recognized from our WLYS adventure. I can see my Deddy in a favorite field holding this little Pinocchio and pulling the string to watch his arms and legs fly, a huge grin on his face. I love Pinocchios! His feather in his hat is on a spring.

A tin from England from a sweet shop on Etsy called English Preserves.  My dad finds great sellers.  A sweet handmade bowl from Alaska from Mom. She also bought me a jar of Blackberry Honey from Pike’s Market. Can’t wait to try it. Another Yard Sale find was this great aluminum ladle. An aluminum spoon is KEY in making jelly, as the foam when boiling jelly, sticks to the spoon and is easy to scoop out and discard. I was on a quest to find the perfect spoon and I think Deddy did just that!
I saw this lovely pearl bracelet on my mom’s wrist while sitting beside her at church. I told her I loved it. Here is was again, a gift to me. I took off my bracelet and watch and put it on right then. I was surprised and honored and touched to find it here again.

You are my sunshine. A song my mom always sang to me. Lace from the home of a fellow quilter who recently passed away. Poignant gifts from my mom. 

Another year, blessing us both to be together to cherish our time and love with one another. A tradition that is a keeper.

Katey

PS: If you would like to see my post from the past exchanges. 2012, & 2013 click here.