I’m the least sentimental person alive.
No, really. I love nothing more than throwing stuff out and the idea of storing keepsakes in memory boxes or even displaying them in my home just doesn’t do it for me.
To me, it’s just stuff. Clutter, by any other name.
Yes, I am the ice queen.
Well, I was until I had my son. Now I’m an emotional wreck over the stupidest things. Every babygrow reminds me of a certain stage of his little life and I can’t help but hang on to the teeny, tiny vests he wore when he was small enough to hold with one hand. I still have his first baby mittens even though I can’t for the life of me remember a time I actually put them on him.
I’ve changed.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CPIgzkbD85X/
But I can’t (and won’t) keep it all. Donating baby clothes can be a weird one, however, as you may have discovered. Obviously anything given to a new baby has to be pristine and, ideally, never worn or nearly new. But what about all those much-loved, well-worn pieces? Throwing them in the clothing recycling bin can be such a wrench — this reformed ice-queen knows that all too well.
That’s why I was so happy to come across this wonderful idea. A memory quilt made from all those mini ‘grows I can’t bare to part with? Squeal! All those memories in one place, in an item I can use to tuck my kid in for years to come…
I JUST HAVE SOMETHING IN MY EYE, OK?
https://www.instagram.com/p/CPskalFprk3/
And this idea doesn’t just work with baby clothes. The incredible blue piece below is made up of t-shirts, sweaters, swim shorts, onesies, hoodies, trousers and I think I even spot a bib! Inspired.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CPGjNJdDLDi/
Well, let me tell you, I went down an Instagram rabbit hole looking at hundreds of beautiful examples from all over the world, but here’s a little list of Irish companies offering the service:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CPlN79RFbU3/
I’m thrilled that I can now tell myself I’m not hoarding, I’m just saving things for my memory quilt. Nothing to see here.
