breathe new life into precious heirlooms. In fact, she has started
for his wedding using his late father s ties. A lovely way to have the father represented at the wedding.
an unusual business doing just that. She makes shoes and hand-
I visited the house of a young couple recently where heirlooms
bags from old tapestries, which are combined with leather.
live on in an unusual way. They have had Steampunk lamps made from a grandfather s collection of old cameras, projec-
A Facebook friend, Suzette Plekker, also knows how to
She uses the focal point of a tapestry to make the shoe panels. The shoes become a showpiece on your feet. And so you can ensure modern glory for your gran s petit point tapestry. Another friend, Freda Westerink, went to Italy to learn how to do breathtakingly beautiful traditional mosaics. She will decorate a time-worn dresser with your gran s and mom s old china.
tors, binoculars and watches. In the same way that everyone s taste differs, so the preservation of memories can be adapted. My chandelier and the Steampunk lamps are at opposite ends of the preference scale. The upcycling videos and ideas on Pinterest and Instagram
She skillfully cuts the ceramics and creates a modern, valuable display piece.
provide lots of inspiration for ways to give your mom s vintage clothes a new lease of life. Especially for people with a penchant
Former magazine editor Eldaleen Hugo s hobby is in the same category. She also makes over old furniture with modern flair.
for the bohemian. Ceramicist Gretchen Crotz and her designer sister Inge are keen followers of the upcycling trend. A former
She uses paint techniques that are in a class of their own, as well as unique, almost architectural designs and patterns and flamboyant colours. Your gran s wonky old cabinet becomes a thing
colleague of mine is regularly in the spotlight with outfits with an upcycled character. She s always first in line when people want to get rid of their mother's or gran s clothes.
of beauty. The necklaces that Freda de Lange makes from old silver will
I have often gone on about the lessons that I learnt when my friend Annie Lamprecht s house here on our farm burnt down.
be a talking point in any company. She doesn t believe in letting old cutlery lie forgotten in a drawer. Her necklaces are works of
For a long time, she didn t want to be reminded of the traumatic blaze, but when she was emotionally ready, her husband Erich
art that have been displayed in an art gallery. Tinkling memories that you can t wear if you re an introvert!
made a special artwork with items that had been salvaged from
They make me think about the silver spoon that Freda s son
the ruins. Her mother s old needlework scissors that look like a bird, some of Erich s army medals, an old spectacle frame, a door-
had made into a ring to his life partner, Simone. I was filled with envy for years until I came across a man at a market in Port Edward who made similar rings. He turned my old Apostle spoon into a ring for me. I recently saw how Willie folds old ties into roses and uses them to decorate gifts. A great way to preserve a memory of your dad! Lots of ties were made from silk and luxurious fabrics in the olden days. On Instagram I came across someone who made bowties for all the men in the family from a grandfather s ties. One family made bowties for their son and his groomsmen
knob, metal button, scorched coins and shattered ceramics. All the pieces bear the scars of the tragic fire, but they have been artistically transformed into an heirloom that reminds family and friends that you can rise from the ashes and start over again. An anonymous sage once said that if something or someone that you love becomes a memory, that memory will become a treasure. Scorched metal from Annie s house, a green glass shard from ouma s sugar bowl, my bright, shiny chandelier. They are all treasures that tell stories when you re feeling nostalgic.
PHOTO FRAMES RIGHT: Photocopy the family photo you want to frame in the desired size onto white cardboard. It s best to work on a copy of the original as you don't want to damage something irreplaceable. To make the frame, place an embroidery hoop over the copied photo and use it as your guide to arrange crockery pieces with a rounded edge into a ring, inside the hoop. Use superglue to stick the shards as well as the embroidery hoop onto the photo. Once the glue is dry, either cut around the outside of the hoop to create a round frame or stick it with adhesive tape onto a thin wooden board the same size as the picture. Your framed photo is ready to hang in your favourite space.
