Teacher (me) Needs (your) Help

Next Fall I will be teaching an adult education course called "Too Much Stuff".  The focus of this class will be to help people make decisions on what to do with all the "stuff" that accumulates in our lives.  I'd love to hear of ways you stored, shared, or displayed your possessions. 

I'd also love to know of any special charities or unique organizations that receive your donations of "stuff".

Here's an example of ideas I need:

After my mother passed away I found many of her little personal treasures while going through the dressers. 

I purchased a keepsake shadow box to store her things along with my miniature bell collection.  If you look in the second row, last square to the right you will see a small heart.  Inside is a photo of Mom, my daughter and me taken at our last Christmas together. 

A special tribute to Mom.

As a young girl I was given tea cups from family as birthday gifts.  I was not a tea drinker and I ended up storing these beautiful cups in a box in my basement.  One day I opened the box and found some of the cups had been chipped.  I couldn't display all the cups on a shelf so I created a unique outdoor serving tray with cup pieces.  (Yes, it was hard to take a mallet to that first cup!)

Now I see this beautiful mosaic tray every day when I walk out to my backyard deck.  Lovely.

Tell me your stories.  What have you done to honor your special memories?  Do you donate to specific charities?  What makes them special to you?

Click here to tell me your ideas