One of my most cherished items

Matthew and I became engaged on Valentine’s Day eleven years ago so Valentine’s Day always holds a special place in my heart. But we don’t really celebrate Valentine’s Day in the traditional sense – I love the idea of romance but I’m not keen on the commercial aspect of it.

Y’all will know how we live a green lifestyle and that includes not over-consuming so one of my most cherished items is something that Matthew made for me a few years ago to celebrate Valentine’s Day and the anniversary of our engagement using something recycled.

He got it from the local tip, not somewhere you would usually think of going to get your wife a Valentine’s Day present. But he knows how I love reducing, reusing and recycling and I LOVE that he gave me such a beautiful present that incorporates all these things.

I wish I had a picture of the original box to show you but it was a mess, covered in black paint with big scratches in the wood.

Matthew spent hours taking the paint off and then sanding it.

He put several layers of beeswax on the oak until the wood shone.

He cleaned and sanded inside and lined it with blue paper.

Yes, I may have a bit of a notebook obsession.

I’m careful not to tell too many people about that.

And then he had a friend make a beautiful inscription to put on the front.

The whole box cost pennies and brought back to life a box that was destined for landfill. I treasure it because it was given to me by my gorgeous husband and made with such thought and love.

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Welcome to the Friday Club Carnival, a weekly carnival held here. This week’s Carnival is all about a cherished item in the home and here are the other entries in this carnival, there are some lovely posts this week. Tissues at the ready!

Making It Up gives us her favourite cherished items. Scribbling Mum tells us about her unique photo wall. Cass at The Diary of a Frugal Family shares her family’s most Special Things. Make Do Mum writes about a precious item in Tick tock tick tock. Helen at Cheeky Wipes gives us her cherished item in Tables Aren’t Just For Eating At…. Maggy at Red Ted Art tells us how she made her DIY Hobby Horse. Snipsnaphappy tells us about her cherished item in My Granny’s needle. Tiddlyompompom tells us about Adopted Ted. Jules at I Need Curtains for the Window inside my Head writes about the pieces of jewellery that mean the most to her. Cara at Freckles Family shares A treasured possession. Mymumdom posts about A Small Boy’s Treasure. Updated: Domestic Goddesque shares her favourite maternity item.

I’m also linking this up to Magpie Monday at Me and My Shadow.

Tagged as: friday club