In a month all about love, it seems fitting to outline a few ways you can honor the things you love.
 
We professional organizers often have the same conversation with many of our organizing clients, as we go through their piles and stacks: “Do you love it? Does it bring you happiness and joy? Does it serve you?”
 
So, how do you honor the things you love and bring you happiness and joy? Precious treasures shouldn’t be hidden away in boxes in the dark corners of your home or attic. They need to see the light of day, and Pinterest is full of clever ideas on how to display special treasures.
 
Showing how you honor the things you love is a good thing for our nieces and nephews to see as well. As they grow older, they need to learn how to respect their things.
 
Artwork and Photos
 
With artwork from your nieces and nephews, you can frame them. If you have a large collection, scan them and use several photos in a large collage frame or shadow box.
 
With services such as Zazzle, Café Press, Flickr, or Shutterfly, you can use a photo or photo image to create a book, a t-shirt, a calendar, or anything else your imagination can conjure.
 
Print a poster-size version of your favorite photo and then use it for a craft project.
 
Decoupage paper copies of photos onto letters or boxes.
 
Souvenirs and Gifts
 
When it comes to souvenirs you pick up from travels or gifts you receive, how you show them off depends on what it is.
 
Look for a different kind of souvenir. Instead of buying t-shirts or such on trips, I began buying a Christmas ornament on trips. It’s very nice to remember my trips as I decorate my Christmas tree.
 
Use postcards or vintage postcards as cheap art.
 
Maps from your trips can be used as the background for your framed pieces or art itself. One project I discovered from Pinterest uses a map to cover a plain lampshade.
 
Display items in frames or shadowboxes. Over the years, my nieces and nephews have given me little do-dads, and those items can add up. I displayed those items in my home office, and smaller items were rounded up in a clear jar or shadowbox frame. I also like this idea of using an old drawer as a frame.
 
Clothing
 
When it comes to memorabilia clothing, there are two approaches. Antique or vintage clothing or important clothing, such as wedding dresses, must be stored correctly to avoid deterioration. For your vast collections of concert t-shirts, there are a few other ways you can show them off.
 
1. Create a quilt.
One of my future projects is having a t-shirt quilt made from my favorite t-shirts, including ones from college. My friend, Barbara, creates rag quilts out of baby clothes, uniforms, or any other clothes her clients want to use.
 
2. Transform it.
I was down to three bridesmaid dresses from my vast collection because you really don’t wear them again. One of my clever friends took one dress and made pillows out of it. My mom took one of my favorite college sweatshirts and made a pillow out of it as well.
 
3. Show it off.
A friend who is a serious rocker has a series of concert t-shirts complete with autographs and other memorabilia. He had the shirts and items framed so he could enjoy them all of the time.

Published: February 20, 2013