Good Old Tradition: A Hope Chest

A hope chest was used early in the history of our country for girls who "hoped" for marriage. Over the course of a girl's young life she would collect things she would need later in her life as a married woman. The chest would also include items handed down through generations of women in the family.

Pressed flowers from times past, a century old family bible, a wedding veil that belonged to a grandmother or great grandmother are all items that can be found in a hope chest.

If you have a daughter, you can make her a modern hope chest that will be fun to add to over the years. Add your wedding dress to her hope chest when she's older as something she can look forward to wearing. Many families have veils that they hand down from generation to generations. Add beading or pearls and pass it on to your daughter. Traditionally, girls would spend their early years making hand embroidered linens to put in their hope chests for use in their married life keeping house.

You can make bathroom towels, kitchen towels and other special items to hang in her new home when she's ready to take the plunge. Family photographs, especially old ones are other good items to add.

The baby blanket your daughter was brought home from the hospital in or the gown she was christened in make great additions to a hope chest. And those are just a few ideas. Ask your daughter if she'd like a hope chest, if the answer is yes - tell her about the history and find out what items she'd like to have in it. Planning the future is fun!
 posted by Allure Furniture Designs