Reduce, Reuse, Recycle...

Over the last few months I have undertaken the arduous task of cleaning out my mother's home. I should say my home really because it is the house I grew up in from the age of four and, while I moved out some time ago, there are still some very strong attachments. Like any home, it is filled with memories: Christmas mornings, playing dress up, hugs, Sundays reading the comics, pancake breakfasts, phone calls,  birthdays, family dinners, Irish music, laughter, joy. It's walls also saw tearful fights, sicknesses, sorrow and anger. And every item in that house reminds me of the past. It is exceedingly hard to let go and necessary to do so.

In the course of going through a life, there are some things you find that seem like junk to you and you are tempted to get rid of them. If, however, you are thinking about doing some craft projects, it pays to look at things in a new light. Among the items in our home that I have decided to keep are a 1968 Rand McNally World Atlas, some Reader's Digest Condensed Books from the '60s and '70s and a beat up clip board. Why in the world would anyone want this stuff, you ask? Well, there are quite a few DIY projects that have been percolating in my brain the last month and now I have the tools to make them a reality!

Here's the stuff...

How gorgeous are the colors of these maps?! 

These are for a candle project. 

I can't wait to transform this!