On May 16, 2018, my mother in law, Lani Kline, died peacefully at the age of 91.
During her last days, she gave me her vintage sewing box — a big pink wicker chest…on legs!
Lani wasn’t a big sewer, but her mother made all of her clothes, and the box is filled with sewing treasures and bits of Lani’s story, dating back to her 1940’s Texas days.
A stocked sewing box is like a biography…we carefully excavated tray by tray, exploring little boxes filled with old 1920’s silk on wooden spools, tiny black metal hook-and-eyes, metal zippers, and four of the tiniest little silver thimbles that could have only fit her mother’s delicate fingers.
And buttons, what buttons! Big—I mean BIG—1950’s wooden buttons designed to turn heads on a large houndstooth jacket, cloisonné cherry blossoms from 1960’s Japan, sparkly diamonds and 1960’s bright pink and orange bling buttons. And, of course, lots of mother of pearl. Tumbling through my fingers, I sorted them into heart shapes and piles, by color and type, each button begging to tell the story of the lost dress, or suit jacket, or re-made party dress, and the many trips around the world that brought them back to Lani’s box.
The box is a tribute to Lani’s love of bright colors, always coordinating her ensembles with just the perfect earrings and necklaces, her passion for collecting small treasures like fine buttons, and her loving memories of her own mother.
I am grateful to have this 3-generation sewing box in my conservation studio…and I know Lani has many more stories to tell.
