The boys are excited about their new toy box. Well, new in context anyway.

The box began life as my Grandmother’s Glory Box, where she collected tea towels, tablecloths, clothing and crockery in preparation for her married life.

She continued to use it for storage over the years, before handing it on to her grand-daughters; to be in turn passed on to her other grandchildren for use as toy storage. I was one of those children and now my Grandmother’s great grandchildren are delighting in their new toybox.

After over eighty years of use, it is in great condition. A legacy of oil-based undercoat pointed to re-painting as the best option.

The boys insisted on helping with the undercoat – dipping their brushes into some left-over Bio Paint made from all natural materials. With much flinging, spattering, shaking, globbing, dripping, mother-frustration, clean-up, and the necessitation of partially painting the inside of the box……the undercoat was done. I snuck out later to do the second coat on my own.

Then overnight the Box was transformed!

Imagine if all our new furniture had this much history. A lick of leftover paint, new upholstery, some simple repairs, add some decoration……. No new wood cut down; no synthetic materials or plastics specially made; no need for trips to the shops; no trucking the goods to your home; no disposing of all the packaging.

 Who wants brand new furniture when you can have this kind of new?

About the author

Hayley is a mum living in country vic with her husband, two boys, two dogs, 1 duck, numerous chooks and more fish that she can keep track of. They focus on growing and making their own produce, living simply and keeping their footprint as little as they can.

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