This weekend I went to a juried art fair at the Anchorage Museum. I had my four-year-old monkey with me, so the show is mostly a blur, but I did buy this amazing treasure box.
It’s strange and quirky and covered with tons of tiny treasures. Here’s some of them:
1. Porcupine quills
2. Three canceled postage stamps from Argentina, the Netherlands, and Switzerland
3. A cool rock. I don’t know what kind.
4. A sand dollar
5. A leaf
6. A fossil
7. A mouse skeleton in a bottle
8. Coins from the USSR
9. Watch gears
10. An old GM key
11. Paper with Chinese writing
12. Empty bottles
This so inspired me that I rifled through old boxes tonight and found old ticket stubs from Jordan, Italy, and Egypt plus a ton of coins from the Czech Republic, Aruba, Mexico, and Jordan. I also have rocks from Pompeii, the Pyramids (okay, not sure if they’re actually from the Pyramids or just the general vicinity), the Great Wall of China (complements of my husband), and Hatshepsut’s tomb. I’ve got some stamps too, plus nifty ribbons, buttons, and paper.
I think I’m going to have to make my own boxes.
Do you have anything you’d have to put on your box? What’s inspired you lately?
How cool! And definitely make your own. That will really be magical.
I had a friend who made jewelry out of coins and stamps from around the world.
If I made a box, I would put in found feathers, shells and rocks, as well as coins from countries I visited, perhaps a drawing and haiku. I already have a place where my Inuit dancing bear, Navajo fetish bear, Hopi mouse kachina, Oaxacan deer and antique ivory laughing Buddha reside.
Tricia- I love your mix of talismans! I've got a smattering of Greek goddesses hidden around my house and a whole collection of fun things from my travels. That's the best part of traveling and experiencing new cultures- bringing it home!
very cool. i'd put sea shells on it and in it.
What an amazing box! Maybe it's the watch gears, but it looks very steam punk. Most of my travel mementos are out where I can enjoy them, but I do have a treasure trove where I keep coins, ticket stubs, museum and archeological site maps, buttons, brochures, stamps, ribbons, even business cards. I Might be better off with a collage.
Wow! Usually I try the "what's IN the box" exercise for my characters. This takes things to a whole new level ๐
How interesting! I love stuff like this.
Hm, I have a whole room full of random treasures… it'd be hard to fit them on a box, haha. But I think you have just given me an idea for a crafty thing to do!
Wow! That is way too cool, Stephanie! Fun, fun, fun! ๐
That's a cool idea. I've got all kinds of beach combing treasures to play with.
The coins sound pretty cool. You can make neat necklaces out of them too. Your box reminds me of a time-capsule:)
Oh my goodness, what a gorgeous treasure!
My little treasures wouldn't necessarily be from world travels, as I haven't had very many, but tiny objects close to my heart from various points in my life. As for what to put in it… that's where I'd love to put trinkets and goodies from future travels!
I have several gemstones from my grandmother's jewelery. The actual jewelery pieces aren't in tact, but the gems are. I'd love to decorate a box with them. I'll have to put that on my list of things to do in the coming year.
Wow, that's such a cool box! I love boxes too. I have a few olde worlde types scattered around the house.
Very cool, and so pretty! I love boxes… I have several for just about everything!
Hope you post pics of your own box! I don't think I have enough 'cool' stuff to make a whole box, but I love the idea!
How cool is that? Love the box.
Hmm, I'm not certain what I'd put on mine. I'll have to give it more thought.
That is so cool!! Makes me want to make a steampunk one! Love it ๐
I've always had a thing for coins and gemstones, so I'd probably use those.
I love a unique box.
What a cool box! Really enjoyed looking at it for loooong seconds (okay, a minute or two), daydreaming about how the souvenirs came to be. I collect boxes and they're filled with all sorts of stuff others would probably throw out, but are treasures to me.
Hey, I've been meaning to drop you a line. Read Nefertari and thought how you write sooooo much better. Historically, it was on target, just soooo many grammatical errors, odd dialogue…you could have done a much better job, Steph!
Mate. Questo blog รจ sorprendente. Come faccio a far sembrare questo bene?
OMgoodness, I LOVE your new box! How intriguing.
And I love the items you have to make your own box.
Very inspiring.
Nice post. Thanks.