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Sewing Shadow Box for a She Shed

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How to create a shadow box with antique sewing supplies to decorate a she shed, sewing room, or other craft space.

Many years ago my mom sent me all of my grandma’s old sewing supplies. My grandma has a special place in my heart because she lived with us for much of my childhood. She was a very practical woman, but steadfast and reliable. When she passed away from breast cancer, it broke my heart. While the supplies were largely not usable— did you know thread expires!? It actually degrades with time and is more likely to snap. As I couldn’t use a lot of the supplies, or had duplicates, I decided to make a shadow box with her antique sewing supplies in it. I LOVE how it came out and it’s the perfect décor for my she shed.


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DIY Sewing Supplies Shadow Box

I had a bundle of sewing supplies from her, including some sewing needles, and antique metal containers. I LOVE LOVE LOVE all of it. One pouch of sewing supplies is labeled “Christmas Gift 1946, to Ellen from Roland.”

Roland was my grandpa, and I wonder why she labeled this particular gift… a piece of me chuckles and wonder if she was memorializing a “thanks for the vacuum cleaner” type gift, or if she genuinely was pleased. I remember her sewing and having lots of fabric that I enjoyed playing with as a child, but I don’t remember if she sewed because she liked it or out of necessity.

Close up of the tag my Grandma wrote with the sewing kit: Christmas Gift from Roland to Ellen 1946.

Either way, I really enjoyed sifting through the old buttons and sewing kit items. It

Supplies

  • Shadow Box
  • Antique sewing supplies
  • Photo of my grandma and I
  • Sewing pins (antique is perfect)
  • Glue gun (it’s cordless!)

Tutorial

Step 1: Organize your antique sewing supplies and prioritize what you’d like to display. I laid everything out in the box before I glued or pinned anything down.

Sewing Shadow Box made with 1946 sewing supplies. Photo of my grandma and I framed with a cut up measuring tape. Puritan Dressmakers Pins

Step 2: Glue or pin the items in place. I like glue for light weight items, but pins for items that might look bad with glue holding them.

Sewing Shadow Box made with 1946 sewing supplies. Photo of my grandma and I framed with a cut up measuring tape. 29 cent darning kit. Sew and Stitch kit. Antique buttons. Puritan Dressmakers Pins

Step 3: Hang and display!

Sewing Shadow Box made with 1946 sewing supplies. Photo of my grandma and I framed with a cut up measuring tape. 29 cent darning kit. Sew and Stitch kit. Antique buttons. Puritan Dressmakers Pins
Sewing Shadow Box made with 1946 sewing supplies. Photo of my grandma and I framed with a cut up measuring tape. 29 cent darning kit. Sew and Stitch kit. Antique buttons.

Please share and pin this post! If you make this project, share it in our Stuff Mama Makes Facebook Group. We have regular giveaways for gift cards to craft stores. You can also tag me on Instagram @doityourselfdanielle; I love seeing everything you make!

Sewing Shadow Box made with 1946 sewing supplies.

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