Bits and pieces of the past

Why throw something out when you might need it one day thats my philosophy, I know that sounds kind of  weird to a lot of people but so often I have had a
clean out and as soon as something  has gone I always seem to find a use for it. 
One of the reasons I keep things is, I relate everything to an
event, person  or place and to me capturing special memories is really important. Not only is it nice to have a piece of the past to hold close but to have a story that goes with it is even more special. My way of having a clean
out these days is making a treasure that holds a story.

This is my 'Family' cross.  On it is all of my mothers plastic beads, the ones I remember her wearing the most, her old watch , a couple of her favourite earings and brooches, even part of her hearing aid. My dads watch, his car key and some polished stones he collected, My late husbands watch is in there as well with his memorium notice from the newspaper sealed inside plus lots of other bits and pieces that all have their own story. It may not be the prettiest thing you have seen but all of those things are reminders of those special people  and on their own they would be classed as junk and destroyed but in this form they are a precious memory to pass on.