T.O.P.'s Tuesday: Writer's Cottage Part V

They Mystery within the boxes revealed...

A creative way to include Mom's Encyclopedias...

When my Mom was young she won this encyclopedia set. I can't remember exactly how, maybe writing something? I bet my aunt or uncle will remember and be able to tell us but until then this old set of encyclopedias is special to me for a few reasons:
*My mom won them
*My mom valued them and never wanted to get rid of them
*You don't see encyclopedias much anymore since the introduction the Internet

I took this set off my bookshelf at home a couple years ago to make room for more books. I reorganized my shelves and needed the space yet couldn't part with the encyclopedias so I boxed and stored them in Mary's playhouse. As we cleaned out the playhouse and I saw the boxes I told my father I was going to keep the in the writer's cottage. His response, "Of course you are." We both laughed. He asked, "How or what are you doing to do with them? You don't have much space." I shook my head because I had no clue.

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Fast forward a week. As I put the contact paper on the walls and ceiling, moving the books from side to side, Dad came in and shared an idea. I needed a bookshelf to store my writing resources and Bibles on yet the monies for shelving would need to wait until fall when school started. Dad's creativity solved these problems. The encyclopedias became the bookshelf, with a little help from Dad.

Dad went to the New Haven Building Supply and purchased a pine board. He cut them to the length of the wall, routered & rounded the edges, and sanded them. I rearranged the books until I had even piles. My Auntie M called to check in and I told her what we were doing, she added her creativity to the mix. She suggested spelling something on the side. I liked the idea and went back to work to make new stacks that would spell a word or two. This took a bit but now the outside spells "Lisa_Wrter" So cool!

Who knew two boxes of encyclopedias would end up making this beautiful and special bookcase. Many minds make light work and creative uses of old and cherished items.

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Have you re-purposed something given to you?
​If so, what was it and how?