Some little objects stay with us for years: keepsakes, souvenirs and little tchotchkes, gathered, inherited or discovered along the way. They find their places on shelves, mantelpieces and dressing tables, quietly becoming part of our lives, gathering memories as much as dust.
A St Brigid’s Cross hanging above a doorway or in the kitchen for years. An empty perfume bottle, its contents long gone but the bottle far too beautiful to discard. A teacup deemed, rather ironically, “too good” to use, admired instead from behind the glass of a cabinet. A Russian stacking doll handed down through generations, safely stationed on the top shelf, away from curious little hands. A pack of playing cards tucked away in a drawer, waiting to be rediscovered.
A miniature Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty or Titanic ship on the mantelpiece, holding memories of a journey long after the suitcases have been unpacked. Little souvenirs that somehow become permanent fixtures. A wellie-shaped plant pot on a windowsill, or a sparkling miniature shoe on a dressing table, chosen simply because it made you smile.
And then there’s the Retro Troll from childhood, making its way from your bedroom to student digs and eventually into a home of your own. There’s always been a place for him—and somehow, while you weren’t looking, he became vintage.
We have a little hand-turned, hand-painted wooden eggcup from my husband’s childhood, with his name on it. Eggcups are perfectly functional things, of course, but this one feels far too precious to risk an accidental trip through the dishwasher or a chip in enthusiastic little hands. I do let the boys use it once in a while, though. There’s something rather lovely about them eating their eggs from Daddy’s childhood eggcup. Some things have very little monetary value, yet simply couldn’t be replaced.
I also have a beautiful Victorian cup and saucer from my grandmother’s house. A single, treasured piece rather than part of a set, it always lived in her display cabinet, there to be admired. It didn’t seem to belong hidden away in my kitchen cupboard, so these days I use it to hold my sewing pins. Perhaps not its intended purpose, but it has found a useful little place in my everyday life—and I get to enjoy it while I work.
These are the little things we keep. Sometimes precious, sometimes wonderfully ordinary, their value lies in the memories and affection they gather along the way. I love the idea of translating these familiar treasures into Irish Linen, with delicate embroidery, hand-stitched embellishments and a little playful luxury.
There’s plenty of pleasure in bringing them together, too. A Perfume Bottle, Handbag and Diamond suggest treasures gathered on a dressing table, while a Teacup, Custard Cream and Love Heart Biscuit make a rather charming little tea break. A Lighthouse, Ship in a Bottle and Treasure Map might hold the beginnings of an adventure, while a Russian Stacking Doll and Rocking Horse bring a little childhood nostalgia.
They needn’t all match. Some of these pairings echo the things we keep in our own home; others might remind you of yours. Part of the charm is in collecting things over time, each with its own story—something inherited, something given and something you simply couldn’t leave behind. Hang a few favourites on your Christmas tree, or find a little place for them throughout the year.
Perhaps you’ll spot something that reminds you of a person, a place or a much-loved object of your own. A little trinket, a collected treasure.
Katie xox
Find Your Own Little Treasures
Explore these little keepsakes, souvenirs and curiosities, and see which ones catch your eye.
