Keepsake Kaleidoscopes are all about celebrating life's memorable moments - a birthday, wedding, anniversary, family reunion, graduation, retirement, special thank you or a once in a life time trip. You will be able to preserve your memories of that special event or person in a beautiful, one-of-a-kind, custom made, work of art. This is a chance to find those little things tucked away in drawers and boxes and make them into a wonderful family heirloom to pass down the stories of your family.

I use pressed flowers and your collected items, mixed with stained glass to make each floral kaleidoscope very unique and personal. The 2 wheels hold many memories, while pictures can be added in a collage on the bottom of the kaleidoscope.

For a Wedding Kaleidoscope you might collect fabric from the wedding gown, flowers from the bouquet or decorations, ribbons, birdseed or rice and little mementos that tell the funny and endearing events of the day.

Perhaps you would like to honor Grandma and Grandpa with a 50th Anniversary Kaleidoscope. Collect memories from the old home place, leaves form a certain tree, one of his fishing lures, flowers from her garden, pebbles from the fishing hole, pressed flowers from the party, memories from their favorite organizations or trips, and pictures of the grandchildren.

You might want to make a My Favorite Things Kaleidoscope to honor a friend, for a retirement gift, or as a special thank you. Think of all the things that make that person special: funny habits, foods, favorite coffee or tea, hobbies, favorite flowers, awards, things they collect, things that make them laugh. We'll put it all together into something really amazing and memorable.

Memory Kaleidoscope

Some of my most tender work has been done with families that have lost a love one. A Memory Kaleidoscope is a beautiful way to celebrate a person's life. It gives family members a chance to talk about their memories and collect the items that tell those stories they want to remember always...not only for today but to pass on to other family as the years go by.

Adam passed away a year ago. His mother writes:

"Every time I pick up Adam's Kaleidoscope, I see the treasured memories of the things he loved in light and beauty...the piece of his favorite blue shirt, the corduroy he always wore, a lock of his hair, the 1984 dime, the leaf from the fichus plant, the dove feather from the dove release...so many things that tell the special stories of our time together. We made a collage on the bottom of the kaleidoscope that holds the last pictures we had taken together, a page from his favorite book and part of a constant comment tea bag. When I hold these memories in my hands, I feel an instant connection to him. It brings a joy through my sadness. It makes me feel more at peace."

This tender preserving of memories is something I want to share through Keepsake Kaleidoscopes.

Beverly Forester

brewstersociety.com