My mother-in-law turned 91 this year and she thought she should clean out her closets. I was all for this adventure
because she was born in Scotland, moved to the United States after World War II and lived most of her adult life in New York. She has some cool clothes.
After many hours of sorting through hats and shoes, we came across her furs. Her look of distress was understandable because we live in Texas. Our coldest days might be fought off with a wool peacoat, or at the least a cashmere walker, not a sleek, sexy, full length, dark chocolate-brown mink coat. My MIL returned the mink to her closet and parted with a full length lamb coat and a gorgeous white fox. She agreed to sell them.
Pulling out a rabbit jacket with a ripped pocket I suggested she donate it.
“Good idea,” she agreed. Then she added three more similar coats. Ok, I thought a few homeless people would be quite warm this winter.
As she held up the seal, she told me the story of the coat. “Jackie Kennedy wore seal. It was all the rage in the 60’s.”
“Great,” I replied. “But in 2015, it’s endangered and we can’t sell it.”
“What am I going to do with it?” she asked as she explained it cost over a thousand dollars in 1961.
After a few google ads, I found my answers. Here are a few ideas to recycle grandma’s fur coat.
- Have a teddy bear made out of it.
- Have cushions made out of it.
- Have it cut down to a scarf.
- Donate to an animal rescue group. Your fur will be made into cuddly beds for baby animals or to help wild animals adapt into their natural habitat.
My MIL thought the idea of her great-grandchildren having her furs as cuddly teddy bears was a great idea. After all, animals died to make those coats. They shouldn’t be kept hiding in the closet.
Be sure and check out the indieBRAG Christmas Blog Hop at indieBRAG. I am posting on December 20th, so be sure and stop by to read about my family traditions.
Forever Crazy,
Janet Leigh
