Latest news with #heirlooms
Daily Mail
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The Repair Shop guest breaks down in tears as she receives last gift father gave her before his tragic death - and admits grief has haunted her 'all through life'
A guest on The Repair Shop broke down in tears as she received the last gift her father gave her before his tragic death, which has haunted her 'all through life'. The BBC One programme sees guests enlist craft and artisan experts to restore their cherished heirlooms and keepsakes to their former glory. A special Favourite Fixes episode, which aired on Tuesday, saw presenters Will Kirk, 40, and Dominic Chinea, 39, revisit some of the show's best moments. It included a trip to the workshop by a guest named Emma who brought along a puppet her father gave her in the seventies when she was just eight years old. The toy is called Billy Willy, she explained: 'My dad got cancer so my nan thought it would be good for him to go to Scotland to a health farm. 'He was gone probably a couple of months, which is a long time when you're eight. It included a trip to the workshop by a guest named Emma who brought along a puppet (pictured before the transformation) her father gave her in the seventies when she was just eight years old 'I remember he phoned us and said what did we want as a present when he came back. 'In the seventies, puppets were all the rage! I just asked for a puppet and I got Billy Willy! I was absolutely thrilled with him. 'It was the last thing that my dad gave me because he died soon after. We don't have many photographs of dad so this is all I've got of my dad. I've got nothing else. 'That's why he's so special. I don't think I ever really went anywhere without him!' But she said her own children sadly 'absolutely hate' the puppet as cracks on its face and a missing leg give it a creepy, unsettling look. It adds to his existing clownish expression, with a red nose and smile and big wide eyes, alongside a shock of red hair and a clashing patterned outfit. Emma wanted to bring her beloved toy back into the family fold again: 'I think he'd be over the moon to know that Billy Willy was getting a second chance. 'And hopefully, you know, grandchildren that he'll never see will get to play with him.' She reflected: 'It's difficult to understand what happens when you lose a parent and you take it with you all through your life. It's always there!' Ceramics expert Kirsten Ramsay, helped by soft toy restoration experts the Bear Ladies, had a mammoth task on their hand to revitalise the puppet. But later in the episode, when the guest was reunited with her beloved childhood toy, it was clear all their efforts had been worth it. Admitting she had never been parted from Billy Willy before, an excited Emma could not wait to be reunited - and soon broke down in tears upon the final reveal. 'Oh my God! That's amazing! He looks like when he was new!', she exclaimed. 'Oh my God, you are amazing! He's still the same, oh it's lush, that is so good! He's brilliant, thank you!' Emma explained: 'I think it would mean so much to my dad, maybe when dad bought this for me, he knew that I needed something that was going to make me smile. 'It definitely makes me smile and cry.' Emma (pictured) explained: 'I think it would mean so much to my dad, maybe when dad bought this for me, he knew that I needed something that was going to make me smile' It comes after a rediscovered episode of the BBC programme also got everyone in the workshop feeling very emotional. A man named Iain McPherson met with silversmith Brenton West in hopes his prized possession could be overhauled. The instalment, originally released in 2022, saw him bring in a bookend, with a statue of an Special Air Service (SAS) soldier on it. His father, who served in the special forces unit of the British Army, was given the keepsake for its 50th anniversary in 1991. Iain explained his father left him the figurine when he passed away in 2002 - but it had unfortunately sustained extensive damage over the years. The resin model had its head accidentally knocked off when the father and son had once been doing a spot of decorating. Several other sections had also chipped off, with Iain luckily keeping most of the detached pieces, which could be used in the repair work. The man told expert Brenton more about his father - and his horrifying near-death experience: 'He joined the army as soon as he could in the Second World War. 'Then, he joined the SAS when it was formed [in 1941]. The special forces, they do a lot of fighting behind enemy lines.' Referring to the Nazi occupation of Greece from 1941 to 1944, he continued: 'In my dad's case, he was over in Greece quite a lot. 'He tried to liberate the Greeks and while he was there, he got wounded.' Severely injured, his father was on the verge of death - before, in a moment of astonishing luck, Greek resistance groups found and saved him. He was quickly losing blood - so the soldiers had to take decisive action, Iain said: 'He had three bullets in his leg and they actually cut his leg off on a kitchen table.' Expert Brenton was left completely shocked by this, replying incredulously: 'They cut his leg off?' He could only listen on in stunned silence as Iain said despite how harrowing the moment was, his 'very modest', highly decorated father never spoke about it. Brenton responded: 'You find that with true heroes. They don't often talk about it.' Iain was touched by this and quickly became overcome: 'Everybody said he was a great guy which is why this means a lot. I'm getting upset.' Aware of the importance of the item to the guest, Brenton got to work bringing it back to its former glory. And when he unveiled the final result to Iain later in the episode, the guest was totally shocked: 'Woah.' Iain soon broke into an enormous grin, saying the figurine was 'back to his old self' - before breaking down again, wiping away tears with a handkerchief. 'I don't think I could ask for better', he said, adding: 'You've fair done me proud and my dad too.'
Washington Post
14-07-2025
- General
- Washington Post
Ripe summer tomatoes call for these Caprese-inspired recipes
After months of bland, out-of-season grocery store tomatoes, summer brings along farmers markets with precious heirlooms and sun-ripened beauties. These aren't the kinds of produce that you need to draw out flavor from by roasting or turning into a pot of sauce. Big, juicy and vibrant on their own, these tomatoes deserve to be celebrated in all their glory — and a summery Caprese salad is a great place to start.
Daily Mail
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The Repair Shop guest breaks down in tears recounting harrowing moment his dad was gunned down - leaving expert too stunned to speak
A guest on The Repair Shop broke down in tears recounting the harrowing moment his dad was gunned down - leaving the expert too stunned to speak. The resurfaced episode of the BBC programme saw the craft and artisan experts get to work to repair more guests' cherished heirlooms. One of them, a man named Iain McPherson, met with silversmith Brenton West in hopes his prized possession could be overhauled. The instalment, originally released in 2022, saw him bring in a bookend, with a statue of an Special Air Service (SAS) soldier on it. His father, who served in the special forces unit of the British Army, was given the keepsake for its 50th anniversary in 1991. Iain explained his father left him the figurine when he passed away in 2002 - but it had unfortunately sustained extensive damage over the years. The resin model had its head accidentally knocked off when the father and son had once been doing a spot of decorating. Several other sections had also chipped off, with Iain luckily keeping most of the detached pieces, which could be used in the repair work. The man told expert Brenton more about his father - and his horrifying near-death experience: 'He joined the army as soon as he could in the Second World War. 'Then, he joined the SAS when it was formed [in 1941]. The special forces, they do a lot of fighting behind enemy lines.' Referring to the Nazi occupation of Greece from 1941 to 1944, he continued: 'In my dad's case, he was over in Greece quite a lot. 'He tried to liberate the Greeks and while he was there, he got wounded.' Severely injured, his father was on the verge of death - before, in a moment of astonishing luck, Greek resistance groups found and saved him. He was quickly losing blood - so the soldiers had to take decisive action, Iain said: 'He had three bullets in his leg and they actually cut his leg off on a kitchen table.' Expert Brenton was left completely shocked by this, replying incredulously: 'They cut his leg off?' He could only listen on in stunned silence as Iain said despite how harrowing the moment was, his 'very modest', highly decorated father never spoke about it. Brenton responded: 'You find that with true heroes. They don't often talk about it.' Iain was touched by this and quickly became overcome: 'Everybody said he was a great guy which is why this means a lot. I'm getting upset.' Aware of the importance of the item to the guest, Brenton got to work bringing it back to its former glory. And when he unveiled the final result to Iain later in the episode, the guest was totally shocked: 'Woah.' Iain soon broke into an enormous grin, saying the figurine was 'back to his old self' - before breaking down again, wiping away tears with a handkerchief. 'I don't think I could ask for better', he said, adding: 'You've fair done me proud and my dad too.' 'I don't think I could ask for better', he said, adding: 'You've fair done me proud and my dad too' It comes after another guest on The Repair Shop was similarly left 'speechless and blown away' - resulting in a very dramatic turn, in a BBC first. The Repair Shop On The Road, a spin-off from the original beloved heirloom restoration show, returned to our screens for new episodes last month. The BBC series, which began in January, sees the experts leave the workshop to tour the UK, using their skills to keep people's sentimental items in mint condition. Presenters and experts Dominic Chinea and Will Kirk were joined by painting specialist Lucia Scalisi in Glasgow for one particular instalment. They met with Kaming, a member of the Scottish city's Hakka Chinese community, who wanted help to restore a Chinese unicorn head to its former glory. The mask, made from fragile bamboo and paper, is used to perform a traditional dance at celebrations like Chinese New Year or weddings. But around 25 years of heavy use had left it looking worse for wear, with the horn in particular needing urgent attention. Kaming explained that to his knowledge, he is the last person in the community who knows how to perform the dance and wants to teach it to generations to come. This made it especially important to get the mask restoration right - so the important cultural tradition it is associated with is not lost forever. Lucia did not let him down, using her specialist skills to bring the mask back to life. Just before unveiling it, she asked: 'Are you looking forward to seeing it?' Kaming could not wait - and when she removed the cloth covering it, he was astonished at what he saw. Gasping and covering his mouth in shock, he said: 'Just speechless! Speechless. It's amazing. 'It's a very big difference especially the actual front here. Looking shiny.' The expert was delighted at his reaction - and expressed her own love for the object too: 'Everything about it is exquisitely beautiful. The symbolism on it is incredible. 'And I think that it will do a very good job for your community centre for years to come. And now I think it's your turn to keep your side of the deal!' The mask (pictured), made from fragile bamboo and paper, is used to perform a traditional dance at celebrations like Chinese New Year or weddings It was then a new BBC first occurred as the show quite literally took a dramatic turn. It came as The Repair Shop saw its first ever dance routine performed on-screen in the show's eight-year history. Lucia was invited to the Hakka Chinese community centre to watch Kaming perform with the newly restored mask. She exclaimed: 'I actually don't know what to say, I am truly blown away to have that lovely unicorn do the unicorn dance. 'It was energetic, it was very powerful. It was wonderful! The guest offered her some final words of thanks to close the episode: 'It means a lot to the Chinese community to have it fixed because it represents a whole lot to them.' The Repair Shop is available to watch and to stream on BBC One and iPlayer.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
5 Things You're Calling ‘Sentimental' That Are Really Just Taking Up Space
It's okay to let go of inherited fine china, old quilts, or cookbooks if they're collecting dust—keeping just one meaningful piece can still honor your loved ones. Baby clothes and kids' artwork are sweet treasures, but limiting yourself to a small bin (or photo book) per child helps preserve the memories without overwhelming your space. Decluttering isn't about forgetting—it's about thoughtfully curating what you keep, so the most meaningful items truly are notoriously sentimental people. It's why the region is rich in history and tradition, and it's also the reason we're a little prone to a bit too much collecting. Pretty much anything can be considered a family heirloom if it has been passed down through a generation or two. Getting rid of a special item that no longer serves you doesn't mean you're getting rid of the memories associated with it, but don't just take it from us. We surveyed three professional organizers based in the South, and here are a few sentimental items they often have to encourage their clients to let go of. Consider this a little pep talk to give yourself permission for some guilt-free Stricker is the founder of Naptime Kitchen and the creator of The Home Reset. She's based in Charleston, South Carolina. Christina Lee is the co-founder of Graceful Spaces, a professional organizing company in Austin, Texas, that works with clients nationwide. Kenna Lee is a certified professional organizer and the owner of Calm Spaces. Her business has two locations, one of which is in Atlanta, three experts we interviewed cited fine china collections as a sentimental item that they often see wasting space in a Southerner's home. One full set of fine china takes up a significant amount of space, regardless of whether or not you've reserved an entire hutch to showing it off. Since fine china has been a popular wedding gift for multiple generations, there's also a good chance you have not only your set, but a family set you've inherited, too. "I've encountered 6 sets in one home," says professional organizer Kenna Lee. "The reason is these were passed down to my client from the people she loves, and she knows they had such deep significance to her ancestors, especially those who could barely afford china in the first place. My advice to clients is to keep a serving platter or bowl and let the rest go, especially if space is at a premium. You can honor your ancestors' memory without having to rent a storage unit." Going through your stash of old baby clothes is a surefire way to make you tear up, but it's a task that's very worth doing from time to time. Kate Stricker is a mom of four and the creator of The Home Reset, an audio course that encourages moms in their decluttering journey. While she knows the feeling of wanting to hang on to those tiny outfits that hold so many memories, she offers some practical advice. "We keep one bin for a few heirloom items for each child," she says. "But clothes were meant to be worn. Enjoy them! Get them dirty. Keep one or two, but you will likely have way more photos of your child actually in the item, which will mean more to you than having thope item sitting in a closet unworn." On a similar note, Kate also sees parents hanging on to one too many drawings and finger paintings by their little artists. Just as she does with old baby keepsakes, she limits herself to keeping one bin of artwork per child that she conveniently stores under the bed. However, she admits that even this "seems a bit silly." While every piece is worthy of some time on the fridge, she suggests giving the extra special pieces some additional display time. "If you love it, use two small nails to hang a string across the wall and use clothespins to hang artwork on the string," she says. "If you really love it, frame it. Otherwise, say goodbye." And for those who are extra sentimental, she recommends taking a picture or scan of each piece and printing it all in one slender photo book. Quilting is becoming a bit of a lost art, which is why it can feel extra hard to pare down your collection. But if you've got more than a dozen crowding your linen closet, it may be time to see a few off. "Hand-stitched by grandmothers or great-aunts, quilts are beautiful textiles that hold generations of love," says organizer Christina Lee. "But they're also bulky, tough to fold, and typically end up tucked away in linen closets or under beds, rarely used, but always taking up space. We encourage our clients to choose a few special pieces to display or preserve and consider parting with others in thoughtful ways." Every Southerner loves a good family recipe. But there's a difference between keeping handwritten directions for your mom's stuffing balls and hanging onto the casserole cookbook from your great aunt. "There is a tradition in the South of cookbooks being passed down through the generations," says Kenna. "I often see clients keeping cookbooks for sentimental reasons because they belonged to a relative, but they have no intention of ever using them. While keeping a treasured family heirloom is understandable, keeping cookbooks that you do not use or need is unnecessary." It's best to check with a few other family members before donating old cookbooks, just as you would with more valuable family heirlooms. But if there aren't any takers, to the donation bin they go. Read the original article on Southern Living
Washington Post
06-07-2025
- Automotive
- Washington Post
Asking Eric: Minimalist daughter doesn't want any family heirlooms
Dear Eric: My 31-year-old daughter, Lauren, is relocating to California and taking only what fits in her car. She's embracing a minimalist lifestyle and recently told me there's nothing she wants me to pass down to her. I'll admit I was shocked. She's the youngest in my bloodline, and I always imagined certain heirlooms or sentimental items going to her.
