How to re-purpose doll cradle?

**Spirit Deer** · 12-07-2011, 10:18 AM

Anyone have any ideas? It needs to provide practical storage, if possible, not be merely decorative.

When I was little, my mom was the carpenter in our family. A lot of our gifts were handmade because my family didn't have much money. One thing I received for Christmas when I was five or six is a wooden doll cradle, which I played with a lot. I still have it and can't part with it, but it's currently stuffed up in the garage, not being used and not really in the best situation. I would like to bring it down and use it in the house somehow. Any suggestions? It's maybe two feet long with high sides and is made out of plywood, so it's quite sturdy.

I was thinking maybe I could put a couple of potted plants in it, or use it for a cat bed although the sides are too high for that.

**Darlene** · 12-07-2011, 01:53 PM

Magazine rack? Kitchen storage for cookbooks/ tools?

**Spirit Deer** · 12-07-2011, 02:09 PM

No room in the kitchen for anything. Maybe a magazine rack.

Thanks for the suggestions.

**nuisance26** · 12-07-2011, 02:24 PM

~Towel holder in the bathroom? By the front door for scarves and mittens? An amenities basket for a guestroom(or your room)with robe, slippers, chocolate, puzzle book, etc.?~

**many houseapes** · 12-07-2011, 02:27 PM

This might sound a little strange...but what if you were to hang it on the wall ...it would be an interesting shelf for your knick knacks,etc.

**zakity** · 12-07-2011, 03:00 PM

What about storing unfinished craft projects in it? It would be cute displayed with balls of yarn and some knitting needles in it. Your crafty stuff could be on hand, but still decorative.

**krbshappy71** · 12-07-2011, 04:11 PM

Will it fit in the laundry room to hold the box of detergent, bottles of cleaners/stain removals, etc? How about to hold linens that you want to be able to grab easily such as dishtowels, napkins, tablecloths, somewhere in the dining area?

By the computer, get decorative baskets to stick in it and hide your cd's, wiley cable cords that get piled up, photos that you keep meaning to scan but never get around to....

Is there anyone in the family that would want to pass it on down the generation line? Its easier for me to part with something if I know it will be valued and taken care of.

**shoiji** · 12-15-2011, 04:22 PM

Depending on how high the sides are you could also put an old pillow in it for a cat bed.

**Incognito** · 12-15-2011, 05:45 PM

There are so many good ideas here!
If I had one of those, I'd use it as a knitting caddy for my current knitting project, as someone else has suggested on this thread. I've always wanted one of those caddies next to my favourite chair in the LR, nice and handy.
It's a treasure that you've never parted with, so it's appropo to use it somehow in your daily life as an adult. Way to Go for hanging on to it!

(I still have the little sewing basket Mom bought me when I was 13 years old and in my first year of 4-H; I took sewing. The pink silk lining inside is very old, faded, and worn, but a couple of years ago I felt carefully on the padded pincushion parts directly under the lid, and found and removed many embedded "gold-eye needles" that I'd put there 30 - 40 years ago, and they are still in perfect condition. I haven't been able to find "gold-eye needles" for years. Someday, I want to remove the old lining, and replace it with new fabric.)

**Spirit Deer** · 12-15-2011, 07:31 PM

Thanks for the ideas, everyone. Very creative. Now I just have to find a place to put it.

**Debbie-cat** · 12-15-2011, 07:35 PM

I would either use it for potted plants or for my knitting that I am currently working on. That was all the yarn and the project would be sitting in the cradle instead of on the couch!

How wonderful that you still have it!