TRAVEL MEMORY BOXES

"Thank you Katherine for a unique memory of an extraordinary place... it brings the country alive for me each time I look at it”. 

Christine

Creating a memory box from a special trip is a unique and special way to capture a holiday without relying on photos. It captures the smells, sights, culture and colour in a way that photos can’t.

Each time I’ve been away, I’ve collected a range of items and organised them into memory boxes so I can capture the spirit of my travels.

In 2016, I took some time out of work and spent five months travelling from Mexico to California, via Central America. While I was away, I decided to collect a small item from every place I visited and returned home with a rucksack full of tiny treasures. 

I didn’t want to bury them in a drawer, but I also didn’t want the small objects to look lost on a big shelf. So, I crafted a vintage box to house each item and displayed it on my wall. 

This is where my memory boxes were born.

Objects I included in the travel memory box:

• A coin from every country
• Model animals of some of the key wildlife we spotted 
• Rice and beans – the staple diet
• Candle – the only source of light in the Honduran rainforest
• Weaving with local women in Guatemala
• Musicians carved from piano keys from Cuba
• Each country's national beer cap 
• Model of an old school bus - the primary method of travel through Central America
• Miniature paintings including one from an animal rescue sanctuary in Belize
• Models of ancient artefacts representing the Mayan culture
• Day of the Dead sculptures from Mexico
• A plectrum from a band we watched in Cuba
• Feather boa from Pride march in San Francisco
• ​Confetti from Easter celebrations in El Salvador
• Cuban cigars
• Coffee beans from El Salvador
• Mini Panama hat

​You can read more about this trip here.

Every time I looked at the box, it brought back fond memories, so I decided to create memory boxes for future trips too. 

The photos below document a three week trip to India. The objects I gathered showcase the colour, beauty and texture of the country. 

Objects I included in the travel memory box

• Spices to bring back the smell
• Fabrics
• Mini paintings and models (Taj Mahal)
• Hindu God miniatures
• Railway and entry tickets to attractions

Creating a travel memory box with me

If you'd like to commission a travel box for an upcoming trip, do get in touch and I can give you a list of items to look out for when you're travelling. 

If you have a collection of treasures from a trip you’ve already made, get in touch and we can talk through the options for a travel memory box.

I also offer gift vouchers if you'd like to give the commission to someone who is planning a special trip. ​​

Other travel boxes:
I have created many travel boxes for customer's different trips over the years. You can see more examples below. Click on the images to find out more about each one.

Do you have a stash of interesting objects from an amazing trip? Get in touch to discuss, or take a look at more examples of travel boxes.

PLACE BOXES