Through the Keyhole

The Power of Nostalgia : Why We Long for the Past and Why It Matters Almost everyone has one, sometimes it's on the shelf in the closet, sometimes it's slid under a bed, up in the attic or in a cedar chest at the foot of a bed. Sometimes it's a shoebox, or maybe a reused cardboard box or plastic bin. But whatever form it takes, almost every home has one. Some people would rather not look inside, others simply choose not to make time but when we open it, we are often overcome by a sensation that sweeps us away.  A keepsake box or memory box is one of the most powerful material possessions we have next to the bible. Even the photo albums on your phone or computer can't compare because they lack the power to awaken as many senses. The touch, the sight, the smell, or the sound can be all it takes to transport us back in time, through a powerful sensation that aches in the most wonderful way. This experience is known as nostalgia.  But what is nostalgia? Is it j...

Adorned for His Glory A reflection on beauty, humility, and worship through the eyes of Scripture A Personal Turning Point I've always believed in God. Since I was a little girl, I’ve had a strong connection with Him and a steady prayer life. But if I had to point to the moment where I truly became born again, it would be when I opened my Bible and began reading it for myself. That’s when everything changed. I wasn’t just talking to God anymore—I was finally listening. I wasn’t leaning on my own understanding or relying on secondhand ideas about what was right and wrong. I was hearing directly from the source: God’s Word. I began to question everything I had ever been taught or assumed. I searched the Scriptures for answers to questions that had lingered in my heart for years—and for the first time, I found them. What struck me most was how rarely I had been encouraged to do that. All the times I pondered life’s deepest, most biblical questions—not once had anyone simpl...

🎆 My Top 10 Favorite Nostalgic Things About the 4th of July A little love letter to simpler celebrations, gingham tables, and all the things that make Independence Day feel like home. There are so many things about the 4th of July that bring on a deep and vivid nostalgic euphoria—maybe even more than Christmastime. I think it’s because it comes on more suddenly, and once it’s here, we’re less distracted and there’s less pressure to make everything just perfect. It’s a holiday often spent kicking back and relaxing. But there’s just something about the 4th that feels like a sweet old memory. Maybe it’s the scent of barbecue smoke or the first taste of a bomb pop. Maybe it’s the way even a divided country seems to pause for a moment to stand together. Whatever it is, this day carries with it a kind of old-fashioned magic. And today, I’m celebrating that with my top ten favorite nostalgic things about the Fourth—those little details that feel stitched right into the American m...

Have you ever bought a beautiful dress only to discover—it has no pockets? Or worse—fake pockets? As someone who absolutely depends on pockets, I find this baffling. And lately, it seems to be getting worse. More and more women’s clothes are being designed without real pockets, often to cut costs or maintain a “sleek” silhouette. Meanwhile, men enjoy generously sized pockets in everything from suits to swim trunks. It's enough to make you want to stitch a protest sign into your skirt hem. But here’s the thing: this isn’t just a modern annoyance. The history of women’s pockets is surprisingly long, surprisingly political—and surprisingly missing. 👗 A Stitched-Up History 1600s–1700s : Hidden, but Handy Back in the 17th and 18th centuries, women did have pockets—just not sewn into their clothes. They tied large, decorative pouches around their waists under their skirts and accessed them through hidden slits in the seams. These detached pockets were big enough ...

Let it be understood from the outset— I am not merely the woman with an Etsy shop. Eidel’s Ideas is ever so much more than that. Why yes, you will find my storefront on Etsy, it is, of course, my busiest shop location at present —but there is far more to her story, dearest reader.  You see, Etsy is rather like a grand and bustling marketplace—a place not unlike a modern-day emporium (mall), wherein many small merchants gather to display their wares. It is quite a convenient locale to be seen and discovered, to be sure. But just as a fine shop within such a place is not defined by the walls which house it, so too is Eidel’s Ideas not confined to, nor dependent upon, Etsy. Should Etsy vanish with the morrow, Eidel’s Ideas would yet endure—steadfast and ever so distinguished. For this endeavor did not begin with Etsy—nor shall it end there. In days gone by, many years ago, I began at humble venues such as Trader Jake’s and the local flea markets, where I arranged my wares upon simple ...