He had created custom-made pillows for her very ornate couch.....incorporating old fur collars from coats she wore as a child. I told him about my grandmother's mink and made arrangements for him to come over and look at it.
"Oh my dear," he said, "you have the makings of a dynamite set of pillows."
We petted the fur for a while.... then opened the coat. On each side of the coat, there were beautiful silk appliques sewn into the chocolate brown lining. I never noticed them before. I remember saying to him, "they're like pictures, pretty enough to frame."
"Eureka honey." And he carted off the "old rat."
Week later he returned with wonderful pillows which grace an old vintage couch I inherited from an auntie. We call the couch..."the sex couch" because it looks like it should be in the boudoir of an old Hollywood movie star.
I admit the combination of the sex couch and the mink pillows in my living room ....has raised some eyebrows....in women.....who obviously wonder if I walk around all day in a black silk Teddie. ( Please...... no one could wear a black silk Teddie all day long....I only wear mine from Noon till 5Pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.)
My mink pillows ....no one can pass by....without petting them. 
The linings of my grandmother's coat framed.
I smile and tell them they're from my grandmother's old mink coat....a "rat" of a coat....which supposedly had no value.....but like many things....just needed a good eye and someone to appreciate the possibilities.
~~
