When a cabinet filled with her grandmother’s heirloom dishes toppled from the wall, Michelle Eck felt crushed. However, there was a silver lining: although the cabinet stayed partly attached, amazingly, a cookbook prevented one side from opening fully, thus protecting some of the valuable dishes within. The cookbook belonged to none other than Joanna Gaines.
Magnolia Table
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Michelle
posted a video
Share it on Instagram, displaying the damage before zooming in on the cookbook. The cabinet door presses against the top of the book’s front cover, stopping it from opening fully and preventing its pages from falling out.
“Thanks to @joannagaines for protecting grandma’s treasured plates. Would’ve been great if @chipgaines had put in my shelves,” she commented in the description.
The video became an internet sensation, amassing 2.5 million views along with more than 100 thousand likes, and heartfelt supportive messages flooded in from everywhere.
Joanna Gaines herself chimed in with, “Oh my!!!! I’m so sorry that happened!!! ❤️,” and someone else responded, “Girl, your shiplap saved them LOL.” (The iconic farmhouse wall material that Joanna made famous graces the cover of the cookbook.)
Another commented, “Granny utilized whatever she had at hand to preserve them, and that frame along with Joanna’s book played a part ❤️😂.” Michelle responded to that, “My granny was incredibly resourceful!”
A few people recounted tales of cherished items lost due to comparable accidents. Some provided guidance instead: “If you’ve managed to save certain pieces and they could potentially be repaired, I can send you a direct message and guide you step-by-step on how to restore them 🩷🩷 I’m studying ceramics, so I’ve become quite skilled at mending dishes. It must feel really devastating.”
Another observer noted, “The picture frame on the wall is also making quite an impact. Continue to grow. ❤️,” alluding to the message on a signed plaque squeezed between the kitchen doorway and the cabinet. Michelle responded, “Absolutely! It served as a great reminder. I believe my grandma would agree with this sentiment.”
Other people couldn’t get past the Joanna Gaines effect, saying “It’s Ms. Joanna Gaines, not those heirlooms, definitely not happening on my watch” and “What can’t Joanna do? 🌟”.
Michelle tells
Country Living:
It’s astonishing to witness the reaction to my video… not only from Joanna Gaines, but also from millions around the world. This unexpected support transformed a tragic event into something uplifting. My grandmother would surely be astounded and deeply moved as well. Rather than lamenting the loss of her treasured possessions, I find myself imagining new creations from the fragments. I’m incredibly thankful for how many parts were miraculously preserved in the cookbook.
