...27 STEP PROGRAM.

Anybody recognize these?

These are one of my true 'Achilles heels'...

 If you guessed 'Ceramic Mosaic Tiles' (CMT) - you are correct!

Oh, I DO adore them. 

 Glazed Ceramic Tiles (CT) follow in a close second...

 Okay, so just about ANY kind of tile I am a sucker for.

It's NOT my fault - REALLY!!

In my previous life I was an Interior Designer, and I loved adding special little 'details' to projects in the form of mosaics

 

This Reception Area 8'x10' 'Oriental Rug' design made of 1"x1" CMT was one of my favorite projects EVER!!

 

 When samples would become obsolete, I couldn't stand to see them sent to a landfill... so for the 10yrs I worked as a Designer, I lovingly hoarded the samples away in a 'small corner' of my Attic/Studio.

Over the years I have rehabbed SEVERAL tables by learning the art of tiling and doing mosaic inlays MYSELF!!  Then came the test - 15 yrs ago I redid the bathroom shower with 'sample tiles'!!  **(BEFORE MARRIAGE mind you!!)

I did EVERYTHING on this shower surround from carefully laying out my 'under water theme' on grid paper (once again using  my beloved 1" x 1" CMT), to sorting, sticking, adhering, cleaning & grouting the tiles!! 
ALL FROM SAMPLE TILES!

...and here it is, 20 years later still going strong ~ but feeling rather dated...

~BUT, I digress~

after ALL of those years of 'tile hoarding' for 'future' projects... this past week I was F.I.N.A.L.L.Y. feeling strong and the URGE to PURGE overcame me!!  I contacted a local Montessori school art teacher who was interested in some, and the rest are going to our community mosaics projects. So I am good with it, that none are going to landfills ~ just yet!!

• There are 27 steps from the first floor of our house to my Attic/Studio.
• That is actually 54 steps round-trip.
• It took me THIRTEEN trips to bring all of the tiles down from the attic (or 702 steps)!!

"and that is how I lost 560Lbs using the 27 Step Program!"


Behind The Scenes Footage:

 

4' x 4' CLEAR space in Attic/Studio
which 'used' to house the tiles...
Hmmm.... 'Empty Space'???!?

...yes. I DID keep one.little
box of Favorites for possible
future endeavours...
 

...Wednesday ramble.

"Is shopping for supplies then a way to postpone the real creating part?"

Came across this remark in the comments section of a 'thought provoking' post over at NOTES FROM THE VOODOO CAFE this morning ...

...Bluejays of The Pines

I've been doing a little last minute 'Deep Spring Cleaning' before the impending June garage sale.  The latest attack has been on the depths of my attic Studio / Storage! 

I am proud to say that I have emptied FIFTEEN FEET of shelf space!!

Yes, this was a DIFFICULT purge... but I have cleared out MY FIRST TWO COLLECTIONS!

Do YOU remember your first collection(s)?? 

I

 In 3rd grade I started reading the TRIXIE BELDEN Mystery book series. Ahhhh... The Bobwhites of The Glen!   Anybody remember them? I was hooked! I couldn't get enough! Devoured them!  I think that I was only given 3 or 4 new for birthday or Xmas presents - but my girlfriends and I swapped, I borrowed them from the library, found them at garage sales...  and for the last 37yrs they have survived several moves, and finally resided once again in a prominent spot ~ next to NANCY DREW! (who's series I adored and fawned over 'almost' as much!! ...and was also purged...)

 Like I said, there was a 'group' of us who adored these mystery books!  I remember 7 of us even formed our own version of the 'BOBWHITES', except we called ourselves 'The Bluejays'.  We didn't have the luxury of a fancy Cottage for our clubhouse, just an old fort in the Pines.  We always tried to dream up 'mysteries' ~ but there never really were any...  We did have some fun Penny Carnivals though to raise money for UNICEF - does that count?!  OHHhhh, the memories...... (thanks for letting me reminisce here!) 

 Through the years, I kept collecting these books - the 1950's series, 1960's series, 1970's series...  The artwork changes, the content stays the same.  AMAZING that some books can be so timeless that they can appeal to 'youth' for such a long span of time!

 

NOW, with a bit of heavy heart, but with much FREE SPACE 8-), they are on the auction block!! You can go check some out HERE if you know a little one that might like some summertime reading!!

 

(okay, so maybe I haven't parted with my 'FAN CLUB FOLDER' - complete with membership card and Bookmark - just yet!  ...baby steps...)

...'Don't send me flowers,'

'Don't send me flowers,...
...just the vase (or planter, or urn, or...) is fine!'While sorting through my pottery the other day, I found myself daydreaming (once again) as to what it would have been like to have lived in the 50's. Oh, come on - don't EVEN try to tell me that the thought has Never crossed YOUR mind!!

Imagine florists having stacks of these catalogs on their shelves...

Haeger, Hull, McCoy, Shawnee, Kenwood...

"Let's see if anybody has anything new or different this Spring..."

"Who has the best prices..."

These were just 'the-run-of-the-mill' containers to deliver flowers in!!!

Why-oh-Why do we get stuck we cheapo flimsy plastic or boring pressed glass vases today??

So, how did I get into this delicious daydream you may ask? Okay... you probably didn't - but I'm going to tell you anyway!

Anybody out there in the market for a beautious Solid Oak, Mission Style entertainment center?

I have finally conceded to a LARGE flat screen, wall mounted TV,

but first things first...

entertainment center must find a new home,

and

do you see what is on top of the ent. ctr.???

green agate.

which is going to get relocated to....

the Computer Room.

.

.

.

The particular shelving unit that I have in mind for it has a Big Ole Mish~Mash on it... misc. Haeger...Bennington...VERA China... inherited Waterford... and my entire Shawnee / Kenwood Pottery collection (yes, I'm a closet Shawnee collector...).

I must CLEAR THE SHELVES!!!

Most of the small, misc. collections are being purged - so to ease my anxiety I'm daydreaming while dusting and sorting to 'go' !! 8o

GOOD BYE SHAWNEE!

GOOD BYE KENWOOD!

it's been a good trip.

(anybody interested in giving them a good home... they are coming to svelteSTUFFj ETSY store SOON!!!!)

...should it stay or should it go?...

"Darling you gotta let me know

Should I stay or should I go?

If you say that you are mine

I'll be here 'til the end of time

So you got to let know

Should I stay or should I go?

always tease tease tease
Siempre - coqetiando y enganyando

You're happy when I'm on my knees

Me arrodilla y estas feliz
One day is fine, next is black

Un dias bien el otro negro

So if you want me off your back

Al rededar en tu espalda
Well come on and let me know
Me tienes que desir

Should I Stay or should I go?

Me debo ir o que darme

Should I stay or should I go now?

Should I stay or should I go now?

If I go there will be trouble

An' if I stay it will be double

sO come on and let me know
This indecision's bugging me

Esta undecision me molesta

If you don't want me, set me free
Si no me quieres, librame
Exactly who'm I'm supposed to be

Diga me que tengo ser
Don't you know which clothes even fit me??
Saves que robas me querda?
Come on and let me know
Me tienes que desir

Should I cool it or should I blow??

Me debo ir o quedarme?

Should I stay or should I go now??

Yo me frio o lo sophlo?

if I go there will be trouble

i me voi - va ver peligro

And if I stay it will be double

Si me quedo es doble

So you gotta let me know

Me tienes que decir
Should I stay or should I go??
Yo me frio o lo sophlo?"

(FOR THOSE OF YOU TOO YOUNG TO REMEMBER, THESE ARE THE LYRICS FROM A BELOVED SONG BY THE INFAMOUS 'CLASH' ...ahhh, memories...)
**NO, 'I' am not what is in question of going... or 'J'... not to worry 8-)

Just off a WONDERFUL Holiday season of days upon days filled with family and friends!! Now the New Year finds me feeling a bit restless and unsettled... not a way I like to bring in a New Year that is supposed to Welcome fresh new starts. In hopes of uncovering the roots of these feelings I have dove deep into this series of 'Clutter Clearing' books by Don Aslett that I picked up at a sale last summer.

I'm generally not a 'go-to' person to get book or movie reviews from, because my opinions are usually completely the opposite from 'the masses', so take what I have to say with a grain of salt! Halfway through the first book, I am forcing myself to proceed, although so far (HOPING it is going to improve and there is something to gain!!!) the reading for me compares to scraping my fingernails down a chalkboard. Like I said, 'just my opinion'. I must admit the reading has caused me to give pause, take a deeper look at my personal situation and my motives (the book over generalizes). Yes, there are areas in my life that could benefit...
Some of the points that he emphasizes (not 'exact quotes', but pretty close!):

• 
  
  'People spend all their time hunting and gathering when they could be spending their time doing more valuable things'. How many interesting journeys have I taken as a result of a 'treasure hunt'? How many early morning sunrises, beautiful backroads, adventures with J have I experienced that I wouldn't have taken the time for if it wasn't for my 'stuffing ways'?! I guess it depends on what we qualify as 'valuable'.


• 
  


• 
  
  'It is costing people SO much in time/energy/storage/maintenance, just to 'save some money', when it would actually in the long run be cheaper for them to go out and buy new.' So he is saying that the time people put in at 'real jobs' to make the $$ to buy new is more efficient - where does he take into account the stress of the job/effect on the earth??

• 'People become slaves to their junk and spend great amounts of time cleaning, maintaining and worrying about their junk' I think that I have probably mentioned this on here before - one of the wisest 'life lessons' ever taught to me by my Mother..."Never stay home to clean". Don't get me wrong, my parent's house was always picked up, clean and presentable - (yeh, if you moved a couch there were probably dust bunnies- but who really cares??), but Mom, given the opportunity to experience Life or enjoy her family / friends would NEVER choose 'maintaining her stuff'!

I'm sure that there are some good ideas to be gained from these books, and damnit - I.WILL.FIND them!! I definitely DO have a few areas in need of some purging... but that is another post ;-) Anybody else read these books and have any opinions?

I have also gone out and hit a few thrifts in hopes that maybe this would calm my restlessness...

A couple of 1966 Holt Howard mugs. Loving on the retro style!! I have a small collection of HH orphan retro mugs that I have been trying to decide if one of these should become of member of (although I KNOW that a pair would sell MUCH better than a single!!)

Hawaii souvenir scarf

1891 Medical book - started reading some of the text - what a RIOT!!!

"Women of pleasure never give to the world sons of genius, or daughters of moral purity." Maybe they give Daughters of genius and sons of moral purity?!

Italian Bocce ball set

The restlessness has Not dispersed.

I have been purging.

I have been engaging the right brain (though I cannot show you photos ((yet)).

I have made NO RETAIL purchases yet for 2012 8-).

Life.Is.GOOD.

Bring it on 2012
VERA 2012#1 .50c

...SOLSTICE.

To our friend in Maine who lost his fight 11-5-10

"Did you just say that you had too much stuff?????"

This comment on my last post really left me with some food for thought... Had those words inadvertently come out of MY mouth? Was that what I was saying? - that I had too much stuff? Hmmm... A while back I had put myself into a self-imposed 'de-stuff', right-brain period. I'm still working at it... I waiver... The 'projects' have slowed a bit, but they are still in 'the works' as I sit in front of TV evenings. I am progressing steadily with the 'de-stuffing' ~ sending stuff to two different consignment shops, donations, ETSY and EBAY... LOTS yet to do, but hey, anything going 'OUT' is progress!! DON'T get me wrong, I'm not trying to work my way out of a 'Hoarder' situation or anything (isn't that just THE. NASTIEST. SHOW. EVER. ?!!). I guess just the thought of ever getting to a point even remotely near that scares the bejeezus out of me!!!!!

I guess I'm just anal or maybe a bit OCD and like to know 'exactly' where everything is, and everything needs to have a home. When there gets to be 'too much' - it get's to be 'too much' for me and it is time to PURGE! Guess that partially explains why I SO ADORE the Avery Label gun that I picked up last Summer at a sale and was thrilled this week when I picked up a bag FULL of various colored rolls of DYMO refills that fit it for $1.00 !! Those 'picnic baskets' & 'train cases' are so much more user friendly when their contents are labelled!!

Still, my home needs to be 'me'. I wouldn't be happy in a sterile 'ultra-modern' minimalist environment. If that is 'YOU', that is fine!- it's just.not.me. Take this peacock I found the other day in one of my regular haunts - she stole my heart, and HAD to come home with me - not for the XMAS season - she will be out year-round as a quirky surprise, tucked in amongst a plant. As with just about everything around our house- it is there for either comfort or enjoyment - nothing precious or to be worried about. When friends are over and we've been doing shots of tequila, it's not unusual for everyone to end up wearing the vintage black hats that I have adorning the wall on the stairs!! Now you are asking "What about all of that Haeger?" That's why we don't pay big bucks for it - so we don't have to worry about it! I don't ever want our 'stuff' to own us! I don't ever want our friends to feel uncomfortable in our home, or to worry about their kids in our home - and if/when it gets to that point... then THERE IS TOO MUCH STUFF!

Until then, I shall continue to purge, so that I can continue an occassional 'splurge' 8-) !!

All of my trips A-rummaging aren't COMPLETELY frivalous though...- look what I grabbed for $5 on Friday... (and then went back and grabbed two more for Christmas gifts!!)

Of course, there are always a 'few' frivolous purchases!

(VERA 2010 #30)

Now, I must go study up and re-learn how to place a call (gr.....) - have I mentioned how much I hate change?? DH is the techno-guru in our house, and he has recently insisted we update my phone.... Let me introduce 'Lady Solstice', here's hoping we have a long happy co-existence!! so-long 'Holiday Flash', you served me well...

...to everything there is a season...

VERA (2010 #24)

Poor, neglected blog.

Not sure if it is the change in seasons, or the recent electrical short in the attic studio/storage (resulting in the relocating of MASSIVE QUANTITIES OF "STUFF") that has caused me great reflection of late...

...someday projects... ...future hopes... ...dreams... ...boxes... ...waiting... ...waiting...

for what?

...stuff... ...boxes... ...and boxes... ...Ebay/Etsy warehouse-O-stuff... ...stuff... ...stuff...

Too. Much. Stuff.

(Did 'I' just type those words????)

Time to put the 'stuff' to use or else clear it out.

A very wise women once told me "We have time in our lives for what we want to do."

I'm not exactly sure what 'that time' is for, but I do know that time is NOW! (During the "STUFF RELOCATION" I found I hadn't touched my sketchbooks since 1993 - why?? OH, the right side of my brain was screaming for release!!)

For a while, my 'stuffing' time, will be taking back seat to free up time (and space) for whatever the moment may bring... 'Tree-Hugging', 'Martha-Moments', 'Right-Brain-Release', 'Creative-Cooking-Chaos', 'Clearing-Clutter'... Now, don't hold me to this... I have no idea how long this will last, and I have no idea as to where this little blog will go from here. You KNOW I won't COMPLETELY give up my STUFF SEARCHING, and if anybody feels like hanging out for my journey~ You are more than welcome to tag along... just don't expect too much!

With that said...

Fall was in the air this past weekend and I started to play.

We stumbled upon our first Harvest Festival Saturday morning, and it put me in the 'Martha'-mode... When we came home and I pulled out the spray paint and hot glue gun - DH just stepped back and got a scared look on his face!!!

**NO LIVE BIRDS WERE HARMED IN ANY WAY WITH THE MAKING OF THIS POST!!**

...and when he saw me taking a photo of this, he got REALLY scared!! "You AREN'T going to put THAT on your blog, are you?!!"

(some people spray paint feather trees... I prefer to Black- spray paint old beat-up Christmas feather birds!)


My attempt at Heidi's paper bag wreath



Fall arrangement with fresh Artemesia from the garden (and YES 'Vintage C' that IS a piece of Weller - just to prove I DO own things other than HAEGER!!)


...and a little Plarn PUMPKIN! 10 Kinney's Drugstore bags, a twig from the yard, and two scraps of yarn - doesn't get much 'greener' or simpler than that!!

Is there a FULL MOON tonight?? There must be some logic behind me quoting 'that' book and announcing a 'stuff sabbatical' all in the same blog entry!!