...MINIMALIST's Nightmare

 Maybe this article by Mary Randalph Carter should be titled

A MINIMALIST's NIGHTMARE

'The Art of Collecting

I am taking stock of what I own: the things that I possess that fill a house in the country, an apartment in the city, an office. There are objects old and new, large and small; things acquired, things given or bequeathed or simply passed along. Some are sentimental, others utilitarian, but all are evidence of how I have spent my days, of where I have been, of what has inspired me, of what I have loved and who I have loved and who has loved me. They, more than words or pictures, suggest an image of who I am, of what I have become. And though I am a firm believer that there are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to collecting, I am happy to share with you some of the lessons learned on my own collector's journey.'

This '30 Day Mins Game' that I have been participating in, has really led to a LOT of introspection... 

How much stuff is TOO MUCH?

Do I really 'want' to be more minimalist?

I think that you can all guess the answer to that question!

"They, more than words or pictures, suggest an image of who I am, of what I have become."

My 'stuff'  "sparks joy" (ie: Marie Kondo Approved - LOL)
I really have no desire to change my design aesthetic, and really have no desire for more 'open space' (other than that being a blank canvas for me to fill!!).  The 'svelteSTUFF' is staying!

~BUT~

(yes, always that Big Butt)

This 30 day challenge has opened my eyes to just.how.MUCH 'behind the scenes' excess that I have!! Socks! Clothes! Tupperware! Candles!  This kind of 'stuff' has been no problem letting go!!

I'm sure that anybody who comes to visit our home (once social distancing is no longer required!!) will find it hard to believe that I purged over 500 items in January 2021, but That's Alright with Me!

enJOY!

& 

be well

...NO Broken Hangers!

Does anybody else have the affliction from which I suffer, and I refer to as WCL (Wall Chalkware LOVE)??

I have done my best to contain this collection, and although it is not an 'active pursuit', I still seem to cross paths with them on a regular basis!

In my attempt to deter this 'guilty' little pleasure, I have tried to maintain strict 'rules'...

1. FISH / NAUTICAL related!
2. $1-2 PRICE POINT
3. 'HANGERS INTACT'

I have been known to break Rule#1 on occasion ~ if it's cute enough!

Besides, they are a FUN(!) border in our first floor half-bath - and a great center of conversation with newbies in our home (LOL). 

Use your imagination and picture the 'quizzical~shocked' look on faces as they exit our bathroom for the first time... usually after a couple of Adult Beverages!!!)

I try to abide pretty tightly to Rule#2, and that has become a major limitation in today's market!

  Have you seen the SOLD prices on Ebay lately?! 

How dare these quirky & tacky pieces of 'junk' come back into Vogue!! Maybe we should 'hop on the train' while the market is HOT?? (.not.)

Rule#3 was ALWAYS a 'deal breaker' for me...

Until recently! 

 While putting away the Holiday Decorations, I came across a forlorned Fishy that USED to live on our wall with her 'mate' - until the dreaded day her wire hanger Broke! 

For about 9months I have deliberated her fate - what to do?  After her recent re-discovery, I decided a verdict had to be rendered!  J did a little web-surfing and came across a 'life-changing' article on INHERITED VALUES:

 REPAIRING BROKEN OR MISSING HANGERS ON VINTAGE CHALKWARE PLAQUES OR PLASTER WALL ART.

DISCLAIMER:  I am trying this for the FIRST time, and cannot guarantee the longevity of the fix - but right about now, ANYTHING is worth a try!!

and so this 'affliction' persists...

and

What would any good collection of 

Tacky-MidCentury-Kitsch-Bathroom-Décor

be without some Acrylic-resin pieces??

BE WELL

& 

enjoy!

...warm fuzzy for a COLD Thursday!

Some days it's just all about THE JOURNEY!

A couple of weeks ago I went to my Parents' for a visit.

They had a couple of trash bags sitting inside their entrance, waiting to be put out for the morning garbage pick-up.  Next to the pile was THIS box for disposal...

The Parents are starting to clean some 'junk' out of the basement.  This reel-to-reel had been my Grandfather's, purchased in the late 60's, and I don't think it has seen the light-of-day since shortly after purchase! (My parents now reside in my Grandparent's home!)

I'm NOT an electronics person, but I threw it in the Subaru to take home for J to inspect...

A couple of days later we pulled it out for inspection...

 EVERYTHING was pristine, albeit musty with a stash of Corroded batteries, that LUCKILY had been stored outside of the machine!

 Plugged it in.

It ran.

Though we could make it produce no sound.

 Even with the aide of the original instructions...

no luck.

J said 'toss it'!

I just couldn't do that, so we photographed it,

 and listed it 'FOR PARTS' on Ebay.

IT SOLD!

We included a note to the New Owner, that if he found anything legible on the tape, we would be VERY interested in paying him for a CD copy of it!

 After all fees, we netted less than $5 on this transaction.  BUT, it is one less thing in a LandFill and after receiving this note today, it was SO WORTHWHILE!!

Good morning,
I've had my eye on this model for years and now that I've added it to my collection, it doesn't disappoint. Sorry to say I did not find any voice recordings that might be of family value. The tape was set up on side 2 and was blank with nothing recorded on it. What you reported as the sound being illegible was actually print through from side 1 overlapping into side 2 and playing very indistinctly, backwards. I played it from end to end, and then flipped the reels over to side 1, which is where Sue's grandfather had recordings of Chicago, The Rolling Stones and other rock music for about a half hour which I don't plan to erase -- it took me back to my high school days. The sound was deep and rich and right on pitch. The machine is in gorgeous, like new condition, and even the tape reels are the vintage ones Aiwa included as part of the original package -- I greatly admire their design. I grew up with reel to reel, and am a very passionate collector. As you can tell, I feel I hit the mother lode. Pardon my geeking out, and thank you again for the great transaction. 

                          SCORE one more for 'LastChance'!!

...thats a Lot of JUNK!

NOTE: No malicious intent to any fellow JUNK~STUFF Lovers out there.........

We went to visit my MIL in ICU last night - she's still groggy, but coming around...  In trying to make conversation, we were showing her pics from our phones.  We were telling her about our booth at the Antique Co-Op (the one 'plus' of Alzheimer's - EVERY time you tell the person something, it is Brand New!).  We showed her (the EXTREME MINIMALIST & devout Catholic) this picture of 1/2 the booth.  Her eyes grew WIDE...

"HOLY!  That's a LOT OF JUNK!"

*okay, so maybe you 'had to be there' to really chuckle....

Anyways, I can only imagine her reaction to...

The back of our Subaru after I returned from the Inaugural October rummage sale!!!   The WONDEROUS sale where EVERYTHING IS .25c each (Except paperbacks=.10c) !!

OH MY!!

...bits for ReSale.

~ Some last minute additions to our Ugly Xmas Collection (Amazing the $$ people will pay as soon as the calendar reads DECEMBER!)

~ Massive quantities of Mega Bloks- has anyone ever tried selling these?

~ Gurley Turkey! Must.leave.house.SOON or it will become a 'keeper'!

...bits to keep

~ Fashion mags, Sterling chains&bracelet, NIP Bath & Bodyworks, and Ann Taylor sundress - who says I don't 'live large'??!

~ tissue & wrapping - can never have too much for shipping stuff!

~ I'm seeing those topiaries covered in white or green SEAGLASS!

~ May part with a 'few' of the plastic deer- maybe...

...and crafting fodder Galore! (Does anybody have any info on Santa & Reindeer in bottom right?  They are made of wax!!)

  NOW!

I MUST stop 'playing' and get Productive!  For Pepper-Grape Jelly is calling!!!

Besides, there is ANOTHER rummage sale on Fri (tomorrow) and FOUR (4!) on Saturday!!!!

   I DO LOVE FALL!