...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

... 'I' is for ICONIC (oh, the Irony of it...)

 

INFANT of PRAGUE

and

Iconic Irony!!

icon

[ˈīˌkän]

NOUN

1. a painting of Jesus Christ or another holy figure, typically in a traditional style on wood, venerated and used as an aid to devotion in the Byzantine and other Eastern Churches.

   synonyms:

   image · idol · portrait · likeness · representation · symbol · figure · statue · model

   
   

~~~~~FLASHBACK to the Late 80's~~~~~

I was freshly out of college, finding my way in a new city, with a new job, and MY OWN APARTMENT!  ThriftStores were my friend!  I was searching high and low for design ideas... reading every magazine I could afford to get my hands on (desktop computers were a thing of the future still!!)  This MARY RANDALPH CARTER had a JUNK Book out... I found it - in a book store!! (AMAZON? Ebay? What are those???).  I became absorbed by her style, and learned SOO much!!  I think she had an influence on MANY of us 'STUFFers'! She opened my eyes to MANY, MANY things, including this 'funny little guy in a dress'  ie: Infant of Prague.

  Have you ever found, that once your eyes are opened to something, you start seeing it EVERYWHERE??  That happened with me and IoP, and they started following me home (they are generally slightly damaged & not in high-demand = CHEAP).  

When I spot them, they usually have some of their 'friends' gathered round - other Saints and Spiritual Icons from various beliefs, in various forms: statues, paintings, rosaries...  OF COURSE, they too were looking for a good home!!

ROSARIES!

and MORE ROSARIES!!

  Now for the IRONY.  I do not believe in organized religion.  Yes, I was raised in a devout Methodist home.  I HAD to go to Church every Sunday; did the Full gamut of Baptism, Sunday School, confirmation - i even taught a grade in Vacation Bible school one Summer !?!!  As much as I hated it at the time, I do thank my Mother now for exposing me to this whole experience, from which I was able to make my own 'educated' decision on how I would proceed..  I do believe in the basics: "Be good to one another" "Cause no harm (to anything!)", but beyond that - NO!  I still have a LOT of questions, and a LOT to learn - about all religions. Bit-by-bit, my curiosity has led me to learn a 'little' about a 'lot' of 'faiths/beliefs'.  It is actually quite interesting, with a historical value.

         So, yes, I do 'collect Iconic pieces' - but my home is NOT Filled with them!  Since we took a booth at an Antique Co-op, our 'Yellow Wall' section has been devoted to all things Spiritual - IoP, Buddha, Tarot Cards, Ouija...  and with every item we purchase, there is an education waiting to be uncovered!  Prime Time Treasure Hunter has a great YouTube video on identifying religious statues that we refer to often.

enJOY!

& 

be well