... '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

...SHE ZIGGED! SHE ZAGGED!

"Someday I'll get around to it"

"Someday, when I have the time"

Guess what Folks ~ 'MY TIME" is NOW!   In this time of isolation, there is NOTHING that I "should" be doing, other than staying home and COVID-Free!

Thanks to our recent 30day Min. Challenge, I have been doing a LOT of purging in our closet - including SWEATERS!  Oh, parting is such sweet sorrow when it comes to me and my sweaters...  but, even I had to admit that those stained, Overly-Loved specimens HAD.TO.GO!!

~BUT~
Then inspiration struck!

I remembered, back in the 90's, I had seen a television show that had spotlighted different 'up-cycle' projects in every episode.  One of their projects had been 'refashioning' old natural fiber sweaters by Felting them.  I was so taken by this idea, that I had actually sketched out a pullover hoodie that I.would.make!  I had bought some wool sweaters, felted... and that is where it ended.  Well, in the last 30yrs. that sketch and felted wool got discarded, but the desire remained.

NOW WAS MY TIME!

I felted my newly discarded wool/alpaca/cashmere sweaters.

I made a new sketch, more in keeping with my aging fashion taste...

Pulled out my recently thrifted Fiskar Rotary Cutter (OH wonderful tool ~ Where have you been all of my life??), and started measuring and cutting and measuring and pinning and measuring and...

Okay, so far so good.

Time to pull out the sewing machine!

J was SHOCKED (to put it mildly!)... "We have one of those?"  "YOU know how to use it??"

Yes.I.Do.Thank.You.  (I just choose not to...)  I actually had 2yrs of sewing lessons in my Jr High years (UGH! I did NOT enjoy following patterns, making seams line up in a patchwork quilt, lining up buttons & zippers in skirts & blouses - but with my Mom's insistence, I learned all of the basics - THANKS MOM!)

I digress,

I dug out my box of old 'Tailor Shop' thread, and the 1968 portable Singer Sewing machine that I had inherited when my Great Aunt L dispursed her home.  Needless to say, it had been at least 20yrs since it last seen the light of day. Closely following the Owner's Guide, I got the Bobbin wound, and the machine threaded.  After I overcame my fear, I flicked on the zig-zag switch, put my foot on the 'accelerator', and then the FUN BEGAN!

Because there was NO PATTERN, and I was solely making this for ME, and there was no Pressure for Perfection, I truly enjoyed this project

C.O.M.P.L.E.T.E.L.Y. custom to my 6'-0" stature 

- extra long sleeves w/thumbhole (to keep my ever-cold hands toasty)

-LARGE pockets for keeping track of my cellphone

-long front, and longer back to allow me to comfortably wear leggings!

-a few decorative antique buttons from my Auburn Button Works stash

Ta Da!

After viewing the finished project, I had to laugh!   In my minds' eye, it is what I would envision MacKenzie Childs to produce - if they had a clothing line!!

What do you think?

enJOY!

& 

be well

... 'H' is for...

 

Have you guessed??

Back by Popular Demand (LM!!), I'm picking up on the 'svelteSTUFF Alphabet of Collectibles' where we left off (a couple of years ago??!). THANK GOODNESS when I'm lacking for content, I have PLENTY of collections to fall back on !

For this series, I'm trying to uncover collections that I haven't mentioned EXCESSIVELY on here already (just click on underlined collection name for link to to previous ramblings!!)...  

So it's definitely NOT...

HAEGER Pottery

~or~

HATS

~or~

HATPINS

~or~

HAT BOXES

~or even~

HAIR RECEIVERS!

Today's 'honor' goes to...

The iconic HOLT HOWARD!

This is a VERY SMALL collection in our house !   I first fell for them in the 1990's, after reading an article about HH in COLLECTIBLES magazine (anyone else remember that short-lived, but AMAZING quarterly??)

PIXIEWARE (1958-1962)  These little whimsical Pixies are the first HH that stole my heart.  However they are extremely elusive.  In the past 30yrs, these are the only pieces that I have found (IN MY $range!!).  Most of them the Top/Spoon was found separately from the bowl.

I am also attracted to the 1960-70's patterns & designs they used, and I am a sucker for HH stray, lonesome mugs, and can't leave them behind

This cute kitty caught my eye, and her price was right & ripe for resale, but I am afraid she has found a forever home with me!

...and who can have a fondness for HH, without paying Homage to their early pieces - Red Apple and le Coq Rouge?

until next time ~

BE WELL

& 

enJOY !!

...one BEE's Aspirational Clutter

 

2021.

Need I say More?

I have been AWOL.  No good excuses.  We're all well, status quo.  I'm just feeling a need to 'dump' some idle ramblings that are clogging up my brain (ie: brain dump!).

JANUARY of a New Year - FULL of potential and possibility.  I have the same 'intentions' for this year as I did in 2019, 2018, etc... ( You can go back ONE post to see those!!).

S.T.U.F.F.  I have reach my CLUTTER THRESHOLD (Thanks Dana White!), and though I have a HIGH Threshold, one 'intention' that is getting a LOT of attention this year is PURGE, PURGE, PURGE!  I have enlisted two friends (LK & LM) to join me playing the MINS GAME.  We are on Day 7.  Today's mission is to Purge 7 items. Yesterday was 6, and tomorrow is 8.  You get the idea!?!

I have been listening to NUMEROUS Podcasts regarding 'DeCLUTTERING' and 'ORGANIZING' to keep myself motivated.  Motivation is the only thing that is in short supply, because we all know I have PLENTY-o-STUFF!!

  

Thanks to TheCLUTTERBUG I have learned that my organizing style is a BEE.  (Go take the quiz - it's kinda eye-opening!)

Today's 'eye-opener' came from...

BE UNCLUTTERED

and the realization of ASPIRATIONAL CLUTTER (aka: 'FANTASY SELF')

"...In short, “aspirational clutter” is all the stuff you buy for your Fantasy Self. We all have dreams, aspirations, hopes for our lives. We work towards these by getting an education, working hard, earning money, and slowly making our dreams come true."

"... Aspirational clutter is defined by two criteria: These are idle things you’re keeping only for a future version of yourself, and… They’re things that create an obstacle for you today, whether that’s taking up much-needed space or digging at your self-esteem" (apartmenttherapy.com)

  

   This is a HARD one. MUCH self-reflection is involved.

~ Deciding what pursuits are worth investing time in.. 

~ Letting go of those that aren't ~ things (aspirations, dreams) that I no longer desire, or at 53yrs., realize won't (for various reasons) be part of my future.

~ WHO am I?

~ What 'exactly' IS 'MY' Style?

  I like who I currently am (for the most part), and don't want to feel 'guilted' by all the 'un-used stuff' in my current life that was purchased with the intention of a 'Better Version'!

So, with that idea fresh in my mind... Day 7 Purge was much LARGER than required by 'The Mins Game'!

I hit a portion of the 'hanging rack' in our closet! I took a Hard look at each piece... office attire from a previous chapter of my life - GONE!  Tree-Hugger FLAX linen/cotton pieces (who am I kidding that I will EVER pull out a clothes iron??) - GONE!  TWENTY-FIVE items (and 20 hangers!!) later, and I feel a 'bit' lighter...  but I have PLENTY more to sort through for the next 23 days!!

until we chat again,

enJOY

& 

be well!

...BLUE MONDAY?

Jumping on the Bandwagon with creations for the recent uprise in 'Aroma Therapy' jewelry

BLUE MONDAY.

'THEY' say it's a thing... I am going to choose to ignore the commercialized version of it, and rather focus on the 'other side':

"to inspire people to take action and make bold life decisions".

 (Click on the link and decide for yourself!)

My 'intentions' (much friendlier than 'RESOLUTIONS') for 2020 are along the same lines as they have been for the last decade or so...

~Be more present

~Create every day

~Purge. Purge. Purge.

~Learn something new every day

~...yada, yada, yada...

Easier said as 'enjoy Life'!

And how has this been working for me? (Why, Thank you for asking!)  ...

Sentimental costume jewelry added to a frame and mirror

~I have Really been enjoying participating in 'joint' creative endeavors.

FRIENDSHIP + GLUE GUN = WIN*WIN!

~EXPANDING upon my minimal crochet 'talents'... WRISTLETS for Everyone!

DD YARN DESTASH + LONG WINTER NIGHTS= WIN*WIN!

~I'm finding YouTube to be an explosion of inspiration! J and I love combing beaches for 'treasures', and now I have been inspired by a lovely vlogger on Prince Edward Island to create mosaics!   A recent DD mirror is revived into a SeaGlass Mosaic.
LANDFILL RESCUE + EXCUSE FOR HOARDING SEAGLASS = WIN*WIN!

How has the first month of 2020 been treating you?  

 I have been missing all of my peeps in Blogland - please say 'hi' in the comments!!
  Until next time....

BE WELL

and

en JOY!

...drumroll, please

2020 PANTONE COLOR...

PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue

Instilling calm, confidence, and connection, this enduring blue hue highlights our desire for a dependable and stable foundation on which to build as we cross the threshold into a new era.

Introducing Pantone's Color of the Year 2020, Classic Blue 19-4052

Instilling calm, confidence, and connection, this enduring blue hue highlights our desire for a dependable and stable foundation on which to build as we cross the threshold into a new era.

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A timeless and enduring blue hue, PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue is elegant in its simplicity. Suggestive of the sky at dusk, the reassuring qualities of the thought-provoking PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue highlight our desire for a dependable and stable foundation on which to build as we cross the threshold into a new era.

Imprinted in our psyches as a restful color, PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue brings a sense of peace and tranquility to the human spirit, offering refuge. Aiding concentration and bringing laser like clarity, PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue re-centers our thoughts. A reflective blue tone, Classic Blue fosters resilience.

As technology continues to race ahead of the human ability to process it all, it is easy to understand why we gravitate to colors that are honest and offer the promise of protection. Non-aggressive and easily relatable, the trusted PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue lends itself to relaxed interaction. Associated with the return of another day, this universal favorite is comfortably embraced.

READY, SET... GET OUT THERE &

enjoy!!