Friday, November 30, 2012

Destiny of Things: More Cross Stories with Added Cross Box, Story IX

Destiny of Things:  More Cross Stories with Added Cross Box,  Story IX

My cross and religious medal collection is vast.  How vast?  So vast, I decided to focus only on the cross collection to not get any more overwhelmed than I already am about it.  It's so countless, I didn't even bother. Seeing them together was enough to remember to set some sort of limits.  Should it be a dollar amount limit or a quantity limit?  I have no idea, but least I am thinking about it which is better than before!

As a hoarder, "how vast?" has been my new daily question to myself, especially as I sort and list on my etsy shops!   Oh, and I have three etsy shops now!  But that's another story!

Many of my crosses have flown the coop and some have left their stories:

This garnet cross sold despite it's missing piece and just as I imagined went to a jeweler, Jen Ecklund who could fix it up and turn it into something even more beautiful.  I also practiced my nil to nothing negotiating skills. And even more importantly, it went to another cross collector!  Now that's what I call a good story with a "cherry on top!"




September 26 2012 10:42pm EDT
Thank you! I will definitely be creating an awesome necklace with this cross pendant. Probably a rosary style necklace with wire wrapped gemstones or pearls. I have an idea I won't want to sell this though and will want to keep it for myself. And yes, I do collect crosses. ;-)

Thank you again!
~Jen

Side Kick Story:  "Via Love" has been Jen Ecklund's etsy shop for five years today, November 30th!  Congratulations Jen on your fifth year etsy anniversary!  All her jewelry is luxuriously unique!  I especially love her cornucopia garnet necklace and blue cornflower!  So, after you see her handmade jewelry, you can just imagine the beautiful magic the garnet cross will receive!

Update:  On December 1, 2012, Jen sent me this!  It's been magically transformed!:



The second story came with a cherry topped message:
This was sold to another cross collector!  She simply said, "I'll keep it forever or until one of  my sisters swipe it."  Sold!  And then she added:

Note from Buyer Thank you sooo much, its beautiful and will be a special piece coming from you!  I'll love wearing it in sweater weather. We go to Gatlinburg every fall when the leaves turn, it's beautiful. Your cross will be special knowing it came from you.


Now..."The hoard of all hoard" is the third story!  Once upon a time, I had at least 100 of these "God Protect" pocket knife cross key chains!  And only God knows why!
I don't know why I bought an excess of these, but less than 20 survived.  All I can say is they must have been a really super duper deal for me to buy 100.  I  guess I was going to use them in some sort of art as repetition show case?  I know I don't need one, but that's the best reason I can think for myself!

Most of these went to Moon Raven Designs, an etsy shop that turns the cross pocket knife from key chain to necklace and aptly names it, The Sisters Cross.


And lastly, the fourth cross story and hopefully not the last is from another jeweler, Regina in Brazil, a sweet souled person!!!! 


She wrote:

"This cross, in fact, was the request of a client who became a very dear friend, who can send me words of affection and is a very special person although not known personally.

She asked me to make a paste using turquoise and agate beads, with a crucifix because it is very religious.

I searched for a whole afternoon and the one that I found was this.

Then yesterday she told me she preferred a mother-of-Pearl Cross and I decided to make the paste to me, this cross really enchanted me.

I hope to honor the memory of the ancestors, I will use it with great care and respect and I'm sure that I will bring only good energy." ---Regina


Saying good-bye:  It is so much easier letting go of pieces when they come with a story because I feel reassured that they are going to a better home from which they came, but I still have a problem when too many sell at once.  It's still too stressful for me to say good-bye in large amounts.  Although this whole process feels like one big gigantic conflict after another, it is a chosen adventure and I choose to stay on course!

Between putting together these cross stories and writing the incense burner story, I decided another tool that  might help me end my cycle of hoarding is taking pictures of my mass collections to get a better perspective on how my collections have taken over my life, especially when I know my collection is most likely bigger than I think!

Many years ago, I started to pin the crosses and medals I collected into a Costco Frappicino box.  Before I knew it, I had three or more of them covered in crosses and medals.  Here is one I recently reenacted, so I could get a perspective on the vast extent of my cross and medal collection.
Believe it or not!  I still have the same Frappicinno boxes too!  Most of them have been stored with the crosses in a file box. Other crosses and medals are stored in an Ikea tower of 18 drawers!  Others are in a large Japanese sewing box I use for jewelry and of course in jewelry boxes.  Some of which are still waiting to be found scattered around in my hoard of stacked boxes to the ceiling!

This cross and medal collection branches out from my extensively large Religious Folk Art collection that stems from my Mexican Folk Art Collection and Native American Collection.

I had the crosses and medals displayed so I could pick and choose what I needed for my own religious folk art creations, needless to say, most of my religious folk art creations used my charm and milagro collections, but not my religious crosses or medals. 


What I learned:

1.  Interesting enough all these crosses were negotiations in practice.  I don't know why, but I can negotiate well on large ticket items, like real estate investments, but not so well on little things, like items in my etsy shops.  I think it's because I don't have any attachments to real estate, which is good, since I have deep attachments to my collections as a whole and individually.

2.  Counting my collections was-is eye opening, mind boggling and overwhelming, however seeing each collection as a separate entity and then counting each individual piece is as equally if not more CRAZY!  Yes, it makes me feel crazy, which I think is one or two steps past overwhelming.

Another conscious reason to be aware of knowing is that all this stuff is driving me crazy!  It's been an underlying, right below the surface, tip of the ice berg, brewing meddlesome craziness!  Now it's out in the open and although I can see the entire ice berg, it seems to be more like an onion and there's going to be many layers to peel away before I reach the core!  I hope this adventure is better than digging a hole to China!

3.  I'm probably thinking way too far ahead, but since this is about my cross collection, I'll let it out here.  One of my HoarderRehab Etsy Goals from all of this is to be more like our greatest teachers on Earth or at least the ones I can read about, who gave up all or most of their earthly possessions.

I'm not religious, so I'd probably lean more towards Gandhi than Jesus, but giving up one's possessions is a miraculous leap of faith and there seems to be a fine line between Jesus and being homeless.  That scares me!  Then, I read somewhere that the cross represents a ledger, it must not be one of credit and debits, but one of  trespasses and trespassers?  Then there's the idea of scarcity vs abundance.....hmmm....

3.  This is going to be a slow and long process and I hope documenting it will help me end my cycle of hoarding habits!  I've tried the fast and short process and it didn't work for me, so I have to remind myself to be patient, even though I'm not- because this adventure has to work this time around!

Parting Thoughts:  Has anyone out there felt as wishy washy as me about giving up something? even if it's off your hands with payment?  How did you get over it?  Is it true, that pure joy is an instant lobotomy? I guess this means I still have things to work out.  Is it the hours of searching and years of collecting?  Is it the memories each thing holds?  Is it all the time trying to find the buried memory, honoring it and letting it go?  Why does this struggle end up being a battle?  Sigh...I think it's time for some gratitude!

Thank you etsy for starting me on this adventure and continuing it with my new shop, The Destiny of Things!  Thank you Allee Willis for helping my HoarderRehab and keeping it real with truthful humor and by accepting my submissions to your Museum of Kitsch!

Thank "you" for being here and taking part in my HoarderRehab!


Thursday, November 22, 2012

Destiny of Things: Thanksgiving Native American Jewelry: Twin Sterling Turquoise Cross Story VIII

Destiny of Things:  Thanksgiving Native American Jewelry:  Twin Sterling Turquoise Cross Story VIII

Another "random act of kindness, blurted out" story from a HoarderRehab buyer!

Beautiful crosses! My daughters will love them!
Oct 9, 2012 small robin egg blue turquoise sterling silver cross: vintage native american

This little piece of information was just the good news I needed!  Surprisingly enough, instead of being separated these two twin crosses went to the same good home!  From a mother to her two daughters.

Did this buyer read the description I had written or was it purely coincidence that both went together?

small robin egg blue turquoise sterling silver cross: vintage native american. I have two of these, buy them both and convert them into earrings. Or keep one for yourself and the other for your sister, mother/daughter of bff for twin wear! Nice rain drop detailing for a simple design.


Saying Good-bye:  These were easy to let go, since they went to a good home without being separated.

What I learned:

1.  It doesn't take much for something to become a random act of kindness towards my HoarderRehab and my day.  It took less than 10 words to make my day completely different and more meaningful.  Saying good-bye is much easier knowing even the tiniest bits of information, 7 words of information to be exact!  ("Beautiful crosses! My daughters will love them!")

2.  Knowing they went to a pair of daughters given to them from their mother is the best ever!  It just feels better knowing the twin crosses are together and a relief that in my mind, they will never be separated.

Even though these are just things, it seems my feelings of attachment to them are equal to a litter of puppies or kittens being dispersed or siblings being adopted into the same home.  Which sounds really weird to write, let alone to admit, but that's where I am right now and I think it's better to be truthful to myself about it than sweep it under the rug.  Which brings me back to these words, "listen, allow, trust, honor, let go".

3.  Getting to the bottom of the truth of my hoarding patterns is kinda weird.  Knowing on one hand that theses are just "things, inanimate objects, stuff", but on the other hand, the fleeting feelings of  "loss" of things that equal to losing pets or being separated from siblings is more than scary, disturbing with bits of craziness and irrational, even if the feelings are just momentary lapses of something I haven't figure out yet.  It really is sad in more ways than one and on many different levels.  This needs to be studied more for it's own article and saved for a deeper and more timely session.

4.  The reason why I chose to write this article today is because it's Thanksgiving and a time to celebrate everything we have to be thankful and to show our gratitude by sharing our abundance with meals, games and dance in remembrance to our fore bearers and keepers of the Earth. 

Usually I wear my Native American jewelry on this day in remembrance of the original ancestors and keepers of America, but I'm allergic to silver now, so I thought I'd share a Native American twin cross story and their destiny.  So far this story seems to be the closest one to my dream of the destiny of things.  The ultimate destiny of things being, "destiny as infinity", just like the celebration of giving thanks of gratitude to all things has been passed down from one generation to the next.

Happy Thanksgiving!  May Destiny as Infinity be yours!


Monday, November 19, 2012

Today's HoarderRehab Epiphany #4: Hoarding as a Business

Today's HoarderRehab Epiphany #4:  Hoarding as a Business

This is two true stories about finding a needle in a haystack by accident!

I just finished reading an etsy article, that under normal circumstances I would have never read!  Collecting English Transferware:  One Woman's Story.  Not only am I not a fan of transferware, but if I had not been sick in bed with a stomach ache I would have never read it.  I would have passed by it without a second thought.

 Nancy Roberts with a tiny flash of her collection of her English Transferware China. 


So I ask, why did I read Collecting English Transferware:  One Woman's Story?  I'm not sure yet, but there are several reasons I would have never read this article:

1) it was about a subject I could care less about:  English Transferware china, which I used to think was the ugliest stuff in the world
2)  it's Monday and I usually I don't have time to read any etsy articles until Friday or so
3) I usually never read articles with videos because with articles I can skim and I can't do that as easily with a video due to filler info. placed here and there, but not this one.

All I can say now is I am so thankful I read it! and the article was so compelling I watched the video! And am I ever so happy I watched it!  The video was like frosting on a cake, even if you are like me and don't like frosting!

What I learned:

1.  Stomach aches are not so bad, even if they do monkey around with a routine I'm trying to reestablish.  I am thankful for all the "off road" gifts it brought me!  One of the many being, my stomach ache is barely noticeable!  I am now a huge believer in huge doses of inspiration as a remedy for more than one thing!

2.  The video was not full of filler, but instead had enough information and history on transferware to tickle my fancy. I  will no longer see transferware, as ugly, common and plain, but have an appreciation towards it's loveability.  No worries, I will not collect any!  Okay, maybe one or two pieces, if I need them.  I did fall in love with the blue calico, especially the open hands, black transferware, and  muted color plates with contrasting color borders!
  
I was so taken, when Nancy said, "I look at these plates and see a picture in a frame already on it!"  Sold!  Even what I see as ugly, I can find beauty, especially if I slow down and smell the roses.

 
3.  The article helped me see that my dehoarding journey into the unexpected is not as scary as I thought because Nancy's happenstance journey turned out unbelievably incredible! 

4.  After reading her story and watching her video, I was attracted to how she let her American Dream come true and now has a garage full of what she loves as inventory!  Could this be my hoarder dream x 100?

How many possibilities does her story open for me?  What if hoarding can be turned into a successful business and I could do that!  I love the idea, that from the beginning of her business, she put some of the money aside to by more and more pieces!  Okay, so I've done it a little backwards from her.  She started with 20-30 pieces and I've started with countless!  Let me stay focused on my goal to go in the opposite direction as hers when it comes down to the collecting part.

But I love her beautiful, well-organized astounding collection!  And I love that I could do the same in somewhere as easy and accessible as a garage and go visit any time I wanted!  As a repetition artist, the garage alone is a walk through masterpiece or a long view centerpiece! 

As a hoarder, I have to stop myself and see myself well enough to know how easily it is for me to pulled into many different directions and how two forks in the road can turn into endless ones!  I have one road at the moment and that is the HoarderRehab road!  A one way road to an organic minimalist home with a second room to create in, not as storage for unused things.

5.  What do I really want?  To turn my hoarding ways into a business? or move on to the unexpected?  I choose the unexpected.  But at least I have a back up plan, if I back slide or need one, knock on wood.

Thank you Nancy Roberts of English Transferware on etsy for your more than inspirational story.  I am thankful I found so many gifts in it for me.  Read more of her daily stories on her blog, Nancy's Daily's Dish .  Thank you Tara Young of etsy for organizing the article and video!  Thank you etsy for helping me find a positive fun way to dehoard!

Today's HoarderRehab Epiphany:  Although this fueled my determination to continue dehoarding with renewed energy and awe, it also fueled my issues with FOMO, "fear of missing out", but that's another story!

Thank you for taking part in my HoarderRehab!





Monday, November 12, 2012

Hoarder Inspiration from The Peterson Automotive Museum, Story #2

Hoarder Inspiration from The Peterson Automotive Museum, Los Angeles, California, Story #2

mr. oz needed some time away from the etsy shops, all my tech questions and the computer, so I took him on a surprise date to the Peterson Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California, funded by etsy sales.  There was no etsy talk, no tech talk and a whole lot of mr. oz time.

I still managed to find this in the Peterson Car Museum!



The garage, besides housing more than one car, (that can be another story!), "held tools, sporting goods, spare parts and all those possessions the family no longer used but couldn't bear to throw away"?
And if that isn't enough, the sales pitch to buying a house with a garage back in the day: "emerged as a means to reduce clutter--or at least moving it to someone else's garage".

Did a hoarder write that little blurb?  Those words stand out so much for me I had to bold and outline them!
 

What I learned:  Inspiration and Desperation can be found anywhere!

Hoarder Inspiration:  If I had a garage I'd want it to look as sparse or more sparse than this one, but just as organized!

Hoarder Desperation:  "Few were as neat as this one."  Turn that into a question and wonder what garages of this day and age look like inside!

Which makes me wonder, has hoarding been an American past time?  I'd be interested in knowing what you think! 

Saturday, November 10, 2012

My First Sign that I was A Hoarder! My Ever Expanding List of Collections...

My First Sign that I was A Hoarder!  My Ever Expanding list of Collections!

It wasn't enough that I have one room full of boxes to the ceiling flowing into a second one.  It wasn't enough that all my storage furniture is stuffed to the brink and I don't know what's in most of them.  It wasn't enough that even my long bed truck with extra cab is full to the extent that I have no idea what is in there either.  It wasn't enough that every 5-10 years I purge my hoard vowing I will never let it happen again.  It wasn't enough that this was my upteenth hoard collection!  None of that was enough for me to recognize that maybe, just maybe I am an "out of control" hoard collector!

One day in June 2012 as I was about to start VintageToGoetsy, out of the blue, I started to make a list of my collections:

I got to 66 and I'm still adding:
  1. storage furniture and containers
  2. trinket boxes
  3. any and all boxes with cool graphics, woven baskets, gift boxes, hat boxes, jewelry boxes, vintage metal boxes, over the counter med boxes, esp. band aid boxes, reusable plastic boxes, clear boxes, cigar boxes, Japanese wooden boxes, paper boxes, origami paper boxes
  4. perfume bottles, my childhood miniature samples moved on to most of my old perfume bottles
  5. rocks: souvenir rocks, rocks collected from my childhood, vacations, fossil, petrified woods, hikes, camping trips
  6. shells:  from childhood, vacations, teacher resources, from family members working at Disneyland in the 50s.
  7. stamps:  from my Uncle's stamp collection from when he was a kid to mine up to my teenage years and still now, but plates of stamps
  8. stickers:  tons of stickers, esp. Sanrio's choco cat, teaching stickers
  9. coins: from my childhood collection
  10. washi tape
  11. fabric:  jeans for quilting, japanese fabrics, linens, old shirts, fav. old clothes
  12. charms, mostly sterling silver and 14k gold, some plastic
  13. milagros
  14. religious charms
  15. Native American jewelry:  mostly bracelets, some fetish necklaces, rings and barrettes
  16. crosses:  all kinds, but mostly sterling silver 
  17. Mexican Folk Art
  18. Religious Folk Art
  19. Religious Mexican Folk Art
  20. stackable rings
  21. watches
  22. postcards
  23. baskets, especially Japanese baskets, as carry all for entryway, dining room table, desk organizers
  24. match boxes
  25. match books
  26. match covers
  27. books,
  28. socks
  29. shoes
  30. stationery: esp. Japanese stationery from the 70s on
  31. bargains:  all the way to real estate investing
  32. pens
  33. pencils
  34. tea sets
  35. stuffed animals
  36. miniatures
  37. vintage clothing
  38. tansu furniture
  39. Japanese vintage
  40. kimonos
  41. beads
  42. trays
  43. teapots
  44. coffee mugs
  45. Antiques: perfume bottles, bottles, jewelry, purses, clothes
  46. origami paper
  47. planters
  48. Bauer
  49. shot glasses
  50. plate sets: Vernon Kilns, Room Service, Azurite Blue Charm, Cafe and Restaurantware, Russel Wright, snack plates, Mid Winter Roselle,
  51. photo frames
  52. journals
  53. pin cushions
  54. candles
  55. candle holders
  56. coasters
  57. side tables
  58. fans
  59. fortune cookie fortunes
  60. magazine subscription
  61. bubble gum wrappers
  62. bubble gum boxes
  63. Cute as Hell
  64. Wash Away your Sins
  65. stick pins
  66. charm bracelets
  67. postal stamp leftover
About a month later, I read this etsy article, Otaku Spaces:  When Collecting Becomes an Obsession.  Here are the first two sentences:

 "Some say that once you acquire three of any one thing, its a collection. But what if that collection consumes an entire room?"  --Chappell Ellison

I couldn't get past the first two sentences without becoming overwhelmed and returned to my list!

67. handwritten and/or typed recipe card
68. embroidered linen
69.  embroidery floss
70.  buttons:  mostly shell, some Bakelite, rhinestone, glass
71.  seeds
72.  mother of pearl/mop jewelry
73.  jewelry from India
74.  bowls
75.  refrigerator glass
76.  purses
77.  shadow box nichos
78.  enamelware
79.  novelty items
80.  sewing patterns
81.  vases
82.  measuring cups
83.  vintage baking ware
84.  glasbake square cups
85.  drinking glasses: mostly vintage, etched, novelty, cartoon
86.  lamps
87.  glass door knobs
88.  incense burners
89.  belt buckles
90.  Louis Vuitton anything
91.  collage paper
92.  Russian Religious Art
93.  quilts
94.  Missing Children news
95.  David sunflower seed wrappers
96.  Haagan Daz mini ice-cream sticks

Updated and counting on 19 November 2012
97.  Embroidery Hoops, which stems from collecting enough to provide for a classroom of 20-30 students
98.  Pyrex glass lab ware
99.  Red paper honeycom lanterns for Chinese New Year classroom decor
100.  inside and outside candle lanterns
101.  old and new receipts
102.  bird cages
103.  vintage furs
104.  various types of incense from around the world:  cone, stick, ash, charcoal and pellet
105.  desk organizers:  for a classroom teacher, student teacher childhood play, craft, bills, etc

Update 21January21013  inspired when looking for fortune slips and finding the blog, Being Shelley, which triggered my memory from her collections of some more things I collect:  Thank you Shelley for sharing your unique collections.  I'm not the only one!

106.  gift wrap: vintage and new
107.  Pellegrino caps
108.  Godiva chocolate boxes- love all the little boxed separators
109.  vending machine capsules
110.  vending machine toys
111.  dime store toys
112.  mini pencils or pencil stubs or stubbies as we called them from back in the day
113.  SPAM cans
114.  berry containers
115.  ticket stubs of all types, entry stickers, movie tickets and parking stubs
116.  rubber bands and one large rubber band ball
117.  newspaper ties, twistie ties from vegetables and plastic closures from plastic bags
118.  netted fruit bags
119.  old keys and not so old keys
120.  sequins
121.  cards:  note cards, letters, game cards
122.  tissue paper, especially vintage white because it has more cotton in it?  The old stuff dyes better


10 November 2012:  I tried to read the Otaku article, but couldn't.

What I learned:

1.  For some reason making and seeing a list of my collections had more impact than a room full of boxes piled to the ceiling.   I have no idea why, but thank my lucky stars that something started me on this exciting adventure!

2.  My hoarding issues are more extensive than I originally thought. The list is telling enough and as I come across lost items found again, it continues to grow.

3.  The list is just the tip of the iceberg.   As I post and part with  each item, I become even more aware of the amount in each collection!  The amounts devastate me!  For example, my Native American Jewelry collection, I thought it consisted of maybe 10 items, but I've already lost count.  
I just counted them  on HoarderRehab! I have 33 pieces!  with 18 still listed!   And I know I still have more in draft to list and more to find in unopened boxes and storage furniture!

4.  Hoarder Desperation:  If three things of any one thing is a collection and I have no clue of how many collections I have started or how many items are in each collection, let alone what I have already listed and no idea of the amount in each collection....the thoughts become overwhelming!

5.  Hoarder Inspiration:  At least I don't have any one collection that fills up one whole room!

Parting Thoughts:  I am very curious about how you felt when you read the etsy Otaku article.  I am even more curious about anyone's list of collections.  How long is it?  What do you collect?

Thank you for taking part in my HoarderRehab!

Friday, November 9, 2012

HoarderRehab Inspiration or Desperation: Introduction






Thursday, November 8, 2012

The Destiny of Things: Incense Burners, Story VII


The Destiny of Things:  Incense Burners, Story VII

I had a small collection of incense burners.  If you would have asked me, how many I owned, I would have answered, one to three, but I have or had over eight at last count!  And most of my favorite ones where planters and small knick knack bowls!  If I include all the planters, bowls and desk organizers I've used as incense burners the amount would be excessive!

This etched copper incense burner was my favorite because of the cherry blossom air hole design and the etched scene of a bird flying over cherry blossoms.

For the Japanese, an incense holder is a sign of relaxation.  I used aromatherapy daily.  Different incense can take me to certain people and places, even to somewhere new or bring me back to long forgotten memories.
This incense burner is the most versatile one.  It burned stick, cone or charcoal incense.

The cherry blossom incense burner was the second one to sell and was difficult to say good-bye.

The purple stick in the above picture is Daigen-Koh Rosewood incense and smells most like the one I have from my Grandmother.  I use hers sparingly on special occasions or in times of comfort from deep sympathy.


 A few more from my collection.
This vegetable shaped incense burner is mainly for burning cone incense.

I love it's turnip shape and wanted to collect more of them.  I've seen an eggplant and tomato.  It is still available here.

I use cone type incense from REI and it smells of forest of pines, cedar and redwood.  It takes me to peaceful and quiet woods and memories of camping.



This was the first incense burner to sell.  It's for the old style charcoal incense. I bought from a Japanese store in J-town because it reminded me of my Grandmother's Butsudan. It came in a wooden storage box just like hers. I love the peaceful nostalgic smell from charcoal incense burners, especially when I visited my Grandmother's church, however I could never figure out how to use the charcoal ash incense, so this was used only a couple times and I still kept it all these years.



In ancient times, these were ko-bon, a Japanese incense tray and were popular as a sign of relaxation. Later they were converted into tabako boxes. The larger circular copper area was used to hold the coal and ashes to relight the kiseru or pipe and the bamboo holder was used to place the ashes.

As you can see, I didn't use this as a ko-bon or a tabako box, but as a desk organizer.  I need to add desk organizers to my list of collections!  That's another story!


This is my favorite anchor hocking fire king blue
planter used as a incense burner for chinese incense, which is a lot less expensive than Japanese incense and I used this often to clear the air every morning and evening.

I like Chinese Joss sticks because the incense is yellow and the stick is bright fuchsia pink and it's smell is close to rosewood.  It comes in a graphically appealing canister and reuseable. Also, you can buy over 100 sticks for less than a cup of Starbucks!

This chartreuse mcm planter was used as my desk incense burner, but also as an organizer do-dad for paper clips, rubber bands, and mini chocolate bars when I wasn't allergic to them!

I burned morning star amber incense in it or Maroma Spa Incense, Sweet Dreams or Clear Thoughts.  The amber incense smells like the Japanese soap my Grandmother had in one of her bathrooms.

I used the Sweet Dreams or Clear Thoughts while paying bills or making dreaded phone calls.


Another planter used as either an incense holder or desk organizer.  This off white McCoy planter was my welcome at the entry way and I would burn my friends favorite incense, so they could have some relaxation as they walked through the door.

It usually burned Nag Champa.  I think it's a common or traditional incense from India.  It burns  sweet, like a flowered breeze!




This is my last "show and tell" of incense burners.  I love this vanilla pink milk glass. It was used by the bathtub with sand, my shell collection and Maroma Spa Incense Wands:  Tranquility, Joy, New Energy, Happy Heart, and Quiet Mind .

Maroma Spa Incense Wands come in 8 different aromas and I loved them all!  They also use their Colibri sachets for keep moths away from wool items naturally and smell just as nice!

Unfortunately, I'm allergic to their products now.

I used many more planters as either incense holders or desk organizers.  You can see more of them in the planter and vase section of VintageToGoetsy or in the mid century modern section of HoarderRehab.

Aug 30, 2012:  Story from the Netherlands
I had long been looking for a Japanese incense burner and this is very beautiful. I love Japanese art, haori / kimono, lacquer, vases. Thanks and I am very curious. I will take a picture and send this to you.

And it looks even better it's new home beautifully arranged!  In mine, it looked strewn about with the rest of the hoard and it's beauty did not stand out as well at all!

Saying Good-bye:  The Japanese copper incense burner was the hardest one to part with, but it went to a kind and friendly lady with a good home in the Netherlands, who happily sent me this picture of it in it's new honored spot with her story!  I also took my time packaging this item with samples of my incense, so she could try American, Chinese, Indian and Japanese incense and it was my first package going overseas and that was exciting!  The picture of it in it's new home made all the difference in the world to me!


What I learned:

1.  My incense burner collection was much larger than I thought and turned into part of my vase, planter and desk organizer collections.
  
2.  Not only do I have an incense burner collection, but also a large incense collection from various countries and some charcoal and REI cone incense still somewhere in my hoard!


3.  I have 12 saved empty and full boxes of Marona Spa Incense Wands and unconsciously collected all 8 different aromas!  Have saved their empty boxes for later use for something?  They do make good drawer sachets empty because they still smell strong even years later.

Marona incense used to be sold at Whole Foods, long ago and I used to buy a box every once awhile as a reward if I planned a monthly grocery shop well enough to last a month!

4.  Incense not only was a way I could destress myself and clear the air as part of my routine every morning and evening, but it was a way for me to find peaceful quiet spots among trying times or relax and find lost memories again.

5.  How many incense holders do I need?  How much incense do I need?  I probably have a life time's worth of incense now, since I can only burn it occasionally and outside.  If I ever buy incense in the future, it will be by the stick or a small sampler.  As for incense holders  I will use what I have, like a dish, bowl or rocks!

Parting Questions:  Do you have any collections that correspond with another one, like my incense holders and incense?  How do you reward yourself?  Any ideas for instant intangible rewards?

Thank you for taking part in my HoarderRehab!


The Destiny of Things: Supersized Pyrex Refrigerator Dish Set, Story VI

The Destiny of Things:  Supersized Pyrex Refrigerator Dish Set, Story VI

Wondering where I've been?  Me too!  I discovered the ever changing etsy circles and have been lost and consumed by them.  Still trying to figure how to use it beneficially.  Definitely good and bad for my declining hoarder ways, but that's a different story.

Another hoarded collection!  Refrigerator Dishes! My Supersized Pyrex Set!
I actually thought this was the whole entire set of Pyrex and it took me years of thrifting to collect all 14 pieces!  I also had other various styles of 18 or so of these refrigerator food storage dish sets started!  I thought I'd use them to the max, but rarely used them.

I used the set above the most.  Usually for a Japanese steamed egg custard dish called chawan mushi.  It's my "go to" comfort food, especially when ill.  It's traditionally eaten as an appetizer steamed or baked in a lidded tea cup, but I eat it for any meal because it's delish cold too!  I also like it Chinese style with just minced chicken, much easier and faster to cook than Japanese style.

Anyways, you can see the complete collection of my refrigerator dishes at VintageToGoetsy in the sale/sold section.  Here are some of my favs!

Anything looked good in these! but they weren't clear so whatever was in it didn't get used, even desk supplies!  They were at a $1 bin at a long ago swap meet, when I was looking for something else!  I love milk glass too and collected that also.  It's matching salt box is available here.

I really wanted to collect this entire set because it's milk glass, but with a clear top.  Thought I'd use it more that way, but these seem to be very difficult to find any where, not even close to a complete set!  Still available here.

This was my salsa container.  I loved the flush round knobs on these Glasbake!

and it's other Glasbake  loaf sized dish.  This is still available at VintageToGoetsy!
Meat loaf isn't my fav., but it's my Dad's and mr. oz's, but now I just use my clay roaster.  Everything in it bakes nice and moist!  So letting all of them go wasn't as tragic as I thought it was going to be!

Saying Good-bye:  The supersized pyrex set was the most difficult, but it left as a pooled wedding office gift for a co-worker bride in Los Angeles.  Knowing the set was going to a home of newlyweds that most likely cooked helped a lot.  I could imagine them being used by two and then later by more with little ones!

What I learned:

  1. My collections seem to expand and spill over from my other collections.  For example, milk glass to various milk glass refrigerator dish containers.  Visit VintageToGoetsy and HoarderRehab and see how my Mexican Folk Art collection turned into my Religious Folk Art collection and grew way out of proportion!
  2. I'm learning to use what I have to minimize my kitchenware.  All the refrig. dishes took up a lot of space, even though they stacked.  I love stacking kitchenware! My clay roasting pot is more versatile cookware and my chawan mushi bowls are from my Grandmother and use less space.  Plus the chawan mushi bowls is exactly one serving as to not over eat!  Kitty Kat Kitsch is on a cat nip diet, but that's another story.
What are you favorite collections?  And have they spilled over into another one?  Do you have any cookingware tips to maximize space and minimize the waistline? 

Thank you for the visit and for taking part in my HoarderREhab!

PS.  Does anyone know how to use etsy "circles" beneficially without taking up so much time?

Thursday, November 1, 2012

The Destiny of Things: Day of the Dead Calavera Skull Beads, Story V

 The Destiny of Things:  Day of the Dead Calavera Skull Beads, Story V

Since yesterday, I've been going out of order on my back logged stories, and to be honest it feels weird and a bit disorientating, but I'm trying not to hold back.  As a hoarder, I'm acknowledging, accepting, trusting and letting go of "going out of order" feelings as best as I can!  So let me dive right in again!

The story of the skull beads for Dia de los Muertos! or Day of the Dead or DOD!




 Another confessed Hoarder!  I'm in good company!


October 1 2012 5:11pm EDT
Hi Ms. Miranda!

Thank you for making my Bunny Wedding Topper a favorite on Etsy.

I started creating Christmas figures which led to traditional Easter rabbits. I'm currently concentrating on wedding cake toppers...put this together last Easter to show my creativity and versatility.

The skulls I have just purchased from you will be used in a "day of the dead" themed wedding cake topper to again show prospective brides my range.

If you or someone you know might be planning a wedding...would love the opportunity to work some topper magic at the top of that cake!

Best wishes,

Jim
YourTops

 
 
Kennedy Miranda
October 1 2012 5:40pm EDT
Hi Jim!

Thank you for your email and taking the time to share with me the story behind your purchase! I am collecting these stories as part of my HoarderRehab therapy and it helps me to let go of things so I just don't go back and try to replace them.

I think you do work magic on your toppers and show great extremes in creativity, versatility and detailing.

I love your Easter wedding cake toppers and honestly love the more quirky ones. As a matter of fact, looking at your toppers reminded of years and years ago, when I bought these little godzilla toys on wheels that spit fire to turn into a wedding cake topper for one of my friend's wedding, but she declined. lol I guess they were before their time because I think they'd be really popular now. Also I think bird toppers would be popular also, since they are so "in" right now on etsy. Anyways, thank you for taking me down my own little nostalgia lane.

I look forward to your Day of the Dead themed wedding cake topper! If you remember, email it to me and I'll favorite it too!

Oh yeah and I enjoyed looking through your favorites because it seems you have a knack for finding good deals!

I don't know anyone getting married at the moment, but will recommend your magical toppers if I meet someone who is!

Kind regards,
~Kennedy

PS. We usually ship on Wed and Fri, but it will be shipped tomorrow, so you can get started on your creation ASAP!



Jim Gould
October 1 2012 6:18pm EDT
Hi...thanks for shipping early...I will definitely take pictures and send your way...

I get a bit frustrated posting these classic toppers as all those brides are not beating paths to my door...

My wife says my collections are hoarding... maybe she's right?

Will check if you have any rhinestone brooches...got a topper commission that needs one....Jim


October 1 2012 9:14pm EDT
Hi,

Thanks in advance for sending me the "Day of the Dead" wedding topper pics. I am getting a lot more traffic than I thought I would on my other shop, VintageToGoetsy, for my "Day of the Dead" nichos, so hopefully it will do that for you too!

I know it can be frustrating when sales or views seem stagnant, but don't give up! esp. since you have found your passion. Do you think it would help to branch out a little and sell other things for weddings too? I don't know anything about wedding items, but I noticed I do get a lot of views from people who seem to be doing DIY weddings and I even sold some apothecary jars for someone who was going to use them at their wedding for a candy bar. I also have listed some milk glass bud vases for $5 and some larger ones for $10. It might bring in the bargain hunters and then they'll see your creative toppers! Maybe add something, blue, old and new for brides? I even sell some baby of prague medals that are supposed to bring good weather on your wedding. It's gotten some views from wedding people or at least it seems so from what is in their favs.  What do you think?

Hmm... I don't know if you are a hoarder, like your wife says, but I know I am because it effects my life and health. For instance, I have over 66 collections at last count and no room for them, nor do I know where they are. I have one room so full, it's really just a storage room and I want to start something creative, art worthy and fun and I can't do that with my hoard! lol So I'm trying to clear out that space so I can have a studio.

Good for you! you do have a commission! I have one rudolph brooch with a bell on it and two rhinestone shoe or dress clips with some missing rhinestones. I do have a bow and butterfly rhinestone brooch, but I have no idea where they are in my hoard, so I'll have to do some digging for them. Thanks for the inspiration and motivation to do that tomorrow!

Kind regards,
~Kennedy

October 1 2012 9:37pm EDT
Hi...the toppers are creative outlets for me...

I have just "gone back to school" to become a Personal Trainer as a pre-retirement career as I was re-organized out of my job last February...I have enjoyed exercise and fitness...going to train felllow baby boomers who haven't...keeping me fit as well.

Rhinestones need to be clear...bride has a rhinestone brooch bouquet I'm replicating on the topper base...

I was raised by 2 parents who collected...wife doesn't collect at all...like you, need to start downsizing...

Jim


Hi Jim,

I'm glad they arrived and you already have it made? with tape? that's awesome! I'm going to put a link to your shop with the beads and let them know a Day of the Dead wedding cake topper is in the make over there, is that okay with you?

Also, I'm getting a lot of views for some of my items listed with "something old" and "something blue" and for the milk glass vases wedding stuff or at least it looks like it from what other stuff they have fav., when I have time, I can put a link to your shop. What do you think?

Also, I'll list two clear Rhinestone dress/shoe clips, just in case, you need them. Otherwise- thanks for the extra encouragement and motivation to keep listing my hoard!

Best to you too,
~Kennedy



 
Jim
Oct 5, 2012
Whoa...topper is not made yet....need additional colored skulls to arrive before I begin...but, yes, link it's "in the works!"

Tape....I tape ribbon and trims in place for pictures when i create a "sample" idea topper....I can cheat which saves time me time in throwing a "look" together...

Link me away for weddings....appreciate your thinking of me...send pix when topper is done :) Jim






Oct 5, 2012
Hi Jim-

could you leave me feedback too?

Thanks,
~Kennedy

Jim
Oct 5, 2012
I can but wanted to send pictures...have not figured out how to leave feedback and then send pictures?!

Jim

Oct 5, 2012
Hi Jim-

No worries, sorry if I am impatient, it's just I haven't slept in four days and well, nm- I'm sure you'll figure it out and I totally understand because I'm totally techless over here!

Thanks in advance,
~Kennedy
 




Jim
Oct 5, 2012
Hi...skulls are on arch...however....didn't think about large hole and thin beading wire...wanted skulls facing out on arch.

Had to patiently glue skull and fill skull head hole with glue...

Here's a quick pix...Jim



 
Oct 5, 2012
Hi Jim!!! Wow!

Thanks for the quick pic!!!! That looks so cool!!!! I think someone will use that for sure!!! Sorry, the holes were so big, maybe for next time a pipe cleaner would be wide enough?

Looking forward to the final product!
~Kennedy




Jim
Oct 6, 2012
Good idea about the pipe cleaner but in between the skulls are crystal beads for sparkle and contrast...their holes are wire diameter....makes for a tricky combination...

It will all come together when the colorful skulls arrive...Jim




Oct 8, 2012
Hi Jim-

Hope you had a good weekend. Hope you have some time to work on the "Day of the Dead" wedding topper, it already looks amazing!

I added your link here to the items that seem to get the most traffic from wedding viewers or at least from what I can tell by what is in their fav'd pages. Which reminds me to add your link to the skull beads!

www.etsy.com/listing/101283996/antique-hand-tooled-leather-victorian

www.etsy.com/listing/104400722/2-large-white-wedding-milk-glass-vases

www.etsy.com/listing/104960815/3-milk-glass-bud-vases-art-deco-white

Oh and about the feedback pic- I'm so bummed because I don't think you can change it. I had another customer be creative with one of my items and she could not add it to the feedback pic, she could only use the original.

Looking forward to seeing the final product. I love Day of the Dead!

Best regards,
~Kennedy




Oct 8, 2012
Hi Jim-

Thank you for sharing the story behind your purchase. I think it is helping with my HoarderRehab! Now I just have to figure out how to blog! Anyways, here's the link about it:

www.etsy.com/listing/109661655/55-skull-beads-white-and-black-resin

Best regards,
~Kennedy




Jim
Oct 8, 2012
Hi Kennedy...had a fall escape to Michigan with dear friends this weekend...no workouts (I'm training to be a Personal Trainer), no cake toppers (looked for Trims etc.) or leaf raking :)

Thanks for the linking....appreciate it very much...still haven't gotten the colored skulls to work any further....and with no mail today for Columbus Day...will have to wait.

I will feedback with the finished picture...thanks Jim




Oct 11, 2012
Hi Jim!

How is the Day of the Dead wedding topper going and your rhinestone bouquet?

As you requested I listed some clear rhinestone dress/shoe clips, the only one I could find at this time. No worries, if you don't need them anymore! Thanks for requesting it- it gave me the motivations I need to keep clearing out my hoard!

I'm going to launch my HoarderRehab blog: The Destiny of Things and once I figure out how to manage it and do things correctly on it I will include your purchase of the skull beads and how you transformed them! I'll send you the link when it gets done!

~Kennedy


 Here is the final product of the Day of the Dead Wedding Cake Topper by Jim Gould of

YourTops

Custom Wedding Cake Figures and Toppers


Saying Good-bye:  These were easy to let go, since I still have three more listings of them!  Which reminds me,  I have some bone beads skull beads as well, somewhere....Let me know if that's what you need and I'll go treasure hunting in my hoard!

What did I learn from this post today?

  1. My own patterns are difficult for me to see.  This is the fourth confessed hoarder, I've met and it took me awhile to figure out that as a hoarder, I am not alone, even if I do feel alone about it. 
  2. Things are much easier to let go, when I know where it's going and what it will turn into--- from just a pile of skull beads to an amazing DOD Wedding Cake Topper!
  3. Also, easier when I know I still have some stashed!  I'll see how it goes when the last batch sells, like when the last of my witch charms sold.
  4. A reminder, to finish my draft about "feedback" as a Techless Hoarder Newbie on etsy
  5. As the first day of Dia de los Muertos begins here is a quote to silently pause and remember our ancestors, "To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die."  ~Thomas Campbell.  Thank you upz from upzanddowns for the endearing quote and  taking the time to create such a festive collection to kick start the celebrations for all our ancestors with a DOD etsy Treasury!
Thank you for taking part in my HoarderRehab!  Thank you etsy for providing me the perfect venue for getting my hoard and myself out into the world! 

If you would like to see my hoard visit my shops and maybe you can help downsize it, click on the the shop names, VintageToGoetsy and HoarderRehab!  Thanks you for looking!

 !Feliz Dia de los Muertos! Happy Day of the Dead!