Native American Sand Cast Sterling Bracelet: The Destiny of Things, Story 262

Native American Sand Cast Sterling Bracelet:  The Destiny of Things, Story 262

Native American sand cast sterling silver bracelets are one of my favorite kinds!

I have had several of these to wear stacked, available here

The one shown in the photo was 16 grams and the one listed is 31 grams

I also have another sand cast one with coral, here

photo via Hoarder Rehab

I have or had many in my collections over the years and loved to wear them stacked.  I really liked the sounds they made when I wore them together.  Pleasant clinking, a little like soft bells.  

I counted my Native American collection once and stopped counting at around 50 and I keep finding more because I know I have a couple of fetish necklaces and a milagro cross necklace some where still lost in my hoard and I go looking for them every once in awhile!

I have had several of these to wear stacked, available here

The one shown in the photo was 16 grams and the one listed is 31 grams

I also have another sand cast one with coral, here

photo via Hoarder Rehab

Anyways, on with this story!  Here is the note I received:

Hi! New to Etsy...this is my first purchase. Just received silver sand cast bracelet. Wow was that fast!! I have been looking for this specific silver bracelet for some time now. I have seen it on E-bay twice but never won. Well, now I have it and it fits perfect! Thanks so much

I am so happy for this Etsy buyer.  I so know what it is like to try and buy something on ebay and not get it over and over!  And for me, as a recovering hoarder, it feels like a crisis of panic and sadness!  Such overwhelming loss!  Well, it's happened so many times now, it's getting easier!

So speaking of ebay, I bought this bracelet back in the 80s, back when I was on a hoard rolling buying spree!  I was going through a dreadful stressful situation that went on for three years and during those three years, I made sure I had something from the mail waiting for me when I got home from work!

Everyday I opened a little package, even on Sundays! because I made sure at least two arrived on Saturday or one of the other week days!  I know crazy, but it was a coping mechanism that worked for me, albeit expensive!  

I'll be brave and add up how many items I accumulated through that dreadful time!  365 days multiplied by 3 is 1, 095!  OH MY!  and that doesn't even include when I went thrifting!

Okay, time to change the subject!  I've had all I can endure at the moment!

I have had several of these to wear stacked, one available here

I also have another sand cast one with coral, here

Most of my Native American jewelry is listed here

photo via Hoarder Rehab

Saying Goodbye:  It used to be difficult to let go of my jewelry, even though I can't wear sterling or gold anymore since I've been allergic to it over 5 years.  I can touch it for a short time, but not wear it past 15 minutes before I start having a reaction.  

Some days are better than others, but I haven't worn jewelry in so long now that it doesn't feel right to wear any kind, so I don't, but I still like to make it and think I'll wear beaded jewelry!  We'll see, if I can't used to wearing jewelry again.

What I Learned:

1.  Hoarding or retail therapy is an expensive coping mechanism to destress, but I must say, it does work for me and I suppose in some ways, it's a lot healthier than social drinking or recreational drugs.  However, now that I'm on this journey to dehoard and figure out why I hoard and find other ways to cope with stress, I find it's not that easy.

2.  My next favorite coping mechanism is food and not healthy foods either, but foods I call, "happy food!"  and since childhood it's been fried foods, especially potato chips, french fries and fried chicken.  Luckily potato chips can be found organic and so are baked french fries, but I haven't found a fried chicken yet, so we bake ours rolled in organic potato starch, like Japanese chicken karaage or tempura, but I still miss the quickness, convenience and deliciousness of fast food!  In that order too!

3.  So glad Thanksgiving is tomorrow!  Lots of yummy foods, relaxing, napping, some playing, then more snacking and then repeat!

What is your favorite Thanksgiving yummy?  Mine is easy to guess, the crispiest turkey skin I can find!

My favorite sand cast pieces are the ones where I can see the sand on the inside!

I think this piece is very old, available here

 photo via Hoarder Rehab

Thank you Etsy buyer for sending me your story!  I had totally forgot about my ebay buying days from that dreadful time!  Also thank you for all the insight that I got from your story!

Thank you Etsy for making it possible to enjoy dehoarding by meeting such kind Etsy buyers who take the time to help a recovering hoarder!

Thank you US, China, Taiwan, Germany, Spain, UK, Jordan, NZ, Philippines, Poland and many others for coming to visit and taking part in my  HoarderRehab and The Destiny of Things!

  

My goal is to list at least 200 items from my hoard on each shop until December 1st!  I've already met that goal at Hoarder Rehab, The Destiny of Things and VintageToGoEasy!  I'm going to list new hoard daily, until I've met my goal at each shop and then keep at least 200 items listed on three shops!   

Click on the shop names to visit my new hoard listed daily: HoarderRehab with 204 items, The Destiny of Things- 201 items , VintageToGoEasy - 204 items and now JunkDrawerLoveEtsy - 195 items!  Maybe you'll find something to take home and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!

The turquoise bracelets were both sand cast and are long gone.

The open diamond sand cast bracelet is from my mom and a keeper.

The coral sand cast bracelet, available here

The carinated bracelet that looks like a rising sun, available here

The rows of corn Tahe bracelet is long gone too!

 photo via Hoarder Rehab

Related Stories:

1.  Story about the rows of corn Tahe bracelet:  Cloud 9 to Corn from Heaven:  a small Native American bracelet I never received and forgot because I had bought so much and came later with a bigger surprise!

2.  Updated with photo from Etsy buyer:  New Home for Turquoise:  The Destiny of Things, Story XXXI 

3. Native American Butterfly Money Clip:  The Destiny of Things, Story LXIX   

4.  Native American Zuni Strength Bracelet:  The Destiny of Things, Story LXXV 

5.  This was my last Native American bracelet story that has 10 more related stories!  What a collection of stories I have!  Native American Sterling Watchband by Marie Dale: The Destiny of Things, Story 232

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

"Harmony.  It's not what's lasting or permanent.  It is about individual voices coming together for a moment.  And that moment lasts a length of a breath, or in my instance a transaction.  That's what I think about my time here."---Frank Underwood from House of Cards or in my case, I think it's "destiny, as well as harmony."   See the quote in one of my collages, here 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Glassine Transparent Wax Like Bag Envelopes: The Destiny of Things, Story 261

Glassine Transparent Wax Like Bag Envelopes:  The Destiny of Things, Story 261

Remember these?!!  I use mine all the time and have many different sizes!

 This 6x3 size has SOLD OUT.  I like the

7x3 glassine bags with side gussets better, available here

photo via VintageToGoeasy

The size shown in the photo is not easy to find and out of all the different glassine bags, these seem to be the most expensive too!  

I'm not prone to change when something I like and use often is practical and looks good, but I ordered a new batch of these thinking they were the these, but they weren't!  I ordered not only the wrong size, but the wrong kind!  These were an 7 x 3 and had the gusset folds on the sides!

I was in dismay, but had to use the new size anyway, because I only had about 70 left of the size I was using and an Etsy buyer had  ordered 30 and then another 30 were ordered on VintageToGoEasy!

Here is what the new size with gusset folds look like:

7x3 glassine bags with side expanding sides gusset folds, available here

photo via VintageToGoeasy

I use these for my "thank you" packaging that goes out with every order from any of the shops.  You can see the red Fortune Fish over to your left. 

It took me awhile, but I like these better now because the gusset sides expand by folding out and these bags can actually hold more, so sometimes I can put the order in it too!  I love these because of the old fashioned look and also because they are more eco friendly than plastic.

I do try and be as eco friendly as possible however I do ship almost all my packages wrapped in plastic due to one Etsy buyer leaving their package in the rain all weekend and complaining that although the item was slightly damp, it was not damaged.

Anyways, back to this story!

 This 6x3 size has SOLD OUT.  I like the

7x3 glassine bags with side gussets better now, available here

photo via VintageToGoeasy

Here is the note I received:

Super-fast shipping and secure packaging. Seller also included a really fun surprise grab-bag of goodies, including a lovely note and a brand-new penny for my thoughts!^) I'll be using these extremely affordable and durable bags to package individual gifts of pecans and dates for the holidays. Great seller and great shop! Thanks so much! 

Yummy!  I just love dates and pecans and they'll look great in these! and it's always so nice to get a note full of compliments!  Thank you!

These larger bags hold more too!

About 2 cups of popcorn or 4-5 ounces of small candies or beads!

7x3 glassine bags with side gussets, available here

photo via VintageToGoeasy

Saying Goodbye:  I saved the last 10 or so of the old smaller sized bag and am enjoying using the larger ones now, even though it did take getting some used to.

What I Learned:

1.  I need to be adaptable and more open to change.  I was more than slightly upset with myself for ordering the wrong glassine bags and now that I look back on it, it was just wasted negative energy because now they are just fine!

I can also see why I'm so attached to my hoarding ways!  It sounds funny now, but it wasn't a couple years ago!  Least today, I can see how inspiring and motivating it is to be able to roll with the punches and change my ways!

I remember reading some where that life is soft and yielding and death is stiff and rigid.  I better understand those words now....

Samples of my "thank you" package that goes out with almost every order.  

Sometimes,I don't have time to make one for "rush"orders, etc.

Sample pack can be ordered here without purchase

photo via VintageToGoeasy 

Notice the penny in this photo is not new!  Brand new shiny pennies are hard to come by too, even harder to find than the "right" sized glassine bags!  My bank doesn't have them and I ask each time!  They probably know me now as the "penny" lady!

I've always loved pennies and I do collect special ones!  They come in handy for good luck, wishing fountains, penny for someone's thoughts, penny loafers and taking penny adventures!  Take a walk and at every corner, flip a penny!   Heads go right and tails go left and see where you end up!

How do you use your pennies?  I've even used mine in my mixed media art.  I had a display box with 8 dollars of pennies glued to the front and back!  The front showed all the heads and the back showed all the tails.  It had a place to take a penny for good luck, to share your thoughts and a little fountain to make a wish.

Oh and it was right next to the penny gumball machine which held peanut M&Ms. Unfortunately, it was so heavy it fell off the wall countless times and finally I think it fell into a trash can! I do have a photo of it some where lost in the hoard!

This one is a little different, but with a newer penny

Each shop has one, but the items vary slightly, available here

photo via The Destiny of Things

Thank you Etsy buyer for taking the time to send me a note with your story and so many wonderful compliments.  So nice of you to take the time and look how much I gleaned from your story to help with mine!

Thank you Etsy for another grand win win happy transaction that goes deeper than scratching the surface!

Thank you US, Malaysia, China, Ukraine, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Spain, UK, Hong Kong and many others for your for taking the time to support my  HoarderRehab and The Destiny of Things!  Your visits are greatly appreciated.

 photo via Hoarder Rehab, available here

"Do not break, bend." ---Aesop's Fable:  The Oak and the Reed

MetallicTinsel Pom Pom Puff Balls for Cats: The Destiny of Things, Story 260

Metallic Tinsel Pom Pom Puff Balls for Cats:  The Destiny of Things, Story 260

Do kittens have favorite play toys?

Metallic Tinsel Pom Pom Puff Balls, available here

photo via JunkDrawerLoveEtsy

An Etsy buyer sent me an email that definitely answers that question!  Here it is:

Greetings!

I thought I'd give you a bit of back story concerning my

recent order of the 55+ tinsel puffballs.

I had recently fostered some kittens, one of whom, by virtue

of getting sick and requiring extra care, ended up becoming

a permanent member of my family.

A sweeter, more personable cat can't exist, I don't think.

He sleeps on my face at night and purrs any time he's

handled.

He had a favorite toy, a certain single white tinsel puffball 

from an earring of my sister's, of which I had no duplicates.

So when my kitten lost the puffball, he seemed sad without

any of his favorite toys. I tried buying him regular puffballs

(the kind without the tinsel) but they just could not keep his

interest.

I managed to find more --thankfully!!-- on your Etsy site, and 

how gratifying it was to see my kitten's face light up as soon

as he laid eyes on the tinsel puffball!

I'd had no clue that cats could be so preferential to toys.

With this purchase, I've ensured what I hope are years of happiness

for my kitten. Thank you so much for making this possible.

I've added a picture of him, just so you can see his excitement too!

Best,

B

Metallic Tinsel Pom Pom Puff Balls, available here

photo via JunkDrawerLoveEtsy

Is that the cutest kitten story ever?  and how fun and interesting to find out that cats have favorite play toys! and how cool to meet someone who fosters orphaned kittens!  All I can say is the cat's got my tongue with this super cute story!  On to the photo she sent me!

photo via Etsy buyer, who fosters orphaned kittens

 and her adorable kitten with his favorite play toy, a metallic tinsel puff ball!

Can you imagine how fun this kitten would have with a garland of these puff balls?  And to think the original play toy came from her sister's earrings!  I've seen them glued to tooth picks for New Year's party appetizers and I used mine for the tops of a forest of trees for Advent Calendar gifts last year.

Metallic Tinsel Pom Pom Puff Balls, available here

photo via JunkDrawerLoveEtsy

Saying Goodbye:  I had my fill of these metallic tinsel pom poms around the same time last year when I made over 25 geometric trees for an Advent Calendar forest.  It was fun once I made my own patterns to fit the different gifts correctly and I even finished in time.

What I Learned:

1.  I never know what interesting and fun lessons I will learn from day to day!  Who knew that animals have favorite things too! I did hear the other day that octopi love to decorate the outside of their homes with colorful shells, rocks and what not and that it just wasn't camouflage, but pleasing and special to themselves.

2.  And here's another ideas for tinsel puff balls!  They are not just for earrings, garlands, appetizer toothpicks, table confetti for parties or Advent Calendar embellishment, but for kitten play toys too!  Perhaps their favorites!

How would you use them?    Well, for someone like me as a recovering hoarder that tends to "over do" things, I'd like to string many puffs like a garland and pull them out of a box, like little mice out of a mouse hole!

I added the tinsel puffs to all the tops

 to give it a fairy forest look for the girls and a Dr. Seuss look for the boys!

photo via last year's posting here

Thank you Etsy buyer for taking the time to send me such cute, fun and interesting email!  I love it all, especially the photo of your kitten with his favorite tinsel puff ball toy!  

Thank you Etsy for another amazing transaction all from the kindness of strangers!

Thank you US, Ukraine, France, UK, Germany, and others for taking the time to support my  HoarderRehab and The Destiny of Things with your visits! 

Advent Calendar Starter Kits are available at JunkDrawerLoveEtsy here

and The Destiny of Things here

My goal is to list at least 200 items from my hoard on each shop until December 1st!  I've already met that goal at Hoarder Rehab and VintageToGoEasy!  I'm going to list new hoard daily, until I've met my goal at each shop and then keep at least 200 items listed on three shops!  

Click on the shop names to visit my new hoard listed daily: HoarderRehab with 205 items, The Destiny of Things- 199 items , VintageToGoEasy - 200 items and now JunkDrawerLoveEtsy - 192 items!  Maybe you'll find something to take home and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!

 The forest started to grow and with it all the ideas and fun! Many of the days build on to the next one

with teachable moments and short little activities, like a wish list using the Just Say No memo pad turn from a pre write to a letter to Santa!

Related Stories:  

1.  Geometric Trees Advent Calendar Forest: Creative Outlet, Story #2 or Hoarder Inspiration or Desperation, Story #17, Part 1  

2.  Geometric Trees Advent Calendar Forest: Creative Outlets, Story #2, Part 2 

3.  Geometric Trees Advent Calendar Forest: Creative Outlets, Story #2, Part 3 

 Etsy blog directions to make the smaller trees for this Advent Calendar, here

Go straight to the templates here

This year I am making Christmas Surprise Balls!

UPDATE on The Little Mermaid Party with Ursula-tinis: The Destiny of Things, Story 259

UPDATE on The Little Mermaid Party with Ursula-tinis:  The Destiny of Things, Story 259

Photo Update with 30 blue and green little mermaid drink markers were the hit of the party!

 photo via JunkDrawerLoveEtsy

6 blue and green mermaid, available here

Well, maybe not, but at least I know they added a favorable detail for an Etsy buyer's "Under the Sea" party where all the "Poor Unfortunate Souls" got Ursula-tinis and kids got Mermaid Potion Punch! This Etsy buyer was so happy, she sent me a "Thank you" email with photos!

 photo via Hoarder Rehab

Little mermaids in amount of 30, 50 or 100 here

Here's the email I received:

Hi Kennedy!

Just wanted you to know the party was a huge success. Thank you SO much for the mermaids. They were the perfect accessory for all the drinks. I attached two pics in case you wanted to see...sadly in the second pic of the kids drinks the "mermaid potion", the mermaids weren't on the cups yet...but, I got them on there right before the kids got there. They all thought they were so neat. And the adults LOVED the Ursula-tini's and sunset mermaid mimosas. ;) Thanks again...and good luck with all your collecting and selling.

Big Hugs,

J

I just love getting emails like these and even better when photos come with them!  It's like double frosting with a cherry on top!  I'm so happy I'd love three hands to try the Ursula-tini, Sunset Mermaid Mimosa and Mermaid Potion!

Here's a photo of the Mermaid Potion table:

photo via Etsy buyer from Hoarder Rehab

How under the sea mermaid cool is the table display and I love the turquoise color of the mermaid potion!  I especially love the sign in sign.

The Mermaid Potions sign says, "Anyone who wishes to become a mermaid may drink the secret potion and sign below.  WARNING:  if you drink the potion you will grow a mermaid tail whenever you enter a pool.  Your tail can only be seen by other mermaids!

Here's the photo for "All the Poor Unfortunate Souls:"

photo via Etsy buyer from Hoarder Rehab

Love this party decor!  This is where I'd be hanging out!  with Ursula!  The Little Mermaids do add a perfect detail to Ursula's purpleness!

One sign says, "Swing up to the Mermaid bar and have an Ursula-tini, you poor unfortunate souls... and the other signs says, "or save your soul with a sunset mermaid mimosa"

I guess I'd have to try them both to see which way I'd be heading!

 photo via Hoarder Rehab

Little mermaids in amount of 30, 50 or 100 here

Saying Goodbye: I have all my favorite mermaids picked out and I especially love the red and pink ones, which are very hard to find.  I've bought hundreds of these and only have 4 red ones and a handful of pink ones!  Go figure!

So I'm happy that others like these too, so I can buy a lot and let them go.  Catch and release program.

What I Learned:

1.  There are a lot of kind Etsy buyers out there helping me with my story by sharing their own and it's double the fun to get an email update and triple fun when the update comes with photos!

2.  I am so thankful because I never thought that so many of my nostalgic items would become popular enough to continue finding.  It's one way to get hoarding cocktail bar ware markers out of my system! and indeed I have!

The example to the left is how I used them in my mixed media art.  Back in the 80s-90s, I made little cardboard nichos with doors to house a decorated loteria card, inside was a mermaid or la sirena waiting to be hung off the door when opened.  I have the templates and photos somewhere!  

photo via Hoarder Rehab  

Little mermaids in amount of 30, 50 or 100 here

 

Thank you Etsy buyer for your  "thank you" email update with photos!  I must say that the mermaids look so much better all dressed at your party!  Thank you for sharing your story with me to help me with mine.  I can see now how I use my shops to hoard until I get hoarding an item out of my system!

Thank you Etsy for helping me figure out my hoarding ways and for being an outlet for my overflow!

Thank you US, China, Singapore, Germany, Ireland, Turkey, Ukraine, Poland, Barbados, Canada, UK, Bulgaria and many others for supporting my  HoarderRehab and The Destiny of Things!

My goal is to list at least 200 items from my hoard on each shop until December 1st!  I've already met that goal at Hoarder Rehab!  I'm going to list new hoard daily, until I've met my goal at each shop and then keep at least 200 items listed on three shops!  

Click on the shop names to visit my new hoard listed daily: HoarderRehab with 204 items, The Destiny of Things- 197 items , VintageToGoEasy - 198 items and now JunkDrawerLoveEtsy - 191 items!  Maybe you'll find something to take home and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!

 other popular drink charms, available here

 photo via JunkDrawerLoveEtsy

Related Stories:

1.  Read Part 1 of this story,Little Mermaid Themed Party:  The Destiny of Things, Story #248, here

2.  An Etsy buyer had her mermaid drink charm for over 50 years, read her story here.

3.   300 Wedding Cocktail Animal and Mermaid Drink Markers: The Destiny of Things, Story 239 

 Monkeys always love a good party! Available here

photo via JunkDrawerLoveEtsy

"Harmony.  It's not what's lasting or permanent.  It is about individual voices coming together for a moment.  And that moment lasts a length of a breath, or in my instance a transaction.  That's what I think about my time here."---Frank Underwood from House of Cards or in my case, I think it's "destiny, as well as harmony."   See the quote in one of my collages, here

Twilight Zone Party and Nick of Time Swami Fortune Cards: The Destiny of Things, Story 258

Twilight Zone Party and Nick of Time Swami Fortune Cards:  The Destiny of Things, Story 258

In the old days, at a diner I'd ask Swami a question and get an answer instantly for a penny!

photo via blog, Made By Paper 

In the cafe my brother and I would visit, out came an answer in a napkin and they looked just like these!  QUESTION:  "Should I go on vacation?"

photo via Hoarder Rehab

Choose from 5 or more to a complete set of fortune cards, here

Also ones like these were on a Twilight Zone episode called Nick of Time with William Shatner and several people have sent me emails about how they've used these for their Twilight Zone or Fortune Telling theme parties!  How fun!

photo via Ask Swami Napkin Holder Fortune Teller, F.E. Erickson Company, 1950s (exact date unknown), dispenses a fortune card.

I received an email from a party planner who threw the biggest Twilight Zone themed party I've ever seen!  It was a Halloween costume birthday party!  and my fortune cards were part of the decor!

Here's the email:

Here a link to the party, thank you again for the cards!!!  This is for Next Stop... The Twilight Zone, here

http://michellespartyplanit.com/2014/10/next-stop-twilight-zone-party/

How fun is that?  Did you see the fortune cards as a prop with the eyeball cake poppers and candied apples?  OH my!  What an all out party!  even the photos are in black and white!  How fun with matching costumes and featured episodes with props and treats from "Time Enough At Last" and the doll, Talking Tina from episode 126:  Living Dolls, and the cookbook from "To Serve Man"

My favorite of all?  The "Pig Doctor" from "The Eye of the Beholder" episode!  He takes the cake!

Check out here blog:  Michelle's Party Plan-It!  She's amazing and her blog is full of ideas for party fun! or hire her to plan your next party!

 I think I she had one of these at the party!

 replica of the Mystic Seer prop from the Twilight Zone episode, photo via Captain Toy.  Michael gives a thorough and enchanting review of it and there are many more photos to see.

Saying Goodbye:  Of course, I bought a hoard of these and had fun sorting them all into complete sets!  And have several complete sets stashed away for myself and I use the incomplete sets as a tag for gifts and I've hidden them in cocktail napkins for party drinks and extra Sunday dinner fun.

What are your ideas for them?

What I Learned:

1.  I'm still recovering from allergic reactions and trying to figure out what it is that's aggravating them.  My sciatica is better with yoga and I can now sit as long as long as it's the floor or bed.  Still no chairs allowed!  Keeping all my scheduled appointments to mend as quickly as possible.

2.  Holiday stress is here and will get stronger as Thanksgiving gets closer, but instead of retail shopping as therapy, this year I am going to try mending, which I love to do and find quite relaxing.  I'll take photos of my mending progress to post.

3.  I have allotted a small budget of funds to shop to collect a short list of the things I love.

I'll see how my two new alternative works out this season!  Only time will tell.

Thank you Michelle for your email and sharing your party story!  Visit here shop on Etsy, Michelle's Party Plan-It.  She has everything needed to make a party successful with fun!  I love her shop slogan, "Where everyday is a reason to party!" 

Thank you Etsy for helping me connect with such amazing kind people!  So far I've dehoarded over 989 items!  Phew!

Thank you US, Malaysia, Germany, Russia, France, China, UK, Ukraine, Netherlands, Philippines, Poland and many others for your visits since Monday and supporting my  HoarderRehab and The Destiny of Things!

My goal is to list at least 200 items from my hoard on each shop until December 1st!  I've already met that goal at Hoarder Rehab and VintageToGoEasy!  I'm going to list new hoard daily, until I've met my goal at each shop and then keep at least 200 items listed on three shops!  

Click on the shop names to visit my new hoard listed daily: HoarderRehab with 202 items, The Destiny of Things- 194 items , VintageToGoEasy - 201 items and now JunkDrawerLoveEtsy - 187 items!  Maybe you'll find something to take home and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!

"Everyday is a reason to party!"---Michelle from Michelle's Party Plan-It

Alaskan Sweetheart Locket Souvenir: The Destiny of Things, Story 257

Alaskan Sweetheart Locket Souvenir:  The Destiny of Things, Story 257

I received a story this morning and this is going back to Alaska!

photo via VintageToGoeasy

more old time souvenir jewelry here

I have a lot of souvenir jewelry because my Grandparents loved to travel and many are from their favorite place to visit like, Alaska.  I have many souvenir pieces from Alaska, however this is the only one I'm willing to let go at this time.

As a child I loved lockets and received many from relatives as gifts, so I have a large collection of lockets too.  This locket book holds six photos.

photo via VintageToGoeasy

more old time souvenir jewelry here

more locket jewelry at The Destiny of Things, here

I was so surprised and happy to find this sweet email this morning:

This is perfect. I know it was meant to be that I was guided right to this locket... My son is getting married in Dec. We lost his older sister 8 years ago in a car accident. I was looking for a locket pin I could put her photo in, and give it to him to wear inside his jacket, close to his heart at the wedding. We are from Alaska :) It's perfect :) Thank you! 

What a wonderful nostalgic story and I hope you find it as touchingly heartfelt as I do!  I really like the part where it's going to be a gift to her son to wear it inside his jacket with his older sister's photo in it,so it can be close to his heart and perhaps this photo book may hold other family photos too.

What a beautiful idea to have photos of loved ones there in spirit close to the heart.

This email just warmed up my heart first thing this morning and I needed it too!  I've been recovering from several health issues that starting actin up for the last couple of months and today is the first day I feel some what back to normal and this email just put me over the top to start dehoarding again right away!

The mother of pearl double heart with arrow is perfect for sweethearts getting married symbolizing everlasting love and the totem as a reminder of family and the the cherry on top is that book locket is going back to Alaska!  How cool is that?

photo via VintageToGoeasy

more old time souvenir jewelry here

more locket jewelry at The Destiny of Things, here

Saying Goodbye: As a recovering hoarder, little emails of stories that let me know the new life of my loved item is such a comfort and relief to me and through the repetition and practice of letting go of each thing one by one has helped my pain, sadness, anxiety and other feelings that come with saying good bye easier and easier and whole lot less scary.

I have Etsy, Etsy  buyers, my friends and supporters to thank for my progress that strengthens me each day.

What I Learned:

1. I'll have to dig up my locket collection, so others can hold the spirit and photo of a loved one near them during a milestone celebrations.

2.  It feels good to be back on the the road to full recovery.  I still have a lot appointments to keep my health up and I need to cut down on my computer time, so unfortunately, I have to temporarily slow down on promoting on Etsy for awhile, but other than that, the dehoarding can continue....

Thank you Etsy buyer for sending your surprise story.  I appreciate your kindness in letting me know. It's heartfelt sweetness was just what I needed to get back into the swing of things!  I wish you and yours the best and Congratulations and Best Wishes to the bride and groom.

Thank you Etsy for helping me become stronger each day with my dehoarding progress as a recovering hoarder.

photo via The Destiny of Things

heart sterling book locket pendant, here 

more old time souvenir jewelry at VintageTogoEasy, here

Thank you US, China, Ukraine, France, Germany, UK, Poland, Spain, Honduras, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Latvia, Philippines and many others for supporting my HoarderRehab and The Destiny of Things with your visits!

My goal is to list at least 200 items from my hoard on each shop until the Christmas season!  I've already met that goal at Hoarder Rehab!  I'm going list new hoard daily, until each shop meets my goal and then keep at least 200 items listed on three shops!

Click on the shop names to visit my new hoard listed daily: HoarderRehab with 202 items, The Destiny of Things- 194 items , VintageToGoEasy - 198 items and now JunkDrawerLoveEtsy - 185 items!  Maybe you'll find something to take home and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!

 

 small prayer box locket that can hold a love poem, lock of hair and photo, here

photo via The Destiny of Things

 

It feels good to be back!  Thank you for your visits while I was recovering!

Day of the Dead Our Lady of Guadalupe Candle Holder Vase: The Destiny of Things, Story 256

Day of the Dead Our Lady of Guadalupe Candle Holder Vase:  The Destiny of Things, Story 256

One day late and a dollar short! I was saving this email story for the right time....

Our Lady Guadalupe candle holder vase, available here in blue, in red here

photo via JunkDrawerLoveEtsy

but due to my allergy reactions and sciatica injury I am posting a little later than I had scheduled.

Anyways, I have a bunch of these in blue and red as part of my Religious Mexican Folk Art decor as a repetition artist.  I just love seeing these all lined up in all blue, all red or any other pattern using both colors! Unfortunately, they mainly end up being stored, rather than used, so I'm letting them go on by one.

Religious Mexican Folk Art has influenced my home decor since I was a child.  One of my first trips to Tijuana I was mesmerized by all the tiny miniature handmade nesting pottery pieces and tiny clay fruits and vegetables and brought home miniatures from every trip.

In the 80s I collected all kinds of Religious Mexican Folk Art from milagros to nichos!  Back then they weren't as plentiful as now, even in Tijuana and finding an exceptional piece was a thrill!

I like this candle holder because it can also be used as a vase.  As a matter of fact, the first one I found had a bunch of bright yellow plastic roses in it and I don't like plastic flowers usually, but almost bought them too!

I looked for yellow flowers for the listing photos and have some yellow hibiscus in our backyard, but they weren't in bloom and settled for some deep pink bougainvillaea.

Our Lady Guadalupe candle holder vase, available here in blue, in red here

photo via JunkDrawerLoveEtsy

Here is the email I received from a thoughtful Etsy buyer:

Hello!

I bought this lovely vase from you a while back. I know hoarding is a tough habit to break, so I thought you'd like to know that a member of your collection found a good home. Attached is a photo.
Best of luck!

This Etsy buyer made my day back in August and is making my day again today.  Not only did she send an email, but it also came with a photo update! 

Our Lady Guadalupe candle holder vase, available here in blue, in red here

photo via JunkDrawerLoveEtsy

And how amazing is that?  It's even with bright yellow carnations!  I love the wall shelf too!

Saying Goodbye:  I've collected at least 20 of Our Lady Guadalupe candle holder vases in blue and red and if I think about how difficult it will be to find that many again, as a repetition artist, it does cause me some dismay and if I think of it as a recovering hoarder, it does cause me some conflicting discomfort too because I don't think I can ever find that many ever again!

However, I have to remind myself that I've moved on to collecting other religious Mexican Folk Art that doesn't take up so much room to store and perhaps, I'll figure out a way to display them without causing so much dusting maintenance.

Our Lady Guadalupe candle holder vase, available here in blue, in red here

photo via JunkDrawerLoveEtsy

What I Learned:

1.  I've been collecting many things since I was a child.  I think it might have been a way for my parents to keep me busy, but I'm not sure, since I come from generations of borderline collectors and hoarders from both sides of my family.

Anyways, I haven't added much to my collections lately and now that almost 1000 hoarded items have found new lives and homes. I've noticed that the empty space makes me uncomfortable and the itch to hoard again is growing, so I've allowed myself to collect again, but to keep it down to 3-5 areas, instead of over 100.

It was making a list of my collections that got me to realize that perhaps I was leaning a tad towards the hoarding side and that perhaps the hoard was interfering with my life!  Read my list here. What a wake up call!

2.  Now that I'm collecting again, I have found that not all Etsy shops are user friendly!  Yes, I was more than surprised and in shock when I bought something on Etsy that showed I was getting 60 small items, but when I got them there were only 45.  

When I inquired about it and asked what happened to the other 15, they shop owner told me that she hadn't bothered to count them and they were sold as used and not as mint.  Lastly, she thanked me for bringing it to her attention! And that was it!

So I emailed her back and wrote saying that would have been nice to know before I bought them and none of what she had just emailed me was in the description and certainly did not show that in the photos and that I'd take reimbursement for the 15 missing ones.

Guess what happened next? Next thing I know the entire shop is gone!  Luckily the transaction was less then an Andrew Jackson, but it still shocks me when I think about it. So buyer be aware, when a shop doesn't have very many items listed and doesn't take paypal and only credit cards, they can just close up and leave the buyer high and dry!

I know it can happen to anyone, but I didn't think it would happen on Etsy.  The silver lining in this lesson?  I will pay more attention to who I am buying from and will only use paypal for big ticket items now.  And I'll have to wait and see how much it slows down my latest collection binge!  Collecting is so fun!

Has an unexpected experience rattled you lately?  and how did you manage to land on your feet?  I am thankful that my unlucky experience didn't cost me much and instead, I gained insight on how to be a better shopper.

La Luna - sold out, Church nicho here, Angel eye nicho here and Sacred heart here

Cross nine patch quilt washi tape card here

photo via Hoarder Rehab

Thank you Etsy buyer for your thoughtfulness and email story that inspired mine!  Our Lady Guadalupe vase pops with yellow flowers in it!

Thank you Etsy for the ever evolving experiences and adventures!

Thank you US, UK, Qatar, Slovakia, Canada, Germany, Russia, Mexico, Netherlands, Thailand and many others for taking part in my HoarderRehab and The Destiny of Things!

My new goal is to keep listed at least 200 items from my hoard on each shop until the Christmas season!  I've already met that goal at The Destiny of Things, Hoarder Rehab and VintageToGoEasy!  I'm going to try and list new hoard daily at each shop and keep at least 200 items listed on three shops!

Click on the shop names to visit my new hoard listed daily: HoarderRehab with 200 items, The Destiny of Things- 197 items , VintageToGoEasy - 200 items and now JunkDrawerLoveEtsy - 182 items!  Maybe you'll find something to take home and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!

Ladder to Success: framed mixed media art, available here

photo via Hoarder Rehab

"The Universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it."---Marcus Aurelius