Friday, May 29, 2015

My Panasonic KP 110 Electric Pencil Sharpener & Halt and Catch Fire Photo Shoot: The Destiny of Things, Story 296

My Panasonic KP 110 Electric Pencil Sharpener & Halt and Catch Fire Photo Shoot:  The Destiny of Things, Story 296

Another item of mine in Halt and Catch Fire!

photo via Hoarder Rehab
It's sold, but you can see it's listing here

This was ordered from a different Etsy buyer than my other ones, which were a couple of boxes of Gemco paper clips.  I know the paper clips had the potential to be props in AMC's Halt and Catch Fire for sure because those were shipped directly to the studio and the buyer sent me an email.

However, my electric Panasonic pencil sharpener went to San Franscicso and I was told it will be in a Halt and Catch Fire photo shoot, not quite sure what that entitles, but all in all, it's still exciting to see my hoard off to be useful in something special!

photo via Hoarder Rehab
It's sold, but you can see it's listing here

I first saw one like it on a utube video, not sure how I got there, but if I remember correctly, the self proclaimed geek or was it nerd? loved their Panasonic pencil sharpener so much and raved about it with such excitement, I decided to dig out mine and see if it would find a new life outside my teacher hoard!

I've gotten many inquiries on it, especially requests on how pointy sharp the pencils, so much so that we took a photo of how well it sharpens pencils.  (If you need to see how sharp the pencils get go to the last photo in this link here.) get and how long it's going to work and I've even gotten a complaint!  Someone emailed me and told me that hers only worked for the first 10 pencils and on and on.

All I can say about mine is that it was gently used in a classroom and is pretty children proof, in the sense, it has heavy duty rubber suction feet, so it can't move and fall off the table while in use.  It has an auto stop, so my students could not run down their pencils into little stubbies, which they loved to do!

photo via Hoarder Rehab
It's sold, but you can see it's listing here

I say gently used because I only used mine when the heavy duty district industrial one was either stolen or in the repair shop.  I only remember it being the the repair shop once.  Mostly it would get stolen, our school would get hit almost every weekend, especially if you were in the bungalows and for sure every holiday weekend. 

If it was stolen, I would have to wait until it was my day to order weekly supplies to get a new one and teaching without sharpened pencils is like teaching without paper or books!  (although I have taught without books when I didn't have any for over a month!) I would have a monitor sharpen 60 pencils to keep on hand for emergency situations, like weekend vandalism and keep them in the trunk of my car!  

I could go on and on once I get started!  Enough of those crazy memories!

photo via Hoarder Rehab
It's sold, but you can see it's listing here 

Saying Goodbye:  I am so happy to say this going on to a better life to see better days by being in a Halt and Catch Fire photo shoot!   I am so thankful for the Etsy buyer taking it away and along with it my crazy teaching day memories!  Good riddance!

However, when I saw that it sold, I was a tad sad and did experience a tiny bit of separation anxiety, which I used to experience a lot when I first start to dehoard on Etsy.

Now that I think about it, during my childhood and teen years I would experience separation anxiety from my parents.  I wonder if it got carried over to things?  Note to self: google that later.

I have one box left, if anyone is interested, contact us at hoarderrehab@gmail.com
 or read the story and email from the Halt and Catch Fire set or prop designer, here.  I've seen his name in the credits, but I told him I'd leave him anonymous.

What I Learned:

1.  So many of my memories are caught up in my hoarded items!  Some good and some bad and I never know which until something leaves.  Unfortunately with this one, I can still picture driving into the school parking lot every Monday, which was the first indication of school wide vandalism.  If there was a lot of trash, broken beer bottles and even bullet shells and syringes then I would go to my classroom with my fingers crossed.  

Also, I can still see my classroom bungalow vandalized weekend after weekend, the door handle being knocked off with a hammer or rock and all I know is I had it better than most!  Mine was never tagged up or had tempura paint thrown all over the walls, floors and ceilings or worse yet, any excrement!

Thank God those days are behind me and I can mainly focus on the happy teaching times!

2.  I haven't been neglecting my blog too much, have I? The good news is I've been sleeping and catching up on years and years of insomnia, so something has to give!  The bad good news is that I've been getting a lot of stories from Etsy buyers and they are starting to pile up now!

Thank you Etsy buyers for all your support in one way or more!


Maybe my 80s mini boom box will find a new life next! Available here 
photo via Hoarder Rehab


Thank you Etsy buyer from Hoarder Rehab for sending me a tidbit of information on the new life of my electric pencil sharpener!   It always makes me smile and makes my day when someone takes the time to help me out!  Much appreciated.

Thank you Etsy for the best Hoarder Rehab venue ever!  I can't thank you enough! I am so thankful that my items are making their own new stories and making new memories wherever they are!

Thank you all readers from all over the world who have stopped by to visit my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things!
 
 or maybe my 80s teacher chalk from Dooley's, available here.  Does anyone remember Dooley's Hardware Store in Long Beach, California and it's three blocks of "everything" shopping emporium, 10 cent hot dogs in 1972 and the big huge lumberjack standing in protection, hit me up!
photo via JunkDrawerAndMore

My continued dehoarding goal is to maintain at least 200 items at each shop!

Click on the shop names to visit new hoard listed daily and/or weekly: HoarderRehab with 201 items, The Destiny of Things- 199 items, VintageToGoEasy - 199 items and now JunkDrawerAndMore - 205 items!  Maybe you'll find something to take home and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!
 
Looks like I need to list some new items tomorrow!

Thank you for taking part in my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things!
 
 Who is going to be the first one to get an ulcer on Halt and Catch Fire?
Watch Season 2 beginning this Sunday, May 31st!  I will be!
Funny, yet practical stacking mug, available here
photo via VintageToGoEasy 
 
Related Story from Halt and Catch Fire:
 
 
 80s Computasauras napkins designed by Cliff Galbraith, available herephoto via VintageToGoEasy 
 
Related stories from my inner city teaching days:
 
1.  Freddie the Frog:  Forgiving my inner city teacher past! Read here 

2.  Puffer Fish Boy Friend Christmas Gift:  Best student realia ever, read about it here  

3.  Receipt Spike and Service Bell:  Some of the best teacher tools ever

4.  How to Use 100 Corks:  Free teacher resource from my family and friends, here 

5.  Polaroid Camera Story:  teacher memories of trials and tribulations! 

6.  US Puzzle Maps here, more funny dark truthful funny teacher drama trauma! 

7.  90s Dixon Ticonderoga ORIOLE 267 Pencil Artist:  Post had me crying and today I'm angry and starting to feel sad again.  
 
"Love is not how you forget, but how you forgive.  Not how you listen, but how you understand.  Not what you see, but how you feel.  Not how you let go, but how you hold on."---Unknown

Friday, May 22, 2015

2 Piece Yellow Raffle Tickets: The Destiny of Things, Story 295

2 Piece Yellow Raffle Tickets:  The Destiny of Things, Story 295

I get some fun interesting stories from Etsy buyers and here is one of them....

 125 two part raffle coupon tickets, available here
photo via VintageToGoEasy

Hey what's going on?  

Thanks for the tickets. I'm not a teacher, I'm an electrician. The reason behind the purchase is due to the General Contractor requiring us to ride the bus from a parking lot 1 mile from the job site.  The only way to get inside the job site is by these yellow tickets. 

I'm a single full custody father to a 6 yr old and I can't imagine letting anything happen to him due to waiting for a ride back to my vehicle, so I get to park across the street thanks to you. 

We are building an additional tower to a children's hospital, it is a seven story building with 2 basements. I enjoy what I'm doing because I love helping children, especially kids with needs. I appreciate the sale. 

Have a good day

 125 two part raffle coupon tickets, available here
photo via VintageToGoEasy

So happy some yellow raffle tickets went to someone to help them save time and worry over their little one having to wait for a ride alone!  Who knew how handy these can be!

I asked if he was a teacher because these are a great teacher tool to teach so many different things.  I mainly used them for a homework reward and it was so fun and funny to teach math on how to better your odds to win the grand prize for raffle ticket time!  (Which was the last 10 minutes everyday with the grand prize raffle each Friday and premium prize every last day of the month!)

 125 two part raffle coupon tickets, available here
photo via VintageToGoEasy

These simple raffle tickets insure that the end of the day goes smoothly and in an orderly manner with clean up and pre dismissal time chores, like writing down homework, etc.  

It also improves listening skills and responsibility!  It must be quiet to hear the numbers being called out and who wants to be looking for their hard earned tickets during raffle time?  Be ready and prepared or who knows what one might miss!

Daily prizes were pencils, erasers, stickers, etc.  Grand prizes were in a treasure chest and some of the prizes were chosen by the class and were sometimes items they donated for the class new or recycled.  

Premium prizes were "My dog ate my homework, no worries" cards, first in line for a week, sitting next to your pick for a day (or an hour, depending on how long I could tolerate) and other things students prized the most.

These are the best "caught doing good" rewards to pass out too!

I think I've explained most of it for classroom use or read more it on as part of the description here.

These also make good party favors for raffle ticket time for any celebration of birthdays and weddings, especially at large events were food is being served and is a fun filler time activity while waiting for the next thing to begin.  

One doesn't need actual tangible prizes, they can be fun requests or sharing a memory about the host, or riddle or joke or getting a free drink.

 125 two part raffle coupon tickets, available here
photo via VintageToGoEasy

Saying Goodbye:  These are much more plentiful now than when I needed them teaching and I still use them in my card making.  I have more own stash saved and I do give these out as part of my "Thank you" package with each order.

What I Learned:

1.  One never knows how creative people are with how they are going to use something!  I am always surprised and amazed by the stories I receive.  So inspiring and fun!

2.  Speaking of inspiration, I haven't been very inspired lately with keeping up with my blog and I have a lot of stories piling up!  But I have been inspired and making huge progress on my hoarded up second room!  It doesn't look like a music art room yet, but I can safely say that there is enough space for the room to be vacuumed safely without worry of falling boxes!

As a matter of fact, I have made so much extra room that I am almost have enough extra space to empty my hoarded up truck and see what I've been storing in there for the past five years!

3.  I'm still not sleeping and getting up at 3 am, but I must say it's working in my favor because I am sure getting a whole lot more done!

Sample of some of the things that might be in a "Thank you" package with your order, which now includes a raffle ticket coupon just for fun!
or order the 20+ lucky fortune teller ephemera lot, here
 photo via VintageToGoEasy

Thank you Etsy buyer from VintageToGoEasy for sending me such a fun email! What a surprise to find such an interesting use for them! Thank you for taking the time to email me, it really made my day twice! Much appreciated.

Thank you Etsy for the best Hoarder Rehab venue ever!  I can't thank you enough! I am so thankful that my items are making such new stories and new memories wherever they are!

Thank you all readers from all over the world who have stopped by to visit my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things!
 
 I made this card for a friend to give to her sweetheart, the other half of the raffle ticket is glued lightly on to the back to be easily removed and redeemed for said prize written on the inside!  The sacred heart doily card is available here
 
 
My continued dehoarding goal is to maintain at least 200 -180 items at each shop, while I spend more time dehoarding my extra cab long bed truck! 
 
Click on the shop names to visit new hoard listed daily and/or weekly: HoarderRehab with 200 items, The Destiny of Things- 199 items, VintageToGoEasy - 201 items and now JunkDrawerAndMore - 202 items!  Maybe you'll find something to take home and share your story too!  Thanks for looking! 
 
Thank you for taking part in my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things! 

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Mini RIP Black Plastic Coffin Box: The Destiny of Things, Story 294

Mini RIP Black Plastic Coffin Box:  The Destiny of Things, Story 294

An Etsy buyer sent and email story and photo update!

These weren't selling to well and then all of a sudden they are almost gone!
Available with skull beads and glow in the dark beads, here
Or colorful clear plastic ones here

Here is the email I received:

Greetings, 

I just received my lovely coffin many thanks. I have an alter for my favorite deity Anubis.  Anubis is the Egyptian God of the dead. I show my appreciation for him by purchasing things I think he may like, skull,bones, coffins, and other death related items.  Enclosed is a pic of my alter,you may share it on your blog. Have a blessed day.

How cool is that!  I have never heard of Anubis, but I enjoyed learning about it here on wiki and the Egyptian, "Book of the Dead" and have always loved the look of Egyptian hieroglyphs.

Here is the pic of her alter:

photo via Etsy buyer from JunkDrawerAndMore
Thank you so much for the email and especially with a photo!

Love the alter and the rhinestone skull cap!  I wonder what it all means?  I just love alters and seeing other people's alters are so interesting to me.  I filled her RIP coffin with trinkets and I see some of it in her alter too, like the tiny skull bead and blue treasure chest.

I have my Grandparents shrines, one was Buddhist and another Tenrikyo and I used to mix and match them and rearrange them weekly with flowers, incense, Day of the Dead nichos and whatever else had meaning to me or my family that week too.

I would like to do that again, but for now I'll have to keep dehoarding to make room for such a space.

 If you just need 1-3 of these, I still have a few, but they are scuffed up.
Unfortunately that's how I received them.  Email me.
RIP black coffin box with skull beads and glow in the dark beads, here
Or colorful clear plastic ones here

Saying Goodbye:  I thought I was going to use these in my mixed media repetition art with my penny dolls, but I haven't yet.  I've saved a few of these, in case I change my mind, but I'm learning that I accumulate more ideas and supplies than actually spending the time making art.

I will have to work on doing more art!

Of course, at the time I couldn't decide on the RIP black coffins or the clear plastic colorful ones, so I bought them both!  

RIP black coffin box with skull beads and glow in the dark beads, here
Or colorful clear plastic ones here

What I Learned:  

1.  This Etsy buyer just bought "one" coffin.  I am always so surprised when someone just buys "one" thing and that's it!  As a recovering hoarder, I am cursed!  I make up all kinds of excuses to buy either one more or several more or add other things just to combine shipping!

Being an Etsy seller has taught me a lot about my hoarding habits because it really never has registered in my mind or daily life that other people do buy only "one" thing, until I became an Etsy seller.  My family buys in Costco like bulk, since I can remember Fedco and it's only because as an Etsy seller I've gotten several requests to just make a custom listing to buy "one" item.  Live and learn!

2.  This posting has motivated me to see which of my penny dolls will fit in these coffins.  I hope they fit in the clear ones!

3.  Also, I've figured out what causes my insomnia and how to cure it.  My allergies cause my insomnia, I guess from all the histamine flowing through my brain.

I recently bought some fabrics from a foreign country and it was either washed or sprayed with some heavily perfumed chemicals.  I've been buzzing, itching and feeling what I call, "hyper tired" since I opened the package.  I've washed the item several times and the smell does not seem as though it's going to go away any time soon.  Anyone have any solutions? Please email me!

The one thing that seems to help regulate my sleep now is getting up at 3 am because I'll knock out promptly at 9 pm.  For some reason, 3 am seems to be the magic hour for me.   Any earlier and I'll semi function through the day and any later, I'll just feel like a sleeping, but can't or feel like a wiped out bump on a log all day long.  

I know it's very strange, but I've probably tried over 100 different sleep remedies and waking up at 3 am is the only one that helps me in less time.  Daily cherry juice and kumquat jujube tea do work for me, but they take at least 3 months to kick in and by then my zombie brain takes over and it's difficult to stay on a routine.  Enough rambling.... I think that's a symptom of my allergies too! lol

RIP black coffin box with skull beads and glow in the dark beads, here
Or colorful clear plastic ones here

Thank you Etsy buyer from JunkDrawerAndMore for sending me a surprise email with photos! So very interesting to me!   It always makes me smile and feel good when someone takes the time to help me out!  Much appreciated.

Thank you Etsy for the best Hoarder Rehab venue ever!  I can't thank you enough! I am so thankful that my items are making their own new stories and making new memories wherever they are!

Thank you all readers from all over the world who have stopped by to visit my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things!

I made this shrine quickly as an example of my old nicho collection and loteria card art, available here at VintageToGoEasy or here at Hoarder Rehab
or search under "nicho" or "loteria art" at any of the shops.


My continued dehoarding goal is to maintain at least 200 items at each shop!

Click on the shop names to visit new hoard listed daily and/or weekly: HoarderRehab with 200 items, The Destiny of Things- 199 items, VintageToGoEasy - 200 items and now JunkDrawerAndMore - 199 items!  Maybe you'll find something to take home and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!
 
Looks like I need to list some new items tomorrow!

Thank you for taking part in my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things!
 
 Choose your poison: RIP toe tag drink markers or party place cards
Available in 20 count here or 100 count here 
 photo via JunkDrawerAndMore
 
Related Stories:
 
 
2.  Blood Bag Candy Favors, Coroner Name Tags & Fortune Fish:  The Destiny of Things, Story 187 used as decorative centerpiece table confetti party decor.
 
3.  Syringe Pens:  The Destiny of Things, Story 186  used as art show gallery props.

Mini organ transplant containers, available here
 photo via JunkDrawerAndMore

"Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder."---Plato

Thank you for stopping by and being part of my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things!

Friday, May 8, 2015

Giraffe Cocktail Drink Charm Cake Topper: The Destiny of Things, Story 293

Giraffe Cocktail Drink Charm Cake Topper:  The Destiny of Things, Story 293

Traditionally used as cocktail drink charms, but are also known to sneak on cakes and.....

A small herd of 5 giraffes, available here

I'll let our Etsy buyer tell you her cute fun story.  Here is her email:

One of these little giraffes came on a sandwich I ordered in about 2010. I took it and put it in the console of my car. For some reason I really enjoy seeing it there. I've changed cars twice since then and have always made sure to take him with me.

About two weeks ago he went missing. It's such a silly thing, but it really bothered me. I looked everywhere and could not find him. Then one day I got out of my car and there he was in the driveway, but now he was a paraplegic and was missing an ear!

I thought about keeping my paraplegic giraffe, but thought that would be sort of sad. I decided to retire him and put him in with my other keepsakes. But, my car just wasn't right without the giraffe. I decided to search online and came across your shop. Once I saw the giraffes I knew I had to have them.

Good luck with all the changes that you're making in your life. Change is often difficult, but it can be very rewarding. I've recently made some big changes as well. I know how hard it is to change habits, thought patterns, and behaviors. But, it really is worth it.

A small herd of 5 giraffes, available here

Wow, she had her giraffe for five years!  Above is how they look on a beverage glass.  I bet one would look really cute on a sandwich too!  

And I can relate and know how over attached I can get to many of my favorite things! 

Here is what I wrote back:

Hi Lauren!

Wow! What a fantastic inspiring story! I love it and will use it on my blog this week! (and leave you anonymous) Thank you so much for taking the time to leave me your fun inspirational story and for the understanding words of encouragement.

And you are so right! It really is worth it. I've been dehoarding with purpose and consciously now for over 2 years and it's working! Well, on some days, better than others, but baby steps onwards and upwards!

Many many thanks for being such a big part of my Hoarder Rehab via JunkDrawerandMore and best wishes to your big changes as well!

Kindest regards,
Kennedy 

A small herd of 5 giraffes, available here

Saying Goodbye:  These little guys are have a strong link to my childhood memories.  I probably would have collected them all back then, but my brother and I would play with them all the time and I don't remember them surviving more than a week!

I started collecting them in the 80s when they were very difficult to find and through the years ended up with a herd of shoe boxes full of them!  From mermaids, monkeys, bulls, donkeys, elephants, camels and of course, giraffes.  The only one I don't have is a mouse and I've only seen it once and was outbid for it!  I wonder how many different others ones are out there....

Oh and I have one of each in all their various colors!

Get your own smaller set of 24, but in different colors here
or a mini set of 6 animals here

What I Learned:

1.  After I started letting go of my over abundance of these cocktail charms, Etsy buyers sent in their stories saying they were using them as cupcake and cake toppers too!  Now they are becoming very popular and appear to becoming another best seller item from my childhood!

2.  So it seems my dehoarding is turning into something else!  I was taking some of the proceeds to buy the colors that are more difficult to find, like pink mermaids, pink elephants and the elusive mouse, but I have kept my own collection down to one junk drawer.

3.  I think I might frame some in the same manner as the photo above.  Although, they do look much better on any cocktail glass, especially champagne, Margaritas and Martinis!

Mini set of 6 animals here

Thank you Etsy buyer from for sending me such an encouraging email, especially since I've been away from blogland for over a week or so. Thanks for inspiring to get back on track. Much appreciated.

Thank you Etsy for the best Hoarder Rehab venue ever!  I can't thank you enough! I am so thankful that many Etsy buyers are sharing their fun sentimental back stories of special and favorite items!

Thank you all readers from all over the world who have stopped by to visit my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things!

 Mini cocktail sampler with mermaid and animals, available here

I am maintaining at least 200 items at each shop!

Click on the shop names to visit new hoard listed daily and/or weekly: HoarderRehab with 200 items, The Destiny of Things- 200 items, VintageToGoEasy - 204 items and now JunkDrawerAndMore - 202 items!  Maybe you'll find something to take home and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!

Thank you for taking part in my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things!
 
 Monkeys in 50 or 100 count, available here
 photo via Hoarder Rehab

Does anyone know what these are properly called?  Cocktail bar ware accessories just doesn't sound right to me....  There must be some kind of official name for these?

Most items sold in bulk are on Hoarder Rehab
Mermaids, available in 30, 50, 75 or 100 count, here

Thank you for stopping by and taking part in my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things!

"Onwards and upwards!"---MDF Club