Wednesday, August 3, 2016

500 Swami Madame X Machine Refill Replacements: The Destiny of Things, Story 399

500 Swami Madame X Machine Refill Replacements:  The Destiny of Things, Story 399

These went to an Etsy buyer's dear friend!

500 Ask Swami Madame X fortune teller cards refill replacement NOS Twilight Zone party confetti, available here
photo via VintageToGoEasy

I received a message saying that these were going into her friend's Swami Machine at his coffee shop!  How exciting!

If I had a friend with a coffee shop and a Swami machine, I think I might hang out daily just for my cup of Joe and fortune of the morning!  

Here's a side view of the Ask Swami machine with napkin dispenser!

 I've always wanted one of these, but never did find one thrifting! Probably a good thing for a recovering hoarder.

Saying Goodbye:  I think my hoarding days are coming to an end, so I won't have many extras of these anymore for my art.

My big plan was to wall paper the bathroom wall next to the toilet with these, so one could pick out their fortune of the day!  Unfortunately as a real estate investor, we don't stay in one place for too long and well, the resale value of one of these walls isn't great and neither is the thought of taking the wall with me.

Now I just send them out with snail mail.

Front of cards, tell your fortune like a deck of cards.
500 Ask Swami Madame X fortune teller cards refill replacement NOS Twilight Zone party confetti, available here
photo via VintageToGoEasy

What I Learned:

1.  I probably have more art projects in my head and supplies in my hoard than I can use in a lifetime!

2.  Lately, I've been writing down my art projects with the supplies that I already have, it's become a very long list and I've been putting the projects in boxes and they have already made a hoard stack!  They are overflowing from the one shelf onto another already!

3.  Somethings gotta give, so I have more time and space for my projects!  I tried getting up earlier, but still need more time, despite waking up 4 hours earlier a day.  I've cut down on my Etsy time and blogging time and that has helped some, but not enough.  What to do?

4.  I think I'm going to dehoard a little faster and start donating my stuff!  Did I, the recovering hoarder part of me, just say that?  Well, I'm going to try to bag some things up for the closest yet far enough thrift store, so I don't try and go get my stuff back!  

And when I take this stuff over there, it's going to take a lot of strength for me to try and ignore the voices in my head that say things like, What about the fomo (fear of missing out)?  What if you need that later for a project?  I think I know how to use that right now!  What if I finally figure out what that unidentified unknown objects function is?

Wish me luck!

Back of cards, tell your fortune like a deck of cards.
500 Ask Swami Madame X fortune teller cards refill replacement NOS Twilight Zone party confetti, available here
photo via VintageToGoEasy

Thank you Etsy buyer from VintageToGoEasy for sharing your story as I share mine.  I think all these stories has really helped me, as a recovering hoarder.  Let's see how my next dehoarding experiment goes!

Thank you Etsy for the best Hoarder Rehab ever!  And for all the kind people I'm meeting who are helping me indirectly and directly in so many ways with my Hoarder Rehab!  I've been gleaning so much insight about my hoarding ways!

Thank you readers from all over the world who continue to support my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things by taking part with your visits!
 Here is how it dispenses out of one of the machines.  Just plop in your penny and pull down the lever and out comes your fortune!
photo via EM Arcade History Index 

I'll be listing new items tomorrow, if the M80s stop going off around here in the middle of the night and I can wake up at the crack of dawn! 

Click on the shop names to visit new hoard listed daily and/or weekly: HoarderRehab with 181 items, The Destiny of Things- 182 items, VintageToGoEasy - 188 items and JunkDrawerAndMore - 181 items.
 
Looks like several shop needs some new listings for next week!
 
Maybe you'll find something to adopt and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!
Related Stories: 

1.  If you want to see the Swami dispenser machine, the really cool Twilight Zone dispenser from the episode with William Shatner, which the machine was called, the Mystic Seer:  500 Replacement Fortune Teller Cards for Madame X Penny Napkin Dispenser Machine:  The Destiny of Things, Story 298

 
3.  My first story about these fortune teller cards:  Ask Swami Fortune Teller Cards:  The Destiny of Things, Story #115 
 
4.  Fun childhood memories from an Etsy buyer:  Madame X Fortune Teller and Parakeets:  The Destiny of Things, Story #149  
 

8.  Fortune Teller Wedding Booth:  The Destiny of Things, Story 340 :  An Etsy buyers made a fortune teller booth and her sister is going to dress up as a fortune teller ans pass these out!  She sent an update photo of the booth she will use!

Thank you readers from all over the world who continue to support my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things by taking part with your visits!
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Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Maneko Neko Lucky Cat Banner for New Shop Owners: The Destiny of Things, Story 398

Maneko Neko Lucky Cat Banner for New Shop Owners:  The Destiny of Things, Story 398

A Japanese beckoning lucky cat is welcoming new business for you!

Maneki neko Japanese Beckoning Welcome Good Luck Fortune Money Cat Cloth Textile Fabric Panel Banner, available here
photo via Hoarder Rehab

Here is the email:

Good morning Kennedy,

I'm interested in purchasing this item, but I was wondering what part of Japan this comes from? No worries if you don't know, but I'm planning to give it as a gift and it would be cool to tell the recipient where it originates.

Thank you.

Maneki neko Japanese Beckoning Welcome Good Luck Fortune Money Cat Cloth Textile Fabric Panel Banner, available here
photo via Hoarder Rehab

Here's what I wrote back:

Hi there!

Thank you for your email and inquiry. It came with a bunch of old Japanese boro textiles I purchased from someone who said they lived in the countryside of Japan. I might be able to find it's shipping package, if I haven't reused it yet, but it's been a long time.

Best regards and have a good day,
Kennedy 

and she wrote back:

Hi Kennedy,
That's great to know, thanks! Don't drive yourself crazy finding the original shipping package; I was just wondering. Anyway, I just purchased it and can't wait to see it! I think it'll make a great gift.
Best.

I did drive myself a little crazy looking for the package and the boro textiles they came with, but I couldn't find either!  Yikes!  More stuff getting lost in my hoard!
Maneki neko Japanese Beckoning Welcome Good Luck Fortune Money Cat Cloth Textile Fabric Panel Banner, available here
photo via Hoarder Rehab

Saying Goodbye:  I have several of these saved and I know where they are because I give these to my friends and family when they open a new shop and I was thinking of sewing two together to make a cute bag.

I'd just have to sew the sides and the bottom together, put a string through the top panels to make a draw string side closure and leave the string in the top rivet for another closure.  At least that was my idea at the time.  I have not tried it yet!

Maneki neko Japanese Beckoning Welcome Good Luck Fortune Money Cat Cloth Textile Fabric Panel Banner, available here
photo via Hoarder Rehab

What I find interesting about the Maneko neko from wikipedia:

1. The maneki-neko (Japanese: 招き猫, literally "beckoning cat") is a common Japanese figurine (lucky charm, talisman) which is often believed to bring good luck to the owner. In modern times, they are usually made of ceramic or plastic.

The figurine depicts a cat (traditionally a calico Japanese Bobtail) beckoning with an upright paw, and is usually displayed—often at the entrance—of shops, restaurants, pachinko parlors, and other businesses. Some of the sculptures are electric or battery-powered and have a slow-moving paw beckoning. The maneki-neko is sometimes also called the welcoming cat, lucky cat, money cat, happy cat, beckoning cat, or fortune cat in English

2. Some believe the maneki-neko originated in Osaka, while some insist it was Tokyo (then named Edo).[5] Maneki-neko first appeared during the later part of the Edo period in Japan.[5] In 1876, during the Meiji era, it was mentioned in a newspaper article, and there is evidence that kimono-clad maneki-neko were distributed at a shrine in Osaka during this time. A 1902 advertisement for maneki-neko indicates that by the turn of the century they were popular.[7]

Beyond this the exact origins of maneki-neko are uncertain, though several folktales offer explanations.

Others have noted the similarities between the maneki-neko's gesture and that of a cat washing its face. There is a Japanese belief that a cat washing its face means a visitor will soon arrive. This belief may in turn be related to an even older Chinese proverb that states that if a cat washes its face, it will rain. Thus, it is possible a belief arose that a figure of a cat washing its face would bring in customers.

3. Maneki-neko can be found with either the right or left paw raised (and sometimes both). The significance of the right and left raised paw differs with time and place. A common belief is that the raised left paw brings in customers, while a right paw brings good luck and wealth,[4] although some believe the opposite, or that one paw is for luck and the other for wealth.[5] Another interpretation says that a raised left paw attracts money, while a raised right paw protects it.[citation needed]

Still others say that a left paw raised is best for drinking establishments, the right paw for other stores[5] (those who hold their liquor well are called "left-handed" (hidari-kiki) in Japanese).[citation needed] Yet another interpretation is that right is for home and left for business.[5]

 Another famous Japanese animal, Tanuki, the magic badger raccoon dog teapot, mini wooden figurine for terrarium or shelf display, available here
photo via Hoarder Rehab 

What I Learned:

1.  This bring back childhood memories for me because many in my family owned different shops and had banners like these in the door way or close to the doorway.

2.  I bought this for myself and give them away to friends and family when they open new shops, so I have my own stash!

3.   I am shocked that I still can not find the boro cloth that came with these lucky cat banners, nor the package, but most likely I've reused the package.  Just when I thought my hoard organization was improving I have a little set back!

That's okay! Onwards and upwards!

 Also from my childhood...
I have the entire family of these with the largest red one from my Grandmother, the larger ones come in blue and red and the 2 smaller ones in blue and red too.  An extra red one is shown above.
Small vintage red kokeshi bento stacking picnic snack container, available here 
photo via Hoarder Rehab 

Thank you Etsy buyer from Hoarder Rehab for asking me a question that was such a great reminder to go hoard diving and to inspire me to continue organizing because there are still things I can't find!  I did find more of kimono boro hoard, but not the indigos that came with the neko.
 
Thank you Etsy for the best Hoarder Rehab ever!  And for all the kind people I'm meeting who are helping me indirectly and directly in so many ways with my Hoarder Rehab!  I've been gleaning so much insight about my hoarding ways!

Thank you readers from all over the world who continue to support my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things by taking part with your visits!
 
 I forget which ones, but the tabi socks are from my childhood and the getas are from a trip to Japan in the 70s, available here
They are from relatives in Japan who gave our whole family a traditional summer Japanese kimono outfit to wear for family pictures.
photo via Hoarder Rehab 
 

I've been new listing and relisting items on each shop daily and weekly, so check them out!

Click on the shop names to visit new hoard listed daily and/or weekly: HoarderRehab with 181 items, The Destiny of Things- 181 items, VintageToGoEasy - 187 items and JunkDrawerAndMore - 185 items.
 
Looks like several shop needs some new listings for next week!
 
Maybe you'll find something to adopt and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!
 
 I have quite the collection of tansus from a huge 8 step stairway tansu, to a little childhood tansu, like the one above.  The one above is available here
photo via Hoarder Rehab 
 
Related Stories:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thank you readers from all over the world who continue to support my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things by taking part with your visits!
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Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Ayako Miyawaki's Boro Rag Art 90s Book: Hoarder Rehab Inspiration or Desperation, Story 22

Ayako Miyawaki's Boro Rag Art 90s Book:  Hoarder Rehab Inspiration or Desperation, Story 22

Ayako Miyawaki:  The Art of Japanese Applique Book

This is the best of the 2 copies of her book published by The National Museum of Women in the Arts, from January 1992, available here
photo via Hoarder Rehab

In Ayako Miyawaki's book, she calls it rag art, most likely due to the Japanese to English translation of boro, which is quite popular now.

My mom has been collecting boro since I've been a kid, but she never called it boro, she just kept her favorite old worn out things, like her best dress from high school, my Grandmother's favorite house dress and the futon she and my dad received as a wedding gift, even our childhood Snoopy sheets!

In the 70s, everyone in our family, even uncles and aunts,  had a shirt or vest made from Japanese rice cloth bags, she had saved through the years.  Botan rice bags were her favorites.

By the 80s or 90s, she was calling it, boro and had a huge collection of Japanese indigo, ikat and her most favorite, sake boro bags, which she brought back from her trips to Japan.

In the late 90s, I started my own rag quilt, called "The Inner City Alphabet Quilt."  I used much of my teacher clothes from my student teaching days and my first years of "real" teaching.  

I was an inner city teacher for over 20 years and much of my influence for the quilt came from all my students, our experiences and the 1992 Los Angeles riots.  Sadly, every year at least one student at our school died from a drive by and most of my students didn't think they'd live past their 13th birthday.

When I showed my quilt pieces to my mom, it reminded her so much of Ayako Miyawaki's, The Art of Japanese Applique Book that she dug it up and gave it to me!  She said she found the book years ago, in the free bin at one of her quilting functions.  Can you imagine?  She gave me the book in the late 90s.

My copy is in distress from so much use, but this one is in really really good condition, so I listed it.

Here are some photos that are not in the listing:  as you can see the book hasn't even been really cracked open yet.

 She seemed to love all nature and appliqued a lot of veggies!
Ayako Miyawaki:  The Art of Japanese Applique Book published by The National Museum of Women in the Arts, from her January 1992 exhibit in Wahsington, DC, available here
photo via Hoarder Rehab

 I see mostly edibles in her work, so these landscapes are a nice change!
Ayako Miyawaki:  The Art of Japanese Applique Book published by The National Museum of Women in the Arts, from her January 1992 exhibit in Wahsington, DC, available here
photo via Hoarder Rehab

 Looks like she might have been using sake boro bags too!
Ayako Miyawaki:  The Art of Japanese Applique Book published by The National Museum of Women in the Arts, from her January 1992 exhibit in Wahsington, DC, available here
photo via Hoarder Rehab

 I love her applique flowers and have her applique flower book too, but it's a very small book and this book has photos twice the size!
Ayako Miyawaki:  The Art of Japanese Applique Book published by The National Museum of Women in the Arts, from her January 1992 exhibit in Wahsington, DC, available here
photo via Hoarder Rehab

 My favorite of her applique flowers are her poppies, it's a popular photo and I've tried to show less common ones of hers.
Ayako Miyawaki:  The Art of Japanese Applique Book published by The National Museum of Women in the Arts, from her January 1992 exhibit in Wahsington, DC, available here
photo via Hoarder Rehab

I hope you had as nice a stroll as I have today and got a good dose of inspiration!

Ayako Miyawaki:  The Art of Japanese Applique Book published by The National Museum of Women in the Arts, from her January 1992 exhibit in Wahsington, DC, available here
photo via Hoarder Rehab

Saying Goodbye:  Luckily I have my own well loved worn copy of this book, so I won't be sad at all when this book finds a new life and home!  As a matter of fact, I have many double copies of applique quilt books to list because people keep giving me the same copies for some reason as gifts!

I think I also have several copies of Janet Bolton applique books too, if only I could find them in my hoard!  I'm pretty sure they are all in a box together with all my favorite quilting books for inspiration!

Here is the beginning of my "Inner City Alphabet Quilt,"  A is for apple, b is for boy (that's a self portrait one of my students made of himself), c is for cat and D is for drive by.  I have made pieces all the to M is for money.  The apple most reminds me of Ayako Miyawaki's work.

What I Learned:

1.  I had the apple applique photo all ready to share by itself for this posting and it has now vanished into thin air!  I have spent over 30 minutes looking for it, but can not find it.  I'm a bit cranky over it!  Between the heat wave over here and the lack of sleep for a month due to m80s still going off for Independence Day, I'm wiped out!

2.  Inspiration or Desperation?  I feel a little bit of both at the moment and I'm getting pushed over more to the Desperation side. Although, I am inspired by Ayako's appliques every time I look at them, however right now, I am feeling some what desperate over the thought of how much cloth, most of them my own rags, quilts and kimonos, lol I have collected over they years and yet, I still can't find the box of rags that I started this quilt with!

3.  Quilting takes up a lot of space and storing all the fabrics I "MIGHT" need is not the best thing for a recovering hoarder like me!  I have no idea what to do about it either, it's been on the back burner until I can find new home and lives for all the rest of my hoard!

4.  Will I ever finish this quilt? and what will it take besides more patience than I have at the moment?

How many projects do you have started and intend to finish?  Don't get me started or my little hoarder mind might explode!  What to do with all the projects I've started or intend to start and all the stuff I've bought for them?  How do I end this crazy cycle?

Here are some of my smaller works, I think there are 3 left, available here
photo via Hoarder Rehab

I've been new listing and relisting items on each shop daily and weekly, so check them out!  I heard several M80s last night, but I did sleep better than usual!  Yipee!

Click on the shop names to visit new hoard listed daily and/or weekly: HoarderRehab with 183 items, The Destiny of Things- 180 items, VintageToGoEasy - 184 items and JunkDrawerAndMore - 184 items.
 
Maybe you'll find something to adopt and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!
 
 The apple applique photo miraculously showed up after I gave up looking for it!  This piece is made from my college day rags!  A couple of sleeves from my college make up the background and the stem, a pillow from my my college apartment is the apple and a pencil skirt from my student teaching days made the leaf.

Related Stories:  I've been attempting smaller projects until I can get to and find my rag hoard to finish my Inner City Alphabet Quilt, but lately I've been too tired to do much of anything.  I have been mending some, but I don't think anyone really wants to see that!
 
2. Not a huge rip in my favorite jeans!  Before pix  Mending as a Creative Outlet, Story 1   
 
3.  Other Creative Outlet Stories on this blog, here  

"A stitch a day keeps the hoard away."---Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things
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Monday, July 18, 2016

Mermaid Drink Toppers & Fortune Fish for Stocking Stuffers and More! The Destiny of Things, Story 397

Mermaid Drink Toppers & Fortune Fish for Stocking Stuffers and More!  The Destiny of Things, Story 397

Wow!  Etsy buyers are already getting ready for Christmas!

30, 50, 75 or 100 mini Little Mermaid wine cocktail drink toppers, available here
photo via Hoarder Rehab

Etsy buyer, Carla and Etsy shop owner of DaffodillLaneStudio ordered a large amount of these for Christmas stocking stuffers for her daughters to use at their cocktail parties! 

And she ordered Fortune Fish to use as "thank you" inserts for her art assemblage dolls she sells at her shop, DaffodillLaneStudio.

 50 or 100 or 150+ Fortune Teller Fish, available here
photo via Hoarder Rehab

Each package has a little cellophane fish inside it.  Simply take the fish out and set it in the palm of your hand and it's movements or lack of movements will tell you your love fortune for the moment at hand.

Each fish has directions on how to use them on them.
50 or 100 or 150+ Fortune Teller Fish, available here
photo via Hoarder Rehab

Then just check the back of the package to see what your fish foretells!  All ages young and old loves these because who doesn't love a dancing fish!  For the older folk it will bring back memories and for the little ones, it's a magic moving fish and will make new memories!

 Great vocabulary builder for children, especially synonymous and antonyms.
Also a great lesson in chemistry for science as a fun teachable moment!
50 or 100 or 150+ Fortune Teller Fish, available here
photo via Hoarder Rehab

Saying Goodbye:  I have my own reserve of the fortune telling fish and the mermaid drink toppers for all guests of any age.   When I was a teacher, I used the fortune fish through out the year, usually to teach math and science through magic during Halloween and vocabulary building and English Language Development fun during Valentines.

An example of how to use the mermaids for a Halloween or birthday party.
Ursala-tini's for the adults and Mermaid punch for the kids!
We also have the mermaids in red and green, if needed for a Christmas party!
30, 50, 75 or 100 mini Little Mermaid wine cocktail drink toppers, available here
photo via Hoarder Rehab

What I Learned:

1.  Etsy buyers are already getting prepared for Christmas!  I guess it's all the Christmas in July promotions.  Last Friday's posting was from willowvalleyvintage, who ordered some mini ballerinas to make some sugar plum fairies!  And it was their treasury that brought us all together!  Thank you!  

1.  It just amazes me as to how much of my hoard has become some of our most popular items at our shops!  It's been a real surprise to see what sells and becomes most popular.  Much of it has been from my teacher destash, like the fortune teller fish.

2.   I've been collecting cocktail drink toppers for many years now and had many boxes of these all sorted by color and animals, etc.  They bring back memories of my childhood with Shirley Temple drinks, but many Etsy buyers use them as cake toppers!  From Frida Kahlo fiesta la sirena Day of the Dead to Little Mermaid, Peter Pan, Pirate, and Beach weddings and birthday celebrations!

3.  I use the fortune teller fish as card inserts, thank you packaging inserts, in surprise balls, Advent calendar fun, my mixed media art and bon bon cracker snaps prizes!  even as book markers!

How will you use yours?

In smaller amounts, like 8 or more and in different colors, available here
photo via VintageToGoEasy

Thank you creative Etsy buyer Carla and Etsy shop owner of DaffodillLaneStudio for the inspiration and fun ideas for "thank you" inserts and to plan ahead for Christmas stocking stuffer gifts. 
 
Check out her shop, DaffodillLaneStudio often because I'm hoping her Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas doll compositions are as darling cute as her 4th of July assemblages!  
 
I just love her creative fun shop because it has a lot of stuff that I'd love to make too, like this pink July 4th doll, this purple doll assemblage and that Kewpie style twins!  And my last favorite is this one because this doll is named after her shop!  or at least that's what I think.
 
Maybe I will join in the fun and transform some of my frozen Charlotte penny dolls too!  She has taken such detail and care in creating her assemblages.  So inspiring, so motivating!  Thank you, Carla!
 
Also by coincidence or was it fate?  Carla found the fortune fish in a Treasury made by willowvalleyvintage.  And they both ended up ordering and sharing their stories and ideas with me!  How cool is that?  Read willowvalleyvintage, below, in related stories!
 
Thank you Etsy for the best Hoarder Rehab ever!  And for all the kind people I'm meeting who are helping me indirectly and directly in so many ways with my Hoarder Rehab!  I've been gleaning so much insight about my hoarding ways!

Thank you readers from all over the world who continue to support my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things by taking part with your visits!
 
 I have several dozens of these dolls and just love vintage velvet and silk flowers, so maybe if they don't find new homes, I'll make them into something different, like Carla has inspired!  Choose a bisque frozen Charlotte penny doll, here

I've been new listing and relisting items on each shop daily and weekly, so check them out!  I didn't hear one M80 last night, so maybe I'll be able to get some sleep now!  Yipee!

Click on the shop names to visit new hoard listed daily and/or weekly: HoarderRehab with 183 items, The Destiny of Things- 181 items, VintageToGoEasy - 184 items and JunkDrawerAndMore - 183 items.
 
Maybe you'll find something to adopt and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!
 
 This is about as far as I get with my figurine assemblage, so maybe I should try getting more fancy and detailed now that I've been inspired.  What has inspired you today?  Sweet little rabbit with flower, available here
 
Related Stories:
 
 
 
 
4.  How the fortune teller fish work:  Teachable Moments with  Fortune Fish Tellers:  The Destiny of Things, Story 180 
 
5.  I think we all might have met each other through an Etsy treasury by willowvalleyvintage, who shared their story and ideas too, here, Mini Sugar Plum Fairy Ballerinas:  The Destiny of Things, Story 396
 
"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."

View my House of Cards - Frank Underwood, Harmony quote double sided reversible washi tape collage art here, here and here!  It's a series of three so far!
Above is my first in the series.
photo via Hoarder Rehab
 
Thanks for stopping bye!
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