80s - 90s Sticker Collection for Teacher Classroom Student Rewards: The Destiny of Things, Story LXXII

80s - 90s Sticker Collection for Teacher Classroom Student Rewards:  The Destiny of Things, Story LXXII

Some of my hoarded sticker collection has found a better life and new home!

Thank you Judy for your story, understanding, support and good hoarder ideas!  Here's her email:

Hi! 

I totally understand hoarding and the reasons behind it -- I live in a small home and it actually prevents me from accumulating too much! When I get something in (a piece of clothing for instance) I have to get rid of something else because I just don't have enough room to store or hang everything! 

I bought these cute stickers because I have a "treasure box" that I keep for my young nieces and nephews. When they visit, I let them choose something from it so these stickers will make a nice addition for my treasure box! 

I'm always looking for new and different things to add to it and these stickers will be a perfect little "treasure". Thank you so much for your sweet email and I wish you the best of luck with all of YOUR treasures! 

Sincerely, 

Judy from Huntington Beach, CA

It was so fun and informative receiving this email and brings me back to my treasure chests.  I have two of them.  One is old fashioned cardboard, the kind I remember from the dentist office and I have a metal one, both I used in the classroom.  I've already filled up the metal treasure box with vintage dime store toys, see it here.  Scroll down towards the middle.

On to my sticker collection...

Saying Good-bye:  I had a stamp collection as a child that turned into a sticker collection, but I haven't found my stickers from childhood yet, mostly Sanrio, nor my stamp collection, but I did find a vast amount of stickers from my teaching days!  A different set of 100 stickers are at Hoarder Rehab here or The Destiny of Things here.

I am so happy to let these go and it's an extra bonus knowing they are going to a new life of fun prizes in a treasure chest for little nieces and nephews and have a new home in Huntington Beach, California.  It's such a relief to know that even after some stacked up stress from the fender bender injury, kitchen remodeling and insomnia that it's still easy to let go of my hoarded items or as Judy says, my treasures!

What I Learned:

1.  I've heard this before and I don't know why, but the idea from Judy must have come at the right time and place because it seems simple to let go of something to bring in something new.  As for me, I think I need to let go of more before I buy anymore.

I haven't been buying much, except for the occasional set up reward.  I do like the obvious rule of one in and one out and I think it will help me maintain my recovering hoarder ways.

2.  Clearing out the kitchen for a remodel has been eye opening.  I wonder how much more I can let go from the kitchen!  It's taken up all the space in the dining room and living room and I want to do something about it, but I'll focus on the second room, since it's the worst and since my main goal is to have a music art room.  The kitchen will have to wait til after I have my Minimalist Organic home, have the music art room in order, and dehoard my truck!

3. My mind was less cluttered until the kitchen remodel, now it's back to being muddled and my stress level is higher from seeing the mass of clutter in kitchen in the dining and living room and not being able to find items when needed, like my morning coffee.  

I couldn't help move things, since I can't lift or carry anything to let my neck and back heal from the fender bender, so I feel even more disorientated as to where to begin searching!

This is all a good reminder to continue dehoarding and that a cluttered house does lead to cluttered thinking!

Thank you Judy for sharing your story with thoughtfulness, wishes and good ideas!  I hope your nieces and nephews love the addition to your treasure chest of goodies!  

Also, thank you for the maintenance idea, however I think I'll need to use it a little more extremely with one item in and 10-20 items out!

Thank you Etsy for having such a productive outlet for me and my hoard and for another connection that supports my hoarding recovery, dreams and goals!

Thank you US, Russia, Germany, China, Spain, France, Israel, Canada, Croatia, Poland, UK and Venezuela for stopping by since my last post and taking part in my HoarderRehab:  The Destiny of Things via VintageToGoetsy!  click on the links to see my hoard!

Other Related Stories:

1.  What to do with my treasure chests:   Last of my Retail Therapy as Easy Stress Relief

2.  HoarderRehab Meltdown:  The stress that lead to Retail Therapy

3.  Other ways to cope with Hoarder Stress:  Destiny as Infinity, a HoarderRehab Epiphany

Miswak Twig Toothbrush Update: HoarderRehab Review #3, part 2

Miswak Twig Toothbrush Update:  HoarderRehab Review #3, part 2

I've been using this Miswak twig for a toothbrush now for over 2 months! 

photo via Hoarder Rehab, miswak toothbrush, available here

They look about the same from two months ago.  I've only had to cut mine twice about once a month or when I think it's not brushing as well.  mr. oz cuts his more often because he likes long bristles.

PROS:

1.  Still cleans my teeth, like I've just returned from getting my teeth cleaned, but without visiting the dental hygienist.  Clean, fresh, smooth and polished!  I don't have any cavities, but I have two gold crowns and two porcelain ones and it keeps them clean too without any issues.  Also, the tiny cracked tooth area that had black plaque on it is now almost free of it.

2.  No toothpaste needed but sometimes I dab a little organic coconut oil on it if I don't want to start off dry or some soak it in some water first.  Most of the time,  I dry brush the tops of my molars until it gets soft and continue brushing.

3.  I love the smallness of it, it seems to be just the right size to clean my teeth.  And I can hold it like a pencil or paintbrush for easier brushing of hard to reach places.  Works great for me, since I am someone with a small mouth and it helps me reach all my teeth, but especially the back of my teeth and my back molars.

4.  I've been using short bristles, but I think I'll experiment with longer bristles next and see if it brushes better.  The Miswak bristles work much better than a conventional toothbrush for brushing my tongue.  Although it's smaller, it cleans my tongue much better and more easily.

5.  I don't have to brush in the bathroom anymore.  I brush while reading or watching a movie.  I tend to brush longer and more thoroughly while being able to multi-task.

6.  I like the fact that it's a green product and biodegradable and won't need to be in a landfill.

7.  One seems to be growing a root!  So maybe we'll be able to grow our own toothbrushes! See picture below.

 

photo via Hoarder Rehab, miswak toothbrush, available here

CONS:

1.  It used to taste like mild horseradish with cinnamon to me, but now I don't even notice the taste.

2.  It can only be bought online or as far as I have found.

3.  As I said in my original review, it does cost more than a dollar store toothbrush, which a dentist commented and recommended buying a toothbrush from the grocery store, but I was buying toothbrushes from the dollar store that were the same as the grocery store sold

I can find the Miswak toothbrushes for $2 each, which is fine with me because I think the Miswak works better than any conventional toothbrush.

4.  I still need to floss!  I read a review and she said the Miswak brushed so well, she didn't have to floss.

5.  A cigar cutter might come in handy if one likes precise uniform length bristles.  I just use a scissor or knife to trim or cut off the old and peel off the bark with my fingers.

6.  Lastly, when I brushed after eating salmon the fish smell stayed on my Miswak.  I tried soaking it in water and rinsing it well and ended up just cutting off the bristles.  Next time I'll try baking soda.  I haven't noticed it happening with other foods.

photo via Hoarder Rehab, miswak toothbrush, available here

 OTHER "SUPPOSED" MIRACLES

1.  It does seem to make my teeth whiter, but I didn't take any "before" and "after" pictures.  My teeth are yellowish from too much fluoride treatment as a child or so my dentist told me.  It's removed most of my coffee stains just from brushing and my black plaque has diminished.

2.  I don't know if it heals caries or cavities, but I have a tiny chipped molar, so I've been watching it.

3.  I won't know if it removes plaque or keeps it at bay until my next teeth cleaning appointment.  Kinda looking forward to it now, since it should be interesting to find out, but mine is very mild and usually along the gum line with my back molars.

Overall, I still love my Miswak and so happy I've found a better alternative to plastic toothbrushes!

Thank you US, UK, Russia, Germany, France, Poland and Canada for visiting the past few days and taking part in my Hoarder Rehab:  The Destiny of Things!

Anyone out there using a Miswak or other kind of toothbrush twig?  Please do tell!

If you would like to read some history about stick twig toothbrushes and some research I found in favor of the Miswak, you are welcome to read my first review from February here.

UPDATE:  As of January 21, 2014, Miswak or Sewak are available at our Etsy shop, Hoarder Rehab, here! and The Destiny of Things, here!


Most Popular Story of the Week and All Time Favorite:  My Louis Vuitton Collection

Most Popular Story this Month:  Instant Organic Toothbrush:  Miswak, No Toothpaste Needed

Blessed Martin de Porres and St. Raphael Religious Medal: The Destiny of Things, Story LXXI

Blessed Martin de Porres and Saint Raphael Religious Medal:  The Destiny of Things, Story LXXI

A surprise story and I am so grateful for it!

I just love it when I get stories about the new life and home of one of my hoarded items!  It feels so good and it's a reminder that although my hoarding habits brought me chaos and quite possibly ill health, I've been able to turn it around and there are many positive outcomes I never thought possible!

Here is the most current story I received in an email:

You asked me to share why I purchased, and explain where this item is headed: I'm a Graphic Designer for a daily newspaper in Maine, and I work with a gentleman who has traveled the world. His wife happens to run a public relations firm. She works with high profile clients around the world (they both travel a great deal), and it is through my connection with her husband that she came to ask me for graphic design assistance. I worked on a project for her, and I got to know her a little bit more on a personal level. She is of Italian descent, and she speaks often of her Italian mother. To thank her for the freelance project she hired me for, I sought a small portable item that she would find personally valuable. Anything chintzy just would not do for someone who is well traveled and has no need for clutter. I received the item today, and I plan to give it to her tomorrow. Thank you for the nice note and especially the origami crane you enclosed. I feel the item will bring good luck to both its bearer and recipient.

I love it's new life as a thought out special thank you gift with a new home in Maine!

Later, I received another email saying, the recipient absolutely loved the medal and was reassured it's in a good home!  There's nothing like a story full of  happy endings!

I found information on Martin de Porres more than interesting and unfortunately spent less time on St. Raphael, but I have so many religious medals I'm sure St. Raphael will come up again to do more research about him!  And yes, I will do a count on my religious medals soon to come to grips on the size my religious artifact hoard.

Saint Martin de Porres was quite amazing and interesting for his time and I had to stop myself from writing everything I found interesting about him and did not have much time for Saint Raphael:

1. Martin de Porres (December 9, 1579 – November 3, 1639) was a lay brother of the Dominican Order who was beatified in 1837 by Pope Gregory XVI and canonized in 1962 by Pope John XXIII.

2. He was a vegetarian and known for his Dr. Doolittle ways, noted for work on behalf of the poor, establishing an orphanage and a children's hospital. He maintained an austere lifestyle, which included fasting and abstaining from meat.

Among the many miracles attributed to him were those of levitation, bilocation, miraculous knowledge, instantaneous cures, and an ability to communicate with animals.

3. Bilocation story: Although he never left his native land of Peru. Many people in other countries were cured by him in other countries and when coming to Peru and seeing him, claimed Martin had performed miracles for them.

4. Dr. Doolittle story: The most famous single story connected with Martín had to do with a group of mice that infested the monastery's collection of fine linen robes. Martín resisted the plans of the other monks to lay poison out for the mice.

One day he caught a mouse and said (in the rendering of Angela M. Orsini of San Francisco's Martín de Porres House of Hospitality, one of many institutions and schools in the United States named after the Peruvian healer), "Little brothers, why are you and your companions doing so much harm to the things belonging to the sick? Look; I shall not kill you, but you are to assemble all your friends and lead them to the far end of the garden. Everyday I will bring you food if you leave the wardrobe alone"—

Whereupon Martín lead a Pied Piper-like mouse parade toward a small new den. Both the mice and Martín kept their word, and the closet infestation was solved for good.

5. He did many things for the poor community and for abandoned children. Martin did not eat meat and probably saved more money in doing so. He also begged for alms to procure necessities the convent could not provide. In normal times Martin succeeded with his alms to feed 160 poor persons every day, and distributed a remarkable sum of money every week to the indigent.

Side by side with his daily work in the kitchen, laundry and infirmary, Martin’s life is said to have reflected extraordinary gifts: ecstasies that lifted him into the air, light filling the room where he prayed, bilocation, miraculous knowledge, instantaneous cures and a remarkable rapport with animals.

6. Patron of mixed races and racial harmony: the illegitimate son of a Spanish nobleman, Don Juan de Porres and his mother, a freed slave from Panama, of African or possibly part Native American descent, named Ana Velázquez. who was born in Panama.

He had a sister named Juana, born three years later in 1581. After the birth of his sister, the father abandoned the family. Ana Velasquez supported her children by taking in laundry.

He grew up in poverty and, when his mother could not support him, Martin was confided to a primary school for two years, and then placed with a barber/surgeon to learn the medical arts. He spent hours of the night in prayer, a practice which increased as he grew older.

By law in Peru, descendants of Africans and Indians were barred from becoming full members of religious orders. The only route open to Martin was to ask the Dominicans of Holy Rosary Friary in Lima to accept him as a "donado", a layman who performed menial tasks in the friary in return for the privilege of wearing the habit and living in the religious community.

At the age of 15 he asked for admission to the Dominican Convent of the Rosary in Lima and was received first as a servant boy, and as his duties grew he was promoted to almoner.

Read the rest of life story at wikipedia.

Information about Saint Raphael:

One of the details is Saint Raphael standing on a large fish. This is a reference to Book of Tobit (Tobias), where he told Tobias to catch a fish, and then uses the gallbladder to heal Tobit's eyes, and to drive away Asmodeus by burning the heart and liver.

Raphael first appears disguised in human form as the traveling companion of Tobit's son, calling himself "Azarias the son of the great Ananias". During the adventurous course of the journey the archangel's protective influence is shown in many ways including the binding of the demon in the desert of upper Egypt. After the return and the healing of the blindness of Tobit, Azarias makes himself known as "the angel Raphael, one of the seven, who stand before the Lord" Tobit 12:15. He is often venerated and patronized as Saint Raphael the Archangel.

This medal pictures Saint Raphael standing on a large fish.

Saying Good-bye:  My Hoarder Rehab is going quite well and I'm amazed that even under a lot of stress, (more on my stressful experiences in the last two posts here and here) it's still easy to let go of my well loved hoarded items.  I am so thankful that letting go and figuring out about my hoarding life style has helped me to change it.

What I've Learned:

1.  Simply having less and buying less has helped replace chaos and clutter in both my mind and home and has brought much more peace and satisfaction than I thought possible.  I do still have areas to work on, like my washi tape collection that's nearing on hoard and when to know when enough is enough, especially when dealing with art supplies and sale items.  Also the music art room is in continual organization mode, but it's slowly and surely getting there.

2.  It's such a relief to know that if I keep practicing letting go of one item at a time during a stressful period of my life that maybe next Christmas holiday, which is the worst for me, will be more pleasant and enjoyable!

3.  It is so heart felt to get a surprise story from Etsyians who are willing to help me with my Hoarder Rehab!  I feel as though I've come a long way from last October and it's from the interaction I have from many who are kind enough to share their stories and support me!

I think Francis Underwood's quote, from House of Cards describes what I feel at the moment so well,  "Harmony.  It's not about what's lasting or permanent.  It's about individual voices coming together for a moment.  And that moment lasts the length of a breath." 

In my case it's a moment full transaction or a couple of emails, but it's the harmony of the many individual voices that have shared with me that have brought me this far and I am so thankful for everyone's kindness.

Thank you Etsy and all Etysians who have connected with me and supported my Hoarder Rehab.

Thank you US, Russia, Bangladesh, Turkey, Canada, Croatia, India, France, UK, Poland and China for your support of my Hoarder Rehab:  The Destiny of Things via VintageToGoEtsy!  Click on the links to visit my current hoard!

Related Religious Medal Stories:

1.  A Mighty Circular Destiny as Infinity Story:  The Destiny of Things XLIII:  Saint Christopher medal

 

2.  Intentions for B. Maugerite Bourgeyeos Beatification Charm:  The Destiny of Things, Story XXVI 

 

3.  Mortician Religious Medals: The Destiny of Things, Story XXIII:  Notre Dame Lourdes Medals 

 

4.  Saint Patrick:  Irish Themed Rosary for St. Patty's Day 

 

5.  With information on the origins and designer of the Miraculous medal: Hans Vilhelm Hansen's Version of  St. Laboure's Miraculous Medal:  The Destiny of Things, Story XXXVI 

 

6. Miraculous Medal:   Rear View Mirror Religious Medal:  The Destiny of Things, Story XXXVIII

7.  Pocket Rosary for Miraculous Medal:  The Destiny of Things, Story LI 

Kuchi Gypsy Belly Dance Bollywood Jewelry: The Destiny of Things, Story LXX

Kuchi Gypsy Belly Dance Bollywood Jewelry:  The Destiny of Things, Story LXX

I really didn't know how to title this jewelry, but it came with a story!

These went to an Etysian who thanked me for this stunning find at a great price for her collection of  vintage Gypsy Indian bell jewelry.  She said she loved them, fixed them, wears them both often!

What more could I ask for... it's so delightful to get such happy information from my hoarder history!

There were many times when I would go to the thrift store after work to look for something I specifically needed and rarely found it, but in this case I did!  What luck!

I've never paid much attention to Halloween, but back in the day, as a new teacher I didn't think I could ignore it, so I dug up a sari outfit one of my friends bought for herself when she went there for her Christian mission.  She had always wanted one and it was handmade especially for her, but when she was hospitalized for a week and almost died there, she didn't want it anymore.

When she returned to the states, she gave it to me and said she had never even tried it on.  It came with the undergarments and yards and yards of flowing soft silk navy, fuchsia pattern, punctuated with bright green paisleys.  Quite beautiful.  It's somewhere in my hoard!

Anyways, I wanted some jewelry to go with it and found these on the way home just waiting for me!  I couldn't believe it and snatched them right up.

The sari and these jewelry pieces were perfect for a Halloween costume to wear over my teacher clothes and it provided a great teaching moment on Indian culture.  I used to know how to put the sari on properly and taught my students and they learned also.  Plus this jewelry is so heavy duty, it can be passed around the classroom without worry.

However, over the years, they lost their closures.

Saying Good-bye:  This pair took a very long time to sell, most likely due to my listing title and tags... These pieces just had too many words and ways to title and tag properly.  I experimented with various words and surprisingly it got a lot more views when I tagged it with Bollywood and sari.

Anyways, letting go is still much easier for me now even while undergoing some stressful experiences!  I'm not wishy washy about items leaving and despite some roller coaster stress I've been experiencing including the stomach flu, a fender bender with neck soreness and headaches, insurance wars, some email harassment and news like the Boston bombing, Ricin in DC and the Texas Inferno I haven't turned to clinging on to my hoard or stress buying to release stress, so something must be working!

What I Learned:

1.  Although I have experienced some panic attacks lately, which I probably had during the winter holidays too, but didn't identify them through my cluttered thinking back then.  I think I'm coping better considering what I'm stressed over.  I took a lot of quiet time to process the stress and sit with my feelings, instead of avoiding them or ignoring them by keeping busy.

I also took some time to relax, get well and catch up with reading in the sun, caught up with some movies and shows and allowed myself plenty of time to day dream and be thankful.

2.  All in all, I think I've held up well this time and am thankful for many things, like not having a melt down buying spree to relieve stacked up stress.  I also seem to be moving from a pure dehoarding mode to a more creative mode and thinking more about projects I'd like to try in the future.  I find myself saying more and more, "I can do that!" or "that looks really fun to try!"

Thank you collector of vintage gypsy Indian bell jewelry for adding two of my pieces to your jewelry collection!  I am so happy it worked out so well for both of us!  Thank you for letting me know how much you love them and wear them!

Thank you Etsy for so many positive and delightful transactions with so many interesting, thankful and kind people!

Thanks to so many of you who stopped by during my week or so of recuperation!  Thank you US, Russia, Bangladesh, Australia, China, Germany, UK, France, India, Mexico, Poland and Singapore for visiting Hoarder Rehab:  The Destiny of Things via VintageToGoetsy!  Click on the links to see my hoard!


Related Stories, my collections left to start others!

1.  My Louis Vuitton Collection:  the end of my collection is the beginning for another

2.  My Verononware Collection:  went to someone's who turned their collections into the Museum of California Design!

3.  My Ever Expanding List of Collections:  the first inkling that I was a hoarder!

4.  My Native American Bracelet Collection:  I loved wearing all my bracelets stacked, now someone else is doing it.

5.  For the Love of Square:  I used to not only collect various vintage dish sets, but especially square ones!

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

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

A new life being used as intended with it's new home in Texas!

Heirmont was very kind and happy to send his story and said, "It shall crack a happy smile once it arrives and bites into a thick big stack of BUCK$ sandwiched for me to remember you next time I return to shop in your nice store next..."

Too funny!  That made my day!  Thank you!

He's an etsy buyer turned seller and just opened his shop, Heirmont, check it out here. 

I bought this because it reminds me of the money clip my Grandmother used when I was a child.  It has the same type of butterflies in coral and turquoise on it, however I never used it to the extent she used hers and it ended up in my curio cabinet with my perfume collection and other things from my maternal and paternal grandparents. 


Now I'm allergic to metals, so it became part of my unused Native American hoard!  Not anymore, thanks to Heirmont!  Much of my Native American jewelry has sold, but there are several more pieces left here.

Saying Good-bye:  This piece tugged a little at my heart strings, since it reminds me of my Grandmother.  I had to remind myself that I can no longer use it due to allergies and that I've kept other things from my Grandmother that she used and then my mother used and now I have, like her key chain clip for her purse and her favorite scarf brooch.  You can see them here, scroll down about 1/3 of the page.


Also, it's becoming more of a habit to ask myself, what will I think or feel about this in six months?  There's hardly anything I remember selling from my hoard half a year ago!  I can think of just a couple of items!


What I Learned:


1.  As a recovering hoarder, practice does make letting go a whole lot easier and using two main questions as a tool to cope have helped me tremendously!  The other question being, "Does this bring me closer or further away from my goals?"  I started using these questions again in January 2013 after an long about epiphany I wrote about here. 


Everything in any of my three shops, VintageToGoEtsy, Hoarder Rehab, The Destiny of Things, need to be let go to bring me closer to my goals of a minimalist organic home with a music art room, instead of unused hoard storage!  I have to remind myself this as I list and package items from each shop daily!


2.  As a matter of fact, I must be a lot more focused on my goals now because a couple months ago, I could recite many items in all three shops that I didn't want to let go of despite my allergies or practical reasoning, but now there's only one.  And it's wishy washy at best!


Thank you Heirmont for your fun and  funny story and giving this Native American butterfly money clip a new life with you that will give you a big smile!  I love your shop, such eye candy photos!  especially the vintage games, in particular the Game of Scrabble in French!


Thank you Etsy for another funny and fun connection that has improved my life!


Thank you US, Russia, Germany, Indonesia, Poland, Qatar and Ukraine for stopping by!

Post Notes:  It's helpful to me to count my hoard collection!  So let me see about my Native American collection. Just from the shops it's approximately 40 counting pendants, rings and bracelets!  I have more that I can think of that's lost in my hoard.  I haven't counted my Taxco jewerly collection yet, those pieces are scattered about at each shop!


Other Stories about Native American items from my hoard!


1.  Five Cross Bracelet:  one of my favorite bangle's new life in Australia!


2.  Native American Souvenir Barrette:  one of my favorite barrettes from the 90s


3.  Twin of Something Blue for you:  Native American turquoise sand cast bracelet


4.  Cloud 9 to Corn from Heaven:  a small Native American bracelet I never received and forgot I bought due to hoard buying is replaced with a huge one!


5.  Native American stacked rings and bracelets:  more of my Native American collection!


6.  Native American Cross

Ethiopian Coptic Cross: The Destiny of Things, Story LXXVIII

Ethiopian Coptic Cross:  The Destiny of Things, Story LXXVIII

A story from EA with it's new life and home in France! 

EA said he'd been looking for this cross for a long time and if we ship to France.  When I asked him for a story, he said that the round crosses are rare and that it has important meaning to him.  He also mentioned that he hoped it will carry luck for him.

I have several Ethiopian type crosses, but this one interested me the most because of it's double circle and it's hinged. It looks like a cross with a star entwined around it and then enclosed with a halo. The outer design looks like people with joined hands around the world.

After I rediscovered it in the hoard and listed it, I thought it would make a great statement necklace with some African beads I have from childhood that were souvenir gifts from an aunt and uncle who went around the world for two years.

This cross inspired me to hunt down my childhood African bead collection which I haven't found yet.  I pictured this cross with green and cobalt blue beads with a tiny splash of red, but EA beat me to it!  Funny, just as I had written in the listing's Untold Destiny.  Read the original listing here.

Information I found interesting about the Ethiopian Coptic Cross:

1.  The original Coptic cross may have been influenced from the Coptic ankh^[1] symbol and was adopted by early Christian Gnostics, most notably Valentinus of Alexandria, Egypt or Eyptian ankh.  Today's cross has many different forms. The circle represents the eternal and everlasting love of God Christ's halo was commonly depicted with cross-based halo in the early and especially the eastern parts of Christianity. The full cross symbolizes Christ's crucifixion and resurrection.--wiki

2.  Ethiopian crosses are invariably made from elaborate lattice work. Hand crosses usually include a square at the base, which represents the Ark of the Covenant and both the Ark and the Cross bear the Shekinah (see Prince of Peace Cross). Geometric patterns are common in Ethiopian art and there is order and meaning in the intertwined lattice style. This represents everlasting life and also relates to the nature of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.----seiyaku.com

3.  The Etsyian who bought this wished me a lot of "Jah", so I looked that up too.  I found this:  Jah (pron.: /ˈdʒɑː/; Hebrew: יהּ‎ = Yah) is the shortened form of the divine name YHWH (also spelled Jehovah or Yahweh), an anglicized version of the Tetragrammaton (YHWH, Latin JHVH). The name is most commonly associated with the Rastafari movement or within the word hallelujah, although Christian groups may use the name to varying degrees. The name is used in some English Bible translations which reconstruct the Tetragrammaton. Other versions sometimes use the academic Hebrew reconstruction "Yah".---wiki

I also found that it means, "God" or the name of God and loosely translates to "I am Who I am". Yahoo answers.

Saying Good-bye:  I didn't have any memories, worries or dreams in this item, but it did remind me to dig up my childhood African Trade bead collection, which now reminds me of my Yoruba and Masai items that are also in my hoard.  I also have a camel doll from camel fur from my aunt and uncles travels too.  My brother got a handmade cross bow that had an attached small wooden or bone container that had a tooth topper and we were told it was for poisoned arrows.

What I Learned:

1.  It is getting easier to let go of things and I was able to painlessly donate some items!  However, since I've caught the stomach flu and experienced another negative transaction on etsy I've come to a standstill.  It's become clear to me that the negative transaction has nothing to do with me personally, but the person must be dealing with outside forces and reflecting them on me.

2. It's been scary and although I've reported the harassing incident, it was a trigger to disguised gifts and it has given me the opportunity to deal with some of my past.

3.  Even though I'm at a standstill today, I know I'll be able to move forward soon with more strength as I get well and move past bullying, insults and threats.

Thank you EA from France for your story and I hope the round cross you've found after looking for it for so long brings you the all the luck and opportunity you seek!  Thank you for giving this hoarded item a new life and a better home in France!

Thank you Etsy for another positive and interesting transaction that not only helped me let go of some of my hoarder history but provided many lessons to help me improve my life!

Thank you Russia, Germany, US, Ukraine, Belize, Ecuador, China, France and Mexico for being around the past several days while I recoup my health and supporting Hoarder Rehab:  The Destiny of Things!

Mending as a Creative Outlet, Story 1

Mending as a Creative Outlet, Story 1

In mid December I mended my favorite jeans to wear to the Autry Museum that had an exhibition curated by Bill Stern of the Museum of California Design.  His story is here and the Autry Museum one here.

 

This is the only picture I could find as a "before" picture with them ripped.  That's my Aunt's mink sweater that was handed down to me.  It has since sold, but her silver fox fur stole is still available here.

I had mended them several times over several wears, but each time they ripped the hole just got bigger!  Finally spent a good amount of time on them and it holds now.

Mending seems to be a creative outlet that calms me and takes my mind of my hoard and other stressful circumstances in my life.  It makes time stand still and feels quite the accomplishment afterwards!

I've patched this up many times, so this time I spent over a half hour making it super durable!  My sewing skills seem a little rusty and it looked like a patched up scar to me! 

I've always remembered Catherine McEver's  mend writing from her blog:  Stuff you Can't have  of Oakland, California.  About five years ago, when I was bed ridden sick I read her entire blog and was inspired by all her interesting projects, many with directions using found objects, stuff around the house and recycling art.

So I added this word:

These jeans not only remind me of how good it felt to do create with my hands, but also of the Autry.  I really got a lot of the California Designing Women, curated by Bill Stern who turned his collection of Vernonware into the Museum of California Design.  He emailed me his story--- from Vernonware Collection to Museum. 

I still remember how I had just that morning mended my jeans to wear to the Autry and I was too busy looking at everything to spend time listening to the video interviews.  I saw mr. oz listening to quite a few, but then someone blurted out to no one in particular, "Oh my god, that's my neighbor.  I didn't know she was an artist!"

So I went over there and started to listen.  Before I knew it, I had paper and pen and was taking notes! I had just mended my jeans to wear to the exhibit and it felt so good.  And to top it off, Gene Kavanaugh's words hit home when she said something like, "making things with your hands teaches your inside person something that's not explainable but transpires really being connected with yourself." I really wish I had spent more time listening to to all the artists.

Here is a shorter example of one of the interviews with Deborah Sussman here who loved and photographed Street Graphics.  She worked many years in the Eames office and later branched out with architects, like Frank Gehry using Super Graphics, as an Environmental Graphic Designer or Urban Brander.

---Insert picture of me wearing jeans here----

It's a challenge for me to do creative work because for some reason I need a lot of space and tend to leave incomplete projects out to rest or work on later and then the next day turns into a week or I start another project.  However, I can still remember how good it felt during and afterwards to mend those jeans!

Since mending my jeans, I have a small growing pile of other clothes to mend that I've been meaning to work on for the past four months. I'm going to set some time away from dehoarding the music art room and working on etsy, at least once a week to do some more creative work with my hands until the music art room is ready! 

I'll need to set up small projects that can be completed in an hour or two.  Wish me luck!

Thank you Germany, US, France, UK, Indonesia, India, Bulgaria, Canada, Israel, Pakistan and Poland for your support and visiting Hoarder Rehab:  The Destiny of Things!

What do you do that's so pleasant time just flies by?

From Hoarder to Hoarder: Chocolate Milk Caps: The Destiny of Things Story LXVII

From Hoarder to Hoarder:  Chocolate Milk Caps:  The Destiny of Things Story LXVII

I don't even know where to begin with this story!  I feel like I hit the jackpot with an abundant well of help!

These sets of chocolate milk caps sold like hot cakes and by accident.  Key words: chocolate ephemera or chocolate paper goods.  I just happened to choose these by color and they just happened to be mostly chocolate.

I have a large milk cap collection and I picked through and kept the ones I love, even though I have no idea what I was or am going to to with them.  I usually include one with the various other ephemera inside my "thank you" packages for etsy buyers, but there's a whole lot to either use or give away.  To make room, I decided it's best for me to let go of items I love but have no idea how to use.

I know it' sounds odd, that I have things I can't remember how I was going to use, but at the time I bought them I might have and now as a recovering hoarder these remind me of my grandmother and mother and the old days when their was a milk man who delivered milk to our door step every morning.

Which I can't actually remember, but vaguely remember through photos with the empty bottles by the door steps.  I have the photos some where in my hoard!

Imagine that happening now... boxed up with ice packs and who knows how many warning labels.

I listed these by color choice and my favorite is the Lime Punch Drink with the ingredient list, but they sold because they were chocolate!  Anyways...

The best part of this story is that another recovering HOARDER bought them for a chocolate collage project inspired by her brother for his blog!  So these chocolate milk caps will eventually have not one but two new lives and homes! and I more importantly I have a met a kindred spirit who is helping me by answering a litany of questions I've had brewing inside me!  Thank you Lin!

You can see her collage work at her shop, Rhody Art here , which she uses as therapy and you can read how she does that partly in her profile here or mostly on her blog here, On the Rhode to Art.

Here are parts of her email:

I myself am a recovering hoarder. The only way I could start my recovery was real cold turkey almost two years ago. And in the process ruthlessly abandoned at least 80% of what I had.

I wasn't as bad as what you see on the hoarding shows. But it was close in that I really did have only paths thru the clutter. And things were piled high. And I had to keep buying stuff because I couldn't find what I already had. And I couldn't clean adequately.

Anyway, it is still a battle but at least I am winning it. 

Kudos to Lin!  for overcoming the struggles and keeping an upper hand on hoard and for talking to me about it, answering all my questions and sharing so much with me these past several days!

Saying Good-bye: I had no attachments to these milk caps, since I had put aside my favorites and had even debated about asking for a story, but I'm so fortunate I did because I've found another recovering hoarder to talk to and I think it's like being in a support group!

What I Learned:

1.  I was going to sell my milk cap collection in mega amounts, but since Ashley from "Toothy Tooth Locket Necklace" showed me that some people are out to just buy what they need, I decided on six.  Also, milk caps seem to sell by topic, not by color scheme, but I'm still unsure about that.

More sets of 6 milk tops by color scheme here at The Destiny of Things.  Let me know, if you'd rather have some by topic, orange or grape juice, milk, buttermilk, etc. and I'll make a different listing.

2.  I felt a little weird asking for a story over six bottle tops, but no story or thing is too small to have meaning because I never know what might come out of it.  For instance, I got so much out of six small bottle tops, like another recovering hoarder to talk with, perhaps a better way to group and sell my bottle top collection, another story collected for my own recovery and who knows what else!

3.  I need to stop buying things because they are nostalgic and subconsciously remind me of an experience or someone.

4.  Her story and my story sound familiar, however I've tried the cold turkey many times and it just keeps boomeranging back, sometimes in greater amounts, like a bad diet gone wrong!  The last time I purged 90% of my things.  I had decided to start fresh and new and only took 10 things with me... but that's another story in back draft.

Currently my boxes are stacked with tiny paths to barely maneuver around in the music art room.  I don't have to re-buy stuff I already have because I can still  find it, but I can spend hours searching for something, which ends up taking more time because I organize along the way, sometimes expanding the clutter!  It can get like Pandora's box in there!

All in all, I feel like I'm winning the battle too!

Thank you Lin from Rhody Art for sending me more than a story!  Visit her shop here, she makes something for everyone, collage art for under $10, funny cards, fridge magnets and more!  If anything you'll find a smile on your face as I did!

Thank you for the book recommendation I will definitely check it out, "Overcoming Compulsive Hoarding: Why You Save and How You Can Stop!"

Thank you Etsy for yet another connection and insider help towards my Hoarder Rehab from another recovering hoarder, as well as dispersing my hoard to new lives and better homes and bringing me closer to my dream of a Minimalist Organic home with a music art room!

Thank you US, UK, Germany, Austria, India, Poland, Australia, China, Mexico, United Arab Emirates, Russia, Canada, Ukraine, Philippines, Italy and Slovakia for your visits the past several days and supporting my Hoarder Rehab:  The Destiny of Things!


Other Stories from Self-Proclaimed Hoarders and Not:

1.  Day of the Dead Calavera Skull Beads

2.  As a Hoarder I am Not Alone, Today's Hoarder Rehab Epiphany #3

3.  There are plenty more I've read in Etsyians profiles, but I didn't keep track of them!

4.  The Peterson Museum:  Garages for American Clutter

5.  Hoarding as the New American Epidemic! at least in my neighborhood