Retro Plastic Mermaid Cocktail Drink Charms: The Destiny of Things, Story #116

Retro Plastic Mermaid Cocktail Drink Charms:  The Destiny of Things, Story #116

Smile if you remember these!

photo via JunkDrawerLoveEtsy, mermaid cocktail drink charms available here!

I just love these!  They bring back so many memories!  And guess what?  

photo via JunkDrawerLoveEtsy, mermaid cocktail drink charms available here!

I'm not the only one!  I thought I was until I received this email!  Here it is:

 

Hi. I received these charms and am very pleased! Thanks for the extra treasures too! You asked for the story of why I purchased these, well...here it is! 

When I was six years old (over 50 years ago) a lady in Texas gave me a plastic blue mermaid figurine. Well, I thought the miniature was one of the most beautiful little treasures I had ever seen, and I kept her tucked away in different jewelry boxes and display cases over the years. 

About a year ago, her arm broke off and I was really disappointed about it. I didn't even know she was a cocktail charm until I happened upon one just like her on your Etsy site! Now, I am so glad to have one that is not broken. I have of course kept the broken one, but I like the new one because it's so nice to remember what she used to look like! I hope you like my reason for buying her, and I wish you the very best with your Hoarder rehab.  - J

photo via JunkDrawerLoveEtsy, mermaid cocktail drink charms available here!

 

It's nice to know I have something in common with a non-hoarder and that someone has kept their mermaid for 56 years!  I wish I had kept mine and surprised none of them were in my miniature collection.

When my parents went on date night to this one special restaurant, which I can't remember the name of, my Grandmother used to let me stay up until my parents came to pick us up just to see which cocktail charm they'd bring home for me!  I wish I could recall the name of the restaurant because it was the only one we were allowed to stay up past our bedtimes, all the other restaurants we had to go to bed on time.

Anyways, the mermaids were my all time favorite and second in line were the paper drink umbrellas.  My brother got the monkeys and other animals, which were fine with me

You can find them all, including the paper drink umbrellas in the "Party On" shop section at JunkDrawerLoveEtsy or click here for the direct link to it.

photo via JunkDrawerLoveEtsy, jigger available here at HoarderRehab and/or VintageToGoEtsy

Saying Goodbye:  I have to mention it kinda looks like the one blue mermaid has a broken arm too, however it's not the case.  I think she's had a little more giggle juice than the rest of them!

I have a small junk drawer of these stashed away!  I've been collecting them and the other cocktail figurines for quite some time now for an art project I have in mind, so I finally did a "trial" piece and I need the "red" mermaids and out of the bunch I have only two are red.  If there is anyone out there that would like to trade for red ones let me know!  Thanks.

I also have a mix of cocktail drink charms in party animal packs:

 photo via JunkDrawerLoveEtsy, mixed cocktail figurines here!

What I Learned:

1.  Some things are still hard to let go, even if I have a hoard of them!  However, they seem to be making others just as happy as I am to have them, so maybe it'll work out until I can collect enough red mermaids for my art project.

2.  I do love love all the other figurines too, especially the classic monkeys.  I'm not sure how to use these yet in an art project, but they would make great party favors and drink charms for a Friday Kahlo - Day of the Dead themed party, since she kept a pet monkeys, Fulang Chang and Caimito de Guayabal.

 Plastic cocktail drink monkey charms via JunkDrawerLoveEtsy

The mermaids or la sirenas would also make party favors and drink charms for a Day of the Dead party and would pair well with the Loteria or Mexican Bingo game at The Destiny of Things!

Okay, I feel as though I've gone way off tangent with my hoard ramblings, but I do love Day of the Dead and have many items from nichos, retablos, standing crosses to wall decor and votive candles at HoarderRehab,  The Destiny of Things and VintageToGoEtsy, click on the links and search Day of the Dead in each shop and you will see the last of my DOD - Day of the Dead - Dia de los Muertos collections.

I'm cutting myself off now, however this is a perfect example and reminder of how my wandering hoarder cluttered mind gets with 7 weeks of insomnia!

Which drink figurines were your favorite charms as a child?

Thank you -J for emailing your story!  I love it and got to share yours with mine, which brought me insight to how and why my collections grow with the intentions of an art project in mind and now that intention needs to turn into action.

Thank you Etsy for for a surprise connection and my first story from JunkDrawerLoveEtsy!  I have two more coming!

Thank you US, China, Thailand, Germany, UK, Ireland, Poland, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Australia visitng my Hoarder Rehab:  The Destiny of Things!

Click on the shop names to visit my hoard listed daily: HoarderRehab,  The Destiny of Things and VintageToGoEtsy and now JunkDrawerLoveEtsy!  There are about 60 items listed on JunkDrawerLoveEtsy and will be listing 1-3 new things there daily and 1-2 items at the other shops!  Thanks for looking!

Related Stories:  Other sentimental replacement stories from Etsy buyers

1.  One of my favorites due to heartfelt feelings and coincidence: The Continuous Virgin Mary Ring

2.  Another favorite because it's a story about not giving up:  A Circular Destiny as Infinity Story

3.  Another favorite because the mother in law in the story reminded me so much of my Grandmother and touches my heart every time I read it:  Christmas Story in October

There are many more, but read this story and you'll find most of the other replacement stories, here!

Most Read Story of the Day:  Destiny as Infinity, Epiphany #6

Most Read Story of the Week, Month and All Time:  My Louis Vuitton Collection: the end of my collection is the beginning for someone else.  The last piece of my LV collection, my 80s LV gold cornered wallet is available here at The Destiny of Things! 

Ask Swami Fortune Teller Cards: The Destiny of Things, Story #115

Ask Swami Fortune Teller Cards:  The Destiny of Things, Story #115

I don't know much about the these fortunes.  I just love the newsprint and color combinations!

photo via The Destiny of Things, fortunes available here

Maybe because growing up we were big fans of the Twilight Zone and who could resist sitting at a booth and not getting an answer from Swami from the penny napkin dispenser, just like William Shatner in the Twilight Zone episode, Nick of Time!  Remember he and his wife were terrorized by the fortunes dispensed!

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

Just ask Swami a "yes" or "no" question and he will give some interesting to daunting answers!  See the suggested questions below and ask your question!

 

photo via blog, Made By Paper

So did you ask your question?  I did!  Here is one sample of an answer!

photo via blog, Made By Paper , check out the answer to his question!

Anyways, that was fun!  So around the time of my Hoarder Meltdown and shopping spree, which you can read about here, I originally bought a stack of these for my Etsy "thank you" packaging and gave many away before I realized that they do come in a complete set and am still sorting them.  I am still wondering what to do with my full sets, but here are some ideas for individual ones:

A kind Etsy buyer told me her story of how she uses them!  So simple, yet so cool.  They are perfect to add a little color and conversation to a wrapped gift.  It's so simple to use, just slide it on to twine or ribbon from the cut hole!

Other suggestions are slip one into each napkin, be it a dinner or cocktail party, brunch, Sunday dinner, nostalgic retirement party.  It's an old school ice breaker favor.

Drop them into thank you packaging, care packages, adult surprise balls or party favor bags, cards and letters to friends.

photo via The Destiny of Things, fortunes available in sets of 6 to a complete set of 52, just like a deck of cards.  Set of 6 here and complete set of 52 here.

Saying Goodbye:  I love these and am keeping several complete sets of 52.  I found sorting them relaxing and interesting and many, like the "aces" have several different versions with varying in answers, different silly word definitions, colors and even fortunes, however I haven't had the time to sort or read them all yet.

What I Learned:

1.  I initially bought these as part of my "thank you" package to Etsy buyers.  I collected many fortune teller items as a "thank you" for them and a reminder for me that my dehoarding are steps closer into an unknown life without hoard, which is very hard for me to imagine!

However I didn't know that they come in sets like a deck of cards with a set of 52 comprising of 13 hearts, 13 diamonds, 13 spades and 13 clubs to make a complete set.  Also, I misplaced some in my hoard and had thought I sorted them all, but have since found the misplaced ones and the OCD me needs to see how many more complete sets will come together.

2.  I've always wanted to be a "Repetition" artist because I've always liked how the look of the same 100 +  uniform things can actually look so unrecognizable or more recognizable when all together depending on arrangement.  For instance I've always been in awe of the repetition of a tree lined street, a long simple white wood fence,the aerial view and patterns of farm rows, even stacking my rings and bracelets in the many different possibilities in arrangements and combinations and if they are the same thing in over 10, what are the chances of collecting that many of the same thing ever again!

What is the likely hood of finding a complete set of these ever again?

 photo via The Destiny of Things, complete set of 52 here or visit the holiday and supplies shop section for more fortune teller and paper ephemera.

3.  Another glimpse into my dehoarding issues.  That is enough thinking for the day, in which I tend to overthink even more when I have insomnia.

Any ideas on what to do with a set of 52 without buying one of these?  Please indulge me!

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

Thank you Etsy buyer for sending your story on the use of the Swami Fortune Teller cards!  It not only brought back some good memories, but gave me insight about my hoarding ways!

Thank you Etsy for a short, yet insightful connection that helps make my hoard into a good thing and can at least make two people happy!

Thank you US, Germany, Vietnam, Australia, Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, Canada, France, Italy, Ukraine and Poland for joining me in my Hoarder Rehab:  The Destiny of Things!

Click on the shop names to visit my hoard listed daily: HoarderRehab,  The Destiny of Things and VintageToGoEtsy and now JunkDrawerLoveEtsy!  There are about 60 items listed on JunkDrawerLoveEtsy and will be listing 1-3 new things there daily and 1-2 items at the other shops!  Thanks for looking!

Related Stories:  Many stories about fortunes, but with the Miracle Fortune Fish!

1.  A Little Girl and her Miracle Fish:  Heart felt story because it reminds me of myself

2.  Miracle Fortune Fish in Surprise Balls:  Also, some history on the surprise balls!

3.  Fortune Teller Miracle Fish:  as a party favor for a spy secret agent themed party and my first story about these!

Arts and Crafts Mission Style Beehive Vase: The Destiny of Things, Story #114

Arts and Crafts Mission Style Beehive Vase:  The Destiny of Things, Story #114

A story that brought me an epiphany as well!

Here's the email I received:

Hello....I'm on disability and I sift thru tens of thousands of vases and pick the rarest if I know the maker and I have others where I will research thru my books ( I have a HUGE library of collectable books for research purposes)...I am a collector with the intention of selling my vases when I'm in my late sixties or so as a fun thing to do during retirement, and for the extra money of course. I do display some at times as I have probably 300 or so.

I would not classify myself as a hoarder but do have other collectables other than pottery...like rare calendars, toys, mags, and unique antiques...I am very picky when I buy, very...It has to have an appeal that will lead to a future sale like I noted above...being on disability it gives me something to do and keeps my mind off of my painful disease.

Please go ahead and reserve this great vase. Thanks.


PS: I may add to the blog at a later date...I'm very private...If you post anything, please do so anonymously. Have a good day.

Here's what I wrote back:

Hi again!

I am so happy to meet a collector that finds value in my beehive vase and that it indirectly helps with your disability and even future!

And I think you have helped me find the difference between myself as a recovering hoarder and you, as a collector, which I will write about on my blog and of course, keep you anonymous. Ironically, I am a very private person too and enjoy my solitude, which is an interesting combination on etsy as seller vs as a buyer, but it's been a losing battle with my hoard and so far the blog has been my best remedy. So thank you for being part of my solution in more ways than one!

I would love to see pictures of all your collections, especially, the rare calendars, vases, toys and unique antiques, but understand your privacy, but hopefully I'll be able to see it in the future when you either display it or sell it, so please please, remember me for your future emailing list. And I do hope you will add to my blog story at a later date. I do love UPDATES! Seeing my item in it's new home with it's new life is one of the ultimate "dehoarding" rewards for me!

I do hope your illness improves and you eventually recover and enjoy good health. One of the reasons I am dehoarding is to improve my health, so we are kinda doing the opposite which I find very fascinating! Thank you for helping me see another view point!

Your - my- our "great" vase has been reserved for you and many thanks for helping me with my HoarderRehab via VintageToGoEtsy!

Kind regards,
~Kennedy

Saying Goodbye:  This was my favorite vase for displaying my ruler collection!  However, I'm glad it's gone to a good home with a new life with 300 other collectible vases!  And it's helping someone forget their painful health issues and in turn helping mine by making more room for my alternatives to hoarding!

What I Learned:

1.  I may or may not have 300 of one collection, but I most likely have 300 different collections or both! See my ever growing list of collections here, titled, "The First Sign that I Was a Hoarder."

2.  I think I've finally had the time to think about myself as a collector and as a hoarder with the difference being I do not display my collections anymore, mostly due to dust allergies, the lack of space and the time it takes to care for them.

As my hoard grew I decided I would display my collections by seasons, but mostly boxed them up and forgot about them.  I would still like to display what I've decided to keep, which is mostly handmade items and change them by color as the seasons change too.  I hope to limit it to one file box per season.

The reason I think I need to change my collections by season is because I do love to arrange things and because it will provide a change of scenery without involving shopping to do so.

What is your favorite collection? and how do you display them?  Right now, I'm still challenged with sorting and organizing, but I hope to find and keep "only" my favorite family heirlooms and handmade items.

Thank you Etsy buyer for letting me use your story, even though you are a private person too.  It's a relief to know my - your - our vase is in good company with you.  I am so happy the vase helps you now and will also do so in the future!

Thank you Etsy for bringing such and interesting connection and helping with my HoarderRehab by helping me distinguish between my collections vs my hoard.

Thank you US, France, Netherlands, Austria, UK, Hungary and Ukraine for you visits and joining me in 
my HoarderRehab and  The Destiny of Things!

Click on the shop names to visit my hoard listed daily at HoarderRehab,  The Destiny of Things and VintageToGoEtsy and now JunkDrawerLoveEtsy!  There are about 54 items listed on JunkDrawerLoveEtsy and will be listing 1-3 new things there daily and 1-2 items at the other shops!  Thanks for looking!

The rest of my vase and planter collection is here at VintageToGoEtsy. Thank you!

Related Stories:  Other stories about my vase and planter collections

1.  Anchor Hocking Spittoon Vases:  I also used them as pencil and incense holders!

2,  Joan Walsh Anglund Planters:  I had them since childhood!

3.  Windowsill Planter:  for sprouting seeds for salad!  Which I did too but thought I needed 6 of them!

4.  Many vases and planters I used as incense burners, that story is here.  This was a popular post in the beginning days of my blog.

Most Read Story of the Week, Month and All Time:  My Louis Vuitton Collection: the end of my collection is the beginning for someone else.  The last piece of my LV collection, my 80s LV gold cornered wallet is available here at The Destiny of Things!

1847 Roger Bros Silverware - Eternally Yours Pattern: The Destiny of Things, Story #113

1847 Roger Bros Silverware - Eternally Yours Pattern:  The Destiny of Things, Story #113

A story that mirrors mine, but not so related to dehoarding!

It was love at first sight with this "Eternally Yours" silverware pattern and during one of my hoard sprees, I bought it exactly for the reason this buyer bought some of mine!

The spoons are available here at The Destiny of Things, Etsy shop

Here's the story via email from The Destiny of Things Etsy shop:

hi kennedy-

thank you for the order and the sweet little gifts - although the fortune telling fish said that i was fickle, false and something else completely unflattering lol!

my story is rather unglamorous: while snooping around goodwill looking for a table for my college age son's apartment i came across an almost complete set of the eternally yours pattern, along with probably another 30-40 stainless spoons and forks thrown in. the silver chest was dusty and dirty with a broken hinge and the silver probably hadn't been polished in 30-40 years!

my job as a little girl was always to polish the silver - which i hated - but i have an appreciation for nice things. i got married as a grown up and didn't have a huge white wedding where i registered for all of these nice things. i also never had the money to buy them myself. i love antiques and when i got divorced i furnished my new home with incredible garage sale finds. my new mother in law introduced me to the joys of a thrift store - that's why i was in goodwill. the tarnished silver in it's old chest with all of the extra stainless was for sale for $19.95. i talked my husband into buying it and we brought it home where i spent the next two hours polishing it up. it looks terrific! i cleaned up the chest and my husband fixed the hinge. my son didn't get a table but he got some much needed forks and spoons. to complete the set we needed two serving spoons (found on ebay), a teaspoon and a salad fork (from you) and we still need a knife. the original paperwork is in the chest and the original price for the 52 piece service for 8 was $64.75! so far it has cost us almost $50 but the best news of all is now i have a nice silver-plate set for holidays and the occasional dinner party.

good luck with your shops and your story project. if you happen to have an eternally yours dinner knife please let me know!

thanks again.

leise

The forks are available here at The Destiny of Things

Hi Leise!

Thank you so much for the email and especially for your story! It brought tears to my eyes and gave me goosebumps! The joyous kinds!

Our stories are similar and I had bought what I have because I too couldn't afford or never had silver or a registry for any of my weddings and my bf and I agreed that the "Eternally Yours" pattern would be perfect for us!

However, now I'm allergic to most metals, so I am so ecstatic that it's been passed on to you and your family!

I hope you will give me permission to use your email "as is" for my blog or I will change anything you'd like and/or leave you anonymous.

PS. I too had to polish the silver, but I liked it for the first hour and that was it! Remember the ooey gooey polish paste? Thank heavens for polishing cloths or cleaning with aluminum and baking soda!

I will keep an eye out for an Eternally Yours knife for you!

Many thanks for being such a big part of my HoarderRehab via The Destiny of Things!

Kind regards,
~Kennedy at
www.etsy.com/shop/HoarderRehab
www.etsy.com/shop/thedestinyofthings
www.etsy.com/shop/vintagetogoetsy
www.etsy.com/pt/shop/JunkDrawerLoveEtsy

Read 100+ stories from Etsy buyers who help me stay focused on my HoarderRehab!

hoarderrehab.blogspot.com/

Saying Goodbye:  Thank Heaven! I only managed to buy 8 spoons and 6 forks before I figured out I was allergic to most metals, but especially silver and pot metals!

It was so surprising to get a story that mirrored mine.  What are the odds of the same thing happening?  Where someone else buys silverware as a traditional "love" gesture after settling down? And then receiving an email about it!  It as almost as if I got an email from myself! 

What I Learned:

1.  A bit of history about the silverware:  one Roger brother started the company in 1820 and two other joined him later.  The date, 1847 Roger Bros. is when the company started trademarking their wares due to perfecting electroplating process.  In 1862, the Roger Bros joined Meridan Brittania Company and in the late 1800s went over seas as International Silver, hence the IS on the Eternally Yours - 1847 Roger Bros. forks and spoons.  Eternally Yours was one of the most popular patterns of it's time period, the 1940s.

2.  I am so happy that there's a non hoarder out there who thinks like me from buying traditional heirloom items for love later in life to just loving an old fashioned bargain!  Just imagine finding a whole 8 piece set for less than the price from the 1940s!  What a score!  Where's the jealous button?

3.  I am happy to say that my metal allergies have subsided, but I still can not wear any type of metal jewelry.  However, I don't have to put plastic bags over faucet knobs, doorknobs, keys, etc. and can eat from stainless steel utensils again, instead of plastic.

4.  I suppose everyone has something they want in their Hope Chest and had I seen Eternally Yours silverware, I might have changed my mind about having one!

What did you want inside your Hope Chest?  Even though my mom kept trying to give me hers, surprisingly I didn't want a Hope chest, but I can remember her showing me things from it.

Thank you Leise for sending me your story!   It's so nice for me to know I have so much in common with a non hoarder!  I am so happy too that even though your adventure started with looking for a table for your son in college that in the end you still found him some forks and spoons and you got your holiday silverware!

Thank you Etsy for connecting me with a non hoarder with a similar love story about fork and spoons!

Thank you US, China, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, UK, Brazil, Egypt and Italy for your support as I journey through my HoarderRehab and  The Destiny of Things!

Click on the shop names to visit my hoard listed daily: HoarderRehab,  The Destiny of Things and VintageToGoEtsy and now JunkDrawerLoveEtsy!  There are about 52 items listed on JunkDrawerLoveEtsy and will be listing 1-3 new things there daily and 1-2 items at the other shops!  Thanks for looking!

Still available, the 1847 Roger Bros. Eternally Yours pattern forks here and spoons here. Thank you!

Related Stories:  The Destiny of Things as symbols of LOVE!

1.  Coincidental Wedding Anniversary Stories of Copper Sacred Heart Tins, click here for the story!

2.  A Trinket Box turned into Wedding Ring Box, click here to read the story!

3.  Wedding Jars, for a candy bar, instead of an alcohol bar.

4.  Fun Love Dice Anniversary gift and update here!

Most Read Story of the Week:  My Organic Toothbrush Stick called Miswak  I'm still using the same stick twig after 8 months and still loving it!  My Miswak Toothbrush Update, three months later.

Most Read Story of the Month and All Time Most Read:  My Louis Vuitton Collection the end of mine for the beginning of someone else.  The last piece of my LV collection, my 80s LV gold cornered wallet is available here at The Destiny of Things!

A Little Girl and her Miracle Fish: The Destiny of Things, Story #112

A Little Girl and her Miracle Fish:  The Destiny of Things, Story #112

One of the cutest stories I've received from an Etsy shop owner too! 

In another posting about these, I've written about how I've loved these since I was a child and remember playing in the car with them on long drives with the windows rolled down hunched over trying to protect it from the wind and not let it blow away and see what the fish would do to tell my fortune!

Some other kid loves this too!  Here's the story from John Garloff of OhmHomeLighting! 
:

John Garloff

Sep 1, 2013

Hi K,

Thanks for all the goodies, it made for loads of fun! As for the story, we have a little visitor that comes once a week, she's three years old. I had one of those fortune telling fish, not as nice as the ones I received from you, but it wound up missing. Sophia, the little girl, was enjoying the fish until it vanished.

So that's that, but no, there's your shop, and with a listing of ten magical little fortune telling fish. So now I wait patently for the next visit, eager to show off the fish. I'll most likely gift her one to take home and keep two, the others will be gifts as well.

Thanks K, for the note! And no, I don't mind you mentioning my name in your blog of stories. Keep up the good work, and remember, Rome wasn't built in a day. It's an inside job!
You take care!

Cheers,
John

P.S. I did some diving in your area once and had my first encounter with a baby great white shark, it scared the daylights out of me! Oh well. See you around Etsy.

I am so happy to get this story!!!!! I need to do a follow up after I post this and see how Sophia loved her very own little magical fortune fish!

And hey John, if you are ever back in the Los Angeles area again and want a more safe venue to encounter sharks, specifically the Long Beach Aquarium, they have a shark lagoon with three outdoor touch pools where you can touch the more harmless ones!

The one below is the type I touched during my last visit!

Saying Goodbye:  So many people I know enjoy these as much as I do and of course, I keep one stashed in my purse to give to someone I meet that needs a little pick me up and their fortune told adult or child! Sometimes I leave it with my tip and always send them in letters.  If you would like to order some they are here at The Destiny of Things.

So far as I know, they've been used for party favors for a spy/secret agent themed birthday party, put into  surprise balls, and I give one to everyone who orders something from me as part of a "thank you" package and to remind myself that as more of my hoard leaves and once I break these chains and it's gone.... I'll step into a life of the "unknown!"  and I wonder what my fortune will be without hoard weighing me down!

What I Learned:  

1.  I am so happy that there are children out there still enjoying this little retro miracle fish!  I think I may pass them out this Halloween and see what happens.

2.  I have used these several times as a fun silly lesson for the classroom Valentine's Party.  This is a classic novelty that makes a little cellophane "fish" the "fortune telling mind reader." Kids love the "mind reader" part and it's a good lesson on demystifying the magic of what makes it move! Great science lesson or educational moment with vocabulary!

With my third graders, as a final draft, I've given large blank address stickers to my students and had them make up their own fortunes to go with the fish movements!  They can stick it over the original fortunes and even take it home to share as homework, it's a great lesson for building and reinforcing vocabulary and especially good for English as Second Language Learners.  And also a great demystifying science lesson!

3.  I hope whether you are in the classroom or not, adult or child, you get a kick out of these too!

What will the Miracle Fortune Fish tell you today?  Mine moved it's head and tail and then the head half of the body twisted over and that was it!  Hmmm....  If you would like to see what your Miracle Fortune Fish will tell you order some here at The Destiny of Things.  Just click on the highlighted link!

Thank you John Garloff (read his inspring profile here) of OhmHomeLighting for sending your story and just like you, eager to know how it went with Sophia as she received her very own miracle fish!

Check out his shop, OhmHomelighting by clicking on the highlighted link, he uses art as a healing journey with a sense of purpose and a catalyst of great things to come!  Right up my alley!  His art ranges from Modern hand blown lighting to forged jewelry in assorted metals- handmade and beautiful!  Thank you John!

Thank you Etsy for another kind interaction with someone who can relate to a healing journey and send such a cute story!  Also, for helping The Destiny of Things hit a milestone of 100 sales yesterday and finding new homes and lives for almost 400 items of my hoard through each Etsy shop!

Thank you US, China, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, South Korea, Sweden, Russia, Canada, UK, Ireland and Saudi Arabia for your visits and sharing my  HoarderRehab and  The Destiny of Things !

Click on the shop names to visit my hoard listed daily: HoarderRehab,  The Destiny of Things and VintageToGoEtsy and now JunkDrawerLoveEtsy!  There are about 46 items listed on JunkDrawerLoveEtsy and will be listing 1-3 new things there daily and 1-2 items at the other shops!  Thanks for looking!

UPDATE on A Little Girl and her Miracle Fish:  The Destiny of Things, Story #112, Part 2

Related Stories:

1.  Miracle Fortune Fish in Surprise Balls:  Also, some history on the surprise balls!

2.  Fortune Teller Miracle Fish:  as a party favor for a spy secret agent themed party and my first story about these!

Most Read Story of the Week:  My Organic Toothbrush Stick called Miswak  I'm still using the same stick twig after 8 months and still loving it!

Most Read Story of the Month and All Time Most Read:  My Louis Vuitton Collection the end of mine for the beginning of someone else.  The last piece of my LV collection, my 80s LV gold cornered wallet is available here at The Destiny of Things!

Snail Mail Story Alert! 100 Teacher Destash Stickers, The Destiny of Things, Story #111

A story from snail mail about 100 teacher destash stickers!  Story #111

I am so happy to get snail mail! I love the first glance of a cancelled stamp and seeing if I recognize the handwriting on the envelope!  This person wrote me back write away too!  Which I must say I can't say the same for myself, but as soon as I get some continuous good sleep I will do so!

Here is a pic of the 100 stickers:

 

I am most likely overly curious about what happens to my collections and items and often wonder how someone who buys them is going to use them.  And I usually ask about it in my thank you letter to them and I usually speculate, so in case they don't write me back I have at least left it to my imagination.

For example, are these stickers going to a teacher in another state? going to a sticker collector? 90's collector?

I was so happy to hear that she and her twin sister are very nostalgic and these stickers satisfied their cravings for their 90's good ol' days with it's bright colors and patterns.

Now this Etsy buyer brought up a subject that I thought only pertained to myself!  So this is where I found a connection to a non hoarder, yet a clue to my hoarding!

She said, she wasn't sure what she's going to do with them! because when it comes to stickers, it's a very sticky situation because you can't remove it once it's there.  I do the same thing with limited and unlimited items!  I am so indecisive about using it because once it's stuck, it's stuck!

I not only do this with stickers, but I do it with all kinds of things, like fabric, paper ephemera, washi tape, and plastic charms, etc.  I even feel a little stressed about it when I'm getting down to the last several and try to save them for something extra special!  Right now I'm getting down to the last of my favorite square card stock and I'm hoping I can find some more!

In the 90s I started a quilt and have been looking for this special orange fabric called cheddar cloth to finish it and some other fabric with tiny random stars!  Maybe I'm just using these ideas as barrier excuses to not finish them?

Saying Goodbye:  Honestly, I saved at least 100 of these stickers for myself.  I had so many that I used to put them in envelopes to my friends with children and have given away piles to let them pass out at school.  And yes, of course I saved my favorites ones as I sorted through these to make sure there weren't many duplicates in each 100.  My favorites were in Keith Haring style and I don't think I let even one get away!

I think I still have several 100 of these and you can find 100 of them here at HoarderRehab or a different 100 here at VintageToGoetsy.  Pencil topper stickers here.  JunkDrawerLoveEtsy has a page of tiny 500 teacher stickers here.

What I Learned:

1.  I'm not the only one who needs a surplus because once it's placed it's permanent.  I have the same problem with cutting into fabric too because once that's cut there's no going back.  It's probably why I end up with a hoard, instead of using the items.  I'm not sure how to get over that.  Anyone out there have a solution?

2.  I was talking to another Etsy shop owner the other day and she said that she loves walking into her quilt room and seeing it all organized with all the wonderful fabrics all sorted and waiting for her to use, but doesn't like to cut into them either!

I will know that I've dehoarded when I can walk into the second room as a music art room and see it all organized and ready to play in with music and art!  I hope by then I'll be able to use everything without hesitation and pure peacefulness!

3.  I guess I'll just have to cut into them or use them and see what happens and when I run out, I guess it's time to move on to using something else.  Hopefully I'll get rid of this insomnia again and then I know for sure I won't be as indecisive.

How do you feel cutting into your new favorite fabric or using your last favorite sticker?  Any suggestions on how to fight the feeling of how I feel in "What I Learned: #1?"

Thank you Etsy buyer for snail making my week brighter by mailing your story and taking the time to hand write it out in such beautiful and unique print.  I wonder if your twin's writing looks similar.  Thank you for the hand decorating the envelope too.  Your sweet and kind words keep me motivated and inspired to continue my HoarderRehab and brings with it insight to help me break these chains!  Thanks again!

Thank you Etsy for bringing together another amazing story for an Etsy buyer seller connection that brings the best of both worlds to help me with my HoarderRehab and the Destiny of Things!

Thank you US, Russia, Ireland, China, Philippines, Poland, Serbia, Australia, Germany, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore for keeping me and my HoarderRehab company during many sleepless nights!

Click on the shop names to visit my hoard listed daily: HoarderRehab,  The Destiny of Things and VintageToGoEtsy and now JunkDrawerLoveEtsy!  There are about 46 items listed on JunkDrawerLoveEtsy and will be listing 1-3 new things there daily and 1-2 items at the other shops!  Thanks for looking!

Related Stories:

1. My first snail mail story:  World Globe Key Chains 

2.  These 100 stickers went inside a treasure chest:  100 Sticker Story

3.  Another 100 went to an Etsy shop owner with hoarder tendencies:  Different 100 Sticker Story

Stage Protector Turquoise Native American Bracelet: The Destiny of Things, Story #110

Stage Protector Turquoise Native American Bracelet:  The Destiny of Things, Story #110

A "surprise" story and this one came with poetry!

Surprise! Surprise!  First surprise:  This is my first story that came with poetry.  The second surprise is that it's in haiku form!

Laramie Crow

Aug 25, 2013

Listing: www.etsy.com/listing/102878742/small-native-american-sterling-turquoise

You said you were collecting stories... I'm a writer of western poetry and stories, newly preparing to perform some of my poetry as cowboy songs, and I'd love to have this little bracelet... the almost exact mate to one I purchased some time ago, for my other wrist to help me feel more protected when I am on stage... I could do $00 if that might work for you... My thanks along with a few haiku from Tucson, Laramie...

Guadalupe’s eggs
And fried tortillas could make
A full growed man cry

No sound in the world
Like draggin’ spurs on a plank floor
The tired cowboy’s waltz

Knock the dust off a
Cowboy and what ya' have left
Is pintos and piss

Branding Iron Bar Room
Poker table posturing
And bad whiskey rhymes

Treasured letter falls
From even the worst man’s pocket
When he lays dyin’

Kennedy Miranda

Aug 26, 2013

Hi Laramie!!!! Hi again!

WOW! I love your story and especially your rockin' country haiku style cowboy poetry!!!! Although I love poetry, I'm not particularly taken with country and even less with cowboy, but your poem is heartfelt and truthful and to do it in haiku form and make it flow like a melody is a gift! It's simply goes straight to the heart with sounds, like spurs on plank floors in patterned rhythm, visuals, a letter falling out of a pocket and even smells, like Guadalupe's eggs cooking with homemade tortillas! Thanks for putting some new found appreciation cowboy in my life!

How long have you been writing to make it sound so delectable and easy? Do you have a book of poetry available? website?

Yes, you can have the bracelet for $00 so you can feel protected on stage. I am relieved to know it will have a home of honor, art and break a leg presence for you. Could I ask for a favor, since we are negotiating? I would love a picture of you wearing the bracelet with it's fraternal twin, perhaps on stage giving you extra strength? It would be for an update for my blog, as a recovering hoarder. It's such a peaceful relief knowing where some of my things go and seeing them in their new life gives me a sense of how I can turn my hoarding into a good thing as I figure out how to break my chains.

Sorry, this is so long, but it's such a happy surprise to find this email this blue morning and I'm so excited about it!

Let me know and I'll change the price for you, as well as reserve it.

YOUR NEW FAN!
~Kennedy at
www.etsy.com/shop/HoarderRehab
www.etsy.com/shop/thedestinyofthings
www.etsy.com/shop/vintagetogoetsy
www.etsy.com/pt/shop/JunkDrawerLoveEtsy

Read 100+ stories from Etsy buyers who help me stay focused on my HoarderRehab!

hoarderrehab.blogspot.com/

Laramie Crow wrote me back saying she'll send a picture of her wearing the twin bracelets on stage and that she's been writing for a life time!  She's also working on a website to share her poetry.  I look forward to both!

Her country rockin' cowboy haiku poetry really inspired me to keep an open mind about all forms and subjects!  It brought back memories too!

When I was in third grade my teacher encouraged me to write haikus.  In short, a haiku is a Japanese poem and is usually three lines of 17 syllables of 5 -7- 5.  Read more about here on wiki.  The longer version is the Tanka, both are excellent ways to introduce young students to poetry and syllables.

Anyways, my third grade teacher had me writing haikus and gave me a stack of index cards to write them on.  When I showed her that I was done, we sat together and took turns reading many out loud, then she nodded, looked on the backs and told me to write some more!  I loved my third grade teacher and writing haikus over and over was so fun!!!  I wish I had those 200 haikus now!

Saying Goodbye:  I couldn't resist the story with poetry with a promise of an update with photos.  Interesting how it became part of the negotiations.  Plus my -her- our bracelet has an almost identical twin on her other wrist!  That's just icing on the cake that I've gotta see!

Although I do miss my Native American jewelry collection very much in my heart.  My head and my body knows how allergic I am when I wear them, so instead there's a little joyous celebration in my heart knowing that it's going to be a "protector" bracelet for someone out there that I'm connected to in some small and big hearted ways!

I have said "goodbye" to all the bracelets shown on my wrist, except for one.  The largest sand cast one next to Laramie Crow's bracelet is still available and it's listed here at HoarderRehab.  Most of my Native American jewelry collection has sold, but the rest is here  and as a reminder to self, I have several more to list.  Just click on the highlighted links.

What I Learned:

1.  Although I still have insomnia and the California heat is compounding it, I don't miss my Native American jewelry as much as I used to or at least I can say that today.  It does seem that my insomnia influences my ups and downs and wishy washiness towards my attachment to my hoard, but how much, I still do not know.

2.  Now I know why I have a penchant for index cards and pick them up and down at office supply stores.  I used them through high school and college when I studied languages and other new vocabulary to memorize too!

Thank you Laramie Crow for inspiring me in so many different ways!  I think I know what to do with the next pack of index cards I find in my hoard!  Break a leg at your poetry reading and I look forward to an update with photos!

Thank you Etsy for all the connections to inspiring, motivating and kind Etsy buyers who's stories I've been receiving lately seem to be turning my hoard into a good thing!

Thank you US, China, Norway, UK, Germany, Mexico, Canada, Bahrain, Malaysia and Poland for your visits since Wednesday and taking part in my Hoarder Rehab:  The Destiny of Things!

Click on the shop names to visit my hoard listed daily: HoarderRehab,  The Destiny of Things and VintageToGoEtsy and now JunkDrawerLoveEtsy!  There are about 36 items listed on JunkDrawerLoveEtsy and will be listing 1-3 new things there daily and 1-2 items at the other shops!  Thanks for looking!

What do you use as a symbol for mystical mysterious "protection" or good luck?  As a recovering hoarder I used to have many different "things", but now I'm using positive affirmations.

Related Stories: Click on the highlighted words to get you there!

1.  An Etsyian, Bianca bought my Native American jewelry as a strength bracelet, here.  And see what used to be some of the rest of my Native American bracelet collection.
 
Most Read Story of the Week:  More Cross Stories:  my cross collection has gone on to many jewelry makers and these are their stories.

Most Read Story of the Month and All Time Most Read Story:  My Louis Vuitton Collection the end of mine for the beginning of someone else.  The last piece of my LV collection, my 80s LV gold cornered wallet is available here at The Destiny of Things!

Teacher Date Stamper: The Destiny of Things, Story #109

Teacher Date Stamper:  The Destiny of Things, Story #109

This is a wish come true!  A "destiny as infinity" wish happened with a "must have" teacher tool!

And I thought the service bell and receipt spike were "must have" teacher tools, but here's another one!  If I would have kept the ones I used while teaching they would be vintage by now!

I had several of these of these, it's so handy for record keeping!  One that never left my desk (so it never got lost), one for centers and one for students.  The date stamper is incredibly handy for dating field trip slips or any other classroom papers that need to go home with a date on it! even for grading papers and tests when students forget.

And at the beginning of the year they forget "the date" so much, I felt like a broken record saying countless times through the first days and weeks of Back to School, "remember your name and date!"  This date stamper is so helpful.  I would pass it around during assignments and especially during journal writing, it was called, "Sustained Silent Writing" or SSW back then.  It was also a reminder to write their name on papers because they could stamp the date under their name on the right upper hand corner of each paper.

Anyways....

I have sold several of these, but none of them returned with a story until  the end of last month! 

At the shop, The Destiny of Things, I usually right an "Untold Destiny" blurb of where or how I'd like an item to be useful and several of them, including this one have come true! 

A kindergarten teacher said she's going to save a lot of time by stamping the date on their papers!  Another "destiny as infinity" wish came true!  It's going to a be a "must have" teacher tool to someone out there!

Saying Goodbye:  Of course, I've kept one of these for myself, but I use it to date my art work.  I still have several available, so if you would like one you can find them at JunkDrawerLoveEtsy or The Destiny of Things.  Just click on the shop names and it will take you directly to the date stamper.


What I Learned:

1.  It seems more and more likely that I can turn my hoarding ways into a good thing as I learn new skills and use other alternatives, like crafts to break my chains!

2.  I would like to get back to quilting, however my sewing machine has piles of stuff on it still and although there's more room in the music art room, it still isn't workable.  So for now I've been making washi tape quilt cards on the dining room table as an alternative to going out and buying more things for all the art projects rolling around in my head!

This alternative seems to working until I have more room for fabric quilting again.  Here's a few:

They and more can be found at HoarderRehab here and The Destiny of Things here.

What alternatives have you found to change something in your life?   I hope to add exercise soon!

Thank you Etsy buyer for leaving me a short email letting me know my wish came true!  I'm all my hoarder items have found better and lives and homes, but it's so much better to hear about it!

Thank you Etsy for helping me and my HoarderRehab by connecting me and my things to kind Etsy buyers that help me stay focused on freeing myself from my hoard and moving on!

Thank you US, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Poland, China, Norway, UK, Israel, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Ukraine, Singapore, Armenia, India, Germany, Mexico, Canada, Denmark, France, Australia and Japan for your visits since my last posting about my Hoarder Rehab:  The Destiny of Things!

Click on the shop names to visit my hoard listed daily: HoarderRehab,  The Destiny of Things and VintageToGoEtsy and now JunkDrawerLoveEtsy!  There are about 31 items listed on JunkDrawerLoveEtsy and will be listing 1-3 new things there daily and 1-2 items at the other shops!  Thanks for looking!

More teacher or educational items can be found here at JunkDrawerLoveEtsy in one section and other teacher supplies here at HoarderRehab and the other shop, The Destiny of Things!

Related Stories:

1.  My other "must have" teacher tools, I kept close at hand:   Service Bell and Receipt Spike

2. "Destiny as Infinity":  How I got the idea of "untold destiny" wishes through a mish mash of thoughts!