7 Year Copper Anniversary Religious 4 Way Scapular Cross: The Destiny of Things, Story 247

7 Year Copper Anniversary Religious Scapular Cross:  The Destiny of Things, Story 247

I received a surprise email today!

 photo via The Destiny of Things

an old copper Miraculous Mary medal available here

My most favorite religious artifacts are the scapular cloth, then glass, then plastic and Lucite religious medals, then the aluminum and copper ones and lastly the sterling or silver.

I started collecting religious medals in the 80s, but back then I liked them all and had no preferences and just bought as much as I could, even stickers and paper ephemera.  Now that I've sorted them I've discovered which ones I like most and it's usually the most unusual ones.

Old scapular cloth is very difficult to find affordably and plastic religious medals aren't as plentiful as one would think, especially the blue plastic ones, my most favorite!  Oh and I love the small tiny ones that used to be for wrist watches.

I love the old vintage prayer cards and embossed die cut scraps too!  So you can imagine the order in which I'm letting go of my religious artifacts!

I don't even know why I love them so much, except I do love the way they look.  There's just something about them....and I still collect them, but more sparingly.

Back to the story, this copper 4 way cross was bought for a 7 year anniversary gift....

photo via The Destiny of Things

an old copper Miraculous Mary medal available here

 And today I got an update about it because her husband love it and here is the email note:

Yesterday we celebrated Seven years - and, thanks to you, I gave my husband a very special gift. He truly loved the Medal - and, because he won't be wearing it around his neck, I tied a small piece of ribbon from my wedding bouquet through the top so he can keep it in his wallet.
I love giving unique gifts - thank you again for helping me do just that.

 P.S. The addition of the "copper" penny was such a sweet touch!

Getting notes like these really make my day and it's always such a relief to know that "something I love" found the right home and is loved in it's new life.

I really like the part of it being tied with some ribbon from her wedding bouquet while it's kept in his wallet.  It really touches me and is so heartfelt.  I wonder what how she preserved her bouquet and what it looks like now.  I wonder what else she saved from her wedding.  Seven years is a long time!

photo via The Destiny of Things

an old copper Miraculous Mary medal available here

Saying Goodbye:  I don't have a problem letting go of my religious artifacts, but I do have a problem in the sense that I keep buying religious items.  I have a better eye for what I like now.  I guess I am upgrading?

What I Learned:

1.  Although it's still a mystery to me as to why I collect almost anything vintage to antique religious, at least I know what which specific ones to collect and in the back of mind, even though I don't wear jewelry, I think it would be fun to create some jewelry assemblage art and/or mix it with some textile fiber art.

2.  As a sentimental recovering hoarder, this Etsy buyer has me thinking about how she decides what to save and what not to save because I tend to save everything!  and I save everything because it's all sentimental to me and I think it needs saving to be used in just the way that she made her gift more special for her husband.

It's as if I have no filter or decision making skills or over thinking skills when it comes down to sentimental saving of things!  I also seem to have difficulties with FOMO, fear of missing out!  Sometimes I'll be making something and know I saved the wrong thing!  ha!

Well, I have insomnia again, so now my thinking process is even more blurred, scattered, all over and slow!

How do you decide what to save and not to save of sentimental celebrations and milestones?  I really could use some various answers and solutions to my dilemma!

I love old scapular cloth like this but the uncut pieces

via google

Thank you Etsy buyer for sending me an update, it's always so good to hear how someone loved their gift and how it was made even more special.  And thank you for helping me give insight to my story and how my hoarding habits relate to my one of many collections!

Thank you Etsy for yet another win win happy transaction!

Thank you US, UK, China, Belarus, France, Hong Kong, India, Ukraine and many other for you continued support of my HoarderRehab and The Destiny of Things!   

My new goal is to list at least 200 items from my hoard on each shop by October for the Christmas season!  I've already met that goal at The Destiny of Things and Hoarder Rehab!  I'm going to try and list new hoard daily at each shop until I reach my new goal.

Click on the shop names to visit my new hoard listed daily: HoarderRehab with 204 items, The Destiny of Things- 203 items , VintageToGoEasy - 191 items and now JunkDrawerLoveEtsy - 185 items!  Maybe you'll find something to take home and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!

 

 I have many photos of these types from simple to fancy

that I'd like to eventually start making too!

photo via pinterest

Related Stories:

1.  The Destiny of Things:  Coincidental Sacred Heart Wedding Anniversary Stories X and XI : 2 copper anniversary stories that came about the same time.

2.  Continuous Virgin Mary Band Ring: The Destiny of Things, Story XXX :  one of my favorite stories.

 

3.  Copper Souvenir Bracelet from Chile:  The Destiny of Things, Story LIII  : a birthday gift for someone from a mining town.

4.  Update:  Anniversary Love Dice: The Destiny of Things, Story LVI, part 2 :  part of a fun and funny anniversary gift

"Art is the elimination of the unnecessary." ---Pablo Picasso

DIY Mixed Sized Doily Garland Weding Celebration: The Destiny of Things, Story, 246

DIY Mixed Size Doily Garland Wedding Celebration:  The Destiny of Things, Story, 246

Wow, an Etsy buyer sent a photo of her four tier garland, so beautiful!  From this to....

photo via The Destiny of Things

mixed size off white doilies available here

I have loved doilies since childhood!  It started in kindergarten making my first Valentine cards for everyone in class!  They were last minute and my mom only had about 5 doilies left in the junk drawer and about 3 sheets of red construction paper.  I wanted to make 5 cards for my favorite friends, but my mom insisted that if I was going to pass out even one card, I had to give one to everyone in class!

The doilies and construction paper went along way and nonetheless I made a card for everyone, even if they were on the small side and not like anything fancy like I had imagined!

I think the other reason why I love doilies is because Grandmother used them to hand out cookie treats at the table and for bento lunches.  Nothing like having tempura bento box with a doily as a grease catcher!

Anyways, out of the blue an Etsy buyer sent this photo of how she used her doilies!

THIS!

photo via Etsy buyer from The Destiny of Things

mixed size off white doilies available here

I love all the mixed sizes and the creative aspect of putting letters in the center of each doily to say something endearing.  I especially love the way the photos were used in the centers also that accent the bottom tier.  So simple and beautifully unique.

This could be used to spell out any type of themed party!  If you are interested in making one yourself I do have everything from the twine to the clothes pins (mini or colors or with cute bees), even streamers in pink or orange and teal!  And of course the mixed size doilies!

Thank you Etsy buyer for sharing your beautiful creative garland to give me and others such great ideas to use and build on!

What is your favorite way to use doilies?

photo via The Destiny of Things

mixed size off white doilies available here

Saying Goodbye:  I think I know how I ended up so many doilies and have learned something new about my hoarding habits!  So I'm happy and thankful when an order of doilies leave now!  And to think they are going to new lives in such beautiful projects! Yipee!

What I Learned:

1.  Many of items I love and use in my art seem to be expensive to me, like doilies, so I end up buying in bulk to cut down on costs and one thing snowballs into the next because I really don't know which size doily I'm going to use or how I'm going to use it.  I find that I use the small round doily in the photo and the small red heart doilies and none of the others.  Lesson learned!  I hope....

2.  I also probably spend a lot more money and time shopping for deals in the long run than I do creating.

3.  Since my insomnia is back, I have also noticed that I do a whole lot more window shopping now and I think it's one of the main ways I try to keep myself awake during the day, especially when I have finished my bare minimum duties for the day and am even too tired to watch a movie.

I've tried taking naps during the day and I'll be up all night trying to get to sleep.  I have tried hundreds of different ways to cure my insomnia since I've had it since childhood and the only thing that seems to work consistently is getting up everyday at 3:30 am, so by 8 or 9 pm I crash.

These are my favorite doilies lately.

photo via The Destiny of Things, available here

Thank you Etsy buyer for sending me a photo update because I've gained so much insight about my hoarding habits and how I tend to shop around more with insomnia and how that leads to complications with my hoard!  No sleep equals less will power and no filter and who knows what else!

And I hope the couple in the phots have a happily ever after!

Thank you Etsy for another fun transaction with another happily ever after ending!  

Thank you US, France, Ukraine, Venezuela, Canada and other for stopping by and taking part in my HoarderRehab and The Destiny of Things!   

My new goal is to list at least 200 items from my hoard on each shop by October for the Christmas season!  I've already met that goal at The Destiny of Things and Hoarder Rehab!  I'm going to try and list new hoard daily at each shop until I reach my new goal.

Click on the shop names to visit my new hoard listed daily: HoarderRehab with 202 items, The Destiny of Things- 202 items , VintageToGoEasy - 190 items and now JunkDrawerLoveEtsy - 181 items!  Maybe you'll find something to take home and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!

My favorite heart doily card.

photo via The Destiny of Things, available here

Related Stories:

1.  Doily Wedding Craft Garland:  The Destiny of Things, Story 202 with other wedding ideas for doilies.

2.  Small 3" Red Heart Doilies:  The Destiny of Things, Story 172:  Alice and Wonderland theme party

3.  Paper Lace Heart Doilies as Table Confetti and more, read about it here

4.  Loteria Cards as another Wedding Day craft, here

5.  The Destiny of Things: Wedding Jars Story III

6.  The Destiny of Things:  Day of the Dead Calavera Skull Beads, Story V:  beads for a wedding cake topper!

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."  Albert Einstein

Chiyogami Yuzen Reversible Paper Sterling Hoop Earrings: The Destiny of Things, Story 245

Chiyogami Yuzen Reversible Paper Sterling Hoop Earrings:  The Destiny of Things, Story 245

I hope these made it to the UK on time!

photo via Hoarder Rehab

more from my Asia collection, here

Another "rush" order went to the United Kingdom!  I hope they made it there on time for an Etsy's daughter's graduation gift.

These heavy reversible earrings were a gift to myself and I thought they were really uniquely practical because the dangles are reversible and can be switched over from spring flowers to summer ones.  As a matter of fact, I thought these were so unique and practical that I bought a pair for my Mom and Aunt who's birthdays are close to mine.

I thought it would be fun, if we were all triplets for the day wearing our earrings!

photo via Hoarder Rehab

more from my Asia collection, here

I loved these unique drop earrings and wore them mainly on the red side with a navy cherry blossom dress I have for a subtle pop of color.  I wonder if I can find that dress now, it was my favorite "go to" teacher dress for times when I woke up late and had to get ready for work pronto.  I certainly don't miss my teacher clothes!

They were from the now defunct sister store of the Folk Tree in Pasadena, California at the same time I bought some of my favorite Native American bracelets.  Worn together they made such a pleasant bell sound.   I wish I could have kept those two!

dot to dot bracelet

photo via Hoarder Rehab

more of my Native American jewelry here

I had/have over 20 Native American bracelets in my collection and loved to wear them stacked, but wore them less and less when I gave up jewelry for Lent one year and then about six years ago I became allergic to almost everything and was bedridden sick.  After I recovered I waited over 3 years to become unallergic to sterling and I am still waiting!

However, I do miss the sound of these two worn together!

cloud bracelet

photo via Hoarder Rehab

more of my Native American jewelry here

This was a Tahe piece made by a family who makes beautiful Native American jewelry and of course, I started collecting their pieces!

Here is an example of how I liked to wear them stacked!

photo via Hoarder Rehab

more of my Native American jewelry here

I keep finding new pieces here and there and I know I have my Native American beads from childhood and some fetish necklaces still lost in my hoard!  The large coiled corn bracelet is my other Tahe bracelet and the story on that one is interesting because during one stressful time in my life, I was buying so much I didn't even bother to keep track of it.

I just made sure there was something on my door step when I came home from work DAILY! and on Saturdays two things and I saved one to open on Sunday!  I think I did this for three years because that's how long the stressful process took to get completed.

Well, I can see how my hoard started to pile up! 365 multiplied by 3 is 1095!  And that is only online buying during that period, it doesn't count thrifting, which I would do when I would get stressed too!

Anyways, years later the coiled corn bracelet showed up on my door step one day with a kind note from someone apologizing and explaining why they had never sent the bracelet I had ordered online. He had had a heart attack and was in the hospital for 3 months and took even longer to recover.

Long story shorter, he sent the huge Tahe coiled corn bracelet in place of the bracelet I had ordered because he said it was his first Pow wow bracelet and it had sentimental value for him and hoped that I would accept it happily.

The corn bracelet was huge, I think it weighed 81 grams and the bracelet I had ordered was similar to the cloud bracelet, which is also a Tahe piece that I wore with the dot to dot bracelet that I had found years later.

So since I didn't even remember ordering the cloud bracelet and even though the coiled corn bracelet was way to big for my wrist, I kept it and it eventually became a sentimental piece for me from this kind gesture and story from a recovering heart attack survivor.

photo via Hoarder Rehab

more from my Asia collection, here

Saying Goodbye:  At this moment in time, I have no problems with letting go of my jewelry because I am still allergic to sterling and 14k gold.  I will be listing more of my 14k gold jewelry soon!

What I Learned:

1.  Interestingly enough, I tried wearing some non metal jewelry awhile ago when some woven bracelets sold, so I kept some to wear.  I lasted less than five minutes wearing them because they felt heavy and in the way.  They are now listed again.

2.  I don't think I'll be wearing jewelry ever again, even if I ever become unallergic to sterling and/or gold because I just don't like the way it feels now.  Jewelry feels cumbersome, even the light woven bracelets and just seems to get in my way some how.

3.  Oh well, once less thing to think about when I get dressed now!

4.  After writing this I can see one of the ways my hoard can get out of control!  

What kinds of things do you buy when you need retail therapy from long periods of overwhelming stress? or better yet, what healthy ways do you use to deal with it?

The light woven bracelets that I tried to wear, but would rather not 

bother with jewelry at this time.

photo via VintageToGoEasy, available here

Thank you Etsy buyer from Hoarder Rehab for your rush order that lead me to find out that these are going to be on some Graduate's ears!  I hope they become keepers!  Thanks again for your story because it's really been helpful to mine!

Thank you Etsy for being the best Hoarder Rehab outlet ever and for all the kind Etsy buyers who send me their stories that I share and gain insight from!

Thank you US, China, Canada, Ukraine, Germany, United Kingdom, Polalnd and others for taking the time to support my HoarderRehab and The Destiny of Things!   

My new goal is to list at least 200 items from my hoard on each shop by October for the Christmas season!  I've already met that goal at The Destiny of Things and Hoarder Rehab!  I'm going to try and list new hoard daily at each shop until I reach my new goal.

Click on the shop names to visit my new hoard listed daily: HoarderRehab with 202 items, The Destiny of Things- 202 items , VintageToGoEasy - 190 items and now JunkDrawerLoveEtsy - 178 items!  Maybe you'll find something to take home and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!

Below is one of my favorite pieces and the only carinated bracelet in my collection...

Carinated pieces seem to be difficult to find 

photo via Hoarder Rehab, available here

Related Stories:

1.  From Cloud 9 to Corn from Heaven:  The Destiny of Things Story XXXIV, Omega - Alpha, Part3:  The dot to dot and cloud bracelet story.

2.  Graduation Watch Replacement:  The Destiny of Things, Story LV :  An Etsy buyer needed pieces from my watch to make their Graduation gift from parents to work again!

3.  Hayward Fob Clip:  The Destiny of Things, Story C :  A post graduation gift for a college graduate!

Tidbit of info about Chiyogami and Yuzen that I have always wondered about until today:

Yuzen and Chiyogami - what's the difference?

Yuzen patterns were originally designed for the textile industry in Kyoto where the production of cloth for kimonos reached its zenith. Yuzen designs were very elaborate, and included a lot of gold.

Chiyogami is a specific word developed to describe the graphic, repetitive designs applied to paper in the Edo period. Originally these patterns were printed by woodblock for use in paper doll and small accessory making. In the twentieth century, these patterns began to be applied using silkscreens and this continues today.

Today, as Yuzen textile patterns join the traditional Chiyogami ones on paper, both terms are used interchangeably. We have chosen “Chiyogami” simply because it was the term originally created to refer to paper (-gami means paper).

"I am not a hoarder, I just need a bigger room!"---when I dream.

Pirate Skull Ring Party Favors: The Destiny of Things, Story 244

Pirate Skull Ring Party Favors:  The Destiny of Things, Story 244

I loved these as a kid and would sneak my brothers to wear!  Rings on all fingers!

 photo via JunkDrawerLoveEtsy

Skull Rings - SOLD OUT!

except there are few left for Pirate Diamonds here

or carnival type metal rings, here

Nothing like cross bones and skulls and anything poison to entice me a s kid!  I still love poison labels from old bottles and pharmacy ephemera!  And I saved a few of these skull rings for myself.  These were left over from a little ones pirate party and were used for pinata filler.

However the pirate coins were much more popular for some reason and so there were many of these rings left over.

These sold out quickly and most of them went to a wife for her husband's 30 birthday party, who is a rum lover and his party has ended up turning pirate themed!  My guess it all started with Captain Morgan rum.  How fun!

photo via google

I am not a fan of rum, but I'm a huge fan of trinket rings from carnivals from when I was a kid, especially the birthstone ones, which I I know I have somewhere in my hoard!  I used to wear them til they fell off from breaking.

photo via JunkDrawerLoveEtsy

Skull Rings - SOLD OUT!

except there are few left for Pirate Diamonds here

or carnival type metal rings, here 

 

Saying Goodbye:  I had no idea my little trinket affinities would sell so well or quickly and now that much of my junk drawer items have sold and I have more space, I'm not going to clutter it up again any time soon.

I've been moving my crafting and art supplies into the empty drawers and boxes!  Now that's progress!

What I learned:

1.  I am still "reward" based meaning I am not motivated to dehoard unless there is some kind of reward in place for me, like a carrot in front of a horse!  So sometimes my rewards start piling up, but I am getting better with quality shopping, instead of random cheap thrill bargains and set up my rewards ahead of time and with ideas on how to use them.

For instance, if I let go of five things than usually my reward is 10% of the profit towards my art projects.  Sometimes seeing more space and less clutter works, but that usually happens way after the fact.  Perhaps imagery can be a replacement for rewards?

I'd like to be motivated beyond tangible rewards, but I haven't quite figured it out yet, nor thought of a non tangible reward that works.  I'd love to be able to do things without my life being reward based, but I'm still working on how to go about that.

What motivates you when you need to get an unpleasant project done?  And if you are reward based, what are your types of rewards?  Food or shopping or other?

 

 Pirate Diamonds filled with pirate treasure!

photo JunkDrawerLoveEtsy, available here

more pirate related items here

Thank you Etsy buyer from JunkDrawerLoveEtsy for letting me know that these skull rings are going to be on some run drinking party fingers for a 30th birthday!

Thank you Etsy for helping me let go and dehoard of 854 items!  I am starting to see a patch of glimmering hope towards my dream of  Minimalist Organic home!

Thank you US, China, Ukraine, France, Canada, Poland, Japan, Russian, Spain, United Kingdom, Vietnam, Chile, New Zealand and others for your visits over the weekend and supporting in my HoarderRehab and The Destiny of Things!   

 

 Pirate Diamonds filled with pirate treasure!

photo JunkDrawerLoveEtsy, available here

more pirate related items here

 

My new goal is to list at least 200 items from my hoard on each shop by October for the Christmas season!  I've already met that goal at The Destiny of Things!  I'm going to try and list new hoard daily at each shop until I reach my new goal.

 

Click on the shop names to visit my new hoard listed daily: HoarderRehab with 194 items, The Destiny of Things- 202 items , VintageToGoEasy - 187 items and now JunkDrawerLoveEtsy - 177 items!  Maybe you'll find something to take home and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!

 

 Pirate Diamonds filled with pirate treasure!

photo JunkDrawerLoveEtsy, available here

more pirate related items here

Related Stories:  Other themed celebrations!

1.  Mini Pirate Treasure Chests:  The Destiny of Things, Story 224 

 

2.  Small 3" Red Heart Doilies:  The Destiny of Things, Story 172 :  Alice in Wonderland themed dinner party

3.  Mikasa Flower Bowls:  The Destiny of Things, Story 173  :  Floral themed garden wedding 

 

4.  Underwater Birthday Miracle Fish:  The Destiny of Things, Story 161:  Ocean themed with a really cute octopus cake! 

 

"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."

Kokeshi Bento Box Stacking Doll: The Destiny of Things, Story 243

Kokeshi Bento Box Stacking Doll:  The Destiny of Things, Story 243

As a recovering hoarder, it's good to know I'm not the only one with sentimental memories...

 photo via Hoarder Rehab

 small kokeshi bento box available here

I have so many memories wrapped around bento boxes like these I don't know where to begin, but I'm sure once I write them down I won't cling on to them like I know I do.

My earliest memory is of one of these is the large one that always sat on and end table in my Grandparent's living room.  The top portion held packaged senbei (Japanese rice cracker snack with nori on it) and in the bottom were candy coffee nips.

My Grandparent's lived in a modern mid century house that they had built when they retired and I took many naps on their huge black leather couches that smelled of cigar or on the Berber carpeting  right next to the open sliding glass door and woke up to the Kokeshi snack box!

My large one is somewhat like this, but more round.

Note to self: take a pix of it this weekend

When my Grandparents died and my parents were cleaning the house out, the large one was tossed around by all the cousins, like a hot potato and I ended up with it.  I also ended up with one of their leather couches and furniture my Grandfather made in the Japanese Internment Camp and so much more, which was basically the stuff my Aunt and Uncles didn't want, but couldn't bare to throw away.

And some of it was good stuff, like my Grandmother's 40s Fostoria crystal she had for all kinds of different wines and dessert liqueurs.

Anyways, I sometimes use my large kokeshi box to clear the energy from my crystals and rocks a good friend has given me by putting them inside under a pile of rice, but most of the time it holds some mid century modern coasters and my match cover and box collection and sits a top the fireplace mantel with my collection of Hulk Smash Talking Hands I used to use in the classroom to kid my students about letting them duke it out and it was a good way to get their attention when I felt like hitting something!

I have four sets of these, but one set are both lefties.

photo via google

Now the little kokeshi box was used for special occassions, like Japanese Girl's day, Doll day or Hinamatsuri on March 3.  I didn't have the regular sized platform of dolls, but I had a small glass encased version and we did use the small kokeshi box for special treats for the festival day.

And even though you are only supposed to fly huge fish carp kites on Boy's day, my Grandparent's flew them for me because I just love to see them flying in the wind.  I have an over 6 foot pink carp fish I used to display over a wall next to the air conditioning vent and when the a/c went on it would fill up and wiggle just like the old days!

 photo via Hoarder Rehab

 small kokeshi bento box available here

Most of the time, I received elaborate gifts, like my Japanese obi, zanzashi, children sized lacquered formal tea set, dolls in glass boxes and a large lacquered musical jewelry box with lots of drawers with tassels and a pop up Japanese doll that turned to the music.

My pre tied obi I used many summers for the Obon festivals

My kanzashi, sold, but she let me keep it after ordering it!

See it or read about here

I don't know what happened to my favorite jewelry box in the world, but I still have everything else, including the lacquered child sized formal bento set with Mother of Pearl chop sticks.  The plastic is so much easier to care for, which reminds me I have an entire serving set of Japanese lacquer ware some where in my hoard!

 photo via Hoarder Rehab

 last small kokeshi bento box available here

On to the best part of this post, the story I received in "Note to Buyer."

Hi, very happy to see this bento box that is exactly the same as one that was my babysitter's. It was given to me by her mother after she was killed in a motorcycle accident at age 18. I had it for years but somehow lost it when I went to college many years ago. I had contemplated getting a modern one to remember Tina by, but then luckily saw yours in a Google search. I live in a suburb of Washington, DC. Thanks for selling it!

How neato is that?  Thank you google search!  It brought me someone as sentimental with memories as I am.  Interesting how memories become imbedded into sentimental objects and I have piles of hoard on top of piles of memories until it's a viscous cycle.  At least taking photos of my hoard and posting the memories of some of them are helping me control my hoarder habits.

And uncluttering my living space does help unclutter my mind.  I wonder what it will be like once I'm clutter free.

photo via Hoarder Rehab

 last small kokeshi bento box available here

Saying Goodbye:  It is so much easier letting go of my hoard now and I wonder if it has to do with getting used to it or having a less cluttered mind which seems to help my stress and anxiety, which seems to reduce the viscous cycle effect.

1.  It's interesting to see how memories become imbedded into things and I would like to know when it stops or how to stop it.  For me, as a recovering hoarder, I can almost find a memory for every little thing I own.  I'm not just a hoarder of things, but a hoarder of memories.

Maybe it's time for me to let go of old memories and make new ones.  Although I do seem to entwine new memories with souvenirs and found objects!  Another mystery to unravel and solve...

2.  I also see that one memories abruptly jumps to another and then another, like pulling an infinite unraveling thread!  Oh my, need to work on that too....

Another childhood obession that followed me into adulthood

Tansu or Japanese mobile drawer storage, small, medium and large!

photo via Hoarder Rehab, new old stock baby tansu box, available here

Thank you Etsy buyer from Hoarder Rehab for leaving your endearing story that led me to my heart felt story and perhaps now that I know I'm not "the only one," (even though I know I'm not the only one, yours seem to hit the nail just right for me at the right time) who holds memories in things, I won't cling to so MANY of them now!

Thank you Etsy and Google Search for bringing me one step closer to my dream of a Minimalist Organic home with a dehoarded life, mind and truck!

Thank you US, Germany, Sweden, Canada, China, Guatemala, Australia, Hong Kong, Saint Lucia, Mexico, Pakistan, Russia, Taiwan and others supporting in my HoarderRehab and The Destiny of Things!   

My new goal is to list at least 200 items from my hoard on each shop by October for the Christmas season!  I've already met that goal at The Destiny of Things!  I'm going to try and list new hoard daily at each shop until I reach my new goal.

Click on the shop names to visit my new hoard listed daily: HoarderRehab with 197 items, The Destiny of Things- 201 items , VintageToGoEasy - 186 items and now JunkDrawerLoveEtsy - 179 items!  Maybe you'll find something to take home and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!

Related Stories:

1.  Not My Childhood Kanzashi!  The Destiny of Things, Story 154

2.  Sushi Bento Grass Garnish and History:  The Destiny of Things, Story 233  

Most Read Story of the Day:  300 Wedding Cocktail Animal and Mermaid Drink Markers: The Destiny of Things, Story 239   

Most Read Story of the 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!   

"To improve is to change, to perfect is to change often." 

Polymer Dragonfly Pendant: The Destiny of Things, Story 242

Polymer Dragonfly Pendant:  The Destiny of Things, Story 242

Sometimes a stranger can bring great meaning to your life!

photo via The Destiny of Things

An Etsy stranger has  become a good friend!  We met on Etsy almost a year ago and we have the same taste in all kinds of ways and she's been a repeat buyer several times.

She let me know that this little guy is going to be in one her creative projects, which I think was to incorporate into a mobile.  As a matter of fact, we both love mobiles too!  And when I admired one of hers from afar, she took it apart to share with me!

photo via The Destiny of Things

 Some interesting information on dragonflies and symbolism from wikipedia:

1. Dragonflies are the lil good guys and are important predators because they eat mainly mosquitoes and other small insects like gnats, flies, ants, wasps, and bees.

2. They themselves are subject to predation by birds, lizards, frogs, spiders, fish, water bugs, and even other large dragonflies.

3. 60 mph flight speed? Tillyard claimed to have recorded the Southern Giant Darner flying at nearly 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) in a rough field measurement.[8] However, the greatest reliable flight speed records are for other types of insects.[9] In general, large dragonflies like the hawkers have a maximum speed of 10–15 metres per second (22–34 mph) with average cruising speed of about 4.5 metres per second (10 mph)

3. In Japan, the dragonfly is a seasonal symbol associated with summer and early autumn. More generally, dragonflies are symbols of courage, strength, and happiness, and they often appear in art and literature, especially haiku.

The love for dragonflies is reflected by traditional (layman's) names for almost all of the 200 species of dragonflies found in and around Japan.

Japanese children catch large dragonflies as a game, using a hair with a small pebble tied to each end, which they throw into the air. The dragonfly mistakes the pebbles for prey, gets tangled in the hair, and is dragged to the ground by the weight.

Human-sized, prehistoric dragonfly nymphs called "Meganulon" appear in the 1956 film Rodan, based on the extinct species Meganeura. The main kaiju antagonist in the 2000 film Godzilla vs. Megaguirus is a variation of this fictional creature.

 photo via The Destiny of Things

Saying Goodbye:  This little guy was easy peasy to let go, especially since I already knew where it was going and it's with a whole bunch of my other things.  I feel as though it's with a whole extended family of my stuff somewhere in Kansas!

And I've been reassured that I can see my stuff again if needed, which I used to think might be necessary since she has some of my treasured items from childhood!  No one has ever said that I could see my stuff or borrow it back for a day or two and it really helped me knowing that I had that option, but now I think I'm going to be fine hoard free!

What I Learned:

1.  I never know what items of my hoard are going to bring me together with someone and make my life more meaningful, usually it's a transaction that give me insight to why I hoard, but this time it brought me so much more!  I never thought I'd meet a good friend that I have so much in common with that supports me in many ways!  

What a brave new world to find to find someone, like a Bobbsey twin that's not a hoarder!  It brings me a lot of hope.

 Here is a photo of the mobile she was kind enough to share with me!

Thank you Etsy buyer from The Destiny of Things for sharing more than your story!  Your friendship, support and kindness has moved me and helped me in more ways than one towards staying on course with my Hoarder Rehab!

And when things go sour, down south or weird, you are always there to listen to me and help me out!  And of course, you are there for the best parts also, like celebrating small and large triumphs!  Thank you so much for everything!

Thank you Etsy for not only bringing me closer to my Hoarder Rehab goals and finding kind truthful meaning in many of my transactions, but for bringing some friends along too!  What a nice surprise!

Thank you US, France, Turkey, China, Canada for supporting in my HoarderRehab and The Destiny of Things! 

My new goal is to list at least 200 items from my hoard on each shop by October for the Christmas season!  I've already met that goal at The Destiny of Things!  I'm going to try and list new hoard daily at each shop until I reach my new goal.

Click on the shop names to visit my new hoard listed daily: HoarderRehab with 193 items, The Destiny of Things- 201 items , VintageToGoEasy - 182 items and now JunkDrawerLoveEtsy - 176 items!  Maybe you'll find something to take home and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!

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1.  Distressed Chinese Pouch Purse:  The Destiny of Things, Story #135

2.  Tabako bon Japanese Smoking Box and More:  The Destiny of Things, Story 183  

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