Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Green Anchor Hocking Ball Vase: The Destiny of Things, Story 343

Green Anchor Hocking Ball Vase:  The Destiny of Things, Story 343

So happy this found a new life and home!

Green ball vase, sold out, but my vintage vase and planter collection, available here

I received a little tidbit of news that vase is going to be in a vintage themed wedding!  So cool and fun!  I wonder what kind of flowers are going to be inside it for their special day.....And of course, I'd love to see it!

Green ball vase, sold out, but my vintage vase and planter collection, available here

I used to be a vase hound!  As a matter of fact, I was collecting these Anchor Hocking ball vases in all their different colors!  I use to have them in red, hunter green, and clear.  I used to try and collect a lot of different vases and planters in all their different colors when I used to thrift shop on a regular basis.

I love to arrange flowers and used to buy myself an armful of flowers at the farmer's market to arrange every weekend and use many of my vases.  Also, loved to grow flowers too and add them to my weekend arrangements.  

Now that I'm allergic to so many things, I only buy flowers on special occasions and am looking for scentless flowers to grow.  Right now, I have camellias in bloom, nasturtiums and I'd like to start growing cosmos.

Green ball vase, sold out, but my vintage vase and planter collection, available here

Saying Goodbye:  Much of my vase collection has found new lives and homes, but I do miss them occasionally.  I did save several of my favorite vases and still use them, however I seem to favor using my old bottle collection and seem to use them as vases instead.

I also use my favorite recycled bottles as vases!  Here is an example:

These have one of my favorite flowers, called Casa Blancas, however they can smell quite strong, especially at night.  These bottle vases have sold out too, but if you really want a unique square bottled tall vase, email me know and I'll list mine.

What I Learned:

1.  I do miss flower arranging every weekend and brightening up different parts of any room with a little flower arrangement.

2.  I do have enough collections of vases, old bottles, recycled bottles and even lab glass for flower arranging, so I most likely should continue to let go of my vases and other bottles, etc.

3.  Decisions, decisions!  As a recovering hoarder, deciding what to keep and what to let go is daunting, confusing and stressful, especially if I let go of something I think I will regret later.  

Seller's remorse is a terrible thing to anticipate, but so far there really hasn't been anything I regret letting go.  Wow!  that is such a good thing to remind myself over and over again.  So far, no regrets!

Here is another Anchor Hocking planter vase that I had in several different colors,
available here in clear or in yellow, here
photo via VintageToGoEasy

Thank you Etsy buyer from The Destiny of Things.  Your little tidbit of information really sparked some insight for me today!  Right now I can not think of one item of my hoard that I regret letting go of!  I can't believe it!  That is very encouraging and motivating!  That should really help my decision making of what to let go in the future!
Thank you Etsy for the best Hoarder Rehab ever!  And for all the kind people I'm meeting who are helping me indirectly and directly in so many ways with my Hoarder Rehab!

Thank you readers from all over the world who continue to support my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things by taking part with your visits!  Much appreciated!
 

I also use planter vases as pencil holders and use them as incense burners too!
Available here in clear or in yellow, here
photo via VintageToGoEasy

I've reached my goal of adding new items weekly to each shop until I have 800 of my dehoard listed that will be 200 items listed at each shop!  Well, almost each shop!  Yippee!
 
I'll be adding new listings when each shop sells an item and it looks like there's some already!

Click on the shop names to visit new hoard listed daily and/or weekly: HoarderRehab with 198 items, The Destiny of Things- 195 items, VintageToGoEasy - 202 items and JunkDrawerAndMore - 200 items 

 Maybe you'll find something to adopt and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!
 
 These are large vases and look beautiful with a spring or summer flower arrangement in them.  I also use them as candle holders for tea lights for bath spa therapy and they also make fun bookends with a bag of sand inside them!
Vintage milk glass vases, available lass vases, available here
photo via VintageToGoEasy

Related Stories:

1.  My first story of someone using one of my items in their wedding:  The Destiny of Things: Wedding Jars Story III
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
"May you always have old memories and young hopes!" 
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Monday, February 22, 2016

Sushi Bento Grass & Miniature Diorama Landscaping: The Destiny of Things, Story 342

Sushi Bento Grass & Miniature Diorama Landscaping:  The Destiny of Things, Story 342

So many creative Etsy buyers!  I get so many ideas from them!  Thank you!

10+ Sushi bento grass sushi divider, available here

I received a note letting me know this:

Thank you for my order tonight, I am using the sushi grass to place around wood castle, church, houses landscaping and this will be for my 4, 3,& two 2 year old grandsons project that I am doing for next holiday gifts ! Thank you !  

So fun and interesting!  I'd love to see the end results and I'm sure some grandsons are going to be very happy with them too!

I've used mine for Easter baskets, care packages for a pop of color, cards, and even Etsy packaging!  Unfortunately, I forget to take photos or make them last minute and off they go and I don't even think of taking photos, but here are some quick examples I made for examples.

10+ Sushi bento grass sushi divider, available here
10+ shipping tags as seen in above photo, available here 
I love all the kawaii cute sticky notes because it's easy for kids to move around before gluing and for me too!

Saying Goodbye:  I have my own destash of these and use them often as bento dividers and mixed media art and sometimes even put them in my "thank you" packaging for Etsy buyers who l know like paper ephemera, especially if I think they'll like something unique.

What I Learned:

1.   It's good to know I'm not the only one who uses sushi grass, called "haran" or "baran" in Japanese, for other things besides bento or sushi dividers!

2.  Over 15 years ago, I made Easter cards with the sushi grass when they were so difficult to find I had to actually reuse and save them from restaurants or bentos from Mistuyas!  I know I saved one some where, but it's still lost in my hoard.

3.  I love the pop of color they add as a prop in photos for the Etsy items we list.  Here is an example:

Native American shadow box turquoise bracelet, available here
photo via Hoarder Rehab

Thank you Etsy buyer from JunkDrawerAndMore .  So nice to know I am not alone and someone else has thought of another different way to use them.  I would love to see your miniature landscape and holiday surprise for your grandsons!
 
Thank you Etsy for the best Hoarder Rehab ever!  And for all the kind people I'm meeting who are helping me indirectly and directly in so many ways with my Hoarder Rehab!

Thank you readers from all over the world who continue to support my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things by taking part with your visits!  Much appreciated!
 
 I wish I had taken a photo of the mini Easter baskets I made one year using sushi grass, instead of the traditional Easter grass, but here is an example of how I use them for Etsy shop packaging.  Teach gift apple stampers, available here
Cute wooden animal stampers, available here
 photo via JunkDrawerAndMore

I've almost reached my goal of adding new items weekly to each shop until I have 800 of my dehoard listed that will be 200 items listed at each shop!  Well, almost each shop!  Yippee!
 
One more item to list for 800! and 5 more to list on The Destiny of Things!

Click on the shop names to visit new hoard listed daily and/or weekly: HoarderRehab with 199 items, The Destiny of Things- 195 items, VintageToGoEasy - 203 items and JunkDrawerAndMore - 202 items 

 Maybe you'll find something to adopt and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!
 
 Some little ones I know love to make scenes on doilies for garlands with sushi grass! 6" heart doilies for garlands and other crafts, available here
12" red heart doilies for garlands and other crafts, available here
 
Related Stories:
 
 
 
 
 
Sushi grass as a prop for background landscape and pop of color.
10+ Sushi bento grass sushi divider, available here
 
 "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change.  The courage to change the things I can.  And the wisdom to know the difference."---Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971)

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Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Nail Art Gems on Artist's Cat Sculpture on Etsy: The Destiny of Things, Story 341

Nail Art Gems on Artist's Cat Sculpture on Etsy:  The Destiny of Things, Story 341

This story almost got away!  Before and after photos!

600+ nail art crystal gems, SOLD OUT!
 500 mini crystal nail art gems like the ones above, available here

This story is from April 15, 2015!  The nail art gems above are the before photos from my shop that went to another Etsy shop who used them on her art.  Last week I was promoting other shops and I saw the finished product in my activity feed!

And my memory was jogged!

Here is the email:

Hey Kennedy,

I received my fun little parcel today and loved it — so fun to look at the little bits and bobs! The rhinestones will be epoxied onto an art cat I've been working on (the base is brass).

Thanks for the kind words about my shop/art. I have met the coolest people on ETSY :)

I'll send a photo when the cat's done (Jumpin' Cat Flash — haha!) Won't be finished for awhile, but I won't forget!

Stay well, thanks again~ 

600+ nail art crystal gems, SOLD OUT!
500 mini crystal nail art gems like the ones above, available here

Here is what I wrote back:

Hi!

Thank you so much for the email and making my morning! So nice to find happy feedback and then an email with a story! I hope i can use your story on my Hoarder Rehab blog. I'll leave you anonymous if you'd like or link it to your shop. Then I'll wait patiently to see "Jumpin Cat Flash!" So happy those lil rhinestones will be on an art cat!

I love that your shop has handmade art by you and vintage stuff too! So yummy!

If I don't hear from you, no worries, I'll just leave you anonymous for my blog.

Thanks for taking the time and making my day!

Kindest regards,
Kennedy at JunkDrawerandMore

hoarderrehab.blogspot.com

600+ nail art crystal gems, SOLD OUT!
500 mini crystal nail art gems like the ones above, available here

and then she wrote:

Hi Kennedy,

Aww, you're so cute :) I like to get happy feedback too; knock on wood it's been good since I opened a year and a half ago… Such nice people on ETSY — it's so fun isn't it?

I will definitely send a photo of the kitty when it's completed… I would like to have it done and then sold (hopefully!) I have two brass cats but will only 'bling' up one; it's been waayyy more work than I planned.

You take good care of yourself and have a fab day! Happy selling to you!

Talk to you later, Kennedy~
All the best

So I guess I was waiting for an update!  I don't do that anymore and now I know why!

Drum Roll, please...... because this cat is amazing!

Crazy beautiful and it's sold too!
photo via Etsy shop artist

I know I probably showed too many photo of the nail art gems, but it's because I was trying to create suspense to surprise you with this wonderful piece of art work!  I think the 600 gems only covered the feet, if I remember correctly.

Can you imagine?  There has got to be at least a million bits and bobs, including seed beads!  All of them epoxied on to this brass cat!  What beauty!

Look at all the wonderful and fun! And this is just it's head!
Funny too with Tweety on it's chin!  Probably why the cat has that look on it's face!
Close, yet so far away!
photo via Etsy shop artist

Saying Goodbye:  So inspiring!  Looks what an artist did with bits and bobs!  I am  in such awe!  No worries saying goodbye when the "hello" is so loud and clear!  This is the inspiration to remind me to do my art too! 

This cat sculpture's designs and patterns could be looked at for hours!
photo via Etsy shop artist

What I Learned:

1.   I am so thankful that even though this story almost got away, it didn't and managed to resurface at a good time for me because now enough hoard has found new lives and homes and I can start doing art again because I have more room.  Also some things are more organized.

2.  What's holding me up from doing art?  I really have so many options of what I'd like to do, it's overwhelming.  I'll be fine, once I get started again.

3.  I'm still doing well with Lent and not eating sugar or buying things.  This week I hit a bumpy road of family stress, but so far I'm holding steady and haven't even done any window shopping.

4.  I've been participating on some Etsy teams and I am still listing til I reach my goal and all is well with both.

5.  Here is what the cat sculpture looked like before it got embellished.

 I am so awed by this artist's masterpiece!  I wonder how long it took the artist to embellish it and was it planned?

Thank you Etsy shop artist for the emails.  Your art work has been a real eye opener for more and I'm going to dig into some of mine!  Just like my doodle journal!

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

Thank you readers from all over the world who continue to support my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things by taking part with your visits!  Much appreciated!

 Speaking about cats!  Did I mention that 5 feral kittens adopted us?
We spend each weekend trying to catch one and take them to be checked up.
We have one more wild kitten to catch, but now we have a cat sanctuary with more cats!  The Mom cat, Dad cat and some other stray feral cats!
Instant download available here

I've reached my goal of adding new items weekly to each shop until I have 800 of my dehoard listed that will be 200 items listed at each shop!  Well, almost each shop!  Yippee!

Click on the shop names to visit new hoard listed daily and/or weekly: HoarderRehab with 200 items, The Destiny of Things- 195 items, VintageToGoEasy - 203 items and JunkDrawerAndMore - 203 items 

Maybe you'll find something to adopt and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!

 Cat earrings with 6 little kittens! Available here
photo via Hoarder Rehab

Related Stories:



3.  Almost went to an opera's costume maker:  Not My Childhood Kanzashi!  The Destiny of Things, Story 154 






9.  Eye Bombing with Googly Eyes: turning city eye sores into street art, here 


11.  My Doodle Journal inspiration:   Journal Artist Mechanical Date Stamper:  The Destiny of Things, Story 336

 How would you use these art gems, I use mine on my loteria art cards!
500 mini crystal nail art gems as seen in the photo, available here

Where did you get your inspiration today?
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Monday, February 15, 2016

Fortune Teller Wedding Booth: The Destiny of Things, Story 340

Fortune Teller Wedding Booth:  The Destiny of Things, Story 340

How exciting!  A bride will be using these for some wedding reception fun!

Stack of 500 fortune teller slips, available here
photo via VintageToGoEasy

These are vintage originals used in Ask Swami and Madame X dispensers from cafe diners and also like the ones used on a episode of the Twilight Zone with William Shatner that involved an Ask Swami machine, but one particular stack will be used to pass out fortunes from a fortune teller in a fortune teller booth at an Etsy buyer's wedding!

And she sent me a photo of the booth!

photo via Etsy buyer from VintageToGoEasy

How cool is that!  She said her cousin is dressing up as a fortune teller and will be in this booth!  It looks like it's going to be a very fun wedding! 

Of course, I'd love to be a fly on the wall and watch all the guests as they get a fortune slip!

The front has a fortune to tell and there are over 52 different fortunes because I've notice that some of the aces have different versions.
Stack of 500 fortune teller slips, available here
photo via VintageToGoEasy

Saying Goodbye:  I have my own stash of these because when I first saw them, it reminded me of a diner my brother and I used to go to that had an Ask Swami napkin dispenser at every table!  It was a penny dispenser and I'd use all my pennies!

When I received my stacks of fortunes and found they were like a deck of playing cards, I had to sort them to see if there were actually 52 different fortunes and there were and more!  Some of the aces have 3-4 different versions of fortunes.

 The backs answer a "yes" or "no" question that you are supposed to Ask Swami or Madame X.  It also gives you a definition of a word or phrase.  These are from the 50s-60s, so some of the definitions would not be considered politically correct now.
A complete set of 52 fortune slips that include one of each suit, available here
photo via Hoarder Rehab

What I Learned:

1.  Some of my favorite nostalgic hoard, in this case paper ephemera have become another one of our popular best sellers, especially for Twilight Zone parties and weddings.

2.  However all good things must come to an end and I only have  20 stacks left in stock and after that I don't think I'll be able to find anymore.

3.  I've used mine in many ways, for example to make a mini garland.  It's very simple and easy, just add these to a string because they have slit cut in the middle of the hole.  Also fun and easy gift tags, just tie a gift with twine and add one of these.  I also add one of these to my "thank you" packages because with the baby boomer generation it will bring back memories and to the younger generations make new ones.

4.  So far I'm doing well without having to buy anything, since I gave up buying things and sugar for Lent.  I give up sugar all the time and rarely eat sweets, except for maybe a piece of fruit, but this last Thanksgiving we found a gluten free organic pumpkin pie that was so good the crust tastes just like a Betty Crocker homemade crust, so we had one for Christmas and another for New Years!

And Valentine's we had gluten free organic brownies and for the Lunar New Year a gluten tolerant, however, not sure how much of it is organic lemon cake!  The lemon cake tastes a lot like the Poppy seed cake my Grandmother used to make when we were kids.  I do at least only frost it all with sugarless creme fraiche.

Need I say more?  Now if I can just find a gluten free organic chocolate biscotti!

Here is a sample of my "thank you" package.  It has several fortune teller items in it because every time an listed items finds a new home I know I am one item closer to a dehoarded life, home, truck and mind! and wonder what will my fortune hold without hoard in it!  And this is my little thank you, available here

Thank you Etsy buyer from VintageToGoEasy for the short note and fun photo!  I wonder if your cousin will be looking like this:

 photo via Google

Thank you Etsy for the best Hoarder Rehab ever!  And for all the kind people I'm meeting who are helping me indirectly and directly with my Hoarder Rehab!
Thank you readers from all over the world who continue to support my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things by taking part with your visits!  Much appreciated!

 Here is what a complete set of 52, available here

I've almost reached my goal of adding new items weekly to each shop until I have 800 of my dehoard listed that will be 200 items listed at each shop!  I'll be up early tomorrow morning listing away!

 
JUST 4 more items to list before I reach my goal!  Yippee!
 
Click on the shop names to visit new hoard listed daily and/or weekly: HoarderRehab with 200 items, The Destiny of Things- 191 items, VintageToGoEasy - 203 items and JunkDrawerAndMore - 203 items!    

Maybe you'll find something to adopt and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!
 
 If you need small amounts from 6 to 25+ random mix, it's available here
 
Related Stories:  
 
1.  If you want to see the Swami dispenser machine, the really cool Twilight Zone dispenser from the episode with William Shatner, which the machine was called, the Mystic Seer:  500 Replacement Fortune Teller Cards for Madame X Penny Napkin Dispenser Machine:  The Destiny of Things, Story 298

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

7.  Twilight Zone Fortune Cards as Mail Art:  The Destiny of Things, Story 229

 Another wedding and party favor favorite!  Fortune fish, available here
photo via Hoarder Rehab

"Every man is the architect of his own fortune."--- Sallust 86 – c. 35 BC, was a Roman historian, politician, and novus homo from a provincial plebeian family.
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Friday, February 12, 2016

How Spider Saved Valentine's Day Plush Toy: The Destiny of Things, Story 339

How Spider Saved Valentine's Day Plush Toy:  The Destiny of Things, Story 339

My last plush toy collection from my teaching days found a new home!

My last classroom plush toy found a new home!
More in my yesteryear's toy box, available here
photo via Hoarder Rehab

An Etsy buyer was so happy to find this little guy, first she wrote, "I grew up with Spider and never knew there was a plush version! What a gem."

I wrote back:

Hi there!

I am so happy you grew up with Spider too! Many years of students grew up with him also! He was a teacher prop years ago, but he stayed like new because I kept him in a box with a view window, when I passed him around! This is one of my last story book plushies or as a recovering hoarder teacher finding who knows what in my hoard, so I hope!

Have a great day and thanks for your order! He will ship out this Friday, January 22, 2016 with the Valentine's book.

Happy 2016!
Kennedy
 
 This is a better view of him with his cutest baseball cap!
More in my yesteryear's toy box, available here
photo via Hoarder Rehab

When she got him, she let me know with a few words that she loves him and a photo that Spider Plush Toy is among his book friends now! Saying, "He's looking pretty happy!" 

Other fun stuff from my childhood miniatures to classroom educational toys in my yesteryear's toy box, available here
photo via Etsy buyer from Hoarder Rehab

He's not the only one who's happy!  She's happy, he's happy and I'm happy!  I really think this might be my last plush toy from my teaching days!  However, I'm still sifting through boxes and am down to the last two bottom rows that align to walls.

I actually think Spider is from "How Spider Saved the Baseball Game" because of his cap, but the only book I could find left in my hoard was "How Spider Saved Valentine's Day."  Of course I had all of them!  He had one for almost all the holidays!

Spider has a kind heart and makes sure all his classmates are included on Valentine's day.  His friends Fly and Ladybug help him too and even his teacher Miss Quito helps out too!  He's silly, inventive and so fun that despite predictable ending all my students still loved each book.

I used to read this before Valentine's day in preparation of our Valentine's Day party because no one want to get their feelings hurt by being left out.  Great to make sure everyone brings enough refreshments and cards for the entire class.  Also, it's a good way to let students know that friends and teachers are always there to help out too!

More fun stuff in my yesteryear's toy box, available here
photo via Hoarder Rehab

Saying Goodbye:  I am so happy when my last collection of something finds it's proper home and this one certainly has!  Spider has been in my collection for many years and did take some time to find a home, but I think it's a good thing because it took me a long time to be able to let my classroom props go.

 Freddie the Frog was one of my first teacher's prop to find a home and get a story and I lamented over him for a couple of days!   His mouth opens and his tongue flicks out and he squeaks!  He was one of the best teacher props I ever had and I used him daily!  You can see more photos and read the story here.

What I Learned:

1.  Immersion Therapy seems to be working for me as a hoarder.  It's taken me over a year to let go of particular things without high anxiety and without the strong need to buy something else to replace it.  It took me two years to let things  go peacefully and it's taken me three years not rely on retail therapy in times of high stress.

2.  I must say that now that my insomnia is under control and I'm sleeping on a regular basis my hoarding fears and stress are much more manageable, among other things, like not having to write everything down to remember get it done, having more time in the day without feeling tired, keeping a doodle journal and feeling like and having the energy to try new and different things.  

I've had insomnia since childhood and have tried almost everything (at least over 50!)  to get some sleep and finally I've found that waking up at 3 am daily worked for me.  I slept non stop for around 3 months.  I didn't have time to blog, I could only manage to maintain the shops going.

Now I'm back to waking up at 3 am or 5 am and I fall in a very deep sleep now and am starting to wake up refreshed.  I used to need 3 cups of coffee to wake up, now I'm down to a half or 1 cup.

3.  I didn't get around to making Valentine's cards this year, but we are still celebrating with a romantic dinner!

4.  We gave up sugar for Lent and I'm also giving up buying anything!  I don't know if i can do it, but I'm going to try my best!

 Last year's Valentine's inspired by the show, Hannibal and religious folk art.
Titled:  Cross My Heart
Available here.  Photo via The Destiny of Things

Thank you Etsy buyer from Hoarder Rehab for the short email and fun photo!  I am so happy he's with a Robert Kraus' Spider fan and is right where he belongs!
 
Thank you Etsy for the best Hoarder Rehab ever!  And for all the kind people I'm meeting who are helping me indirectly and directly!
 
Thank you readers from all over the world who continue to support my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things by taking part with your visits!  Much appreciated! 
 
 Another teacher prop educational toy, I used in the classroom for the frog cycle.  There are only a few of these vintage cuties, available here.

I've almost reached my goal of adding new items weekly to each shop until I have 800 of my dehoard listed that will be 200 items listed at each shop!  My health has been much better lately, so I've had more time to list. 
 
JUST 3 more items to list before I reach my goal!  Yippee!
 
Click on the shop names to visit new hoard listed daily and/or weekly: HoarderRehab with 200 items, The Destiny of Things- 192 items, VintageToGoEasy - 202 items and JunkDrawerAndMore - 203 items!    

Maybe you'll find something to adopt and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!
 
 More fun in my yesteryear's toy box at VintageToGoEasy, available here
photo via VintageToGoEasy

Related Stories:  Many from my teaching days....

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Oh my what an eye opener!   And to think a couple of months ago, I was lamenting over my 2 car garage full of my teacher stuff that I sent to Goodwill when I retired!  Never again!  Onwards and upwards!
 
Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours!
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