THE STUFF THAT COLLECTIONS ARE MADE OF!

I know that I have stuff .
I know that I have collections.
I know that I have collectibles.
I know that I have more stuff.

What happens when the line between what is stuff, what is a collection and what is a collectible blurs? Does it all become stuff? Does it all become a collection? Does it all become a collectible?
I am beginning to believe that it all becomes a giant collection of collectible stuff!

Can anyone say "Clutter"?

Once it all becomes clutter you can lose track of what is real and what is just simply stuff. I have long believed in the Feng Shui concept of clutter prevents your chi from flowing smoothly and probably can be blamed for many other mistakes, mishaps and missed "things to do".
Therefore I do hereby proclaim that my clutter is the reason that I have missed posting to this blog since August of 2007.

I also proclaim that in the true spirit of a New Year and improving my resolve to evolve; I shall eliminate the stuff, identify my collections and then determine which are collectibles. Does saying it "out-loud" on a blog make it happen? I certainly hope so.

If any of you find that you can identify with parts of this, I would like to send you to a great article that I found on one of my favorite websites, Zen Habits
entitled: The Minimalist’s Guide to Fighting (and Beating) Clutter Entropy

Let me take this opportunity to wish all of you a healthy and peaceful new year and one filled with less stuff and more collectibles and collections.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU WILL FIND SOMETHING TO USE

When I go to the grocery store, I always stop at the racks that hold all of these free magazines.
Most are about real estate or cars and trucks. There are ones about parenting, community college classes, local casinos, different local community weekly news, shopping and classified ads and some New Age ones. But the other day I found something new that caught my eye. It was called Today's VINTAGE Magazine, and it was Vol.1, Issue 1. I grabbed it and took it home to peruse immediately.

The Publisher and Editors had been associated with the Antique & Collectables Newsmagazine
and Antique Journal. When the company closed the California offices and moved operations back to Wisconsin, they had a chance to look around and decide what to do. Fortunately for us in California, they decided that communications was their business. So they decided that they could not "think of a better way to support the greening of America than by educating and encouraging people to research and use antiques and vintage items in their daily lives".

I am using this post in my blog to congratulate Today's VINTAGE Magazine for remaining in California and for creating this very informative magazine. You can visit them at their website which they say is still a work in progress; but it already has a lot for all.

One of the articles that I really liked and found helpful was one written by Angela Moore, Editor.

25 WAYS to USE VINTAGE ITEMS

Find yourself with family heirlooms, hand-me-down furniture, or a random collection from Uncle Fred's closet? Feel like you just can't part with Great-Grandma's handkerchiefs, but don't know just what to do with them? Truly valuable antique items should be displayed with the proper care and reverence, but there are many ways to incorporate collectibles, vintage pieces and found objects into your modern décor..

1. Sew pretty handkerchiefs together to create pillows, table skirts, or window valances.
2. Create a collage from old postcards or love letters hang them in antique picture frames.
3. Break up old dishes and china, and use the pieces to create mosaic designs on coasters, flower pots, wall plaques, memorials and tabletops.
4. Fill a clear vase or bowl with a collection of small items, like buttons, marbles, matchbooks or costume jewelry, and display on a dining table or end table.
5. Convert an old dresser into a computer desk by removing the drawers and inside framing, then attaching a prefabricated keyboard underneath the top.

To see the rest of the 25 Ways, go to the website and look for this article under Vintage Decorating