Confessions of a Collectaholic

Via Better Homes & Gardens

If you are a collector, let other people share your pride and joy. Don't sprinkle your collection out of sight in a meaningless jumble. Notice how groups of small objects when they are well arranged, become important and effective... Collect what you will, but see to it that you arrange your hobby to its best advantage.
-Dorothy Draper

Via G-a-r-g-y on Flickr

Aunty Voon was my nanny from the time I was old enough to speak till I was about seven. From the time I knew them, there were always piles and piles of yellowed, hardened newspapers everywhere: hallways, front porch, corners of rooms, courtyards. I remember them already yellowed and this was the late 70s! Uncle Voon collected every daily paper since he was old enough to read (or something).

Via JasonTromm on Flickr

My sister's friend in Philadelphia hoards bicycles. We were stopped at the front door of his large shed by about what must be 500 broken, run-down, rusted out bicycles - I forgot to take photographs in my stunned condition!

My grandfather liked collecting old day-planners... never used. And torchlights, all with functioning batteries. And huge nail-clippers.

These were the type of people I use to label "hoarders".

I've come to realise now... that we are all, hoarders... collectors, gatherers. At the very least, like bower birds, dragging bits and bobs that catch our eye into our little nests.

Via maureen_g on Flickr

(Aren't these nests spectacular??? These nests are built by the male birds, who steal bits of bright blue from houses, courtyards, restaurants etc to attract their female counterparts. And they ONLY ever steal BLUE! Not pink or green or yellow! When my blue pegs from the line would go missing we'd know that there was a bower bird nest somewhere near.)

But collectors, hoarders, bower birds, always have different reasons for their inclination. Uncle Voon thought he could sell a newspaper of significant meaning one day. John repaired those bicycles to give away to kids who couldn't afford them. Bower birds drag in these shiny (and often blue!) items to make a beautiful home, to lure a mate and well... prolong their species.

And so do we (no, not build a home just to prolong our species). We interior-home-decorating nuts, we book-lovers, we baking-and-cooking-loving people... don't we like collecting what attracts and inspires us?

I collect, I confess. And I don't think I"m alone by a long shot. Celebrity interior designer, Nate Berkus collects a piece of rock or shell from every vacation as momentos. Martha Stewart collects.. well.. everything... but her jadeite fireking collection is second to none.



I thought I'd end this musing with a guilt-free show of a few of my collections:

Books

Nicola by Loui Shabner now graces the creative home of Kim from Desire to Inspire!

Vintage ribbon


Art glass


50s brooches

Little girls' frocks


Paper napkins


Children's books

Stationery


Art










China






(Incidentally, don't you just love what must be a treasured collection of antique 1880's Coalport Indian Tree china against the watermelon of the walls in the first photo?)

Bags


I also thought I'd add some inspiration from Flickr:

Pez:

Via One Good Bumblebee on Flickr

Eggs:

Via Heather Lucille on Flickr

Teapots:

Via *jenny b allsorts on Flickr

Pencil sharpeners:

Via sallyw3000 on Flickr

What collections do you have?
Anything quirky?
Like 50 year old lipsticks? ;)
Do share!

So thankful for...

Going into 2009 things are changing for us again as a family. Can't talk about it too much here, since nothing's concrete. We might be moving interstate, across the world... or staying put...


But I wanted to take a moment to blog about the small things that I take for granted...

1. I'm so glad the rubbish collector comes. I know this is fairly duh in the twenty-first century, but it's great that someone comes and carts away our unwanted trash. The used tissues, the shopping dockets, nappies, garden, kitchen and bathroom refuse... all gone, every week. Gives me great pleasure pushing back to the courtyard my just-emptied rubbish and recycle bins every Wed morning!

2. Until now, we've always lived in spaces that were far too small... lacked space and storage. I'm so thankful for our new home, that it has the space to contain us... my until-now disliked lounge sets don't dwarf the room now. They are not the prettiest but they are darn comfortable. And because we now have a large living area, they don't dominate the space!

3. This is the first time we enjoy a large enough master bedroom that we could very comfortably (with space to boot!) add Hannah's cot whilst we wanted to keep an eye over her nasty bout of eczema (violent scratching and mulching up of limbs). Although she is now back in her own room, I do miss hearing her breathe in sleep.



4. I've always wanted fresh cut flowers in my home. And of course, I've always wanted roses. Real bunches from the florists were always a luxury that had to give way to milk or nappies or towards the train tickets to work. My yearnings eventually gave way to some faux roses. (Which, let me assure you, are now eBay-gone!) Now in our own home, the previous owners had left us about 15 rose plants! I enjoy now fresh cut roses from my own bushes!

5. Growing up, the extent of recycling meant reusing single-side printed paper (which I still do till today for EVERYTHING we print. I get my sister to collect unwanted printed paper from her work for me to use!). I'm so thankful that today, I have a bin that collects tin, glass and paper products that I know gets recycled, instead of filling wastelands.

6. My pink Kitchenaid Mixer. Not because it's a kitchen status symbol or because it's pretty, but because we have been blessed enough to be able to afford all the other way-more-essentials for the kitchen... that we can then get me a Kitchenaid mixer.

7. Funnily enough, I'm thankful for weeds. (Before you write me off as an idiot, let me explain.) I don't like living above ground level. I was attracted to this home because it was single level. I like living on the ground level, not first floor, or second floor or WAY-LESS penthouse level, despite the untold luxuries of that status. I don't like stairs, even. Floating stairs (you know the modern ones without apparent support for the steps?) they terrify me. I think it stems from having lived in a rickety, badly maintained occupation-era double storey house in Malaysia for many years. So having a weed problem signifies I am able to live on ground level!

What are your seven simple, yet oft-taken for granted thankful items about your living space? If you do decide to blog about them, please let me know!

In conversation with... me.

Finally reading through my building (but still VERY modest) pile of magazines*, I went through Elle Decoration UK October 2008.

I particularly enjoy reading witty "10 questions about some famous person" and enjoyed reading in that issue an interview with Arik Levy, designer for Living Divani, Molteni and Baleri Italia... so I thought I'd give the questions he was asked a go myself!
(This is not an exercise in self-promoting etc, but just to have some fun with myself!)

And besides... it's Saturday.



Tell me five words to describe yourself?
Comfortable. Efficient. Colour. Linen. Eclectic.

What words do you most overuse?
Hannah!!!!!!!??!?!?!?!?

What's your idea of a perfect day?
Left alone at home on an overcast 20°C with a car, left to potter around, to read, to have a long shower, to do a little gardening, to bake to some good music.

Do you have any regrets?
Only two weeks ago I read How to Live Without Regret by Charles Stanley and was so encouraged by it. Stanley clarifies that regret is rooted in unresolved guilt. I.e. regret is without forgiveness. (Forgiving yourself and the other person) One of the most important questions about regret is "Was there something more I could have done?"
In the light of the above, yes... I regret I did not say enough "I love yous" and "Thank yous" and "Sorry's" when I could have.

What's the quality you most admire in a man?
Strength of character and body without violence, strength enough to apologise, strength enough to love and strength enough to be sad.

If you could be any other nationality what would it be?
Free.

Are you religious?
Not in the traditional sense, but I am a Christian, living and breathing.

What is your favourite snack?
Green mango pickle (Chinese style)

What do you think you'd taste like?
Chicken.

What talent would you most like to possess?
To be able to make money to be able to give money.

If you were a vegetable, what would you be?
A cucumber: versatile in all sorts of dishes, a source of relaxation and a "cooling" agent.

And if you were an animal?
A dolphin: they are around water (which I love!) all the time, they smile perpetually and they're extremely clever.

What was your dream job as a child?
Newscaster. I loved that their job was to read aloud. (I've grown up to hate that now heheheh)

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?
Hannah.

How do you define style?
Mature yet child-like outlook on life, quietly confident about yourself and what/who you believe in, and an ability to hone your home to reflect that quiet, confident space inside you.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I'd love to be able to handle +25°C days better.

Do you have a motto?
Just get it done!

What would you do if you ruled the world?
Make beautiful furniture CHEAPER!



*Speaking of magazines I'm very very very disappointed that Domino Magazine is closing its doors due to the tough times in the USA economy :( I really enjoyed reading the issues... one of my absolute favourites!

Mistakes I have made...

In the light of my previous blogpost Let's face it and Part 2, I wanted to confess and admit to my decorating mistakes...

This isn't easy... but here goes!

90% of our home is decorated with vintage... so rarely do I buy lamps with shades that I like. (Bought more lamps without shades!) And since my shades have been impulse, sale-on-now-stop-the-car! purchases, a few of my shades aren't sized for my lamps hehehe





So lesson 1: ALWAYS cart along all unshaded lamps in your boot so you can perfectly match size for size!

I SUCK at hanging pictures/items on the wall. With the 3m hooks, we're good... but wall hooks, I'm horrid.
Clock isn't supposed to be right there. Should be evenly spaced from the white Ikea frames.



See the picture below I made for my husband for Fathers Day? It's crooked. Because I had to use hooks.



Lesson 2: Know what isn't your strength. Counter your impatience by baking a cake, clean the bathroom... anything to avoid hanging that picture despite the $4 spirit level husband just gave you. Wait for the husband to get off the lounge home to hang the stuff.

I love painting walls. I'm quick... I painted that master bedroom in a day, with primer and 2 coats. Myself. Husband hates painting... but I'm not the most... neatest... Oh I don't mean splatters everywhere... but I mean not touching the trim and architraves. I didn't bother to tape off the trim because I also meant to paint the trim white... but I lost steam.



Lesson 3: Just in case you lose steam painting the trim... or have a hungry family to feed... and don't want to sand the cream gloss on the trim to repaint it white gloss, do a diligent job and be more-than-yourself-anal about detail.


What are your duh-duh-whoopsies?

Tagged!

One of my faithful readers tagged me with a I Love Your Blog award! Thanks Fashion Hayley!



The rules:
1. The nominated is allowed to put the picture on their blogs.
2. Link to the person who awarded you.
3. Nominate seven other people and link to them.
4. Leave a message on those people's blog to make them aware that they're nominated.

Okay so it's my turn to award this to some others...

I have heaps of blogs I love reading but I had to pick just seven...

1. The Shopping Sherpa
2. Making It Lovely
3. Ish and Chi
4. La La Lovely Things
5. Mini Modern
6. More Ways to Waste Time
7. Pink Mohair

I was also tagged by Fashion Hayley to do Six Random Things about Me so here goes!

1. When I'm upset, I clean.

2. I can't stand my pens used by someone else. I know it's anal... it's creepy... but all my pens have to be just mine. My fear: I hate my pens dropped.

3. A good chair makes me weak at the knees... one can never have enough of them either.

4. I love chocolate, but only dark chocolate... and never chocolate on its own, but I like it over fresh fruit or with nuts. (And not raisins or dried fruit...)

5. I have too many collections. And I have more I want to start... but I need to cull my addiction.

6. When I drive, I add up numbers on the plates of every vehicle coming/passing me. And I give myself 2 seconds to add them up. I can't stop this.

Let's face it... Part 2

Wow I am so touched by the response I got from Let's face it blogpost.



I also wanted to make it clear that I wasn't complaining about the lack of commenting by ex- and current- lurkers on here. Far from it! (Although it's so nice to meet you all!!!!!!!)

My point of writing that was to share my frustration and inner agitation at being so much less than some big names we've seen in the interior design worldwide scene and some like myself, who strive to make their home a place of beauty and inspiration... and who succeed in their aim.

Thank you so much for letting me know that my uneducated, small steps have in some way inspired you. In turn ... please know you very largely brought me out of this mellow-ness.

(Btw, it was husband's idea that I share with you how I felt... because he also felt that I needed to see myself, and my attempts through my readers'/someone else's point of view. He is proud of my work, but he's too close to me to fully appreciate the value of my attempts. I could paint the room mission brown and install ochre furniture and shaggy red rugs and he'd still say I'd inspire him!)

Style test: mydeco

Mydeco has a fun style tester that I took tonight. Apparently I am a

YUMMY MUMMY
You're the intuitive home-maker, par excellence - in fact, you've probably dreamed of having a family home for as long as you can remember. The look is quintessentially feminine: cool, pretty colours; layered patterns and textures; and flawless attention to every little detail. You have a true 'home', full of love, laughter and warmth - and often the reassuring aroma of home-baked goodies.

Living Room
You love to indulge the senses, to pamper and prettify... expressed in myriad styles. Nonetheless, there are some constants: curvaceous sofas and generously comfortable upholstery, and an eye that misses nothing... The clean lines and pure proportions of classically inspired accessories -- from lamps to picture frames -- will lend the room a more sophisticated and urban look, without diluting its essential prettiness. Vibrant, jewel-like colours command attention while eclectic black and white make for a bold, yet chic statement. Curled up on the sofa with a good book, your living room's the perfect place for some "me-time".

Bedroom
Your bedroom has a mix'n'match feel. You have a magpie approach to interior design in the bedroom, using vibrant colours to make a bold statement.

Conclusion
You lavish time attention and -- most importantly -- love on both family and home.

Well. I did make Jamie Oliver's meringue chocolate and hazelnut dream... course, I didn't have the right ingredients for anything! So I'll have to give it a second go another day.

I also apparently have a magpie approach to interior design, which is accurate. (I call it eclectic.)

Take the test for yourself... and let me know what you come up as!

Moving

First the mad stint of packing.
Then painting.
Then packing more.
Then cleaning.
Then painting.
Then packing more.
Then cleaning.
Then painting.
Then THE MOVE.
Then unpacking.
Then painting.
Then unpacking.
Then cleaning...



Such is life when you have 80 boxes around and no spatula.
(btw that's not slop. It's the best potato, leek and bacon soup ever. Thanks MIL!)