I don't do statuettes, ceramics or most knick knacks for decorating. My preference has always been baskets, tins and glass bottles. Baskets are my passion. From the teeny doll house sized ones smaller than a dime to giant laundry baskets, I love them all. Every room in my house has them stashed on top of bookcases, in little nooks on shelves and sitting beside chairs. There are baskets made of wicker, pine straw, yarn, fabric, plastic and more all through my house. Some I purchased, some I made. I actually have one carved from a peach pit by a former co-worker. It is one of my favorites.
I know most people have junk drawers but I prefer junk baskets. I have designated baskets in every room that get batteries, lighters, matches, pens & pencils, misc screws and nuts, and all those "what do I do with this" items. Got a loose part and you can't remember what it goes to? Put it in a basket. Finish a bookcase and have parts left-over? Toss them into a basket. Remote control missing a back? Hunt through the junk baskets.
I have been through several phases of mixing other items with my baskets. In the late 70's I split a booth at a craft show with friends that sold brass. They gave me wholesale prices and I stocked up. I loved the look but after a few years I realized that the constant polishing was a royal pain LOL. Little by little I gave the pieces away or tossed them into yard sale bins because my to do list is too long to need extra cleaning chores LOL.
On a smaller scale I love "tins". My favs are tiny tins, especially with hinged tops and vintage designs. My pride and joy for many years was a small palm sized tin that had a vintage cigarette ad on the front. It had a hinged top and I used it for a long time to carry my change and money at work. I gave it to my son when he started rolling his own cigarettes. It was perfect.
Sadly over the years I have had to toss some of the tins out because of rust. They were too much work to redo by the time I discovered the damage. However quite a few have survived and still hold tea bags, rock and jewelry collections and more.
My one other collectible is glass jars. I prefer larger ones with bale clasps like the antique mason jars but I have a variety stashed here and there. There are old ketchup and medicine bottles found on various digs. They are as much a reminder of the fun of the day with friends as they are valued for their history. There are some large bale jars found at yard sales that hold popcorn, rice and other food goodies. If they keep it $1 or less I will buy any bale jar at any flea market or yard sale LOL.
I do have two little shelves on my bedroom bookcase that are for gift items - tiny stuffed bears, mini statues saying I'm the best friend/mom in the world. These are my tiny treasures saved for my eyes only. Some days when I am sick and stuck in bed I can look up and see my little collection of "love tokens" to cheer me up.
So what do you collect? In all honesty, these are just my "accent" pieces. I collect books, movies, music, sewing fabric and notions, tons of stuff for crafts (one entire room full of stuff), and enough yarn to open a shop. I am in the process of getting rid of most of these items so I can move into a small studio apartment in town. All of the VHS movies (almost 1000) are gone - or transferred to one small basket of DVD's. I am currently working on books and music. Also I plan to hook up my knitting machine and use up some of the yarn making afghans this winter so my stashes are dwindling. The baskets, tins and glass are staying but everything else is going.
Hugs,
Linda B in TN:)
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
Belated Happy Thanksgiving
Yes, I am a day late but I am still celebrating. After 15 years of working
in a tourist area where I didn't get holidays off, I am used to spreading
it out over several days. Also between having only a hot plate and
counter top oven to cook with plus tiring very easily and aching joints, I
spend several days just preparing a meal like this.
First I bought my pies pre-made last week and have already sampled
them - chocolate pecan and pumpkin - yum :) I made my stuffing, cranberry sauce and cabbage Wed night. Thurs I baked a loaf of bread but mostly enjoyed the gorgeous sunny day and gave all the critters a bath.
After a long nap I got up about 1am this morning and made mashed sweet potatoes, got another loaf of bread going, cleaned the kitchen and put the turkey in the oven. It will take about 3 - 3 1/2 hours to bake. The oven has a 2 hour timer so when I get up later I will stagger to the kitchen and turn the timer to start the first round of cooking. When I finally drag out I will set it again so I can finally have Thanksgiving dinner for brunch or dinner today plus warm the kitchen since the temps are currently dropping and will be down to the 20's by evening :)
Hugs,
Linda B in TN:)
in a tourist area where I didn't get holidays off, I am used to spreading
it out over several days. Also between having only a hot plate and
counter top oven to cook with plus tiring very easily and aching joints, I
spend several days just preparing a meal like this.
First I bought my pies pre-made last week and have already sampled
them - chocolate pecan and pumpkin - yum :) I made my stuffing, cranberry sauce and cabbage Wed night. Thurs I baked a loaf of bread but mostly enjoyed the gorgeous sunny day and gave all the critters a bath.
After a long nap I got up about 1am this morning and made mashed sweet potatoes, got another loaf of bread going, cleaned the kitchen and put the turkey in the oven. It will take about 3 - 3 1/2 hours to bake. The oven has a 2 hour timer so when I get up later I will stagger to the kitchen and turn the timer to start the first round of cooking. When I finally drag out I will set it again so I can finally have Thanksgiving dinner for brunch or dinner today plus warm the kitchen since the temps are currently dropping and will be down to the 20's by evening :)
Hugs,
Linda B in TN:)
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Fall is Almost Over
Blowing winds today and heavy rains are yanking the last of the leaves from the trees. I suffered a until mid Oct with that miserable heat. Many of the leaves turned brown from the heat and fall wasn't quite as glorious this year but it was welcome. We had our first snow about a week ago. It only lasted a couple of days and then we were back to more normal weather. I have been in heaven.
I started last spring with a remodel and clearing out of my crafting room. I had fought with mice and rats the last two winters and finally drove them out but they ruined everything in there. Much of my stuff from the shows was packed in banana boxes and was chewed up, shredded or peed on. I tossed out tons of bags of stuff. Even my towels and crocheted washcloths had chewed and shredded bits. It was so disheartening.
The heat moved in early and I tried now and then to work on it but it was just too miserable. I had moved a lot of stuff into the living room and it was stacked with totes and boxes. Since the weather has cooled I have been working hard, in between raking and winterizing, to finish the room. I still am only able to work one or two days and rest for a few.
Lately I have really been pushing in order to have it all done in time to put out my Christmas decorations, something I haven't done since I moved here in 2006. I have one little section in the corner left and some more sorting and it will finally be done. Most of the stuff is out of the living room. Now I want to rearrange it. I am hoping I will be able to finish it by Thanksgiving but it is good enough for company right now if my son decides to show up for dinner.
Not long after my last posting Miss Snow pushed the screen out of the porch window and discovered the back deck. She loves it out there and also has staked out an area about 50 x 50 feet over by the pump house. It is a weedy area at the base of the hill and she loves to go over there and sit for hours, even in the snow and light rain. Every morning when I let the dog out she heads out too. She lounges on the railing for a little waiting to see if I am coming out to sit in the middle of the bench so she and the dog can get on either side of me to be scratched and petted. Then she makes a beeline for her little patch. I don't know if she is chasing mice out there or just likes it because the dogs outside leads will not let them into that area of the yard. Maybe she just wants some time away from all the dog smell LOL.
Oh and the guy I traded my car to, he did half the jobs then hasn't shown up again so my deck didn't get the mold power washed off and I still don't have my little fenced in yard for the dogs. I have run long leads off the back deck and hook them to the dogs when they go out. It gives them about 50 feet each. I also rigged a gate that they haven't figured out how to get out of so I just turn they onto the deck if they need to go out during the night or I am not able to handle going out to hook them up. Some days it just isn't that easy. I was really hoping for that small fenced in area to give them an area to run around and could start keeping big dog inside all the time. He is too strong for me to wrestle with all the time so he stays outside except on cold days and nights.
Today was grocery day and I am exhausted. Lately the best bargains have been at SavALot which does not have an electric cart so I am pretty beat by the time I get out of there. Just wanted to pop in and say hello. Hope to catch up more soon.
Hugs
Linda B in TN:)
I started last spring with a remodel and clearing out of my crafting room. I had fought with mice and rats the last two winters and finally drove them out but they ruined everything in there. Much of my stuff from the shows was packed in banana boxes and was chewed up, shredded or peed on. I tossed out tons of bags of stuff. Even my towels and crocheted washcloths had chewed and shredded bits. It was so disheartening.
The heat moved in early and I tried now and then to work on it but it was just too miserable. I had moved a lot of stuff into the living room and it was stacked with totes and boxes. Since the weather has cooled I have been working hard, in between raking and winterizing, to finish the room. I still am only able to work one or two days and rest for a few.
Lately I have really been pushing in order to have it all done in time to put out my Christmas decorations, something I haven't done since I moved here in 2006. I have one little section in the corner left and some more sorting and it will finally be done. Most of the stuff is out of the living room. Now I want to rearrange it. I am hoping I will be able to finish it by Thanksgiving but it is good enough for company right now if my son decides to show up for dinner.
Not long after my last posting Miss Snow pushed the screen out of the porch window and discovered the back deck. She loves it out there and also has staked out an area about 50 x 50 feet over by the pump house. It is a weedy area at the base of the hill and she loves to go over there and sit for hours, even in the snow and light rain. Every morning when I let the dog out she heads out too. She lounges on the railing for a little waiting to see if I am coming out to sit in the middle of the bench so she and the dog can get on either side of me to be scratched and petted. Then she makes a beeline for her little patch. I don't know if she is chasing mice out there or just likes it because the dogs outside leads will not let them into that area of the yard. Maybe she just wants some time away from all the dog smell LOL.
Oh and the guy I traded my car to, he did half the jobs then hasn't shown up again so my deck didn't get the mold power washed off and I still don't have my little fenced in yard for the dogs. I have run long leads off the back deck and hook them to the dogs when they go out. It gives them about 50 feet each. I also rigged a gate that they haven't figured out how to get out of so I just turn they onto the deck if they need to go out during the night or I am not able to handle going out to hook them up. Some days it just isn't that easy. I was really hoping for that small fenced in area to give them an area to run around and could start keeping big dog inside all the time. He is too strong for me to wrestle with all the time so he stays outside except on cold days and nights.
Today was grocery day and I am exhausted. Lately the best bargains have been at SavALot which does not have an electric cart so I am pretty beat by the time I get out of there. Just wanted to pop in and say hello. Hope to catch up more soon.
Hugs
Linda B in TN:)
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