Think pink
Saturday, January 31, 2009
The last day of my first month of getting rid of things I don’t want anymore. Things in boxes that have been shoved into the back of closets or stacked in the tiny storage space we have. Only 334 more items to go! Yikes. I might be down to pencils and paper clips and old pairs of socks in my last month.
My friend renovated her 40s bathroom several years ago and I scooped up some of the tiles, wanting to make some garden mosaic stepping stones or ornaments with them. My interests have changed. I’ll try to give them away to someone crafty.
The tile sphere is a project from http://craft.dow.com/craft/proj/1495.htm
Update: I posted these tiles on craigslist this afternoon in the free section and within an hour and half they were out of here! Who’d a thunk it?
My friend renovated her 40s bathroom several years ago and I scooped up some of the tiles, wanting to make some garden mosaic stepping stones or ornaments with them. My interests have changed. I’ll try to give them away to someone crafty.
The tile sphere is a project from http://craft.dow.com/craft/proj/1495.htm
Update: I posted these tiles on craigslist this afternoon in the free section and within an hour and half they were out of here! Who’d a thunk it?
No one will notice
Friday, January 30, 2009
I bought a beautiful blouse 15 years ago which is still one of the tops I wear most often as part of a “going out” outfit. It had small shoulder pads in it, very subtle, but I’d often look in the mirror and wonder I’d prefer the blouse without them. I got out the scissors. I do like it better without them.
Clivial pursuit
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
My clivia (Jan 15) was very popular! A friend contacted me last week wondering if it was still available — it wasn’t. But I had another one, started from seed at the same time as the first, and for a $10 donation to Leslie’s Kenyan projects I was more than happy to let it go as well. Thanks L.!
No big mystery
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
How do these books end up on my shelf? I haven’t read this one either but I did read the blurb this afternoon. The subtitle is “Why men are hard to get along with and what you can do about it.” My philosophy about men is simple. If they like cats they’re easier to get along with than if they don’t.
The sparkle is gone
Monday, January 26, 2009
Here are two little pendant or bracelet charms. I will drop them on the sidewalk on my street for the girls on their way to school to find. I used to love finding “jewels” on the ground when I was a kid.
Au revoir
Sunday, January 25, 2009
I remember a family trip to Versailles in the 70s — I bought some miniature Limoges plates from a gift shop (yes I still have the plates). More than 20 years later, a neighbour gave me this heart shaped Limoges box. There is a tiny chip off the lid, which she glued back on before she gave it to me. The heart is about 2 inches across. It has never been one of my favourite things.
How does your garden grow?
Saturday, January 24, 2009
I posted my first ad on Craigslist last week. I thought I might get a couple of bucks for some old magazines. Seven Organic Gardening mags from 1989 and 1990. They sold this morning and have left the house. Another $3 for Kenya.
Buzz off
Friday, January 23, 2009
A friend of mine went through a phase where he drank this brand of soda. He made a few fridge magnets from the bottle caps. I liked the simple design and thought I would make a few of my own. So he kindly saved some caps for me. That was about seven years ago. I have plenty of other fridge magnets now and if I have a spare half hour sometime I would rather have a cup of tea and read poetry than glue magnets to the inside of these caps.
Waltzing out the door
Thursday, January 22, 2009
I loved this dress. It’s vintage, it’s sparkly, it was fun to wear. There’s a woman who sings and performs spoken word at Tongues of Fire — she wears vintage and I think this will fit her just fine, with a little nipping in at the waist. I’m hoping to see her tonight and pass the dress on.
Not Fonda these any more
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
I know, pretty lame, and more where these came from. But three gone is a start. The Jane Fonda tape is ancient. I did the aerobics faithfully for a long time, but the tape came out in 1986 and there’s no remaining trace of any results. The tape is still available for purchase all over the internet.
“No surprise, but this program was a Billboard chart-topper in 1986 thru 1988, reaching the #1 spot multiple weeks. Before its release, 300,000 were preordered, setting a pre-sale record back in 1986, as the video cassette industry was still in its infancy.” Jane-Fonda.net
“No surprise, but this program was a Billboard chart-topper in 1986 thru 1988, reaching the #1 spot multiple weeks. Before its release, 300,000 were preordered, setting a pre-sale record back in 1986, as the video cassette industry was still in its infancy.” Jane-Fonda.net
Pull out all the stoppers
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
This is a stopper for a wine bottle. Once in awhile I open a bottle of red — it lasts me a couple of weeks at least. Before discovering vacuum wine stoppers, this sort of decorative plug didn’t stop the wine from going off if I didn’t drink it quickly enough. This has been rolling around the junk drawer in the kitchen for too long now. Into the Sally Ann box it goes.
Going postal
Monday, January 19, 2009
This might not look like I’m getting rid of anything in particular, but these three packages are the culmination of many months of “collecting” presents for friends and family. For my niece and nephews I pick up books throughout the year that I think they would like, mostly from yard sales and second hand stores. For friends, I keep a lookout for things I know they collect. Inside these boxes are more than 33 individual items! So this is a great day for me, for having finally (partially) cleared out the gift drawers. For E.S. who reads this blog — your Christmas parcel is now officially in the mail. (the cat stays)
Fuel for the fire
Sunday, January 18, 2009
I’ve got a lot of projects waiting around to be started/finished. These frames need finishing and glass cut to fit. Not going to happen. I paint botanical watercolours now and then and am always on the lookout for interesting frames.
None the worse for wear
Saturday, January 17, 2009
This is a teeny tiny purse. It’s about six inches long and four inches high. Did I think I was going to carry lipstick and a twenty in it? It barely holds my car keys. Snazzy orange lining though.
Your goodbye kiss leaves a stain on my cheek
Friday, January 16, 2009
I don’t wear makeup very often. So it lasts a long time. I moved here with these. And that was ten years ago. The Arbonne lipstick on the far left was purchased in 1987. I was wearing pink and purple and turquoise Reeboks that year and was young enough for that colour. I guess I’ve kept them because lipsticks don’t take up much room in the medicine cabinet. I’m going to compost the actual lipstick part (if it’s safe enough for me to ingest — apart from the lead in a lot of reds — it should be compostable) and recycle the plastic tubes at Pacific Mobile Depots.
Clivia trivia
Thursday, January 15, 2009
I grew this Clivia miniata from a seed pod fallen from the mother plant, — one of several that successfully took root. I’ve watered and cared for it for almost five years, but if I can’t find a home for it, I will return it to the earth. A proper burial in the compost bin.
(this is a freebie, no donation required)
(this is a freebie, no donation required)
Shake away
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
I went to a private screening of Sex and the City and was given this popcorn seasoning. Thought I would make popcorn one day and season it. Hasn’t happened. Normally this sort of indestructible food item would stay in the cupboard for years. I’ve got a parcel (late Christmas presents) going out to my nephews — I’m going to throw these in. Perhaps their mom or dad will make them a tasty snack.
Bye bye birdie
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
In the city where I used to live, I had elderly neighbours who made folk art. The man would carve and the woman would paint. Birds, flowers, animals, houses, trees. This cardinal is 6.5in high and 8.5in long. Let me know if you want it.
This egg is toast
Monday, January 12, 2009
Not much to say about this one. It’s about 4 inches high and opens up along the metal rim where the heart is. My mother collects eggs, so I picked this up for her (years ago), but now I don’t want to add to her clutter. It’s quite heavy, nicely made — any takers?
Turn the First Light out
Sunday, January 11, 2009
In the “old days” there was always great anticipation for the arrival of glossy stock photography catalogues. Now stock photography is all on the internet. I still enjoy looking through the books, but I have more catalogues than I need — they are heavy and they take up a lot of space on the bookshelves. These are going to an artist friend of a friend for reference.
Three stripes and you’re out
Saturday, January 10, 2009
My husband’s stuff counts too. Here’s a trio of lovely shirts headed for goodwill. He didn’t ever wear the Hugo Boss pinstripe. I’m not sure where it came from – it was either a hand-me-down from C. or I scored at a thrift shop (almost). But if a dress shirt doesn’t fit, it just doesn’t look right. One winter I had a two-week gig a couple of blocks away from a huge Value Village. I spent every lunch hour wandering the racks, picking out shirts for my husband. I brought home more than 20 of them. It was a fabulous store. Give me VV over a mall anyday.
Oldie but goodie
Friday, January 09, 2009
I’ve thought long and hard about giving this away this washstand. I do love it, and the cats love it too, taking turns sitting on it to look out the front window. It was given to me by a woman who lived to be 105. I began planning to let this go a few months ago after a friend admired it. We give each other lots of little presents and on occasion some bigger ones. It would have been out of here before Christmas and not even part of this record were it not for the horrendous winter weather that has prevented my friend from driving to town to pick it up. We’re aiming for a pickup tomorrow. In the meantime I’ve emptied the washstand of over 60 VHS tapes stored in the bottom and loads of odds and sods in the drawer. Have to figure out which tapes to get rid of. TV Nation anyone?
Flair and a spare
Thursday, January 08, 2009
I was collecting flair before it was called flair. Cannot remember exactly where I got these, but they would have been acquired before 1976. I think the Ski Canada pin might have come from a school field trip to a ski hill in the Gatineau. These days if I put a pin on my lapel, it’s rhinestones or nothing. Seriously, a sombrero on a pair of skis?
Rewind and eject
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
This should have been out of here ages ago. At one point I could have used the excuse that I was saving it just in case it was needed as a prop in a play. At least now I can recycle all of the plastic bits, which wouldn’t have been possible if I’d thrown it out a decade ago. I still have some cassettes and a ghetto blaster that can play them, but now I use an ipod for portable music. This Walkman was a gift from my first husband. I remember being pleased and touched to receive it. I walked many a mile listening to Janis Ian sing to me.
Cutting the cordless
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
I hate to discard electronics. But this phone no longer holds a charge for more than 20 minutes away from its base, rendering it pretty much useless as a cordless phone. It’s also 10 years old. New batteries are almost as much as a new phone. I just bought a replacement for under $50 – with answering machine and 2 extra handsets. For a small fee, Pacific Mobile Depots – the BEST recycling service ever – takes old electronics. Thanks to PMD I’ve become even more of a recycling fanatic than ever. They take every kind of plastic that the blue box program doesn’t. They accept milk cartons, juice boxes, soup boxes, styrofoam, cleaning brushes, toothbrushes, flower pots, medical tubing and traffic cones, just to mention a few. Ya know I did have a traffic cone at one point, could be it’s buried at the back of the shed somewhere.
Getting unstuck
Monday, January 05, 2009
A fridge magnet. 2.75in x 3in. A gift from Susan. This has been on my fridge, viewed daily, for almost 8 years. Thank you Susan.
Where the Rubbermaid hits the road
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Another item I bought years ago and have never used.
I thought I was going to line some drawers with this.
I thought I was going to line some drawers with this.
I have vase to make you talk
Saturday, January 03, 2009
I collect little vases. I like this shape. At the moment I have a small collection of green vases in this or a similar shape. I’m going to stick with green, so this one goes.
Bon voyage
Friday, January 02, 2009
This suitcase set has been stored outside in the shed for a decade. The larger one has rusted clasps and doesn’t shut properly. The lining is ripped. The smaller one is still in decent shape and could be used for storage, but I wouldn’t trust it through an airport luggage transfer system. I think it’s the trash for the big one and I’ll see if the Sally Ann wants the little one.
The Hidden Persuaders
Thursday, January 01, 2009
I don’t remember how this book came to be in my possession.
I have never read it.
I have never read it.