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| This part of the livingroom has been transformed into my personal museum plus a much-needed utility table (at right). The desk at left, which I've had since I was a teen, blocks the fireplace that we stopped using decades ago for safety reasons. The drawers are filled with vintage pencils and contemporary stationery supplies. The two clocks on the mantel are family heirlooms: Greg's (on the left) and mine (on the right). |
The last mile isn’t the longest. It’s the last 10 feet.
Despite being enough “done” with my massive downsizing project to celebrate with a trip to LA last month, I still
had three boxes of randomness to contend with – all the dribs and drabs that I
didn’t have a proper home for, yet wasn’t quite ready to get rid of. I’m still packing boxes that will go to Seattle ReCreative, where I’ve been donating art and
craft supplies that weren’t ready for the last gab & grab. Most,
though, wasn’t supplies; it was artifacts from my past that are just so hard to
let go of. I finally managed to fit the vast universe of indecision into one
box – and hauled it to the basement for further procrastination. “Someday” I’ll
have to reopen that box, but that’s not bad for nine months’ work!
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| Although it's not as fun as my "museum," this utility table (formerly my drawing table) is something I have been wanting forever -- a dedicated space for my paper cutter, postage scale and shipping supplies. I used to have to haul each of these things out whenever needed, and then clear space on my drawing table to use them. Not anymore! |
Meanwhile, I’ve been thoroughly enjoying displaying and arranging
my remaining pencil collection – the part that actually sparks joy instead of
just taking up space – and lots of personal memorabilia and family heirlooms. I’ll
probably continue tweaking endlessly, as my intention is to rotate the vintage
pencils on display with the ones stored in drawers so that they all get a
chance to see the light of day once in a while. But as of today, I am really
and truly done done with Downsizing, Phase 2! (Details in the
cutlines.) |
| This image and the one below are the two built-in bookcases flanking the fireplace. My very judiciously culled books remain on the bottom shelves, and the upper shelves hold some of my more picturesque vintage colored pencil specimens. The rustic broom was handmade in Kyoto's last remaining craft broom shop (which has since closed). |
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| I have a couple of vintage Japanese desktop drawers. . . . |
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| . . . these drawers hold most of my remaining fountain pens . . . |
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| . . . and yes, a whole drawer just for erasers! |
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| The inlaid-wood tray was made by my maternal grandfather while he was incarcerated in Tule Lake internment camp during WWII. My family owns several other items that he made during that time. (In case you're concerned, the vintage and heirloom pieces are secured to the wall and mantel with museum putty. I do live in earthquake country.) |
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| My childhood piggie bank, bronzed baby shoes and beloved Spirograph set (all pieces still intact)! |
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| I'm not clear on who made the shogi (similar to chess) board and pieces (displayed in a drinking glass behind the board) -- either my grandfather or an uncle. I have fond memories of my dad playing this game in the evenings with our neighbor for many years. |
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| These are mostly contemporary pencils that I don't use but that hold special interest. |
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| Vintage stationery items, Century 21 World's Fair stamps, and my father's Eagle Scout ribbon are visible here. |
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| A handmade teddy bear and some colorful vintage sets, plus a vintage Nicholson's Peerless watercolor set in front. |
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| On the facing wall is the TV console and matching credenza (we got both pieces at our neighbors' moving sale years ago for a hundred bucks! So much storage space!). The drawers are full of my vintage colored pencil collection and watercolor supplies. Also visible: hand weights and yoga props, since this room is also my gym and yoga studio. On the wall is a beadwork piece I made in 2008. My plan is to move this large piece to a back hallway and replace it with several artworks I've purchased from urban sketchers. The hold-up is that I still have to get them framed. |
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| Here's a peek inside the largest compartment, where vintage pencils must share space with the dang DVD/BluRay player, which I still can't quite let go of -- yet. |
Dedicated spaces are the best if you can make room for them! So much to "awww" over in this post, especially the family memories and mementos - had no idea you were descended from Minidoka residents. It is always amazing to hear stories of how those people made the best of their situation, often more than the best, while being so poorly treated. I have to ask, is that little stapler really a vintage item? I've had one for a long time and still use it often when the big stapler is overkill.
ReplyDeleteI love that you referred to the remaining box going into the basement "for further procrastination". Kinda my style that. I still have three boxes from my move in 2012 waiting for me to deal with them. I know most of what is in there which may be why I keep putting it off, but I suspect there are some surprises in there as well. And maybe after all this time, I will find it easier to ditch some of what's in them. That last move was almost spur of the moment and I didn't have much time to pack up. Once on the other end, I ran out of steam with the unpacking as my auto-immune syndrome which had not been diagnosed yet was ramping up. I could do with a good clean-out!
Yes, the little Swingline stapler is vintage! :-) I don't think they make any this small anymore. Here's a post about my family at Minidoka: https://tina-koyama.blogspot.com/2022/02/minidoka-desert.html
DeleteWell now you've just made me feel OLDer than I already am! Reminds me of going into antique shops with my dad after I'd been away from home for awhile. There I was oohing and aahing over things when dad finally said, "Yeah, we threw that out once we had some money . . ." ;-) Well, I'm not throwing out my perfectly serviceable TOT, not as long as I can still get staples for it!
DeleteThanks for the link to your blog post. How fortunate you are to have that snapshot and your mother's scrapbook. I always marvel how people can still smile for the camera even in the worst of times.
It's annoying to me that stuff I used (and some of which I still use) from the early '80s is "vintage." Humph!! How can it be "vintage" if it was in my adult lifetime??!! ;-)
DeleteI’m so geeked to see this level of detail into what you kept! I looked closely at the books that made the cut, since that is one of my looming tasks. I have many of the ones you kept, but will be considering some that I don’t have. And very curious about what’s in the box of “ vast universe of indecision”. Good job, Tina!! Anne HwH
ReplyDeleteThank you, Anne! It's a big load off, for sure! As for the "vast universe"... when "one of these days" comes, I've still got a big job, but maybe by then my perspective will be different, and things will be easier to part with.
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