And another......

I seem to have an excess of riches these days. I did not one, but two destash trades and today my second package arrived, chock full of more delightful treasures. This box was loaded with lampwork and some real drool-ables for sure. Another charmingly decorated box,this one from Nicole Valentine of NValentine Studio-- www.nvalentine.blogspot.com
So many treasures here--love the lampwork flowers and look at the bodacious focal disc with silverglass , some coin pearls, a beautiful chalcedony teardrop briolette, crystals, silver and lampwork to keep me busy for several projects. Thank you Nicole--they are all loverly!

Gifts are always fun---to give and to receive!

Lori, of Lori Anderson Designs http://www.lorianderson.blogspot.com , arranged for another fun activity this month. A bead exchange from our stash for those who wanted to participate. Since I have alot of stash, it was right up my alley. We were to exchange a matchbox full of goodies. She and I ended up partners and here is the beautiful box I got in the mail from her. She went all out with her beautifully decoupaged box that was full to the brim with goodies to get my creative juices flowing---

pearls, swarovskies, gemstones, brass,...

lucite flowers, artisan boro beads, polymer roses, sterling clasp and more...

I sent a box her way yesterday, that I hope she will find as delightful as I found mine. Alas, I forgot to photograph the box or the contents...but I think there were some fun things included. I also did a side exchange with Nicole Valentine of NValentine Designs that I hope she will enjoy. It was fun sifting thru my stash looking for things I thought each artist might enjoy using for her designs.

I can tell Lori put alot of thought into the lovelies she sent me--they were just the little kind of treasures that delight...now to find a minute to play with them!!!!

A MishMash of Stash

Sooo....maybe you're wondering where I disappeared to this past couple of weeks. Not all that interesting, but I've been crazy busy going thru every drawer, closet, nook and cranny around here cleaning up, clearing out and getting rid of all kinds of things. Craft projects gone astray, decor items that no longer fit my style, books I'll never read again, clothes that will never fit again. It seems like I am endlessly 're-evaluating' my needs and wants against one another and trying to detatch myself from the sentimentality of my possessions.

I seem to declutter in stages, only being able to give up so much at a time, then after a bit of a rest, I realize there was more that could/should go and it's back to the destash game for me. It's sometimes amazing the things I find that I didn't remember I had...like the lovely carved goose egg collection I bought several years ago, thinking I would make some fabulous panorama eggs to gift and decorate at Easter with...but they were stashed in a corner and long forgotten, now they are in my etsy store-- http://www.allweneedislove.etsy.com/ hoping they are just what someone is looking for...if not, off to goodwill they will go very soon...

And what about this exquisite handpainted plate from the late 1800's by Carl Thieme...it hasn't seen the light of day for a few years. I just don't use as many beautiful chotzkies around the house for decorating now, but haven't been able to bear to part with it, until this installment of decluttering...so now it's off to ebay to see if someone else can't live without it and give me more cupboard space to fill, lol.

And what could this be??? It takes up lots of room and hasn't been used for at least 10 years or so--a lovely stainless samovar from Russia that I brought back from my travels to Moscow and St Petersburg circa Peristroika. I have two---and I have finally decided that is one too many, so it's soon on it's way out the door--anyone here looking for a lovely Russian samovar (it's electric--with Russisan plugs though). I'm not shipping it back to Russia, but surely it will find a good home,...or not. (what is the market in Southern California for Russian Samovars, by the way?)

And my silk ribbon flowers...brooches, shoe clips and more used to be my passion. I made them like a crazy woman and gifted all my friends, had one in every color to match my wardrobe, etc...but alas they all must go. Gathering dust in box, unloved and untouched for much too long I am finally able to say adieu and off to etsy these go as well.

Now you know---the answer to what I've been doing all these many days---sifting thru memories and letting them go--hundreds of them, all off to ebay, etsy, secondhand stores and far, far away. Moving forward and decluttering my life, yet again...cleaning just a few more cobwebs out of my life and trashing the stash! See you as soon as I can get out from under this avalanche of abundance.