GIANT Victorian doll bed… (because kittens need fancy things too!)
I hope those of you who live in the Philadelphia area have been enjoying my absence from Craigslist.
I cannot say why you left me this massively-useless item of fanciness, but if it’s because you acknowledge my Craigslist OG status, I appreciate it.
I’ve gotten out of the habit of checking Craigslist because— brace yourselves— I seem to have acquired everything I need.
Shocking, I know.
Two factors:
1. The Nuclear War of Fanciness.
Apparently, the void in my soul was exactly the shape of this mirror, and now I am cured.
2. My crap-preferences have evolved.
I now prefer such a specific niche of a specific era, that Self rarely sees something worth coveting.
Also, my decluttering project helped me see: unless I am WILDLY IN LOVE… stuff is suffocating for my brain.
I wrote three posts about decluttering:
1. Tidying Up… how Marie Kondo is changing my brain.
2. Spark Joy OR GET OUT.
3. Donating My Stuff After Konmari.
Decluttering is actually what took me back to Craigslist; most of my unwanted stuff I donated, but a few pieces of furniture I was compelled to sell because the ratio of money-to-annoyance was tipped.
Although, not tipped enough for me to FAST get on selling this crap… it took me FOREVER; which validates my personal dictate: GIVE IT AWAY. YOUR SANITY IS WORTH MORE THAN TWENTY DOLLARS.
Anyway.
I FINALLY got around to listing my valuable crap on craigslist.
Which reminded me to search for more crap.
And now I am reevaluating the wisdom of not being a hoarder.
I really am using the bed as shown— as a container for throw pillows… I find it DEEPLY IRRITATING when you walk up to the sofa and pillows/blankets/CRAP are cluttering it all up.
I like the sofa to be EMPTY— so that when you have overflowing armloads of kittens/ books/ computer/ food… you can set it all down, without needing to move things.
Also, I am now all about useless things being practical containers.
When I was discarding stuff, I wanted to get rid of ALL my collection of vintage dishes; WHY do I have SO MUCH CRAP?
But one particular set I kept taking out of donation-mountain because I LIKE it! But then I would put it back. Because it’s CRAP.
However, when I was decrapifying the bathroom cabinets, I realized the teacups* I really like are the perfect size to hold all the little random things and to put the oil container in so that it stops making a mess on the glass shelves… so now even inside the bathroom cabinets are visually pleasing to me!
*I did not put them near anything Paul touches because he is HULK SMASH and cannot get the toothpaste out of the cabinet without destroying things.
What I’m reading: Leaving the Witness: Exiting a Religion and Finding a Life, by Amber Scorah.
The first half of this book was interesting, but I did not start to love it until the second half— as she began to question… to lose her understanding of LITERALLY everything… how do you even begin to process that kind of world-shift?
What we’re watching: Good Omens, (Amazon show)
I would not have watched this, but for the recommendation of my bff… it’s light and funny and the writing is smart and fast. Both Paul and I really liked it! It’s based on a book that I had not heard of but am now waiting to get from the library.
INDEX OF ALL MY CRAIGSLIST FINDS
October 14, 2019 @ 12:27 pm
“GIVE IT AWAY. YOUR SANITY IS WORTH MORE THAN TWENTY DOLLARS.”
Amen, sister! It has taken me years to realize this. I still have the instinct to horde stuff I don’t want that I imagine to be valuable on eBay/craigslist/wherever, but I’m getting better at donating/Freecycling it instead of keeping it in a box next to the bed for 18 months until I get around to listing it for sale.
October 14, 2019 @ 12:42 pm
Ahhhhh!!!! We have missed you so much!!! I was worried something happened. LOVE THE DOLL BED! I’ve often thought about getting those antique cradles that look like they are made for a prince but could ever justify them. I love how you and the kittens are using them. You continue to be my idol😍
October 14, 2019 @ 12:49 pm
I truly LOVE LOVE LOVE the way you write! Adorable doll bed! Great humor! Check out my Instagram @thepotterygrove about half way down the page is my sonnet “Ode to Chuck” its in bright pink letters with me standing in front of my Kiln
October 14, 2019 @ 12:49 pm
LOVE that sweet doll bed, and it looks like the kitties do, too! I would definitely have bought it (even though I don’t have kitties or little girls anymore!).
October 14, 2019 @ 12:54 pm
That fancy doll bed is fantastic! I love that you’ve found a purpose for it and the kitties have embraced said purpose. It has found its way to the right home.
October 14, 2019 @ 1:11 pm
Always love your sense of humor❣️The bed is just too special for your furry babies! I see they have gotten comfy in it already. lol I sold my family home a year ago and had to purge everything…what a job! I too have to LOVE it before bringing anything home to my much smaller place. And it has to have a function…just like your teacups. Use it in a new way!
Now…off to the antique shop! 🤷🏻♀️
October 14, 2019 @ 1:17 pm
“Decrapify” – that might be my new favorite word! And good call on Good Omens. My husband started to watch and I didn’t expect to get sucked in but I ended up loving it!
October 14, 2019 @ 2:47 pm
Regarding that one set of vintage dishes — that particular one sparks joy, so it’s not crap. You don’t have to get rid of everything, just the things that you actually don’t care about — those are the things cluttering up our lives. I’m glad you figured out an actual use for those dishes you wanted to keep. 🙂
October 14, 2019 @ 2:53 pm
I’m patiently waiting for a kitchen update.
October 16, 2019 @ 6:24 pm
Yes…how about that kitchen?!?
October 14, 2019 @ 3:05 pm
OMG! I am GFT jealous! That doll bed is AH-MA-ZING!!! 💜
October 14, 2019 @ 3:10 pm
Always love your posts. Can not wait to see final kitchen. It will be spectacular.
October 14, 2019 @ 3:23 pm
I am dying to see your kitchen! Show us if you can please! And the dollbead is fabulous!!
October 14, 2019 @ 3:46 pm
What a fantastic repurposing of that beautiful bed, though I am amazed that they are using it, since, oftentimes, fur people will not sleep in comfy places when there are boxes, baskets and other odd places available. So glad to hear that you enjoyed Good Omens, I have told many people it is worth watching. Still have a lot of items that I need to get out of my house, have donated and given aways some things, so I should celebrate starting the process. Still a long, long way to go.
October 14, 2019 @ 5:05 pm
Am I the only one who wants to see those teacups and the visually pleasing display in your bathroom cabinet?
October 14, 2019 @ 6:36 pm
What I really want to know……and I think all of BLOGLAND wants to know…..is the kitchen done????? When do we get an update on that??? We know it will be AMAZING!
October 14, 2019 @ 7:23 pm
I am currently culling my crap … How’s that for a word?? My daughter – a professional photographer – told me I need to “cull” …
Definition of cull
transitive verb
1 : to select from a group : CHOOSE as in culled the best passages from the poet’s work
Damaged fruits are culled before the produce is shipped.
2 : to reduce or control the size of a collection or herd
Anyway! I found a FaceBook group called Buy Nothing Project … Google it when you have a minute. It’s Very cool! That’s where my stuff is going …
October 14, 2019 @ 8:33 pm
I love that you bought that adorable Victorian doll bed for your kitties. It’s really precious. What a good mommy you are, and they seem to love it too. What’s doing with the kitchen, or have you put that on the back burner, (no pun intended), for now?
October 14, 2019 @ 8:48 pm
So happy to hear from you and your kitties again. 🙂
Love that you Kondo (me too!) and collect fancy, pretty things (I try!) 🙂
Thank you for the update!
October 14, 2019 @ 9:09 pm
If you enjoy the book, both of the authors who collaborated on it are excellent. There are also some fun adaptations of Terry Pratchett books available to watch like Making Money and Hogfather.
October 14, 2019 @ 9:32 pm
LOVE your Kitten Bed. It is Beautiful.
Interesting post. I have a cedar shed for storing stuff, and it was FULL.
So yesterday I loaded up my Jeep and went to the local Swap Meet.
(Just a small one)
I priced everything for one dollar!
It was so much fun to see how happy people were to find a treasure for $1.00!
If you don’t love it, let someone else have it, who will love it.