I adore vintage things, particularly household items. There is nothing I like better than a rummage in a charity shop or a morning at the auction, it is possibly the most thrilling experience when you happen across a beautiful vintage piece. I love auctions so much it has almost become an addiction. I simply cannot resist the lure of a long loved item wrapped up and the whiff of nostalgia. When I am bidding on a much wanted item at the auction I have butterflies in my tummy and my heart beats just a teeny bit faster. The wave of excitement has to be stifled so I don't look like a complete loon in front of the other bidders. (I must add at this point that I am not a competetive person at all except when I am determined to win an auction item and I will do the death stare if someone tries to outbid me and I'm very competetive when playing computer games) apart from those instances I don't care to win. Anyway I digress, I love buying what Mr K calls my 'Granny Tat' but my collecting has got abit out of hand. I have a small two up, two down cottage. There is no room for all of our belongings plus my 'collections'. I need to downsize and not allow myself to become so attached to the pretty vintageness of it all. If it's not useful or if I don't love it then it needs to be sold or passed on for someone else to enjoy. I sometimes wish I was a minimalist. I envy people whos houses are so tidy and painted the same shade of Cream in every room with hardly any of the 'c*ap' that I seem to possess. I desperately need to declutter. I do not think I am in any danger of becoming a minimalist, however I can feel something shifting and it is more than a clearing out of junk from the house it is the realization that 'things' cant make me happy, not for long anyway. Mr K thinks it's more the thrill of buying rather than the owning of the items so I am letting go, sorting the 'wheat from the chaff' so to speak. I have made a start and I have a long way to go as there is stuff all over the place. I have a good sized loft that has a staircase leading upto it which makes it far too easy for me to access it and store boxes upon boxes up there. I am dreading the decluttering in the Kitchen, that will be the hardest room as I adore vintage kitchenalia but you know it's out of hand when you open doors and things fall out and get damaged or smashed. How much better my life will feel without this clutter clogging up my cupboards but more importantly making my life feel less bogged down with it all. I hate clutter and mess. I often think I would like to have my whole house painted cream and buy all cream french style furniture with maybe a little bit of gold here and there and maybe have a large Armoire displaying just a few select pieces of china. The thing is, that is never going to happen because I like full on floral patterns and why have one teaset when you can have ten. Every so often I have a clear out and think thats it no more but then 'stuff' creeps back in again. My house is really small so I can't buy furniture which is a blessing and a frustration when I have to stop myself bidding on a beautiful wardrobe or a roll top bureau. My whole house needs to be cleaned and dusted which would be alot easier with less things. Wish me luck parting with what I call 'the pretty things of the shop'.....
