I'm still in the bits and bobs my friends!
I fell down the rabbit hole of playing with little treasures…
And I really liked it.
But you might have already guessed that over the years.
My sister and I are both lovers of tiny things and this and that's.
Keys to secret doors.
Pocket watches that have stopped in time.
Antique spools of thread.
The list goes on…
Oh how I love rusty things.
I love collecting keys too.
You should see all the rusty treasures I collected on the road over the last year.
I put them in a huge jar and gifted them to the hatter for Hanukkah.
The jar is crazy heavy.
He's been giving me something called commendations for years.
My commendations are always I.O.O.F medals & ribbons.
Love them so.
The old doll head is a 20 year ago find in a ratty little old stuff shop.
It was in a case and quite costly, but it was labeled as an old Mennonite doll head.
And so, I had to have it.
Antique door knobs and sea shells sure make me happy too.
Put it all together and you have another inspiration palette.
Dried flowers turn into paper art don't they?
I put all the treasures on a painting I am working on.
I've been doing a lot of art making lately.
Sculpting like mad and throwing paint every chance I get.
It's such great therapy besides being my life calling and all 🙂
If you want some great inspiration filled with tears and awe…
You must watch Chef's Table (whole series is magical), the episode on Grant Achatz is really something.
Season 2, episode 1.
( I watched on Netflix)
They are all wonderful episodes, but even though I knew his story, I still sobbed.
I felt so inspired and encouraged about life in general, despite trials and tribulations.
Life is hard, it's our job to put it into perspective and try to see the good.
I've been practicing this thing…
Whenever I have a bad or stressful thought I immediately say, throw away that negative thought and replace it with something positive. Don't catastrophize and don't spiral into the what ifs.
Since I was 18 years old I've been on a quest for inner peace.
Sometimes I'm floating on cloud 9 and life is easy, but sometimes it's more complex, as you know.
It's just the way life is, so I find ways to make it better for myself.
I love being happy and enjoying my days.
If someone starts to tell me something I find very stressful I tell them, please don't tell me about that, it makes me sad. Can you give me a positive spin on the topic?
It's also important to let friends know that, you get stressed out too, and when they try to lump all their problems on you it's a very unhealthy feeling for you too.
I have friends I bounce my stresses off of and listen to theirs and it feels good to talk to each other.
But other friends don't bounce back and forth, they just drown you.
And then you have to say something.
You can do it all with tact and kindness and honesty.
Something like…
"I don't know about you, but I want to keep my life as positive as possible."
And while I like being there for people so much, there will be a scant few who over do the need to lean on you.
By allowing someone to lean on you too hard, you not only do them a disservice, you do yourself one.
It's important to say, I love you but I'm finding this very stressful.
I tell my friends (and myself) things my dad has told me since childhood.
Be brave and be strong.
Don't drown in a glass of water.
Isn't it so easy to drown in a glass of water when you are stressed out?
My dad always says, it's important to talk to yourself.
Talk out your worries and fears and put them into perspective.
I talk out loud to myself while walking around my garden and it works so well.
And so, I try to share that with friends too, as well as do it myself.
It's so important to be mindful of our own health – mind, body and soul.
Be good to you and focus on the little things.
I'm not sure how I veered so dramatically.
But there you go.
A bunch of knick knacks made me go all deep somehow, hahaha!
Anyhow, I for one can say…
I so appreciate you being here.
When you share your thoughts and ideas it means so much to me.
I love how we've been sharing so much lately.
Thanks for that.
What a great thing to have such kindred spirits meeting up here from time to time.
Lots of love!
Vanessa
Bunnies in my garden.
Don't let the dogs see them, luckily the bunnies always out run them.
And yes, the gophers are still trying to kill my whole garden and they took out one of my vines around my veggie garden arbor, as you can see in the back drop. Darn things.
A rose bush was toppled over yesterday by them (they eat the roots) and I'm trying to save it along with my Cleveland sage.
The trials and tribulations of being a garden keeper 🙂
Perfect topic and my collections and bits n bobs bring me such delight and inspiration. It is always nice knowing that others cherish those things too. This year as well I have made a conscious effort to focus on the good and the happy and to be smart enough to identify the people who will infuse their negativity into every conversation. Enjoyed your post!
My house is so cozy with its odd bits and bobs. Sometimes I feel like a kid when I play and rearrange. I’ve noticed that the people who are complimentary of my style have become my closest friends. Those who pay no mind to it don’t seem to get me. Thanks for your dad’s reminder to not drown in a glass of water. I’ve been experiencing a trial, and, thanks to your reminder, I realize that life is too short to let things weigh me down.
Such a wonderful thought – “don’t drown in a glass of water”. Yes, it’s important to keep a positive vibe, understanding that things are difficult and bad at times, but not letting them overtake the wonder of your life.
Thanks for another beautiful post!
This is the first time I am reading your blog. I only just started looking at bloglovin’. I was so inspired by your excitement over the Chef’s Table episode I am watching it as I speak. It is really inspiring and so obviously are you, thanks!
Good Afternoon Vanessa
I am loving this blog post. Really those bits and bobs are just so pretty* I can see how you get lost playing with them. I love old keys also* I am going to take your advice Vanessa and not let certain people bombard me with negative stuff all the time. I think it will make a huge difference. I am always trying to find inner peace too!!!
have the best day ever
deezie
Thank you Vanessa for always bringing such light and beauty through your world! I appreciate your comment and think we can all relate. My friend made this analogy to me and I often think about it and share it. As women we are “keepers of the fire”, we must own this responsibility. Ultimately we choose who sits around our fire. There are a limited amount of spots- so choose wisely!
Warmly,
Nathalie
BAH HUMBUG!!!!
HAHAHA. I hadda do it. 🙂 Ain’t I a stinker?
This is good stuff, these here words, and you get deep when you’re playing with your bits and bobs and this’s and that’s I think because that is exactly and precisely when your heart and mind can talk to you and each other. When you’ve lost yourself to the world and are in your own place.
I think that’s WHY youre deep Veevala and an inspiration to us too. <3 <3 <3
xoxoviiistinkyrottenroostah
What a great post! Our whole family is crazy for miniatures and my granddaughter is planning an Etsy shop for her handmade fairy items. She’s quite an entrepreneur at 12! And what a weird coincidence about the Odd Fellows group–my grandmother used to prepare meals for her neighbor, a 90-year-old man who was a member of that group and prominent citizen in the County. You can read about the Order here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Order_of_Odd_Fellows
It is interesting to note that it was one of the first fraternities to admit women to its ranks:
“The Independent Order of Odd Fellows became the first fraternity in the United States to include both men and women when it adopted the “Beautiful Rebekah Degree” on September 20, 1851 . . .” Your items are historical! Have a great Memorial Day, all!
I can relate to this exactly. I like helping people, analysing people’s thoughts and emotions, dissecting them so they can get a better understanding of themselves or helping them understand why someone else in their lives thinks or behaves the way they do. Helping them find the words to describe what they want to express. Many people find it difficult so untangle their own emotions and understand what drives them to do what they do.
I enjoy it most of the time, but years ago I lived with someone who was basically treating me like an on-call free therapist. Most people can see you are a human being too, with their own problems. They know your boundries and when to back off. This person didn’t. Some people are so caught up in their own whirlwind that boundries aren’t even something they consider.
They come to you with a basket full of problems, dump it at your door, and then expect you to wash and sort out through all their dirty laundry. They then come back later, all refreshed, and see how nice their laundry is. They breathe in the smell of freshly washed clothes, and leave you there on your doorstep, tired until next time.
They are usually one-way relationships that are best avoided. In the most extreme cases they see you mostly as their problem solver, and nothing else. Often, they are so self centred they don’t realise they’re doing it. As a positive, energetic, inspiring person, they use that to make themselves feel better.
Some people really do want to help themselves, to change their situation, but they feel trapped, scared and fall back into old patterns because it’s easier. They might not be able to help themselves because of some serious situation (money,illness). Then there are others who love the drama, who feed off it and will never help themselves because they enjoy the attention it gives them. It’s important for empathic, kind people to realise who they can help and who they can’t, and to cut off people who only see them as 24hr therapists.
The person I experienced this with was a powerful, sexually fustrated, emotional whirwind of energy. I would feel relieved sometimes when she left the house because it made a difference to the atmosphere. I pick up on people’s thoughts and emotions very easily and find it difficult to shut it off at times. When she left the house, it was like a heavy, oppressive storm had passed leaving peace and normality.
She had been chasing a guy for years who kept dangling her on a hook. I never knew him, but I think he liked her company but found her far too needy and overwhelming to have a relationship with.
I would come home, tired from work, and the moment I put the key through my bedroom door, she would come out of her room and start telling me about her problems that day. I hadn’t even put my bag down. She would often just walk in without knocking and waiting properly and start talking about her problems. Sometimes I still had my coat on.
I tried to put a stop to the unwanted room entering by making sure that the latch on my door meant you simply couldn’t open the door from outside – it had to be opened on the inside. She soon realised I was doing this and so the next time she was in my room, she changed my latch so it would give her 24hr access into my room. She didn’t ask me if she could do this. She simply did it, and I only found out one day when she suddenly walked into my room, unobstructed. I don’t remember if I ever confronted her about all of this, but I think I did tell her to leave my latch alone.
This wasn’t really a friendship. I was a 24hr live-in therapist. Thank god we only lived with each other for a year! XD
Playing with one’s bits and bobs brings endless hours of pure Bliss! Your Collection of various tiny Treasures is envious! Love the Ribbon! … Dawn… The Bohemian
I really like your idea of an inspiration palette! =D
It’s been so long since I popped over to visit you here, I’m glad I came back. Hugs to you, your Mr. and your pups! <3
XOXO
Annalee
I tried to get a picture of the bunny hopping around the greenhouse the other day but he was way too fast for me. I love watching the birds, rabbits and the little chipmunk that checks out my flowers on the patio.
Love all your inspiration pictures. I have things I want to do but keep getting distracted by a couple trips out of town and other things.
Now I have laundry to finish.
Thanks for the pics
I’ve way too many bits and bobs, and of late have been trying to sort through all that has come home with me through the years. It’s not an easy task, and certainly not easy for me to let go of things. I must begin though! ‘-)
By chance I stopped by an estate sale on Friday. There was the sweetest little china doll. I picked it up, loved on it a bit, then left it for another treasure hunter. I told myself it’s going to make someone extremely happy. ‘-) Your little doll head made me think of it again. Sweet thoughts!!!!
I only confide in my brother and my two sisters. We ‘get it’ that we don’t have to unload our burdens of life upon others. Oh well.
Yeah, I could write a book, so I keep a journal instead (for myself) and I let every emotion ‘out of the bag’. I know no one will read my journal, as who has time for anyone elses life these days? It’s just for me to vent or to be thankful in order for me to keep my own sanity!!!
Ah! I have a metal dolly head very similar to yours. I was thinking of using some Mold Putty and making impressions of the head and making altered dollies. Always something fun to do with found and bought objects isn’t there!!?? Yay!
I can hardly believe our hot, California valley weather is already here. It was still 82 degrees last night at 11 p.m. I am just not ready for it to be that hot at night!
Are you up for your Mad Tea Party in June or July???? I will participate on my blog if you are up for it! I have to remember we are ‘all mad here!’
Me too, staying way too busy of late, but that restless spirit of creativity is always haunting me, nudging me toward more creative madness, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
hugs and moon beams!
Miss Teresa
Hi Vanessa, I also enjoy a great many bits and bobs. And KEYS! I love old keys, they are all over the place here in my old farmhouse. I was fascinated by the I.O.O.F. award. It is so striking and fraternal societies kind of fascinate me; Grandpa was a Mason, but I really don’t know a great deal about their history–future research project! Also, as a 32-year Iowa resident I’ve never heard of Rodney, Iowa, so I looked it up. It’s as far away as it could possibly be from me, extreme west and I live extreme east of the state. Only 60 people live there. I wonder what path that award wandered, to end up belonging to you in AZ? If only it could talk! Thanks for your lovely photos and wise words. <3
Wow, I happened onto your blog and I am so glad I did. I felt like you were talking directly to me and telling me how to handle the stress in my life right now. I needed this. Thank you, sweet stranger!
Iv’e recently taken to drying the flowers, they preserve so beautifully. Thanks for the introspect on life and happiness when the brain goes into over drive. Have a blessed week.
I could get lost in all of your bits and bobs and odds and ends! Just like when I come to your blog and get lost in your art, garden and stories! Conversations can go downhill so incredibly fast I’ve learned, so I, too, have come to the point where I’ll say, ” let’s talk about something more positive,” or something like that. Debby downers make my life too “heavy”, you know? Always love your perspective on life! xo Jen
Hi Vanessa, I have been looking at your dreamy blog since 2009. This past year has been emotionally draining for me. Things are better now, but I want to thank you for your words today. I’m always glad I stopped by!
Your bits and bobs vignette is so pretty arranged on your tray. I’ve been painting old glass doorknobs on chippy wood lately.
Your dad is a wise man, and I love his quote about drowning in a glass of water. And I get what you mean about friends who drain you.
I’ve had people in my life who are psychic vampires: They were draining the life out of me! Sometimes it’s better to have a smaller, healthier circle of friends (in my case, anyway….)
Speaking of wisdom, my sweet grandmother always says, “Take your worries to the throne rather than the phone” meaning lay your worries at God’s throne and not call (or these days text) your friends all your troubles.
Sweet post, Vanessa!
xo,
RJ