KonMari 2016 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Serendipitious

GreyQueen wrote: »

Tea Lady, when you described the teaset, I was reminded of seeing something which sounded identical on Antiques Roadshow years ago. It was very pretty and had been handed down the generations for a hundred years and had no financial value at all. Which the ceramics expert said was a pity, as they were very attractive, but they were mass-produced and no end have been sequestered in state in china cabinets and have thus survived in numbers.

There's a lesson for us all there, isn't there?

True. We had a similar thing until my mother finally let it go to someone else - to again be put in a china cabinet. But these pretty teasets also might have been thought of as financial 'insurance' for some folk, in case their economy took a sudden nosedive. 'We can always sell the teaset' etc.

Reminds me of the old story of the Persian carpet given to a young couple on their wedding day, they hated it and put it in the attic thinking they might sell it one day. Every time they felt a bit broke they consoled themselves with the thought that the Persian carpet would make a bit of cash, but somehow things always improved without selling it. This idea sustained them for decades till finally they moved house and discovered that their rainy day fund, the precious carpet, was actually damp, mouldy and in tatters. But that horrible dead thing had given them confidence when they needed it throughout many years of ups and downs.

VJsmum

I have a teaset too. Left to me as "I know you won't sell it". No pressure then :cool:

Auntie Barb thought it was worth something cos she once saw something similar on the Antiques Roadshow. Perhaps I will seek a valuation and then decide what to do with it.

I am thinking of doing a "mins game" on photographs for September. (I.e one photo on the first, two on the second etc). I have stalled on photos, and i think this will help

PollyWollyDoodle

Surely the point is whether you love the teaset or not - the value doesn't matter. If you love it, then keep it and use it - if you don't like it, release it.

I've got my grandmother's wedding-present teaset - I doubt if it has any monetary value but I love it, it doesn't get used at the moment (in fact, it's in a box) but it survived Kondoing because it sparks joy. I am going to find a space to display it, because it deserves to be seen.

MMF007

Hmm, tea sets. Yep, I was given one by my grandma. It is quite delicate and very colourful. I am certain it is also a mass produced one of little value but it is so eye-catching and I love it. There is quite a lot, although not quite a full set. Some pieces are on display in LR, some packed away in the loft. I am happy with that arrangement because it would not be right to get rid of part of it and I enjoy seeing the items I have room to display. I have wondered about value, out of curiosity, but have not yet found a similar-enough one on the odd foray onto ebay to search!

I am itching to make another KM pass on a few categories, after a great day yester but we are planning a trip to a [STRIKE]secondhand shop[/STRIKE] antiques emporium (probably not that of GQ's friend, but ya never know!). I would love to find a replacement dining table. The one we have in our little kitchen-diner is too big! It is dropleaf. When we have visitors we raise both leafs and then you have to shimmy into your seat...it's a dratted nuisance and it means we rarely eat at the table, which is pants. Time for action! I know what I want with regards to style and that I want old, not necessarily antique and definitely not valuable!

Enjoy the weekend Everyone!

M

GreyQueen

My friend's shop it too small to do furniture, so you won't be shopping there. I shall be poking around the cellar and upstairs rooms for a couple of hours this morning. Love it in there, kondo heaven, never know what I'll find from one moment to another.

Well, my reorganisation worked out well. I am replacing a small c-of-d which lived on top of a bigger c-of-d in the bedroom. Unit is about 18 onches square and was holding socks. I have replaced it with two matching red willow baskets from the chazzer this week. They hold all the socks and with room to spare, they're attractive and lightweight, take up less room than the c-of-d and can be taken to the clothes airer in the other room and loaded straight from it. Well pleased. I aim to get the small c-of-d down to the chazzer this afternoon.

It makes the bedroom look airier and lighter and the home is physically lighter as well. I find myself very drawn to basketry, for its looks and its flexibility for storing all kinds of things in portable ways.

I really understood what Miss Minimalist meant when she was referring to keeping things, like by like, in modules, and getting them out as required. This kind of containerisation is how I have to live as each room has to work hard in a tiny flat. Some modules are shoeboxes, some are baskets and a few are other things, but it works for me.;)

Have a good day, one and all. GQ xx

Karmacat

I agree about containerisation - though for me, plastic crates (or cardboard shoeboxes) work better than basketry, because they're dustproof and (mostly) insect proof. I have most of my material and craft stash in big plastic crates in the living room, behind a chair, and my sister asked if I wanted some modular cupboards she was getting rid of - nope. It was a kind thought, but the crates are so portable - to take them where I'm doing stuff, or even to get them up off the floor in case of a flood or something.

Actual kondo work today - shredding! My shredder info pack tells me only to use it for 2 minutes every 20 minutes, which inevitably becomes every 30 minutes - so it takes a while. It must be underpowered, but as long as it lasts another year or so, I'm set

VJsmum

PollyWollyDoodle wrote: »

Surely the point is whether you love the teaset or not - the value doesn't matter. If you love it, then keep it and use it - if you don't like it, release it.

I've got my grandmother's wedding-present teaset - I doubt if it has any monetary value but I love it, it doesn't get used at the moment (in fact, it's in a box) but it survived Kondoing because it sparks joy. I am going to find a space to display it, because it deserves to be seen.

I know what you're saying. Mine is in a box too and i haven't actually seen it for years. I don't really want to display it as i haven't anywhere suitable - I have no idea if it sparks joy. At the moment it just feels like responsibility - I don't really want it but there's the "i know you won't sell it" pressure.

I know there is quite a little business in renting out vintage tea sets....

I am kondoing some religious socks today and some walking sandals that are mugging me off (they pick up stones as you walk along)

ClootiesMum

Just popping out of lurkdom for a minute re tea sets.
I had acquired my Gran's dinner service & it lived in the garage - until I spoke to the local hospice folks & they were more than happy to taken and use it as some of their clients like real china.

Perfect use for something that I wouldn't use & a really good cause but not one I would have immediately thought of.

Charly27

Serendipitious wrote: »

True. We had a similar thing until my mother finally let it go to someone else - to again be put in a china cabinet. But these pretty teasets also might have been thought of as financial 'insurance' for some folk, in case their economy took a sudden nosedive. 'We can always sell the teaset' etc.

Reminds me of the old story of the Persian carpet given to a young couple on their wedding day, they hated it and put it in the attic thinking they might sell it one day. Every time they felt a bit broke they consoled themselves with the thought that the Persian carpet would make a bit of cash, but somehow things always improved without selling it. This idea sustained them for decades till finally they moved house and discovered that their rainy day fund, the precious carpet, was actually damp, mouldy and in tatters. But that horrible dead thing had given them confidence when they needed it throughout many years of ups and downs.

Not heard the carpet story but how interesting. VJ'smum what's a mins game, I think I like the sound of that.
Due to continued nightmare roadworks in our town I loaded up the car with the books, including Marley, and managed to park right outside one of the CS I have a gift aid card for. 2 boxes and 5 carrier bags later I remarked and went to meet a friend. We decided that birthday presents for each other should now be shared experiences or money for us to do exactly what we wanted and no clutter! Am going to try a bit of paper today; in between stitching.:cool:

greent

Charly27 wrote: »

Not heard the carpet story but how interesting. VJ'smum what's a mins game, I think I like the sound of that.

A game from The Minimalists where you declutter starting on the first day of a month - on the 1st you get rid of 1 item, on the 2nd of the month 2 items and so on - so by the 30th you're getting rid of 30 items that day
http://www.theminimalists.com/game/

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