Change is hard. Moving across the country and rebooting your life is really hard. Moving from a large house to what will most likely be a very modest apartment when you’re a hoarder avid collector is really, really, really hard.
So we’ve begun the process of whittling down my unbelievable pile of stuff huge collection of amazing things. You can see what’s for sale at my online tag sale . There will be an actual in-house tag sale this Saturday. (Please! Tell your friends!)
But the virtual online event is so popular, I may continue it after the real event!
I’m learning a lot about how things work in today’s housing market, and how much the internet has changed the process. I’m learning what I have to put up with, and what I don’t. I’m learning to let go.
Today let me share with you the lesson illustrated in this little cocker spaniel flower pot.
This is a mid-century Royal Copley planter. It’s adorable, yes. It’s collectible, too. Yes, you can find a small one on Ebay for $3. (But don’t overlook the $15 shipping charge!) Most of them are listed much higher, $30 and up.
But this isn’t about how much money I can get for him, or what condition he’s in.
It’s about the story. Why he appeals to me so much, why I own him, and why I’m letting him go.
My grandmother had this planter in her kitchen window. It always held an ivy plant. She didn’t have many nice things. She and my grandfather had nine children instead. But every Sunday after church, and at every holiday meal and family get-together, I saw this little fellow in the window.
When my grandparents died within a year or so of each other, my father’s oldest sister Edith got the spaniel. And it sat in HER kitchen window. Aunt Edith was one of my favorite aunts, and I visited her often. So again, I saw the planter often.
My Aunt Edith didn’t marry until late in life, her mid-fifties. (And not for long, for her husband died within ten years.) She lived with my grandparents for many years. She never moved away from Gladwin. She never had children.
She was also my fourth grade teacher, and one of my greatest difficulties was calling her “Mrs. Hamilton (her married name) like all the other kids in class. But at least I got to see her every day.
That’s when I learned how much she had traveled. I think my new uncle belonged to a religious group, full of people who opened their homes to other members who traveled. So for ten years, she traveled extensively across the U.S. I remember her telling me she’d been to almost all the 50 states, including Alaska. And she brought back tiny treasures from each state. I was enamored of her small colored sand paperweight depicting a desert scene in Arizona. I inherited her tiny carved ivory dog from Alaska after she died.
I also got the spaniel planter.
Every time I look at it, I think of these women. We weren’t really a warm and fuzzy family. But I loved that connection.
So here’s the lesson: I know exactly what Aunt Edith would tell me about what to do with this planter.
She’d tell me to embrace change, no matter how late in life it finds you.
She’d tell me that having a loving partner is precious.
She’d tell me that memories mean more than mementos.
She’d tell me to move it on to someone else.
And she’d tell me to move to California.
Soon this little guy will sit in someone else’s kitchen window.
I hope it continues to create precious memories wherever it goes.
Hi Luann,
I have been reading your posts for a couple of years and have enjoyed and appreciated them very much. I wanted to look at your online sale, but when I click on it, I get FORBIDDEN, rather than going to the site from your post. How do I access it?
Also, I want to wish you the very best of luck and happiness with your move, and I hope you will continue to post once you are settled. I admire you and your story.
Sincerely, Joanne Smith
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Hi Joanne, thank you so much for your comments.
We had a glitch & are trying to see if we can fix it.
If it doesn’t work, I’ll be posting a new link to the gallery SOON!
Thanks!!!!
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Loved your pics. I was delighted to see the walking cat planter with the red bowl. I have the very same planter. My mom sent it to me as a Christmas gift a couple years before she died. She had a number of similar planters. That cat means a lot to me. By the way, I didn’t see prices listed on the web site for any of the ceramic pieces. – Tom
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Tom, what a sweet story! Thanks for sharing it.
Re: pricing, there’s a lag time between me sending photos for Roma to upload, and then me sending her the descriptions & prices to upload. Check back, the latest batch is up now!
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I’ll check back later to see if prices are up for a few things that pique my interest. – Tom
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Or you could tell me the pic # and I could tell you! Let that be our little secret, okay? :^D
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I’d love to but now I can’t get into the online site. I get a message that says, “Forbidden: You don’t have permission to access the [page] on this server.
I’ll send you a message via Facebook and hope that works. – Tom
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Either Roma’s uploading more images, OR you can refresh the page (or empty your browser cache. Apologies for the inconvenience, we’re working ’round the clock on these uploads! Busy little bees etc. :^D
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I did leave you two messages on Facebook. Did you see the messages? – Tom
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No! Ruh-roh….is someone else using my name?? LOL
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Send me a message on Facebook and I’ll give you my email address. Maybe old fashioned email will save the day. – Tom
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I have a few collectables with long family histories too. It is very hard to let those go… He’s cute and someone will surely love him.
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Hi Luann!
I am hoping to make it to your tag sale on Saturday. Planning on it.
Could you put aside the Kitchen towels for me if they are not already spoken for?
They are item number 104- vintage kitchen towels with cherries.
You have the most amazing array of items. God love you for making this transition in life!
See you soon, xo Kara
Your SUPERFAN
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You made a good decision, I can’t tell you how many people asked about those towels and groaned when they learned they were already spoken for! Come on by any day. I gotta whole lot more where those came from! (More goodies, not more cherry towels.) :^)
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Hi from Joanie Anderson
You latest comments on your move really has hit home with me. I as well am leaving Arizona, lived here 19 years, established artist, art shows, clients etc.
Moving to Indiana, family calls. What to move and what will sell of current inventnory? Indians? Thanks you for your words of encouragement.
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So glad you found this helpful! If you want to see how others have weathered a change like this, check out my article at Fine Art Views http://faso.com/fineartviews/72342/lessons-from-the-move-assumptions-hold-us-back and read the comment section. I feel better already! And I think you will, too.
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I’m not to your point of letting go. Still hoarding over here. So exciting to read about your big move. I found you through Fine Art Newsletters, great article btw. I also just purchased you e-book on Amazon, I can’t wait to read it.
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LOL, Jaime, I’m “letting go” so I can go buy MORE stuff in California! I doubt I’ll ever stop collecting. :^)
Thank you so much for your comments, I’m glad you liked the article.
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