The Crossroads

{Gorgeous beaded Jerusalem bag bought at an Indiana Estate sale for 50c!!}

Oy vey! (translation: Yiddish exclamation of dismay meaning "oh, woe")...that is pretty much all I have to say for myself and my lack of blog expression this summer. I have no idea where summer has marched off to, but I miss it already.

Let's see...I never finished my GA thrift experience, started my summer experiences or even showed a teaser picture or two. I just keep running out of hours at the end of a 24.

Part of my busy-ness lies in the fact I am decluttering. Sigh. I need to get the main house cleared out of my mess and get the remodeling projects completed. Of course, it will be a lovely house just in time to sell it to someone else. I am also working on an eviction at our rental house. No payments since April. Ball is always in their court, but I am so tired of running a charity house for someone who just doesn't manage money well. Another sigh.

I also am working on my closets. I have gained 15 pounds since moving to Louisville and I am having major issues getting it back off again. That pesky time thing again, but I really need to get my butt back into the gym. Dieting alone is just not cutting it. So, I have cleared out the closets of clothing that just keeps taunting me with its small size. Pointless to keep items I will never squeeze back into (I'm keeping a couple of vintage items that I have a chance to get back into and my regulars).

I really need to have a yard sale or try my hand at Etsy/Ebay, but, reality seems to be, I am keeping time between two cities and a very demanding job and will never get to either one. So, much of my thrifted treasures are, simply, returning to the thrifts. Boo hoo.

Earlier this busy week, I visited a person's home in the course of my job duties. I fell absolutely in love with this person's home decorating style. He is obviously a thrifter and his apartment, an upstairs flat, reflected such a great vintage modern style. I saw a couple of "themes" running through the place, such as bird prints, but otherwise, his place was quite eclectic. This is my absolute favorite home "decor". After I left, I kept thinking why can't I decorate in that manner? I can thrift great things, no problem there, but I just can't seem to focus on a "style", even eclectic; I am all over the place! My house looks junky, not stylish in any sort of way. I am really trying to figure out what I lack. I am thinking patience, organization and cleanliness are the attributes holding me back from a gorgeous home. I constantly have laundry to fold on the couch, toys all over the damn place, and paper clutter on the counters and table. I really need to master these areas. My apartment is the same, so I ma positive I am the common denominator to its horribleness.

I love seeing all the treasures people on the 'net find at their local thrifty sources, but I am wondering where and how do they stay in control of the stuff? I have hoarded/purged many times in my life. Donated or sold wonderful vintage goodness that just sat in boxes or cupboards or basements. When I buy it, I usually have a nugget of an idea for the object, but, rarely, do I do anything with it. I always seem to be in mid-project. For example I have a great lamp I thrifted at least 15 years ago. I found it in the barn covered in cobwebs and hay dust. I brought it up to the house to rewire and it has sat in the sun room now for almost another year. I have to set boundaries at some point. I see, once again on the Internet, the products of creativity of repurposing and I am constantly in awe, not just by the product, but by the simple fact the person found the energy and time to follow through on a project. Am I alone here?

OK, enough whinging for the night. Sometime this weekend I really hope to share some thrifty things with you all!