Dear Closet,
I’m sorry I keep doing this to you. I know we had that long talk last spring, and there was the avalanche of ought-six, which should have taught me a valuable lesson. Unfortunately, all I took from that deluge of delightful accessories was: Holy crap, there’s the Prada I bought last winter. I never used that!
My dearest shelf space, I think we need to take our relationship to the next level. You’ve made it clear over the years that I’m burdening you with my various compulsions, and I can see that you don’t know how much longer you can bear up. Please don’t give up on me. I have a solution that might work for both of us.
You see, I’m developing a plan. No, it doesn’t involve cutting back, or donating to thrift stores. What kind of woman do you take me for! Don’t answer that. Still, that was a cruel thing to say, no matter how angry you are. Thrift stores are for clothing, not purses.
In any event, phase one of my plan involves hiring a contractor. Stop. Don’t cry, dear closet. I don’t mean to imply you aren’t wonderful as you are. But I think we might both be happier if you have a little work done. More shelves. More space. Just a little tweak, darling, you’ll see.
And to further ameliorate your plight, I intend to buy a coat rack for my office, which I will then use to hang my favorite purses, the ones I switch back and forth between during the week. You know there are no more than four or five that see weekly usage.
Love always,
Ann, the bag lady
PS - I wound up buying two laptop bags this week. One is a pink and white JanSport, very sturdy and economical. That’s for daily use. The other was, of course, the adorable Juicy pink cupcake messenger bag. That’s for when I feel like flaunting my girl power. But don’t worry, I got a deal on it.
So what do you guys collect? Are you pack rats or can you not stand clutter? My mom does ceramic birds. Well, you know. Buys them. Not does them.
Anyway…
I just mailed all my prizes, so if you’ve won something from me, expect it in the mail… in the next month or so. Hehe! I guess that means I should run another contest. You know what? I feel like supporting a Bradford Bunch author, so a random commenter will win a copy of Witch Fire by Anya Bast.
That’s right; I’ll snag it from Amazon and send it to your house. So get commenting! This book is damn hot.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go buy a coat rack, so my closet doesn’t break up with me. We’re on the rocks as it is.
November 11th, 2007 at 8:57 am
I collect books. It’s terrible, and I buy way more than I can afford, but I love books, and more importantly, PAPER. So I suppose that includes calendars or things with pretty pictures on them. Anything with written word on it? I have a really really hard time getting rid of. ’cause there was a reason I got it in the first place, right?
November 11th, 2007 at 9:18 am
Oooh, paper clutter. Do you like bookmarks, JC?
I’m in the process of having some designed by the talented Bettie Sharpe. I fell in love with the cover she did for her serial novel, and the banner she designed for her Samhain novella is just gorgeous. I’ll start sending them out with my prizes after I get them.
November 11th, 2007 at 9:33 am
Ann I like the idea of using a coat rack for purses. (which I collect)
I think it would be easier and faster for me to list what I DON’T collect. lol
I’m terrible. Besides purses ~ I’m a shoe whore. I also collect books ~ old, new, signed, etc. (I had to buy 2 more bookcases and put them in my bedroom), vintage jewelery, mustache cups, birthday dolls, kings crown glassware, depression glass, insulators, silverware, Yellowstone memorabilia, … I could go on, but I’m sure that is plenty to boor you with.
November 11th, 2007 at 9:34 am
Holy smokes, I guess you really are a bag lady. LOL Like JC, I collect books. Books, books, and more books. Some on the keeper shelf, some on the TBR, and others I’ve not even read but haven’t made it to the TBR yet. In addition to that, I also get books from the library. Yes, I’m an addict. I HAVE to have the new ones I like. If my library doesn’t get them, I have to buy them even though my budget right now isn’t being very cooperative. But I’ve gota list… oh yes, a list, of the books I want but don’t have yet and the library doesn’t stock. I WILL buy them and read them. Can you say obsessive? Snort.
And, Ann… I also collect bookmarks. my goal is to have one bookmark from every author on my shelf. I’m a freak that way.
Good luck with the closet.
November 11th, 2007 at 9:43 am
Being a teacher, I collect resources. And by collect, I mean COLLECT- I have two public storage lockers for all my stuff. I’ve taught multiple grade levels over the years, so I’m a pack rat. People have commented in schools where I’ve worked “if Laura doesn’t have it, nobody does”. I understand and emphathize with your pain!
November 11th, 2007 at 9:43 am
Oooh, so you’ll want a bookmark, Marissa? I’m really excited about what Bettie has come up with, I think it’s a gorgeous design!
Christy, I have to ask… what’s a mustache cup?
And it goes without saying I collect books too. I need new bookcases in my office. The one I have is overflowing. Of course it would help if there weren’t purses on the bookshelf too. Sigh.
Wow, that’s a lot of resources, Laura!
To make matters worse, mi suegra (mother in law) has caught on to my purse junkie status, and instead of chastising me for wasting money, anytime she takes a trip, I get a new bag!!! She brought me one from Paris… and one from Italy (she travels a lot). And while I’m a-tremble with glee over the new bags, I can’t help feeling I don’t need an enabler. Hee!
November 11th, 2007 at 9:48 am
Yep books are my weakness too. But also cooking magazines. I can’t tell you how many I have mostly with christmas baking recipes. If I find a few recipes I like in them then I won’t throw them away. They have taken over a cupboard all of their own in my kitchen now. And every Christmas I pull them out and pick out few new recipes to bake along with all my good old year after year recipes.
November 11th, 2007 at 9:51 am
Jade, I have a blank, bound lined journal that I use for my favorite recipes. I either write them in by hand, or if I’m feeling lazy, I print them off on the computer and paste them onto a page. I’ve had it for years, and it’s still not full.
I suspect that’s because I tend to experiment when I cook, and it would be hard, sometimes, for me to repeat a dish I’ve made because I just threw a bunch of stuff into a skillet, pan or pot, and either stir-fried, boiled, or baked it until it was delicious. I’m the Queen of Substitutions.
November 11th, 2007 at 10:20 am
I’m not a pack rat nor do I collect anything - or do weekly newspapers count because I grab them but don’t have the time to read them until the weekend so I have a nice pile of them most of the week.
Funny thing is whenever I go on one of those housecleaning rituals, and I find some stuff that I’ve been holding on to for a while now (god knows why!) and I end up throwing it away, I will end up needing that certain item AFTER I throw it away. It’s happened a few times and it’s sooo annoying!
November 11th, 2007 at 10:34 am
Wendy, isn’t that always the way? I used to be totally streamlined, and I’d throw stuff out on a weekly basis. And then the dreaded, “Oh crap I needed that!” streak started. Now I’m a lot more cautious about what I discard.
November 11th, 2007 at 10:52 am
Sign me up for Collectors Anonymous! CD’s, books, purses and shoes and probably clothes too but I’ve gotten better. I swear. Honest. *Sigh* Ok maybe not so much
November 11th, 2007 at 11:36 am
Besides books, which kind of goes without saying, since I worked at bookstores for six years, I also collect way too much jewelry. That’s partly because making jewelry is a hobby of mine, but I really just love handmade and ethnic style jewelry. I know I have too much of it because I have this lovely jewelry armoire my parents gave me, and a row of necklace hooks recently fell off from all the weight! I also have a lot of fancy barrettes and hairsticks I consider jewelry for my hair!
November 11th, 2007 at 11:40 am
I’m awful - I collect little boxes of all sorts (wooden ones, ceramic, whatever), teapots and cookbooks. Oh and shoes and bags. And pens. Um, yeah, I said I was awful didn’t I?
November 11th, 2007 at 11:46 am
I hate to admit it, but I love to collect books, purses and earrings. Sadly, my shelves and drawers are as full as my closets…but there is hope! I made up my mind to organize and clean out some of my collections. Of course, I decided this several years ago and so far have only managed to clean out one closet and one shelf. Not a good start you say…please be so kind as to remember it is a start and I am extremely sentimental about each piece so it takes a while to decide to let go.
November 11th, 2007 at 11:54 am
Amie, you are among friends.
Lessee what I have, just here in my office… I’ve got that cute feathered camo bag you liked when I posted the pic on my blog a while back, a hand-woven and beaded straw bag, a Coach gold and bronze multi-pattern hobo bag, a black sequined Indian Sari sling bag, a black tote from Italy… and… Oh! Here’s the microfiber Prada messenger bag that I only used a handful of times before one of the clasps broke. I don’t know whether it’s fixable.
I also have a gorgeous, never been used, Donna Karan purse just sitting here. I never found the perfect occasion to break it in. It’s a black and silver evening handbag kind of thing.
Wow, you guys are really making me feel in good company! I’m glad I’m not the only purse junkie.
I know my sickness is incurable because I still want that woven straw pineapple purse!
Kim, do you make the jewelry? I might want to work something out with you for prizes if you do!
November 11th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
I collect books, birdhouses, and Betty Boop items.
November 11th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
Ann, me too! It doesn’t stop me from throwing a lot of stuff away but at least before I do, I try to think of any situation (no matter how ridiculous) that I might need whatever I’m throwing away. Okay, it doesn’t really work, I still throw it away, lol.
Crystal B., I know this woman who works in the health department and she’s obesessed with Betty Boop items! I mean, she has Betty items all over her office and she told me she has a lot more at home. It’s so cute!
November 11th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
I’m a definite pack rat.
Every time I time that I go to toss something out I think of some use for it. I still have book reports from when I was in grade school! As for collecting my weaknesses are books & crystal figurines.
November 11th, 2007 at 1:33 pm
I collect books and hummingbird memorabilia. Needless to say my attic is full of boxes of books I have read and hummingbirds I have no room to display.
November 11th, 2007 at 2:17 pm
Hehe, Wendy.
Susan, I hear you. I lean that way myself.
Estella, do you have hummingbird feeders? My mom has one in her front yard that she just loves.
November 11th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
I have a huge collection of dolphins. when people would get me anything for birthdays or Christmas it would always be some kind of dolphin. I finally had to put a stop to it because it was getting way out of hand. One year my sister even got me a doplhin table.
November 11th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
I collect dalmatians….the big joke is that I am shooting for 101. I have figurines, pictures, mugs,
t-shirts, etc. My beloved dal, Fancy passed away a year ago this December, so the collection is kind of bittersweet.
I also collect shot glasses. Everytime we go somewhere new, I have to have one and my friends bring them to me.
I must have 50 of them so far!
November 11th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
I’m not much a collector today as I was when I was younger. I used to collect matches and little bottles of booze. The ones you get on the airplane. I had hundreds of them on display on a wicker shelf. Dusting them was a terrible chore. Now, since I no longer collect them, I’m trying to dispose of them. The cream ones seem to have soured, but the other ones just need to be drank. I have enough party liquor to last a lifetime.
November 11th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
HI ANN!
BESIDES BOOKS, I COLLECT SEA SHELLS AND BELLS.
November 11th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
I collect books, cd’s, and random cow figurines, shoes,and purses lol I think thats it
November 11th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Hi,
I collect books, in fact I have run out of book shelves and have bunches of books in totes.
Thanks,
Marlene
November 11th, 2007 at 6:23 pm
Look it! You’re pimping my book and all that.
I collect…uhm…cats. Much to husband’s chagrin. And books. Oh, soooo many books. I really need to do something about all of them. It’s getting out of hand.
November 11th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
Oh…don’t enter me in the contest. LOL!
November 11th, 2007 at 6:56 pm
Oh Anya I hope you mean figurine cats. LOL
It’s good to know I’m not the only one obsessed with collecting books.
November 11th, 2007 at 7:10 pm
Heh, suddenly I have this image of Anya as the Crazy Cat Lady from the Simpsons!
November 11th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
‘You know there are no more than four or five that see weekly usage.’ LOL! I use my one purse until the strap breaks or a seam splits. Same with my shoes (of course.) As for collecting things…hmm…you can’t see into my home, right? So you can’t see the tottering stacks of books, DVD’s, or magazines. Phew - that’s a relief.
November 11th, 2007 at 11:12 pm
I collect books, bookmarks, postcards, stamps, and well, just stuff.
November 12th, 2007 at 12:45 am
In answer to your earlier question, Ann A. (since another Ann has commented now), I do make my own jewelry, mostly with seed beads and sometimes gemstones and crystals. I stick with bead weaving mostly—brick stitch, peyote stitch, and netting in particular; it’s just really cool to see separate little tiny beads making a fabric of sorts.
I’d be interested in making some stuff for prizes (earrings, bracelets, whatever), if you don’t need too many too fast!
November 12th, 2007 at 5:06 am
im a horrible HORRIBLE pack rat
my walk in closet is a book shelf, clothes rack, and where i store stuff, like the indians i collect,, wolves, dream catchers, BOOKSSSSS (my worst half , has threaten to burn them! i did haul off alot to 3 librarys
(he wouldnt have burnt them, cause i threaten to cut holes in every pair of his drawer and the toes off his socks,put rocks in his shoesand he could wake up, his hand superglued to something (evil twisted laugh insert here)
NO one messes with my books!
but if any1 is wantin to clean out their books, they could have a lovely home in a cedar book shelf in a closet! HINT HINT
November 12th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
Ann, In answer to your question about mustache cups, here a couple of links that explain them:
http://www.thegavel.net/mustach.html
http://www.silvercollection.it/dictionarymustachecup.html
My husband has a “stache” that I’ve never seen him without - and we’ve been married for 29 years and dated for even longer than that.
The cups that I collect are usually pink (my favorite color - plus I find it so funny that men actually used them) and the ones stamped MADE IN GERMANY
November 13th, 2007 at 12:37 am
I have collections all over the house, books, stationary, and turtles. My DH is happy that I don’t have a shoe collection.Lol.
November 13th, 2007 at 6:37 am
I collect books. lol. I have been reading romances since I was 13. I still have the first one that I read. It is a fave one that I read often. I even still have my copy of The Outsiders that I bought in the 7th grade.
November 13th, 2007 at 8:58 am
All kinds of stationery, Danette? Do you write letters on it?
Amy, what was your first romance? Inquiring minds want to know!
November 13th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Hi Ann,
Yes, I have a hummingbird feeder on my back deck and one in front of the living room window.
November 14th, 2007 at 6:59 am
They’re really fun to watch, aren’t they?
November 15th, 2007 at 4:22 pm
Oh yes, I definitely want a bookmark when you get them, Ann, if I can be so bold as to pester you for one. *G*
November 16th, 2007 at 1:42 am
All kinds of stationary,I’m big on the cutsy character ones. I write letters on them or if I’m sending out a package I’ll add a cute note.:)
November 16th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
I collect light house pictures, figures, purses, books. The list goes on. I’m not as bad as I was though. Used to collect pigs & frogs too.
May 12th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Dooney And Bourke Bags…
I found your site on technorati and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. I just added your RSS feed to my Google News Reader. Looking forward to reading more from you….