Instead of talking all the time about the stuff I'm getting rid of, I thought I'd change things up and show you some of the stuff I'm keeping. Let's start with millinery flowers. Last week I sold 420 millinery flowers. A few weeks before that, I sold 375 pieces of millinery fruit. It's safe to say I had more than I needed.
I decided to keep only my favorites: forget me nots, and anything velvet.
I've never seen a color of forget me not I didn't like.
They're even better when they're wrapped in tiny paper bundles. I figure I might use 10 millinery flowers a year. It's possible that some years pass without the need for a single millinery flower.
Anyway, without counting every single flower or calculating exactly how many years I might have left on this planet, it's safe to say that this many flowers should probably last me a lifetime.
I did do the math on a few other things. In addition to all that millinery, I've sold 49 aprons and more than 172 yards of fabric in the past few weeks. I don't think you could force me to go to an estate sale at this point. Fortunately, there aren't any that I really want to go to right now, so we don't have to test that claim.
An off-topic photo of the doilies that were among the linens I sorted through last week. They looked really pretty all laid out like this. Pretty, yes, but I still don't want them, so I'm selling them. It wasn't nearly as much fun as you might think sorting, washing, pressing and photographing a suitcase full of linens. You only think it would be fun because the American Association of People Who Sort, Wash, Press and Photograph Linens have an excellent public relations department and have put that idea out in the media.
I spent a good part of the weekend painting furniture. The bedroom was already empty because we'd just painted it. (Pewter, by Benjamin Moore). This is how the furniture looked after it was primed. Originally there were a variety of colors involved.
It probably doesn't look all that different here, other than being upright and assembled, because I painted everything in white enamel. There seems to be a certain propensity toward changing things around this place, and I think I'd rather change the colors of linens or pillows or something rather than paint furniture so much. As I was painting, I remembered that I paid about $10 for each of these pieces. That must be my price point for furniture. At least for furniture that needs to be repainted.
In an amazing step in my personal growth, I took apart my oak pedestal dining room table, managed to fit it in the back of a Honda hatchback (no small feat), and took it to a professional to have it refinished instead of doing it myself. Having fallen victim to the propaganda from the American Association of People Who Sort, Wash, Press and Photograph Linens, there was no way I was going to believe anything from the American Association of People Who Strip, Sand, Stain and Varnish Dining Room Tables.
White furniture is the best, I love the crispness of it, especially against those pewter walls. You've shore been working hard, lady!
Posted by: freckledhen | February 13, 2012 at 06:38 PM
Ha Ha those People! Wow you've been busy - when does all the cleaning out end?
Posted by: Jewels | February 13, 2012 at 06:54 PM
Busy Beaver Barbara! You are a strong woman to get rid of the millinery flowers..I could not part with them (used about 15 today alone in my crafting). Bedroom is chugging along - looking good with that crisp white furniture! Busy, busy, busy....
Posted by: laurie magpie ethel | February 13, 2012 at 08:19 PM
The white furniture looks fabulous. It makes me want to clear out all the kid clutter and paint their old bedrooms, but I know I won't.
Those vintage flowers are so sweet, and don't take up much space, so I know I would have a hard time parting with them. I am so impressed at your ability to purge this stuff -- all that cleaning and pressing and photographing and listing and mailing. I'm getting a headache just thinking about it.
Posted by: Martha | February 13, 2012 at 09:13 PM
I am thoroughly enjoying this part of the novel. Loving that wonderful color and how it looks so clean against the white furniture. However, I have decided that we have the exact taste in things. It seems what you are keeping is exactly what I would be collecting. Your velvet millinery and forget me nots couldn't be any more special. So glad you are reaping what you have sewn...smiles..Renee
Posted by: Renee | February 13, 2012 at 09:18 PM
Love the flowers and new room change up!
Posted by: Tina | February 13, 2012 at 11:02 PM
Oh.My.Gosh. You are making me feel like such a slacker. You go, girl!!
Posted by: Kathy | February 14, 2012 at 01:01 AM
My, oh my! Where are finding all this energy? Can you bottle some and send it to me?
The room is looking good, can't wait to see more!
Posted by: Shelley Germann | February 14, 2012 at 02:58 PM
BTW- Barbara, if you ever find a comment or post of mine WITHOUT a typo, write that one down in the record books!
Posted by: Shelley Germann | February 14, 2012 at 03:00 PM
I Love what you are doing with your room ! It's looking so great ! I am sorry that I missed buying any of those fruits and flowers however. Bummer !
Posted by: Lisa W. | February 15, 2012 at 04:02 PM
As a card-carrying member of the American Association of People Who Sort, Wash, Press and Photograph Linens, I confess to finding this type of activity very satisfying if not downright soothing. In small doses.
The thought of an entire suitcase of it makes me twitch a little.
Posted by: Into Vintage | February 18, 2012 at 11:56 AM
I liked those flowers. realy nice colors.
Posted by: ירושלים פרחים | February 21, 2012 at 03:50 AM
Wow, I don't know how you were able to part with all those millinery blossoms, but congratulations on doing so!
Posted by: Mitzi Curi | February 23, 2012 at 03:02 PM