I
have been silent for long while, and for a reason. Two weeks
after my last post I unexpectedly and hastily had to move from my
large house to a small flat. Apart from the physical stress, the
emotional part of it was so strong that I almost threw away all my
dollhouses, room boxes, unfinished projects, tools and supplies. It
could have been a disaster.
I
had occasionally considered what I would do with the dollhouses if we
for some reason decided to or needed to move, and even what I should
write in my will concerning the dollhouses. Even
without considering all efforts, there is a fortune hidden inside
that people might not realise. (I make most things from trash, but I
have a few really valuable pieces). Yet it
was of course rather abstract, something I
could dismiss for a while.
Dollhouses
were not my highest priority when I moved, and my first impulse was
to get rid of everything, although I didn't
quite envision how. I did throw away a lot
of recyclables, I gave away boxes of quality supplies to a school,
but since I didn't have much time to do the sorting and discarding,
fortunately I didn't get through it all. A
young colleague was concerned about my well-being, and although she
quite realistically understood that I could not bring my dollhouses
to my little flat,
she suggested that I bring something: some supplies, some tools, to
keep myself busy during long, lonely evenings. I am glad I listened
to her, because bringing even a tiny portion of my miniature stuff
proved to make a difference. And it turned
out that, because I don't have a lot of possessions, there was plenty
of room, more that it seemed at first.
I
now live in a student accommodation. It has plenty of shelves. It is
meant for academics who have many books. I have most of my books in
my office, which is just around the corner. The few books I brought
with me, books I re-read regularly and some I keep for sentimental
reasons, took half a shelf.
The
rest I could fill with miniatures. I brought four room boxes, having
measured carefully that they fit into shelves. I feel happy looking
at them.
Declutter prophets say that you should
only keep things that make you happy. I brought some of my
favourite Chippendale pieces and some other favourite items, and
although I cannot make proper rooms, they look nice in the shelves.
As you can see I
brought all my Chippendale kits, about sixty of them. If
I make one piece every weekend – which I don't – they will last
until next September. I brought my tools, paints, stains and
supplies. In my previous life, I didn't have a designated hobby room
either, so there isn't much difference, just that my desk is smaller
and generally there is less space. But there is enough to make some
miniatures. Here are some things I have made since I downsized.
This
has not solved the problem of the dollhouses left behind, and sooner
or later I will have to deal with them. But it is another story.
