Monday, January 24, 2011

Decorating for Me - Useful and Beautiful - The Qi Papers

A while back I read this quote by William Morris. "Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."  This quote kept ringing in my head as I again gutted my house of "stuff" and had a major yard sale back in October. I made over $1,500.00 at my sale and everyone was shocked by how much money I made. I told them it wasn't hard to do when you sell everything. Some customers thought I had a store!

I think the worst thing is that I don't miss any of it. None of it was all that useful and while many things were quite beautiful, they were just things to "decorate" a space. I also looked at how much money I really "lost" and how many hours I had worked to purchase items I really didn't care about just to decorate a space. Let's just say I wanted to puke when I did the math!!!

After that day, I made a promise to myself that I would no longer have anything in my home that I did not feel to be useful or beautiful. I would take my time and find things that I would never dream of putting in a yard sale.  For me, that mostly means handmade items, art and rabbits. It is also why I promised myself this would be a handmade year and the gifts I give have to be made by me or made by another artist.

So, when my dear friend, Diana Moll of The Qi Papers, posted these beautiful Year of the Rabbit postcards in her Etsy shop, I knew I had to have them! They are not only beautiful, but they are useful too! I decided to hoard keep some for myself and give some to very special friends. Those which I keep, I'm will frame and hang in Bunnyville so I can enjoy them every day.

If you would like to purchase some, Diana has more for sale in her Shop. They come beautifully wrapped and include information on what the art represents (I loved that part!) She also has four bunnies you can visit with on her blog. Tell her Shell and the bunnies said Hi!

Oh, and don't forget to sign up for the 600 followers giveaway! It ends tomorrow! Scroll down to the post below and register!

Have a magical and fun week everybun.
xx, shell, sugie and harrington

9 comments:

Country Wings in Phoenix said...

Good Morning Michelle Sweetie...
What a beautiful write this morning. I love your idea of only purchasing items that are useful or beautiful. Homemade of course being the BEST of all.

Love your cards you purchased. They could be framed as well. They are just beautiful and I am going over to check out and see what all Diana has. What fun these would be for Easter. Different and fun for my older kids, I still love to send them Easter cards. These are really pretty.

Thank you for sharing today my sweet friend. I have so enjoyed my visit here at the Raspberry Rabbits this morning. Hope you have a gorgeous Monday.

Many hugs and much love, Sherry

Barb said...

Oh...those are beautiful cards...and I like that quote...I may use it for future reference.

Jo in TAS said...

Hi Shell,
That's a good mantra for your home. I'm currently filling a room with unwanted goods that will end up in a garage sale (Oz equivalent to a Yard Sale), hopefully it will clear my home of useless clutter!
Hugs
Jo
PS I dare not think about the maths!!

QUILTING IS BLISSFUL, DI said...

Hi Shell--well for about 6 years or so I have about 2x a year--"hoed" out and gave away and donated--but something keeps happening I guess--maybe I have a pair of bunnies and don't know it--cause things keep "multiplying" around here!! I know that I am down to the things I really like--but I still do believe it is toooo much!!! Now if I was lil sister and mainly played with decorating my apartment that might be one thing--but I sew too much--would you believe that I never got even half of my snowmen put out--and I have gotten rid of alot of them--so there isn't that much left--still??????
Hugs, Di and a sleeping miss gracie

Allie said...

I love that quote too, Shell, it's one I've tried to live by for years. I'm a neat freak - I hate clutter, and don't even like appliances on my counter. My hubby is the complete opposite, and we drive each other nuts.

I love these cards, they are truly works of art!

Lisa said...

Such a great way to bring in the Year of the Rabbit!

Brynwood Needleworks said...

Oh, girlfriend.
I really have to learn to "let go" of all the "stuff" that encumbers me. Nowhere to put it...nowhere to store it...you know the details. Too much stuff. We really need to talk! ;-)
Hugs to you and the bunns.
xoxo
Donna, Kes and Fezzik

d. moll, l.ac. said...

Thanks for the spotlight, Shell. Maybe let Sugie and Harrington nibble those before they get mailed for that personal touch.

Miss Petula Pie said...

I like so much your cards you purchased: beautiful!
Have a great week

Miss Petula Pie

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