My children are collectors, which doesn’t help when one is trying to achieve a more minimalistic and simplistic home. Thinking about it, I feel that everyone starts off in their childhood with being a collector. Collecting shells at the beach, pebbles in the backyard, colourful leaves in autumn, insects in the summer and lots and lots of sticks all year round at the local park (see picture). Then they like collecting toys, beads, stickers, sweets, pencils, gemstones, more toys; the list goes on and on. I don’t want them to stop collecting though. It clearly plays a role in growing up. What I’d like to show them and guide them to, however, by leading (or at least trying to lead) a more simple lifestyle, is the option of consuming less, owning just what you really need and/or dearly treasure.
Tag: simplicity
memory archive — day 85
In hindsight I regret getting rid of this scarf. I had kept it and worn for about nine years for a good reason after all. Looking at the image of its cross pattern now, I realise that it does remind me of Japanese traditional pattern designs; two-tone and minimalistic repetition. So even long before I knew that I’d be going to live in Japan, I was, subconsciously, drawn to the country’s design aesthetics.
memory archive – day 57.2
Going through the bathroom cupboard, which is stuffed full with more or less needed items, I came across the above cardboard boxes. Ever since I worked on packaging in a previous job, I find it difficult to discard of well-designed, simple boxes and other containers. Continue reading “memory archive – day 57.2”
memory archive – day 56
Another (Japanese inspired), minimalistic pattern. It’s from a dress that I, very reluctantly, decided to sort out today. Continue reading “memory archive – day 56”
memory archive — back on
After a week off, enjoying sakura in Tokyo, I’m back, refreshed and ready to continue with my memory archive — clearing the house by discarding no longer needed items and writing about the memories they hold.
As per my method of one item a day, it is getting easier to part from things. However, in terms of creating my ideal, clean and simple space that I’ve been craving for, so far I’ve only scratched the surface. Continue reading “memory archive — back on”
memory archive – a short recap
As today’s contribution to my ‘decluttering project’ has merely been to finish off the recent filing session, I decided to recap on my progress rather than boring anyone with further thoughts on the act of filing. Continue reading “memory archive – a short recap”
memory archive – day 14
It is not the vase that I will dispose off today but the flowers. They’ve been in that vase for 2.5 months now and the ends are getting mouldy.
It wasn’t until I was in my thirties that I started to care for flowers. I think it’s from that age onwards that receiving flowers as a gift becomes more and more common. And, before you know it, you’ve grown fond of the idea of displaying flowers in your home as a regular thing. Continue reading “memory archive – day 14”
memory archive – day 8
This is a fancy Japanese humidifier and a perfect object to explain my resistance of getting rid of no longer needed items. Continue reading “memory archive – day 8”