WHY I NOW LIKE “JUNK”
I used to be quite particular about objects. The idea of having someone else’s “junk” was not that appealing.
I used to be quite particular about objects. For me, anything old or pre-loved really needed to be something that had meaning such as belonging to an eccentric great aunt. The idea of having someone else’s “junk” was not that appealing. However in this time of mass production and consumption and our growing awareness of sustainability, I now see the interest and beauty of pre-loved items. They add history to your home, they are unique as well as being good for the environment. Some may be valuable in the monetary way, while others will hold their value in nostalgia.
Here are some of my recent favourite finds:
Boxes – I love having trinket boxes around the house to put things in (or to hide things). I’ve had various ones since I was a child. I picked up a colourful spotted porcelain trinket box from an op-shop. It was only $4 and it’s currently on my hall table holding all the loose coins.
Glass – I’ve always loved glass. A few years ago, my mum was going through her cupboards in an effort to de-clutter and offered me a 1960’s turquoise jug. I grabbed it! Since then, I have found two friends for it: one from my local antique bazaar and another from an op-shop (I saw it in the nearby window on my way to buy some milk).
Ceramics – I love ceramics, particularly from the 1960’s and 70’s. The colours are so simple and the finish is raw. I remember growing up with these types of pieces around the house and not thinking they were particularly attractive or special. But now, I love them. I have picked up various pieces from $2 including an Australian kitsch jug with engravings of landscapes that I had to have!
Art – A recent favourite find is an original oil painting from a country op-shop. While I don’t know its origin or value, it reminded my daughter and me of another painting we have at home of Scotland. We thought it was very pretty and happy and knew just the place to hang it. And we bought it while we were on holidays, which adds further meaning to it.
If you get tired of your items or have things that have been “handed down”, remember you can donate them to your local op shop so another person can add it to their collection. Checkout markets, trash and treasure sales, car boot sales, op shops and your mum’s hand me downs!
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