The Art Show for Collectors!

Obsessive collectors ... come one, come all! This art show couldn't have come to Ottawa at a better time. Although I'm not going until tomorrow - I get the sense that it honours all the ThriftKitty themes. 

The Collections | Solo Series 2009

Artist: Sarah Fisher

Date: February 6th - March 2nd

SPAO, Vernissage,168 Dalhousie

613-562-3824

www.spao.ca

Description: A photographic exhibition exploring the obsession involved in collecting similar objects. Photographer Sarah Fisher gives insight into collecting, through images of many similar objects. Throughout this exhibition the ideas and questions posed are from the artist's self-reflection and questioning of her own deficit throughout the years. These visuals represent a reflection of personal separation from things worth keeping and a curiosity in the people who can't be satisfied with one item, but must have many similar ones. Her interest is not in accumulating physical items but in documenting this need in others. Artist’s Statement Like most people, throughout the years I have accumulated many things. There are few things that I've held onto, the rest have been given or thrown away. Afraid to carry the weight of these objects through life, this was a way of separating myself from any attachment. It's fascinating to me the things people grow attached to. It's even more intriguing the things people are attached to but need more than one of to satisfy their craving. Whatever the rationale for these collections, I have created my own photographic collection documenting this need.

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I've been collecting for as long as I can remember. Marbles. Stickers. Band-aids. Rings. Menus. Pooh. Hello Kitty. Clothes. Shoes. Pearls. And the list goes on and on. 

During my University years, I went through a phase where I had to reinforce "no more things". It was too easy for me and those around me to feed the habit. But moving almost every 4 months became a packing exercise in insanity! The collecting stopped. I actively resisted it. Well, with the exception of clothes and shoes. 

Thrifting has brought collecting back into my life -- with more focus -- one of area of focus is to creatively and uniquely decorate our new home. Yippee!!

See you at SPAO this weekend.

Inspiration at its best.

XOXO

ThriftKitty

How do I love thee?

A wonderful poem -- vintage if you will; written in the late 1800's by Elizabeth Barrett Browning -- keeps popping into my mind. I've never been able to recite every verse because I don't believe, until today, that I had ever read the whole poem. Curiosity is a wonderful thing, because it's a great poem! Read on...

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of Being, and ideal Grace.

I love thee to the levels of everyday's

Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.

I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;

I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise;

I love thee with a passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints, -- I love thee with the breath

Smiles, tears, of all my life! -- and if God choose

I shall but love thee better after death. 

Whether the attraction towards this poem is due to my new found love of thrifting, or to my ever growing love for the wonderful man in my life, I'm not sure. Well, okay, I'm sure .... But given the subject matter of this blog -- let's go with the thrifting theme. :)

Reading each verse, I realize it has this elegant sense of wisdom and innocence. Although the pure joy of thrifting, the thrill of the treasure hunt, the fulfillment of a new hobby, and the lure of collection is what got me hooked ... there is so much more depth to this subculture that I have yet to even realize. The history and the story behind these pieces, the people and animals that benefit from the charitable donations, and the landfills that grow even a bit slower because we're reusing goods that already exist vs. constantly buying new are just a few of the ways I love thee.

I'm also drawn to the verse, "I love thee with a passion put to use". So true. SO TRUE. Life is lived so much more completely when we draw upon our passions. It's what lights the flicker in our eyes, what causes a heart to race, and what gets us out of bed in the morning. It is where innovation and creativity comes from. Passion makes food taste better, experiences richer, life sweeter.

Now, tell me who wouldn't want to feel this big, this deep, this wide, this high? Find a passion, enjoy it to the fullest, and put it to use. 

See you at the thrift store.

XOXO

ThriftKitty

Impure Yoga Thoughts: Thrifting!

Oops! I've got thrifting on the brain.

In addition to becoming a thrift expert extraordinaire in 2009, I have also been determined to get my exercise on. ThriftKitty has got to get her groove back - such a lazy bones! So, I was at yoga this evening ... well, a yoga of sorts -- it was BodyFlow at GoodLife ... and for those who know this class, there is a relaxation session at the end of the class. I've been known to do everything but relax during this timeframe. Stress, plan, worry, and oh ya, sleep.

Tonight -- what did I do? I daydreamed about thrfiting. Really? Yes. I couldn't stop imagining this fabulous scene where I stumble across the most amazing thrift store! A treasure trove tucked away on a side street. It's completely quirky with fantastic prices! You know, the real thrift pricing of the good old days ... when you could buy items for a quarter (hear that VV!?!!)! Then, during this beautiful, relaxing song I started to get that thrift panic / excitement heart racing thing!!

What did I do? I rushed out of that class (after namaste-ing of course) threw on my boots, jumped in the car, and drove straight to the only thrift spot I know that stays open until 9:00pm. VV.

Oh man, it just makes me laugh. But what fun!! They had to rip me out of the store after 3 "we're closing warnings".

Haven't take pics of my most recent fabulous finds ... but my gem of the night was definitely this crazy log patterned, mushroom infested gravy boat!!

I'm just so excited! What a week. I even stumbled across some new amazing thrift blogs -- which are in my blog link section -- Thrifty Chicks and Queen of Fifty Cents! You have to check these gals out. Pure genius.

XOXO
ThriftKitty

New Flea Market / Flea Market Reborn

Not sure if this is new news or old news, but it's news to me.

Check out the Ottawa Flea Market y'all! Okay, okay. Nerd alert. My heart is racing ... eyes are dilating ... palms are sweaty. I have to wait until SUNDAY!? Ohhhh. And I have this feeling that the price points will be fantastic! Please have owl statues. Please.

Sunday Thrifting Church anyone? Here at the deet's:

OTTAWA FLEA MARKET
260 McArthur Road
Vanier Columbus Club
(613) 297-0648
Open Sundays, 9:00am - 4:00pm
http://ofm.weebly.com/

I've updated my Thrifting in Ottawa post with the details as well. Check that post regularly for a complete list of thrift, vintage, consignment, or flea market spots I've come across in Ottawa.

Now, if you happen to check out the OFM website, please tell me if I'm delirious or not ... but I think it says they have an open bar and karaoke! Seriously?! I have been known to perform Flagpole Sitta' from time to time... but combine thrifting and karaoke under the same roof? A proposition I had not yet pondered.

They do have an open bar. hmmmm.

XOXO
ThriftKitty

The Church of Thrifting

The Church of Thrifting. Yes, this is a religion, a habit, and an activity that I can get behind.

But first, a minor tangent.

A wise person recently enlighted me on the difference between expressing "luck" vs. expressing "fortune". I simply hadn't thought about it before -- and tended to use the word luck, never the word fortune. She explained ... Luck tends to imply chance, happenstance ... something out of one's control. Whereas fortune, or feeling fortunate implies gratefulness, and having participated in the process of that fortune. Unfortunately, the dictionary doesn't entirely support this difference -- but I digress. :)

Okay, so the point of that random non-thrify tangent was this. I am truly fortunate to have some seriously, absolutely, astoundingly, and most incredibly amazing people in my life. There are so many reasons for this outburst, but I have never been so aware of this fact as I am today. Thank you for this fortune. I am so grateful and will spend the balance of my days ensuring that I have earned this fortune.

So, the Church of Thrifting ... or more broadly referred to as the Church of Sunday Shopping. This term was coined by a good friend of mine - a creative genius really. And the following has grown quickly. Tripled actually, when another good friend, longtime thrifter, and artist to boot joined the church and created our sign! :)

We plan to set out on a weekly basis. Give our thanks. Invest in our community. Celebrate our friendship. And share in our common beliefs.

This has added a new dimension to my thrifting journey. Stay tuned!

Damage will no doubt be done. Treasures will surely be found. New territory will most certainly be marked.

XOXO
ThriftKitty