Clutter, Miniatures and as always, ME.

"Clutter is nothing more than postponed decisions."

I wonder, do you know the book "Now, Discover Your Strengths" by Marcus Buckingham?  I ask because it is a useful tool to find out how you work best and how you relate to the world around you. You have to buy the book and get the unique code to take the test online and it gives you 5 areas where you are the strongest. I came across the book today and re-read my 'gifts' - one being:

I am a collector. Like I needed the book to tell me that. (However, it was reassuring because I am obviously living up to my gifts and I might possibly be featured on an episode of Hoarders)

But that is not the point of this blog. Because finding the book has been part of an ongoing declutting of my books.  According to Marie Kondo, you are not supposed to LOOK inside a book as you toss them or keep them. HA HA HA. 

I have been looking through ALL of them. Tossing some, yes, that I know I won't read again. Or have yet to read. And also tossing all of my art history books because I know enough about the masters and my favorite artists and if I want to see a painting again - hello - GOOGLE.  I am keeping my decorating books because - miniatures. I love gazing through those.

I also have SO many books on dollhouses and miniatures and I hate to admit I have purchased and maybe flipped though and then put them on a shelf. Not all but some. So now became the time to slowly look through EVERY ONE. Needless to say, this process has taken weeks so far and I am not nearly finished. Because I am reading too.

One of the books published by Nutshell News of long ago is titled "Treasures in Miniature, from the editors. A tour of six special miniatures collections... from carpets to castles."  Published in 1993.  Included in the book are the collections of Pat Arnell, Elaine Diehl of the famous Astolat Castle, Mal and Charlotte Dorfman, Eileen Godfrey, Sarah Salisbury and Lee Taylor.

I knew Eileen and Sarah, now sadly no longer with us. Both of them had exceptional collections and an incredible eye for quality miniatures and a perfect eye for detail both in choosing pieces and arranging them into their collections.  Actually true of all six. To some extent. I am proud to say my work is featured in that book and in the collections of both Sarah and Eileen. Everything has gone off in auctions across the globe and I will never know where went what.

This book is a wonderful pictorial of wonderful collections; some long gone of some long gone devoted collectors and some long gone extraordinary artisans.  Its fun and its sad too and the work featured in the book is not on the internet and therefore, lost to new collectors.

Here are a few shots I took of pages in the book. Probably illegal. Just a taste because you can still get this book. Lots of used copies on Amazon and well worth having to see miniatures in the booming days of collecting and what I hope is now a new and continuing interest in minis.  According to my daughter, millennials love miniatures, her being a millennial who arrived the year this book was published.

PS. Clearing out the books left shelf place for - MORE MINIS!  Also, Marie Kondo says to keep only 30 books. HA HA HA.

If you have fond memories of these collectors, these artists and these collections, please share your recollections. Keep their memories alive, how 'bout it?