The time has come, I need to come to grips: I am a “vintage hoarder.” No: Not an old woman who hoards everything, although that day may be looming. Yes: A collector who has an extremely difficult time walking away from intriguing vintage — often “useless” — items, of all sorts, that must be rescued. Remember the 39 Fuller Brush spatulas? A high — and low — of my collecting life. But alas, a huge corner of my basement… the storage alcove in my garage… the storage hatch above my garage… two closets… and a significant portion of my attic are already full of such treasures. Yes: I am a vintage hoarder, and I must come to grips. In this post, I talk about the “blessing” and the “curse” of being so gifted in the art of seeing beauty in so many places and things. Yes, the team that wrote the book says it’s a gift. Maybe you have it, too? Read on for my tale, of how this strength can become a weakness, and for some of my ideas of how to deal. Perhaps you have some tales, and ideas, to share, as well?
The Diagnosis
I am not going into great detail on the potential drivers of Vintage Hoarding Disorder (I made this up, VHD, or Vhoarding) — because Randy O. Frost and Gail Steketee already have done so in their book, Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things (affliate link, but seriously, considering the subject of this story: Get it at the library!) Important note: This post is not about full-blown, clinical hoarding; that requires professional intervention; yes, read the book to start, but more importantly, consult with a professional.
To better understand my own “lite” version of the compulsion, I read this book over the summer, and it was fascinating. Randi and Gail are both university professors, Randy is at Smith and as I recall, Gail is at Brown. They have studied the issue of hoarding — serious hoarding, not my vintage hoarding lite — for more than 10 years, and I think they are the undisputed experts. Six months after reading the book, here is what has stuck with me from key points in the books that rang true when I consider my own “diagnosis”:
- Hoarders often are imbued with a very high level of visual and contextual intelligence. That is, they see meaning in objects… they give meaning to objects… much more intensely than others, who can let stuff go… discard it… with much greater ease. This book is amazingly empathetic regarding the issue; it was marvelous — not judgmental at all. Yes, this is it for me — and maybe you, too, I think: We have an incredible visual intelligence… and a huge heart, when it comes to things. I know for a fact, that I could NOT let those 39 Fuller Brush spatulas go to a dumpster! They were strange and wonderful relics of a time gone by. At another estate sale, the last day, I bought a dead woman’s entire life’s worth of personal photographs. I could NOT let those go to a dumpster. They were her life! This is typical reasoning of a hoarder. Just like the books’ title says, we have this incredible ability to give meaning to stuff. We are not really part of today’s “throwaway” society; trashing useful items or items that hold (or better said: which we ‘give’) sentimental meaning, pains us. However, when the hoarding starts to control us or to put crushing weight upon us — not so good.
- The other thing I remember from the book that rang true for me, is that the act of accumulation can be social. That is: We go shopping, or spend hours on ebay, instead of going out for drinks with friends, or whatever. I know, for example that I am fundamentally introverted. I regain energy from my “me” time. At the same time, I have a very active mind — and as described above — I’m super visual. So during my “me” time, I might go onto ebay or go to the Goodwill — and end up buying stuff.
When a Blessing becomes a Curse
- Analogy: If you are really detail-oriented in your research when you need to make a decision, the result is that you can make really good decisions. Flip side, though, is when you are so thorough you can’t make a decision at all — you are paralyzed. This is when a “strength” — thoroughness — becomes a “weakness” — indecision. The same principle goes for vintage hoarding. Today, my collections are not so bad that they have taken over my house — all the living and bedroom areas are clear. But, I know my passion has gone too far when … I can’t find what I am looking for… when I think about how, when I die, someone will have to clean all my stash out, and it will be an ordeal… and, when I feel “crushed” by the weight of those unattended piles, tucked away in their nooks though they may be. I know that to process my piles is going to take, like, a month. *Crushing weight of something big un-done = Stress.* Feng shui is all about creating spaces where positive energies can flow and flourish; any clutter and any piles above or below are impeding that energy.
The Cure
I have been *thinking* about strategies more than applying them, yet, alas. But here are some thoughts:
- I read the book, which gave me compassionate insight into my dilemma. It gave me facts to help understand why I have this problem. But not in a harsh, self-judging way. Au contraire, it made me feel good about this strength of mine. I am always more motivated by the positive than by the negative. Now, I am kind of super-proud of my book-recognized visual intelligence. Now, my challenge — a positive one — is how to channel that intelligence in a positive way.
- When I go to estate sales, I am only going to try to buy stuff that I can turn into art. Visual intelligence = artist. Yes! For example, I have this idea. I love these time capsule estate sale houses — for the stuff, but also for the lives lived there, that I can see through the stuff. Here’s how I will make art out of each estate sale: I will take a big plastic container box with me to each sale. I will look for a substrate (an old not-valuable painting or framed something… something hangable) and then, I will look for little its and bits and pieces from this house and the family who lived there. I will take a photo of the house. And I will keep a copy of the estate sale listing. Then I will collage all the best pieces to create a hangable vintage collage. Only stuff from that house, plus the listing ad and a small photo of the house, gets on the collage. After I have like 20 houses, I will see if I can get my artwork into an exhibition, even if it’s at a local coffee shop. Maybe I will sell them, maybe I won’t. But I think this artistic application combining all the reasons I vintage-hoard will be very gratifying. Please, steal this idea if you like it. Send me pics of your creations. P.S. I will try really really hard not to buy anything else at the estate sale, unless I really really need it, and I tell you, I need nothing. Some other ideas to shop-vintage-to-make-art: Only look for vintage ornaments and learn how to make vintage ornament wreaths like Suzy. Take them to craft fairs at Christmas time. Her wreaths — very well made ones — are selling for $100.
- Another strategy for estate sales and shops: Get a nice camera and learn how to use it, start a blog, and take photos instead. (Be sure to get appropriate permissions before taking photos in private spaces and posting photos to the web.)
- Get your visual fix by going to museum exhibits. Go on all the tours and to all the lectures — get smart. I once met a longtime boyfriend at a museum. Just sayin’.
- Be a decorating maximalist. Pull all your fabulous stuff out of all those piles and put all your favorite items onto your walls. As much as you possibly can. Holes everywhere. Fill every space. I recently began doing this in my office, and a friend who saw it commented, “Gosh, now the room really looks like you.” Well, yes, it does. What took me so long? 🙂 Choose a great paint color then make your walls a collage… a glorious mosaic… of all the vintage lovelies that you have collected. Do this in every darn room, if that’s what you want. Your friends already know you have this thing about vintage. Who are you fooling. Get it all out there, let your freak flag fly. P.S. When you die and they have the estate sale, it will be a lot easier for them to sell it right off the wall than out of boxes. Not to be morbid, but.
- Sell stuff on ebay. But you really have to do it. Really really. If you decide this is a strategy for you, I hereforeto order you: No buying anything else, until you sell 10 items on ebay. Once you sell 10 items, you can buy 5 more. But until you whittle the piles down, no loading them up further. Also, you can think of it this way: If you spend three hours accumulating, plan for 15 hours moving the stuff out via ebay. Now, doesn’t that slow you down? Put a starting price of what you paid for an item — and just let it go, let it flow, out into the retro universe.
- Open a booth in an antique mall or become a picker for a dealer. See #3, though. You really really have to do it. No making piles.
- If you’re gonna be deep into vintage, buy ONLY vintage. Don’t buy new stuff, too. That way, it can still be about the hunt, and you will save money (only if you really buy what you really need) and save stuff from going to landfills. Anytime you can narrow your collecting focus, you make the hunt more difficult, which means you will acquire less. Theoretically.
- No “buying stuff to hold your stuff.” This is only enabling. I have cartop carrier, that we never use; it’s in the shed; I have stuff to hold my stuff to hold my stuff. Shoot me.
- But, do organize your stuff so that you can get at it for your art projects. Make yourself a beautiful craft space. This kind of organization has a goal: To make space to use the stuff to make art. You will spend more time making art with what you already have, than accumulating more stuff. Theoretically.
- Take your clean-up and organization projects slow or you will get overwhelmed. How about 1/2 hour a day.
- Become more social: Collect more friends. Call a friend for lunch or a drink after work or a cup of coffee and homemade muffins — even if it’s just once a week or one more time each week. I’m always reading that what makes us most happy — even we introverts — is people. That said, I still know I my “visual intelligence” demands I spend a lot of time searching out visual beauty. Surely, it’s all about maintaining a healthy balance.
So what do you think, dear readers?
Do you have a strong impulse, like me, to vintage-hoard?
What steps do you recommend to keep it under control?
staci says
I love utensils! And anything with a past. My cure for hoarding is to resale my treasures. I constantly update my collections this way.
Kate says
This is a very interesting topic! I think I was starting to slip down the slope of retro furniture hoarding when I lived at my last residence. I was buying chairs, chairs, more chairs, tables, etc. Lots of furniture. I couldn’t pass up a craigslist listing. But then a funny thing happened, I realized that I couldn’t walk around in my basement and attic anymore. It was getting out of control. I started curating my retro furniture, keeping only what I knew I would use when I moved (I was in the process of selling that house and moving to a slightly larger 1960s ranch at the time).
Once I got to the new house and got everything unpacked, it was amazing how the furniture that clogged up my little 1800s house fit so well into the new 1960s ranch house. I have promised myself that I won’t clog up the new house with too much furniture because I’m not planning on moving again anytime soon and I am so enjoying my open space. I’ve since been very selective about my retro furniture purchases, only buying something when I know exactly where to put it or that I will sell another piece of furniture to make room.
I also find it very interesting that hoarding vintage lite could also be an “introvert” thing. I am also an introvert!
Lynz says
I have this very problem. It’s all in boxes and bags. Most is kitchen things but our kitchen is still very unfinished. If I buy one more set of canisters I am pretty sure my husband will divorce me.
Clare Crigger says
I can so relate to assigning value to things that seem like trash to others! I have to be very diligent not to let my things get out of hand. The worst part is when I do get rid of things, years later I will remember it and I am so regretful of having let it go!
Love your site, Pam! I grew up in a 50’s house and that is still the style I adore.
chris says
OK — I’m on the second pot of coffee, so I’m awake now. Guess what? I think I’m even more of a vintage hoarder than I thought. But at least I have categories I hoard in.
Chairs, anyone? This is a problem since they are so big. I don’t like new furniture, so I am continually on the lookout for wonderful old chairs. Some of them can be made lovely with some enamel paint, batting, fabric, and a staple gun. (IF I would get off my lazy butt and just do it.)
I’ve rescued at least 5 chairs from the trash this way. One of them I did actually paint and have reupholstered. It is FABULOUS! But it cost me about $200.00 — which had to come out of my household budget.
The best chair is from the late 30s, early 40s — very deco, very big. VERY expensive to reupholster. It’s sitting in the garage. Second coolest chair is late 50s, early 60s — super cool shape to it. I even have fabric waiting for it. Estimate to re-do — $400.00. It, too, is sitting in the garage. I have a chair problem.
Also dishes. LOVE old dishes! Depression glass, melamine, china, pottery — FIRE KING! Love it all. Have lots of it in boxes in the attic. Since much of it can’t go in the microwave or dishwasher, there it sits, up in the attic. (My husband says the attic looks like that final scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark — where the stacks of boxes go on and on and on.)
My parents have a great set of dishes in THEIR attic — they collected them during the 60s from their local gas station. Whenever you filled up the tank you got certain pieces. As I recall, it has the cool metallic silver starburst in the pattern. Of course, this means no micro or dishwasher. But am I going to bring them home? OF COURSE I am! 🙂
Yep, dishes and chairs that collect dust and never get used….. I’m a hoarder.
Vanessa says
My daughter decided to count the # of chairs we owned, she did go a little extreme and count the camping chairsas well as every chair in the house, attic, garage, including little kid chairs and vanity stools and such. All I can say is that it really was an eye-opener when we had a number, I realized I really will never get to fixing all those, and at least half of them do need fixing. I would have the same problem with sofas if they weren’t so big. Oh and I fight the urge to drag home dishes because I know I already have at least 2 big boxes of them in the attic, because they don’t go in the microwave or dishwasher…
Vintage clothes are my worst trap though. I’ve finally started selling them on Etsy, but they aren’t moving very fast, I need to keep posting more and make my shop more active. Once I’ve sort of “let go” enough to list an item, it feels like it would be easier to give it away if I needed to, course I’d rather sell it, but being able to let it go is a good feeling, and that initial “letting go” seems to be the hardest part. I never feel sad when I am headed to the post office with it, perhaps because it has a happy new owner anxiously awaiting it and I know it will be appreciated and not go to waste. Because a large part of my vintage obsession is based on “rescuing” old things that still have value, like Pam described.
linda Blackmore says
This is perhaps the favorite posting I’ve seen in for ever. I am an altered art hoarder, and Pam, beware of that becoming a second hoard. I constantly see wonderful stuff for altered art. It’s cheap stuff–nobody else wants it–so, believe me, I could do art nonstop until I die(I’m old), and I’d still have a hoard. But you idea is marvelous–make it a book. I have constantly said if I weren’t so visual, I wouldn’t have all this stuff. I see wonderful treasures everywhere. My problem, most of my stuff isn’t marketable–nobody by me wants it. I have started doing classes at my granddaughter’s school to use and share some of the stuff. However, it doesn’t even make a dent.
We really do need a group–oh, yes, did the antique mall bit–it just gives you license to collect more. thanks, Pam!! You have given me hope. Today, I’ll be tackling the garage again. That’s where I’m trying to organize my art stuff so I can find it when I want it so I don’t have to buy more of the same.
pam kueber says
Yes, when I first wrote about collaging — which I love — a friend of mine, Susan, I think, commented that once you start collaging you can’t throw ANYTHING out. “Be careful.”
linda Blackmore says
Pam–I have a garage, small sunroom and dining room full of my wonderful art stuff. Wonderful, I repeat, stuff. Few are worthy of having my good stuff to use on art–and a lot I haven’t come up with anything wonderful to make out of it. Pathetic! hahahaha
chris says
Yeah — and in this area, I’m a schizophrenic hoarder! I have an undergraduate degree in art — use it! Create! Recreate! My graduate degree is in history and museums — preserve it! Don’t touch it, paint it, or clean it! Just save it!
I stand there with the hot glue gun and a pile of antique buttons and just freak out. Should I make a wonderful piece to hang on the wall? Yes? NO! I should lay them out on neutral ph fabric and carefully sew them in place to keep their integrity! Then I worry about hanging them in the bright sunlight…. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
I have lots of cool things in boxes in the closet.
pam kueber says
Chris, If I’ve learned anything over the past five years of estate sales and ogling ebay it’s that: There is more MoRe MORE. And more yet to come out of houses, as baby boomers downsize etc. Make it into art!
KarenQuilt says
LOL! Oh, I feel for you! Which part of my personality or training will I follow today–?!! Check my blog to see what a fabulous piece one person made in the 1930s, I suspect, with buttons. http://karenquilt.blogspot.com/2011/10/antique-buttons.html
Patty says
It’s not really a deal if you’re going to store it in a box in the basement or garage for years. I saw a man on TV who was wealty enough to build an addition to his home to house and properly display a museum of his collectibles. Most of us will just become overwhelmed with our clutter. There are hoardes with mental illness who can’t get rid of anything (including trash) and then there are those who are cluttering up every space in their house. I think you might want to consider making your time capsule home collages digitally online and satisfy your creativitiy while saving the storage space in your home – but them maybe they really will get displayed somewhere. Also, how about giving away spatulas to the first 5 commenters today?
pam kueber says
Okay, the first 10 commenters get spatulas. Ummm, if I can find them!
Patty says
YEA! I was number 5.
kate mckinnon says
I always rescue amazing vintage finds if they are affordable, but rather than let my house sag under the weight of my hoard, I always rotate things out, give things away, you know. Rotate!
I have an excellent idea about the FB spatulas, send two to me. I about DIED when you bought them!
pam kueber says
Okay, Kate, I will email you and get your address and send you two. I’ll be very interested in what you come up with! I know you are a professional artist — so AMAZE ME!
kate mckinnon says
Thank you, Pam! But I have to admit that I want to use them in the kitchen, as spatulas.
: )
My entire kitchen is vintage stuff. It’s beautifully made and fits ith my Atomic Ranch and my St. Charles metal cabinets. And it’s all so functionally brilliant. A Pyrex baking dish with divided sections, with a lid that flips to become an elegant serving dish. GENIUS.
I actually go so far as to feel pain when I see the wreaths with the beautiful, irreplaceable, vintage Xmas ornaments hotglued together. I’m not saying it’s wrong, just that it pains me personally, because I want to hang them on Christmas trees, and hot glue is kind of forever. What I would love to see is a wreath that allowed you to take the ornaments on and off, like if they were attached with little clips. That way you could play with them, but they could still do what they were made to do. To me, function is as much as part of beauty as form.
Things I have a weakness for and admittedly find hard to give away: Vintage Pyrex, fabulous chairs, crystal martini and bar glasses, and my ultimate weakness: paintings. Real paintings, in real frames, found in thrift stores for a few dollars. I adore them and have what I think is a stunning collection. Admittedly, not everyone agrees.
xxx
kate
AmyEbbertHill says
This is me right now! I just bought a Fabulous factory art 24×36 framed painting of the Eiffel tower. Where to put it? I have another Fabulous painting of an Arab man pouring water into a bowl and I named him Abraham, and I love them both but they are definitely not compatible in the same room. I guess I’ll rotate Abraham to the closet for a while and display Paris in the living room. I also have this ginormous tacky gold plastic framed mirror in the dining room, DH says it came off the set of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and it’s supposed to help make that small room feel bigger. I had originally planned on putting Paris in the room but I have no place to store the mirror. (It’s full under the beds.) I am a vintage hoarder & I feel no need to repent at this time. Maybe next month.
Ann-Marie Meyers says
Rotation has always been my way of (seeming to be) controlling my vintage thing. When I go into one of those homes where every available space is full of collectibles, I want to grab Granny by the collar and say, “If your display cases are so full of Fenton shoes that you can’t look at it and pick one out of the mayhem, you need to put some away!”
I know a mid century furniture dealer who has come across a lamp collecting couple like that, their entire house, garage, and barn are full of 1950 and ’60’s lamps!
I am working out the details of an etsy shop, so rotating things will be a little easier for me. I will just let other people decide what stuff is going away.
Jil Casey says
Being visual is a blessing and a curse when we can see the possibilities in so many things.
A tactic I started using recently has been very helpful for me. Before I check out I look at each item asking myself if I have a place for it, what am I going to do with it, does it fit in with what I have, etc. I always end up putting things back. It makes me take a critical look at what I’m purchasing and why. The net of it is I feel more in control
Laura A. says
I have begun doing this. I hold each item in my hand for a moment or two, appreciate it, and then think about how, in the long run, I may come to resent having to dust it, find a place for it, pack it, unpack it, etc.
It’s like a little ritual that blesses the item for its being so wonderful and then blesses me with the ability to say “I’ve got enough.”
Patty says
I’ve also carried things around the store and realized I really didn’t love it and could put it back and not regret bringing it home. It also helps to tell yourself you are only buying thing on your “list” not just anything that is vintage or a “good deal.” Also, I’m careful about what I buy for others who may not want the items — leave for someone who does.
chris says
Hey Pam! Oh yeah — you will get all sorts of testimonials on this one, sister!
I think hoarding vintage and the ongoing project of an older home go hand in hand. Take me and my husband, for example. Our house was built in 1934 — and badly renovated to be a rental house in the early 70s. The kitchen, especially, is sort of a nightmare. The cabinets are made out of the cheap, coarse particle board that gives one splinters. Cabinet fronts were put in with a staple gun. A coat of white paint worked wonders, but it still needs a lot of work and money to make it the cool kitchen we want it to be.
Ironically, we have no money. Didn’t win the lottery again this weekend, dang it!
We have a very good idea of what we want the kitchen to be — that includes displaying lots of kitchen stuff. I have about 10 shiny chrome waffle irons and toasters. Boxes of fun utensils with funky green painted handles. If I had the money for it, I would have a big old sink with super long drainboards built right in….
When you have this sort of love of the old and authentic, you realize you won’t find that perfect thing just any day. If you see it and love it, you have to get it. NOW. It can wait for you to accumulate the rest of the stuff and finish the project.
Our lack of money is both a blessing and a curse. At the rate we are going, we won’t do our kitchen for another 25 years. This means I’ll have lots of stuff sitting around for a long time!!!!!!
And you’d better believe if I find a fabulous old stove at an estate sale, it’s mine! (Or maybe the Stove Fairy will just poof me an O’Keefe and Merritt into my kitchen one day.)
So — vintage hoarding…. I’ll bet you have enough afflicted members for one heck of a support group.
🙂
chris says
Just realized I forgot to make the whole budget connection — not enough coffee yet to make my brain work….
I have the heart of a vintage hoarder — without a doubt. If I had more money, I would have an attic full of treasures. It is the lack of money that keeps me from buying every wonderful thing I see.
And — coffee kicking in — neurons firing, here — I think loving and re-doing an old house requires a level of ongoing dedication and detective work that appeals to someone with a wee tad of OCD. (I know that sentence had all kinds of grammar errors. It’s early.)
You have to be a touch obsessive to do what we do. And a teensy bit compulsive to snap up those deals when they come along — or else you miss them.
I wouldn’t be a bit surprised to find that many of us walk that fine line on the edge of vintage crazy.