Or, “Hang It and They Will Come”
I’m a collector at heart, rescuing treasure wherever I can find it. My latest obsession started several months ago, when I found a pretty piece of vintage embroidery art at an estate sale. It sat on the floor against the wall in my office for a few months, because I wasn’t sure where to hang it.
That’s happened to you, right? You’re not sure of the exact right place to hang a piece of art, so it sits – unhung – for months (or years!) – because you aren’t sure of the perfect place to put it. Do you realize that your PERFECTIONISM can be holding back your CREATIVITY???
Mine certainly did, for many years. Afraid to take chances (even LEAPS) for fear of not doing something perfectly perfect. Writing several blogposts a week for six years might cure you of that! Sometimes you just need to let go of perfection and just do it.
So back to the embroidery art (or needlepoint?) – I finally decided to hang it, even though I didn’t know what I was going to hang it with, above the sofa in the upstairs den. For about a month, it was a lonely piece of art above the sofa.
But then, they came.
I mean MORE vintage embroidery art. I found one here and one there – a yard sale, an estate sale. The odd little animal on the left was $1. The beautiful storybook tudor on the right was $40.
I continued to hang each new one I found. No, I didn’t wait for the “complete” collection before I put a nail in the wall. Sometimes I do, but sometimes that simply holds me back. You know what I found? You hang it, and they will come.
You see, my friend Elizabeth gifted me yesterday with THIS:
I haven’t had time to hang it yet, but I promise I will do it THIS WEEK. Because my home is not about perfection, it’s about self-expression and creativity. It’s about what I love and want to have around me. Will everyone love it or want their house to look like mine? Certainly not. Do I care? Not as much as I used to. I care much more about creating a place that makes me smile when I walk through its rooms.
Here I am with designer and fellow Expert Psychological Stager™ from nearby Lebanon, TN, Elizabeth Scruggs. She joined me yesterday at The Nashville Symphony ShowHouse here in Nashville. I have lots of decorating ideas trends to share from that, but I need to edit a couple hundred photographs first! Stay tuned . . .
Yep, exactly why I have lived in my house for 3 years and not 1 picture on the wall!! Well, the kids rooms have stuff, but nothing in the common spaces and my bedroom. On the positive side, not so many nail holes to patch.. when mine goes on the market soon. I do love some “needleart”. I have a couple of pieces, never framed that I did when I was in 4th or 5th grade. I just turned 52! I will hang these in my next home!
Promise me, Cindy, that you will hang pictures IMMEDIATELY in your next home!!! Life’s too short not to hang your pictures . . .
Have you been spying on my family room? I have had a bunch of art leaning against the wall for over 2 years! Maybe this will give me the nudge to hang it up this weekend.
I knew it, Lisa! Get your hammer out and start nailing, girl 😉
This is such a powerful post Kristie and I thank you for the reminder. I will often say “progress not perfection” to get me off the dime. The important thing is to start…then all will flow. Great visuals and storytelling, your home is so soulful. xJana
progress not perfection!! words of wisdom 🙂
First of all, I love Ann Voskamp, she is such an inspiration. I need this post as we finally painted our home and I haven’t hung a thing back on the walls! I am waiting for the perfect art and items. I use to work in the fine art field and am waiting for the perfect pieces and continue to sit in a home with empty walls waiting for perfection. I will put something up this weekend, even if it’s not the “perfect piece”! thank you!!!
Yay, Kelly! Go for it 🙂 And post a photo when you do!
So true Kristie! Thanks for the inspiration!
The collection is wonderful! I love that your own house doesn’t necessarily match all the neutral that’s going on out in the world. That makes me happy.
Yes, another perfectionist here. I have wood cut and letters to make a sign that I’ve wanted for awhile. Perfectionism or fear of making something that looks like junk often stops me. In the past year we have planked two walls…they are far from perfect but they sure do make me happy!!
Stacey,
Life’s too short, right? If it makes you smile, even laugh, or remember something or sometime special, just do it 🙂
Kristie, you have found the key to what makes most happy 😉 I agree, that is what life is all about. Being happy and content with who you are and having family and friends to share the journey with is most important. I always say I truly have all I want as long as I have a roof over my head and food on the table to share. Your lovely words are always an inspiration for me. This brought up old memories of way back when I used to embroider fabric as gifts for family and friends, back 30+ years ago when life was more difficult and I had little. I really hadn’t thought about those years until now. Thanks.
Mary,
I always think about who owned or made the vintage items I have now. Maybe someone is NOW enjoying your embroidery from way back then, you just never know! Thank you for your heart-felt comments 🙂
Love your collection.-especially the little bird and the new picture from your friend. I agree- hang up what you love and not worry what others might think!
2 years is nothing. I have lived in my house for 13 years and no art. I have two niches in the hallway. No art. Just painted last November. Still no art hanging but lots though laying on the floor in a spare room.
CAMILLA!!!! Please just do it. Or have someone help you do it. You deserve to have a home that feels good to you. Whatever you do and however you hang it cannot be worse than having nothing at all on the walls. Just do it 🙂
Kristie, I love this blog post because, I fear the design world is coming to a place where TRUE DESIGN is being rooted out and being replaced with quick-fix, look-alike design! After I finished school, many moons ago, I knew that when I completed a job I wanted a home to reflect the person that lived within, but today I feel that people want their homes to look like something they have seen and are trying to replicate. I believe that when a good interior designer has done her/his job for a client, a guest can walk into that house and readily get a true sense of the personalities of the people that live there. I am glad you have overcome your “fear of not doing something perfectly perfect”. I completely understand letting perfectionism hold you back–I can relate to that for sure. I have been designing for 30 years and my house is my art palette. I am forever changing things and it is always evolving, but that, to me, is true design. I am so happy you have found a new collection. The two embroidered art pieces that you got from me happen to be part of my own collection that I had for years. Now, I’ve moved on to collecting something else, so I was happy to see that those little jewels found a new home where they can be enjoyed as much as I enjoyed them when they were mine. Happy Collecting, and your home is LOVELY!
What a beautiful post and sweet comments!! all positive stuff Kristie!! thanks and good job on everything else 🙂
Thanks, Veronica! Decorating should be happy, not stressful 🙂