The Attraction of Objects | Perfume Posse

I’m faffing with a sample but I’m not quite there yet – and I did perfume last week (yes, I know this is Perfume Posse) so we’re going elsewhere today.

I am back to the orthodontist today. Early, yes. Next appt was supposed to be in November. But, a couple of front teeth are doing weird stuff and he’s going to tighten everything up a load (which I expect will not be fun) and I’ll get seen every few weeks until he’s happy he’s got this under control. I am pleased to say I don’t pay for this piecemeal (ie, each appointment). Rather a fee was set at the outset and that’s that.

But on to objects.

It is mid-October-ish and I have started thinking about a birthday gift for a friend whose special day is in mid-January. As time has moved along in our relationship, the point when I start to think about what to buy her has moved exponentially farther away from the actual day. Because: she is very comfortably off and not averse to buying things for herself. You get the picture. She has everything she needs and more so what might slot into that which is appreciated and causes joy?

This year I started off thinking ceramics of some sort. But what sort?

I looked at a lifestyle shop that does sea prints – fish, starfish, etc – on its plates and bowls. I have a couple of their items and I like them, but it didn’t feel right.

Then, a Merimekko ad popped up on Facebook, so I looked at their stuff. A nice bowl would maybe fit the bill, but it wasn’t quite right.

I looked at a potter that Nigel Slater, a cookery author I love, mentioned, but way out of budget, of course. I mean, Nigel publishes books and has a beautiful house in North London.

So, I gave up for a bit and looked for tea, as I’m getting low. I have a number of places I buy from around the UK. I get hojicha, a green tea that is lower in caffeine. Most places only stock one or two ‘brands’, so it sells out frequently. Thus, the different suppliers.

There’s a very good tea shop in town and they appear to have it. But, I also looked at their tea wares this time, which I tend not to do because I made my own lovely tea cup when I did that wheel throwing course a while ago.

Still, the vessel was a gorgeous sort of celadon blue and they listed the ceramicist who made it. I’m trying very hard not to think about buying it – because really I have no need.

Anyway, had a look at his website and he does some gorgeous stuff. So, I shot off an email saying can you do X bowl on your Home page, what size is it and cost?

He’s got until the middle of the week to reply (do potters not look at their emails?) and then I’ll try again.

But anyway, every year when I start on the process of finding her gift I get taken away by thinking of objects and why we love them. Mostly I felt we attach meanings to the things we keep, that don’t end up being given to a charity shop.

A vase that is loved or that came down through the family; a ceramic or glass object that reminds us of a time or place we were happy; a purchase made on a holiday that somehow has more meaning than it just being something nice from somewhere nice.

Do you have any of those sitting around your house? Are you an inveterate collector of things besides perfume?

Pics: pexels, The House of Hope and Tea in the Jungle

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