Wabi-Sabi~~~The Art of Rustic Simplicity

[Danske]

I was given a book late last summer with the above title and as I opened it my friend said to put it away and read when my life was quieter so I could assimilate the message more clearly. When she gave it to me I was dealing with my mom who has Alzhiemers and trying to juggle lots of different caretakers who seemed to be trading colds and other sicknesses amongst themselves and at the same time my heart was sad because our youngest son was moving to Chicago for a year. Flash forward 6 months and we have my mom in a good place, my son loves Chicago, so a couple of days ago I opened the book and I cannot put it down nor stop thinking about it and 'its' concept. What's funny is that is how my mom was raised and how we grew up - shells, rocks, driftwood and homemade items were the 'stars' and always lots and lots of white candles. Time to revisit my childhood, time to declutter....

[RoseMary]

I've never heard of that book, but it sounds very interesting. I love idea of rustic simplicity.

[Lynzee]

shells, rocks, driftwood and homemade items were the 'stars' and always lots and lots of white candles.

Sounds perfect to me!

I've never heard of the book either, but it does sound very interesting.

[Evelyn]

Danske, I was curious about what Wabi Sabi meant so I googled it. You probably know this since you are a Pacific Northwesterner but I thought it was interesting that the author of the book is a curator at the Portland Art Museum. She spent many years in Japan and hence, wrote books on the everyday beauty and simplicity of the japanese culture.

Anyway, thanks for the book suggestion. I will try and get a copy from the library.

Evelyn

[cheapdiva]

OMG!!!! That's the name of the store I got so many of my treasures while in New Orleans with Memmey and Linda. It is my FAVORITE place to go junking while there.
It is a consignment store and after 30 days the price drops 20%, after 60 days, 30% and after 90 days it's half off for their items. I have my eye on a table there and when I move there it will be the first place I go to furnish my "new" home.

[Zuzu's Garden]

I mentioned a book that my sister gave me in another thread. It is called Everyday Sacred - A Women's Journey Home by Sue Bender. In the book, she writes about Wabi Sabi. It is so wonderful, I'll quote what she wrote here:

October Tea

One day, in search of something else, I found a book called Wabi Sabi. Wabi sabi are the Japanese words for a feeling, an aesthetic that is hard to describe. I read:

"Wabi sabi is a beauty of things imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete.

Is is a beauty of things modest and humble.

Is is a beauty of things unconventional."


A friend, a student of the Japanese tea ceremony, mentioned "October tea." She said it's one of the most important times of the year for tea, the most wabi. November celebrates the new tea, but October is the time to use up the last of the old. Instead of letting it dribble out, or be thought of as the dregs-- "We cherish what remains of that which is in the process of passing."

This month only, mismatched dishes are used. The utensils are ones that have been broken and repaired. "Not just repaired, but carefully and beautifully mended," she added.

Isn't that beautiful?

Zuzu

[WannaBHomemaker]

That is beautiful - and very different kind of writing than what I'm accustomed to reading. I'm going to do a little googling of my own now. Thanks for sharing Zuzu and Danske!

[Danske]

Danske, I was curious about what Wabi Sabi meant so I googled it. You probably know this since you are a Pacific Northwesterner but I thought it was interesting that the author of the book is a curator at the Portland Art Museum. She spent many years in Japan and hence, wrote books on the everyday beauty and simplicity of the japanese culture.

Anyway, thanks for the book suggestion. I will try and get a copy from the library.

Evelyn

Hi Evelyn! I don't think that is the same book I was given but I would love to know what the title is. The one I have is called "The Wabi-Sabi House: The Japanese Art of Imperfect Beauty" by Robyn Griggs Lawrence. She lives in Colorado. I just googled wabi sabi --- wow, lots of info!

[Danske]

OMG!!!! That's the name of the store I got so many of my treasures while in New Orleans with Memmey and Linda. It is my FAVORITE place to go junking while there.
It is a consignment store and after 30 days the price drops 20%, after 60 days, 30% and after 90 days it's half off for their items. I have my eye on a table there and when I move there it will be the first place I go to furnish my "new" home.

We have the same type store a little north of me where they reduce the price after so many days! I like the name of your store:)

[Danske]

I mentioned a book that my sister gave me in another thread. It is called Everyday Sacred - A Women's Journey Home by Sue Bender. In the book, she writes about Wabi Sabi. It is so wonderful, I'll quote what she wrote here:



Isn't that beautiful?

Zuzu

Okay, now I want that book! Really makes you stop and think what true simplicity is and how lucky the person is to know when they've achieved it. Thanks for sharing!

[Lisa S]

There must be a universal truth that women understand deep in our bones.

"This month only, mismatched dishes are used. The utensils are ones that have been broken and repaired. "Not just repaired, but carefully and beautifully mended," she added."

Fall has always had this feeling for me. The beauty of a season at it's end.

I know I've told the story about the crockpot that my husband fixed: The handle broke off a few days after I bought it. He replaced the broken handle with a beautiful glass knob that we had laying around in the house. Everytime I see my crockpot on the counter, I love it. It's functional, it's special and my husband used his creativity to fix it. It became more beautiful because it was mended.

[annielinz]

Lisa I never thought a story about a crockpot could melt my heart and make me go ahhhhhhh.

[Lisa S]

We're all alike ~ sappy!

I see a connection between Wabi Sabi and growing older. "Wabi sabi is a beauty of things imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete. Is is a beauty of things modest and humble. Is is a beauty of things unconventional." and "We cherish what remains of that which is in the process of passing."

I feel very Wabi Sabi about being 45. I don't mind so much being slightly round and slightly wrinkled. It's an 'unconventional' beauty! :p And I'm cherishing my youth that is in the process of passing.

[annielinz]

Lisa I don't know if kicking and screaming my way into my 53rd year is very Wabi Sabi of me :D but I am comfortable in my own imperfect skin and incomplete accomplishments.

[Lisa S]

I scream and kick too! I'm much happier being 45 than 35 though...

[Danske]

There must be a universal truth that women understand deep in our bones.

"This month only, mismatched dishes are used. The utensils are ones that have been broken and repaired. "Not just repaired, but carefully and beautifully mended," she added."

Fall has always had this feeling for me. The beauty of a season at it's end.

I know I've told the story about the crockpot that my husband fixed: The handle broke off a few days after I bought it. He replaced the broken handle with a beautiful glass knob that we had laying around in the house. Everytime I see my crockpot on the counter, I love it. It's functional, it's special and my husband used his creativity to fix it. It became more beautiful because it was mended.

Love that story Lisa! Reminds me of a line I highlighted in another book I just read on the subject..."Things wabi-sabi may exhibit the effects of accident, like a broken bowl glued back together again."

Ditto on fall, my favorite time of year!

[Danske]

Lisa I don't know if kicking and screaming my way into my 53rd year is very Wabi Sabi of me :D but I am comfortable in my own imperfect skin and incomplete accomplishments.

I think at 53 years old - I finally get it:)

[RoseMary]

When this thread was first started, I had thought I had no idea what wabi sabi is~turns out I did--just didn't know what it was called!

The age thing~I'll be 50 in a another week--it sounds so old (for me, not for other people:o), yet I am more comfortable with myself than when I was 35, or even 40.

Lisa, love the crockpot story (I teared up a little, too)! You have the only crock pot with a crystal knob (lovingly put on by your hubby)--the rest of us are stuck with plastic!

[Lynzee]

I think at 53 years old - I finally get it:)

Me, too! ;)

And it feels GREAT!

[cheapdiva]

Hey - we seem to have a group of us 53 year olds!!! While I am no longer a skinny little chicklet, I have a brain that I am no longer afraid to let people know I have and have learned to appreciate all the things that make me who I am.

Fabulous fifties - UNITE!!!!:D

[annielinz]

We have a commercial playing out here for Kaiser Hospitals and it shows a montage of older woman having fun and in the background theres a voice singing, When I grow up, I want to be an old woman. It just makes me smile and tap my toes. :D

Heres the link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/52746562@N00/3131559952/