Nature's Treasures

Up here in the Attic, we have three very large, spacious, deep under-eave storage cupboards that stretch the whole width of the house. They are not tidy, organised cupboards, oh no, they are messy, hectic, dreadfully untidy cupboards and they are rammed full of Stuff. It's mostly my stuff, I might add, and I am rather ashamed of the mess in there.

As you know it's now a year since we moved, and a large proportion of the attic-eaves-Stuff consists of boxes of unpacked possessions. Things that belong to me which move with me whenever I move, things which I absolutely can't part with, yet somehow do not end up seeing the light of day very often. Boxes of old photographs, old school work, old toys, old ornaments, old collections, old books, old textiles, old postcards, old crockery. Old, old, old.
I wonder why I keep all this stuff? I cannot fathom it, but I have this deep, ingrained hoarding tendency which refuses to be ignored.

Annnnyhow, to the point :: yesterday afternoon, I was to be found on my hands and knees, bum in the air, attempting to crawl into the cupboards to find something. After a huge amount of rummaging and some rather unladylike words, I did eventually manage to find what I was looking for (a battered leather suitcase full of my old childhood toys), as well as many other things I had forgotten about. One of these forgotten things was a crate containing some old books. And amongst the old books, I found this little Sarah Lugg book called "objects of my affection". It's many years since I looked through this little book, had quite forgotten my obsession with this artist. I spent a lovely while this morning sitting in the Attic24 window seat with a  cup of coffee, looking through the pages, and have been inspired to share with you.

Have you heard of Sarah Lugg?
I tried to search for her on the internet, but sadly, there is not a lot to be found anymore. She used to have a fantastic website, yet it seems to have disappeared. I did find an interview with her which you can read if you are not familiar with her :: she is a mixed media artist who creates these beautiful collages using natural materials. And although she is English, her popularity was huge in the US where she mainly ended up selling her work.

These "tag" images are from the above book (sadly no longer in print), which contains Sarah Luggs beautiful work along with romantic quotes and poetry.

I find the images so inspiring.

And these images are from printed greetings cards (from my Inspiration Stash Pile, I tell you, I hoard like you wouldn't believe).

I especially like her references to the sea in these images, her use of shells and pebbles...

...reminders of beach walks and summer holidays. I find them very nostalgic.

And this is not the work of Sarah Lugg, but the work of a rather loopy little thing. A funny odd ball who goes through life collecting and hoarding and squirreling away Nature's Treasures.

Hmm, yes, well what can we say about this loopy little odd ball? She loves the sea obviously, and she has an obsession with collecting natural finds. Calendars, yes, she loves her calendars, positively adores the rhythm of the months and the seasons.

Shall we take a closer look??

I made this little picture years ago, just for me. I have it hanging in my bedroom, and still really love it and remember making it, recall the pleasure of selecting just the right little natural treasures to represent each month of the year.

It was no easy task doing the selecting.

My personal collection of Natural Treasures is quite substantial.

 

Wanna see?

Wanna peek into my secret drawers?

Not many people get to go here you know, you are quite honoured.

You sure you want to look?

Ok.

If you're sure.

Let me open a drawer for you to peek............................

Many, many, many, many bits and pieces, gathered over many, many years, from many, many locations far and wide.

Memories of holidays and walks, of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.

Collected and hoarded and stored....

....for no real reason other than I felt the need.

Could not bare to throw these treasures away.

I'm not sure what you are going to think of all this?

It's quite a thing to share the private contents of ones drawers.

Edited to add :: a few of you have asked about the actual drawers themselves and I realised I totally forgot to tell you about them. The little divided wooden trays came from Ikea, they were called "collectors boxes" and designed to be hung on a wall. Sadly I don't think they make them anymore, well thats to say I couldn't find them on the Ikea website. I bought four of them specifically to to lay horizontally and hold my gathering collection of natural treasures. They were stacked on top of each other for quite a while before I had the brainwave of asking my wonderful father-in-law to make the outside wooden shell to hold them as drawers (he is a good carpenter, does amazing things with wood and scary tools). That was about twelve years ago now I think, gosh doesn't time fly?!

Comments

[Valerie Fanarjian]

hello, i have a sarah lugg original i keep right above my desk for inspiration. sadly i m trying to slowly sell work i have collected over the years and im not sure where or how .to sell it i bought it from her directly in 1999.
any ideas? how to appraise it?
thanks for any help.

[Donald]

We just used up our last Sarah Lugg card - for a friend's anniversary. Sadly, we can't find any more. I'd like to buy some more.

[Rachel]

Reading through your blogs I notice you always write bare when you mean bear. I *had* to draw your attention to this and I'm really sorry; but I am a teacher which is my excuse. I won't mention it again. :-)

[Romana]

gorgeous collections! I really love the tumbled glass pieces, I was only thinking of them recently. I used to find them a lot on a beach we went to as kids - do yours come from a beach?

[Lisa]

You calendar is beautiful Lucy.
And what a stash of natural treasures!
Lisa

[Victoria]

I also have Sarah Lugg greetings cards in my 'stash'! A few years ago I worked at a well known country living style magazine in London and they had a SL original in the office to be photographed for a feature. It was the 12 days of christmas with tiny festive and sparkley finds. It was beautiful. Sad that her works seems to have disappeared now. Love your SL inspired picture.

[Joanna]

Beautiful treasures, I love the collecting drawers.

[alchamillamolly]

Hi I love your drawers - I have a couple of sets of pine ones that were bought years ago and I keep all my cards (that I will never send!) and the other holds embroidery silks and wools they are one of the things I would grab in a fire. I have soem old Victorai mags I think Sarah Lugg was in there and they were selling one of her pictures I am sure. I will have a look.
I love your pictures Mrs A 24 - the quality is superb - they are so clear PS loved your etsy pic

[Pam]

I spy sea glass in there - real treasure.

P x

[Mariana]

It's funny to see how many of us collect this treasures. You can find marvelous things everywhere, you only have to open your eyes and your mind, as you do Lucy. Thanks for sharing your amazing treasures!

[kitschen pink]

Nut! You're a nut! And it's so wonderful to find a fellow nut in a world of clearer outers and 'don't need that old tripe hanging around' and 'out with the old' .... what's the point of an attic and big cupboards if they're not full of stuff! (although in our house each big cupboard is referred to as a 'hell hole'. That gives you some idea of the level of organisation in each one!! HA!) Lovely lovely treasures! t.xx

[Miranda]

Beautiful sentimental lovelies! I have to say, out of all the blogs I read, yours is by far my favorite! Your photos and words are always so pretty and colorful! Thanks for sharing.

[Bean]

I absolutely adore your treasure collection!! I collect rocks and stones from different places, walks, events... they cover nearly every windowsill and shelf ledge in the house ;)

[Karen]

Gosh isn't it strange (and wonderful) the things that attract us. I too love your drawers and was thinking all the way down your blog that I must ask. You kindly answered by the end of it. Thank you. I have been lurking on your site since stumbling across your blog about tidying the house when friends come round - inspired by the way. It's your drawers that have pushed me to comment however. I'm aware while looking at this post the history that goes into it all. I'm sure it's the same with all of us. It's easy to look at these wonderful creative blogs and think it's all so simple but your invitation to peek today has made me realise that there's a lot of "stuff" behind the scenes. Thank you again.

[elizabeth of course]

Those little tags reminded me of a series of valentines I did a few years ago! and that calendar is perfectly MARVELOUS. I admire the organization of your drawers. I'm a hoarder/collector of all things tiny of nature as well, but they're scattered about my house, in boxes and cubbies, and all sorts of other places most people wouldn't store sticks and stones...

[elizabeth of course]

Those little tags reminded me of a series of valentines I did a few years ago! and that calendar is perfectly MARVELOUS. I admire the organization of your drawers. I'm a hoarder/collector of all things tiny of nature as well, but they're scattered about my house, in boxes and cubbies, and all sorts of other places most people wouldn't store sticks and stones...

[simone]

I am honoured to have peeked into your nature drawers!!! You have a wonderful collection of natural treasures. Sarah Lugg's work is lovely as is yours.

[driftwood]

wow, Lucy that's an incredible collection, and I adore your calendar picture. just perfect. and the photos of those drawers - print them and sell them as cards!

[Vanessa Cabban]

Treasure trove post! I'm going to have to go back and EXAMINE............... I didn't know Sarah Lugg's work........... it's beautiful! Your picture with the found objects is gorgeous too............ Lovely.............. lovely, lovely, lovely.............. will return later to have another good long look!

[French Knots]

I love Sarah Lugg's work too, I've a couple of her books and they are so inspiring.
And your boxes of treasures, oh my goodness! Seaglass and shells, so wonderful to amble along the beach collecting and then to hoard and remember. You can never have too many little treasures!

[Josie-Mary]

Blimey & I thought I was a hoarder!!!! My lot looks like a load of old tat now I've seen your collection. Think my OH would have a fit if I had those drawers!! :)

[Anna]

oooh, how lovely! We have an old printers tray on our kitchen wall which is filled with little treasures collected on our travels-champagne corks from weddings, teeny tiny shells and pebbles, miniature bottles.....I am sure most people thing it's a load of crap, but it's special to us.x

[Lucy Locket-Pocket]

Oh! How I love those drawers! And how I envy you your collection! Please can I come and live at your house and play with all your goodies? Pretty please?

Lucy x

[domesticali]

Feeling truly envious of your little treasure drawers. I am a dreadful hoarder too. But none of my rubbish looks half as enticing as your ephemera.

[Joanne]

Wow! Your art work is beautiful!! I LOVE it = totally something I would buy if I saw it in a shop. And my heart skipped a beat when I saw your drawers full of treasures!! Wow. just wow!!! I couldn't stop looking! My eyes dancing from section to section!! I so understand why you keep them. Thanks for the sneaky peek and for all the inspiration you post almost daily!! Joanne x