The English Maximalista

Being of a maximalist nature, my home is filled with an abundance of stuff, layered amongst the patterns I love. Is maximalism for everybody? No. Do I care what other people think about my personal design preferences? Also no.

When I look around my home, I see evidence of a life well lived. Souvenirs from my travels. Artwork I have collected or created. The thousands of books that my husband and I have read — so far!! — during our life. (I am 51; he is 54. My girl-math concludes that we have amassed 100 years of them!) 

I happen to love fashion, and own a lot of clothes. Always have. It’s been a while since I counted how many pairs of shoes I own, but it’s in the triple figures. 

At which point are collections considered hoarding?

The reason I ask is because Mr Maximalista and I have been helping two elderly family members move into an assisted living facility. And I have to admit that I have been struggling with the impact of going through their stuff.

Their children, naturally, are deciding what gets kept or discarded, and knowing that Mr M and I are avid readers, have offered us first refusal on this couple’s books. Those of you who are bibliophiles will perhaps understand how deeply personal it is to go through other people’s books. It can truly feel like one is picking through their brain, and viewing what is in their heart.

The sentimental part of me has an awareness that their fingertips have touched the very same pages I too am flipping through.

The daughters of the elderly lady know that I am a knitter, and kindly offered me dozens of bags and bins of her yarn, which had been stashed in various closets around the house we have been clearing. Which is why my dining room currently looks like a yarn shop: I have spent the past few days attempting to organize hundreds upon hundreds of balls of wool. 

What am I going to do with it all?!

In my own craft closet, I have one measly shelf dedicated to my knitting supplies. Needles of varying sizes are kept neatly together in a pouch; I have one canvas tote containing a few skeins awaiting use. That is it. I am very mindful about completing a project before purchasing more supplies… as many knitters will attest, purchasing yarn for future projects is a very slippery slope!!

The act of knitting is an activity which brings me an enormous feeling of peace, when I sit here in the comfort of my own home. I often feel guilty when I sit on my arse, being idle in front of the television; knitting helps to alleviate those pangs of guilt. It is the perfect combination of being productive whilst relaxing.

Anyway, what has been upsetting me, as I sort through this recent windfall of yarn, is the amount of time this elderly lady spent unraveling the skeins then rolling them into balls. Over and over and over.

She now resides in a Memory Care facility, because she has descended into dementia. (She is 84.) I keep thinking about how she must have sat in front of the tv at her house, rolling up these balls of wool.

I hope it brought her peace.

Lots of love,

M xo