Let There Be Spatulas

Yep, that’s a lot of spatulas! I never intended to start collecting spatulas. It all started a few years back, Christmas 2016. I have to admit I’m a terrible gift wrapper. The paper is rarely even and sometimes you might see a small tear or two. Now my husband’s mom used to wrap gifts at a department store in downtown Akron back in the 1950s, and he learned that talent from her. On a side note, Joe’s mom and my Grandpa Harry both worked at that same store and at the same time before we were born. They might not have known each other personally, but I like to think their paths might have crossed a time or two. There is also the chance that Joe’s dad and Harry might have also met when we were little, but you’ll have to read about that in my novel A Life Time After Time (yes, a shameful plug here!).

Joe and I don’t use bows on our gifts, not out of laziness, but just that it seems a waste, since you can’t reuse them or the dog manages to rip a few off here and there. But my artistic Joe didn’t like just using wrapping paper, no matter how festive it looked. He was shopping in a kitchen store, because I do love anything having to do with baking. He saw some decorative spatulas and decided to tape one to each of my presents. Some of them were mini size, and he thought I would probably never use them, but I do use them all the time. Now, as you can plainly see from the picture above, you can find picturesque spatulas everywhere. I don’t buy everyone I find, but when a particular pattern jumps out at me—well how can I not add it to my collection?

I don’t use them just for decorating my kitchen. I use them every time I bake. I do keep only one canister out and rotate them, depending on the season. And I suspect these won’t be the last of my stash.

I also collect teapots, which is a little strange because I’m not a tea drinker. I do like tea, but it’s coffee for me. It’s another habit I never intended. Joe and I were in an art store where we saw this quirky-looking teapot and fell in love with it. After that, it seemed we were always finding teapots that were more works of art than pots you would actually use to brew tea. Collecting both the pots and the spatulas is fun because we don’t go out looking for them. But if we happen to see a teapot or spatula that says “you want me, you know you do,” then what choice do I have but to give them a good home.

Getting back to the gift wrapping, last year, Joe happened upon these mini Santa hats which were added to my gifts and now hang on our tree and this message moose couple. 

I can’t wait to see what he finds this year. I guess one of these years I’m going to have to find something for his gifts. Maybe mini hand tools? I think some research is in order.

I hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday season. Maybe you can look to start a gift tradition in your house that goes beyond the ribbons and bows. Perhaps mini books and/or mini writing utensils. Enjoy your day and enjoy your wrapping! Thanks for stopping by.