trust me, i understand the need to be original, unique and strut one's own sense of style. i love and appreciate one-of-a-kind pieces, art and hand made goods. etsy rocks, artisans rule and i love that people want to have and express their individuality. all that said, sometimes i want to scream "get over it people." call me crazy, but if you walk into someones home and recognize the sofa, chairs or bedding as ikea, please don't think less of them. they are simply looking for some fun, well-designed and affordable accents to their life. i feel like i am seeing the word ubiquitous EVERYWHERE lately and it is generally in line with some demeaning comment about a person's lack of ability to find the perfect, never-before-seen treasure for their wardrobe or guest bedroom. the word itself gives a sense of "i am better than you." why? "first, because i am using a word that most people don't understand, but smile and pretend like they know what i am talking about and second, because i spent weeks searching every nook and cranny of my state and the internet and eventually i found my boots at an expensive boutique that you can't dream of affording or found this vintage mirror at some little secret haunt that you will never find and i won't tell you about because then i would expose my hidden treasure to the masses." i don't know, i am just sick of feeling like i should be spending hours, days, months and oodles of dollars to find something that no one else has when really, i am generally pleased as punch with my ikea, jcrew and barbacoa. me, i'm blissfully ubiquitous.
*i own several of the chair pictured above, love them and they only cost me $20. TWENTY DOLLAR$!
addendum: after reading this post for myself, i want to clarify my point of view and attitude. i'm not hating on people that avoid places like ikea, target and pottery barn. i appreciate their need and desire to be completely unique, i just don't want to feel like i am lesser or without individuality because i might shop there. again, i love hand-made and artistic rarities, i just like my cheap ikea chairs too. TWENTY DOLLAR$!
12 comments:
I love this post Marce. We also own that chair, as well as many other Ikea pieces. Hooray for cheap, transitional furniture!
Here, here.
Totally agree. If it's a good deal, I don't really care where it came from :)
I definetly see your point of view here.
However, coming from a family of struggling-to-make-ends-meet-artists my pleasure in finding unique items comes with the joy of knowing I'm supporting the arts. Artists rarely make enough to support themselves doing their craft alone, so yes, I enjoy that side of it.
Plus, like you said, it's fun to have a few items that are uniquely yours. Having said that though, I also think that every item of a persons wardrobe or home doesn't need to be filled to the rim with kitchy things. It's balance, as in all things, that seems to be the best. Plus I love Target almost as much as I love Etsy.
marce:
hi you! i hadn't checked your blog since i read about the "surgery" and then sent you that worried text message! my gosh--- thought you had open heart surgery or something, so thanks for the explanation below. you look beautiful by the way, glad you are feeling well. i sure do miss you. i'm in town over christmas and HAVE to see you!
love, sunny
PS... i like etsy too.... and all the unique stuff, but i agree... who has the time? my house right now is a rental and full of DI furniture, RC Willey outlet and stuff people have given us.... including a giant recliner chair that looks like a overstuffed baseball glove...... ahhhh... someday I will have the will or time to shop all the unique stuff...
A-freaking-MEN!!!
adam is actually assembling IKEA goods as we speak! wow...we are soooo ubiquitous!
Marce, we'll be in Utah from the 17th to the 27th. Van's ready for some one on one time with you!
1- LOVE that you started your blog back up, I will now become an official stalker
2- Loved what you've posted about, especially this one. It's a good thing to bring up, and it's good to hear it from you. Someone we all know is creative and her own person, but doesn't live by those rules only! Love you for that!
3- Can't wait for the next post, I'm feeling like we are friends again:)
thanks for your words of encouragement, I'm so glad you get this too! You're right about All Tucked In's sight. I wonder if they aren't doing online shopping anymore? Well, I know for sure you can get them at their store in Bountiful- they have tons. Also, Children's Hour & Paisley Pomegranate sell them. They are $40, and really do make the best gift! Last year for Christmas I gave them to my Grandma, Mother in Law, and sister!
Love this post. Can't we all just get over ourselves already? Plus, consumerism is a disease and makes us far too judgmental. Personally, I blame Sex and the City.
That said, those PB green cups match some red cups I inherited from my Grandma. I think I would also like them very much.
p.s. the word verification for this post is "dingle"...did someone say berry?
are you saying ubiquity is ubiquitous?
i'd say anyone who thinks you can't create originality from stock, mass produced items, isn't using their imagination.
marce-i so love this post because i so totally get caught up in the whole "you must be 100-percent-original-all-the-time". it's EXHAUSTING! (and expensive). there's absolutely nothing wrong with shopping somewhere that other people shop or eating at a trendy restaurant or stealing someone else's idea. here here for the occasional fabulous unique find but give me target on a regular basis. amen, sister.
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