I bought a new plant for this planter head. I was so excited to add some green and to get a little change. I lifted up the fellow and then set him down again but he was off-center. And he fell face first onto the tile. I broke his nose.
My first thought was “I can’t have anything.” Which is what I’ve said to myself in the past when something I like breaks or falls apart or disappears (it’s been known to happen). As soon as the words popped into my head I also knew I could still use the planter and a broken nose wasn’t the end of his world or mine.
I know the secret of embracing imperfections and this is just another imperfect specimen in the long line of broken, ripped, stained and not-quite-right-but-functioning members of our household.
So I planted the plant.
I glued on part of the nose that I found on the ground.
Imperfect but still impactful. I can live with that.
I don’t have a choice.
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I love your quote! I too believe that it does not have to be perfect to be beautiful. The planter in my opinion has charm.
I love that planter!! Had you not pointed it out, I would not have noticed the “nose job”!! I love how the plant creates an amazing head of hair!! In my opinion, that nose suits that mossy patina…and that hairstyle perfectly!
Hey, Nester…. have you seen those pictures where Japanese pottery breaks are filled with gold?
“kintsugi, the Japanese art of mending broken pottery by filling the cracks with amalgam mixed with powdered gold”
http://whatacupoftea.blogspot.com/2012/06/mending-our-brokenness.html
But also, your statue reminds me of “we hold this treasure in jars of clay….”
OH Dixie, THANK YOU, that brought me to tears! Attention world, click the link above!
Wow lots of great food for thought. Thank you so much for sharing this.
Love that! Thanks for sharing!
Hey – same thing happened to the arms of the Venus de Milo, and she has a place of honor at the Louvre.
If you want the bright pink nose to blend in a little bit, you can make moss grow in there, by coating it with a mix of yogurt, moss you scrape off a tree or something, and letting it sit. This is for doing outside, when the weather is warmer. It takes about 3-4 weeks to grow. It’s how Martha ages her pots.
such a great idea! Thanks xo
And this is why I love your blog!
I’m thinking this guy’s going to be a Halloween hit. He has a bit of a zombie vibe going on :) Rock on, girl, the imperfections just age him in a good way.
um you’re not the only one who gets “wreck it Ralph” mentality when something goes awry. I think the noseless guy is really great. And reminds me of something you dug up somewhere…go with it!
Sometimes it’s a relief when things break because now we don’t need to worry about breaking them anymore! I love him even with a broken nose. I feel the same way about my “new” headboard. It’s part of an old piano. It’s not long enough for my king bed and it’s so not perfect but it beats an expanse of white wall. Here’s to making do, keeping on and loving life…
“Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.” – Voltaire
Good for you with going with the good!
borrowed your little quote for my facebook page. love it, (gave your blog credit for it!)
He looks great and oh, so classical with his broken nose….maybe he’s just trying to keep up with the ancients!
I have a bust I actually sculpted myself back when I was an art minor in college. The nose actually broke off as I transported it with me on the move to med school. Then I heard that apparently, there is a tradition pertaining to ancient statues–Greece, Rome, etc—that if the nose falls off, the person who is represented by the sculpture is honored by that. I don’t know the details and haven’t checked the story. Just made me feel a little better…
I do plan to repair the nose at some point and possibly gild the whole bust in gold. Will see.
AMen sister!!
Nester,
I think your planter is handsome. I like the perfectly imperfect look you have going. Some of our classic sculptures are missing “bits” I am thinking of the Venus De Milo… maybe your planter is Mars.
rick
I laughed in recognition when I saw your thought “I can’t have anything.” Sometimes I’d just like to have something that isn’t broken or works completely right! What a relief to know most of us are in the same boat! That nose job just makes him look more antique:)
There are imperfections in all of us. Only God is perfect:) I love it!
Now he looks more like an antique! And with an antique, fixing can sometimes reduce the value. It’s the imperfections that speak to it’s value in the lives of others and how it’s been part of those life, witnessing history.
Just tell yourself that you picked him up while on your many travels through the ancient world. He was uncovered during your last archeological expedition and belonged to a great civilization!
Like the moss or gold idea, my thought was to paint the clay to match the rest. Cover up for statues. :)
Love this! I can definitely relate :)
I used to say that a lot when my kids were little. “I can’t have anything nice…” Now it’s me who breaks things and that is just a little be more frustrating. The planter is nice even with the broken nose. ;)
same here! I’m the clumsiest one in the house, it’s always me falling down the stairs…
I think it’s cute – it actually made me laugh which it will also do to all who visit you and that is a wonderful thing :)
I have a statue in my garden and he had a nose reduction too :)
Love the planter, nose job and all! Where is he from, and what kind of plant is that? I’ve been avoiding anything else that must be kept alive, but now that my 2 year old and my 3 year old can get their own water from the fridge, I might be ready for the responsibility of a plant :-)
I think the nose looks like its supposed to be broken! That planter head is awesome, where did you find it?
HomeGoods of all places!
I am CRACKING up right now because I bought that same head planter like 3 years ago with his nose broken in the EXACT same place! I am not kidding-I will send you a picture! I bought him that way because I felt bad for him, like a puppy at the pound, and I told my hubby that he was the one just because he was not perfect (the planter, not my husband- LOL). I have always liked his nose being broken, and I think he is proud of it too. :)
Kristine
now we have twins!
I was just looking at my house yesterday and all it’s flaws and imperfections. Several scratches in wooden tables, ink on wall hangings (from the kids), stains on oversized chair, wearing leather sofa, and numerous glass decorations that have broken and can no longer use, some I glued and tried to use for awhile, this is just to name a few…I’m learning to embrace the fact that it will never be perfect and that’s okay b/c right now it means I have 4 active, healthy “normal” kids living in this house! Thanks for your post.
well said!
This is why I love you, Nester!! You are always doing something different and then some!!
Check out any museum of ancient art — how many statues and busts are missing their noses — or even arms. He just looks more genuine.
He’s so boss and he nose it.
awesome. yes. you are.
Dixie-Thanks for linking that article! It was a great reminder & very humbling.
Nester-you are always so encouraging! :-) I can’t tell you how much your motto “It doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful” has helped me see the good in the rental my husband and I are in right now. I just want to say, you’re a blessing and I’m so glad I stumbled upon your blog. :-)
Double-dog dare you to put a band-aid on his nose.
Hi Nester,
You know, I might take a hammer and tap off a bit of ear, too.
He looks like he can take it.
Rough him up a bit!
~ Dana
Some days, it seems like everything in my home is chipped, broken, scratched, scuffed, stained, dinged, warped, faded and/or held together with duct tape. Some of the nicest things are nothing but a memory, having met an irreparable end. The ugly things are inexploicably indestructable. Thanks for remindng us (and reminding us again) that it doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.
LOL! You crack me up! I just got done vacuuming my living room and noticed one of the metal chairs that we haven’t even had a MONTH already has a bent back! I thought “We can’t have ANYTHING that I happen to love without SOMETHING happening to it!!” Had to remind myself that having our 6 kiddos is a guarantee that this kind of thing WILL happen! :-) Love those crazy little rascals more than ALL the furniture and “stuff” in our house though!!! :-)
Aw, I love it just the way it is. And the beautiful bouffant it’s rocking made me chuckle. Beth Moore would say it’s closer to God now. :)
There’s very little in my house that isn’t scratched, broken, stained or worn. And I’m ok with that. It means that we actually live in our home and use it’s contents and furnishings. Our home is comfortable, warm and full of laughter. And to me, that’s worth more than having everything perfect.
Where, oh where did you buy that awesome planter…must have
me too me too!
I have this exact guy In my kitchen and love him. Check out my blog on Jan 25th called Winter Twigs to see how I used mine. Sorry about his nose but you are right, imperfections are beautiful.
I’m getting ready to post a roundup of instagram printing options, so I’m glad you pointed me to the Walgreens option. Awesome and easy! Thanks!
Your weekend reading is always the best. Thanks for sharing!
I love that planter! However, as I was scrolling through reading and wondering where I could find one I came to the last photo and was suddenly struck with “Michael Bolton. It looks like Michael Bolton!” I guess they both have some “chiseled features”! Great post. :)
yes, you are 100% correct. that hair makes him look JUST LIKE michael bolton!!!
Thank you! It is so encouraging to know that really great decorators like you can embrace imperfections.
I laughed so hard at this post. Especially the thought, “I can’t have anything.” I so relate. But now, my children are grown and I have plenty of “things” that never get bumped or broken or messed up. Believe me, the growing up years are the sweetest of times, so treasure them. That broken nose should never be repaired…because it is a perfect illustration of your philosophy. You are just so precious and I love what you do.
I love your quote your quote so much! Your planter head is so unique and beautiful. Had you not mentioned about the nose, I wouldn’t think there was something wrong with it hahaha. My sister and I love to find unique and antique stuff to decorate our store. We found a lot of beautiful accessories from this site: http://www.worldtohome.com.