Curating memories through personal symbols is about discovering the objects, mementos, and tokens that hold meaning. At the start of the year, after the intensity of the last couple of years, many of us are finally slowing down enough to notice what has been coming along for the ride. There’s a natural urge to declutter.
When life is busy, we throw things in boxes and drawers without much thought. Well, I do. And often, things sink to the bottom, waiting for us to dig them out again. As we sort through what’s tucked away, forgotten mementos resurface.
Recently, I opened an old handbag I had not used in years. In one of the small inside pockets, I found a few tiny treasures my nephew had given me when he was little. He has just left school now. I realized I had carried those “treasures,” as he called them, with me for years. Almost like good luck charms, without consciously remembering they were there. Finding them again, I felt unexpectedly joyful, a reminder of time passing and small moments that once seemed ordinary but now feel precious.
The trinkets we keep and the stories they hold
This kind of rediscovery changes how we see the things we keep. A concert ticket from a night that comes back in flashes. A handwritten recipe. A small handmade gift that only you would have kept. These are not just items. They hold memory, connection, and feeling. Often, we do not realise how much they matter until we come across them again. And once we do, they feel impossible to part with.
After the initial delight at your refound keepsakes comes the familiar thought: “Mmmm… what do I keep? What do I throw? What on earth do I do with this?” My keep pile had grown bigger than I imagined, but I allowed myself to hold onto the pieces I could transform into something meaningful. In the process, a sense of wonder took over – the desire to explore, arrange, and see what story these items could tell. That curiosity is exactly what inspired the Curiosity Cabinet workshop.
Why this moment feels aligned
In Chinese astrology, we are coming to the end of the Year of the Snake, a period that encouraged reflection and clearing out what no longer fits, not necessarily literally. Now, as the Year of the Horse arrives in mid-February, the energy shifts to renewed motivation. It’s a time for expression, exploration, and the creation of something new. That is why this moment feels so aligned with being intentional with your knick-knackery.
Personal Symbols and Visual Storytelling
Collections over time become personal symbols. A ticket might represent freedom or adventure, a bag of marbles – oh, that’s where they ended up! – could reflect high stakes. A card might hold a relationship, and a shell might carry serenity.
When thoughtfully arranged, these items form a visual language unique to you, speaking through colour, texture, and association rather than words. In my online workshop, I’ll show you how to create a beautiful piece of art using your own collections. You may be surprised by the stories that begin to unfold as you work.
Inside the Curiosity Cabinet Workshop
What You’ll Experience
I created the Curiosity Cabinet Workshop for collectors at heart, treasure hunters, and anyone who has ever thought, “I can’t throw that away.”
This workshop is designed to be immersive, practical, and genuinely enjoyable. You’ll be guided through a pre-recorded creative process where you gather your own curios, experiment with collage, composition, and storytelling, and explore how meaning and symbolism naturally emerge as you work.
Alongside the making, you’ll have access to a private creative space to share discoveries, ask questions, and connect with others who are exploring their own collections. There’s also an optional live Zoom session for conversation, feedback, and sharing work in progress, with a recording available if you can’t join live.
This is a hands-on, glue-on-your-fingers creative online workshop you can watch and create in your own time, making it easy to fit around real life, wherever you are. If you’ve felt that gentle nudge to uncover the treasures you’ve been holding onto and give them new life, you’re in just the right place. Go on, open the box.
Come join the Curiosity Cabinet Workshop – let’s play, explore, and turn your keepsakes into a story you can live with. Join the waitlist here to be the first in line when registration opens and receive an exclusive creative prompt guide.
