The scene at 7 am this morning. Those slashes of light are snowflakes falling to the ground.
I sort of knew it was coming, but didn’t realize it would be anything more than the ‘snow showers’ predicted a few days ago. I think we’ve got about 2 inches – maybe less – out there. And it’s going to rain tomorrow, so it will be gone very quickly.
Pretty, though!
We stopped to visit the horses yesterday.
But only after I finished working on Act 1 of The Comedy of Errors. Today: Act 2. Maybe even Act 3!
This was in the mailbox on Saturday. Another Russell H. Tandy cover illustration on The Bungalow Mystery, #3 in the series. This may be my favorite so far. I love the hat and suit that Nancy is wearing and the way she’s standing on the tip of her toes to see into that window.
I’ve done that myself!
I’m getting such pleasure from the “hunt.” Finding the books in unexpected places, in antique shops, in used bookstores, searching on Etsy and eBay – it’s all such fun. It’s the same way I feel whenever I’m on the hunt. Speaking of which, I haven’t been hunting for Roseville Pottery lately. It’s been pricey, with only a rare piece or two that is priced low enough for me to bid. I check in about once a week. And, unless something knocks my socks off, I have about all the McCoy Pottery I need or want, somewhere upward of 60 pieces. That isn’t to say I might not buy a piece or two, but only specific pieces that I’ve always wanted to add to my collection. Otherwise, I’m done.
But there’s still Wallace Nutting and Maxfield Parrish. And maybe an elusive Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs egg cup from 1939. So far, when they come up for auction, which is rarely, I’m always outbid. Curses! I would love nothing more than to add a few more to my collection.
I’m fascinated by collectors and what they collect; what intrigues them, what ignites that collecting passion. I know I’ve asked this question before, but how about an update? Tell me what you collect. Maybe it’s something you collected long ago and have since passed on or sold (I did that with vintage Fiesta) or maybe it’s something that you have long collected or maybe it’s something that recently struck your fancy! Are you still collecting or have you decided to thin out your collections? Where and how do you display your collections?
I’ll share my current list: anything Bakelite, egg cups – especially children’s figural egg cups, McCoy Pottery in those sherbet McCoy colors, Roseville Pottery, books, Wallace Nutting tinted photographs (my most recent passion), Maxfield Parrish prints, vintage china and pottery, vintage Shiny Brite Christmas ornaments and vintage Nancy Drew mysteries with cover illustrations by Russell H Tandy, and miniature pottery. That’s all I can think of at the moment, though I’m sure I’ll think of something else as the day goes on and add it to the list.
Happy Monday.
If only the snow would stay off the roads! The temperature dropped fifteen degrees overnight, so it’s a brisk start to the week here. One of the many things I collect is old political cartoons (mostly Victorian). I keep joking that one day I’ll frame them to display in the guest bathroom.
You should frame them, Barbara! I bet they would make for a striking display!
i used to collect perpetual calendars and snowglobes. was fascinated by them as a kid. haven’t added to them in years. still have them, but am looking to sell most of them.
as for current collections, these have been long-term and i don’t see them ever stopping:
movie ticket stubs (kept in a wide-mouth jar).
concert ticket stubs.
charms on a bracelet-turned-necklace (something my beloved parents started for me when i became a teenager).
wooden swedish dala horses (a symbol of my heritage).
i love art, have a lot of it. i treasure most that made by beloved family members. also have many paintings by a new orleans artist (now dear friend) and three pieces by a tennessee photographer before he changed to a modern oversized mixed-media style).
kitchen towels. more than i need. maybe more than martha stewart needs. there’s just something comforting about them.
on a different level … miles (i like to run. i like to travel).
time and memories with my wonderful family.
my newest collection will start after the holidays … money (saving more; have big goals).
and dust (though not on purpose). ha ha.
Interesting collections, Kathy! I have my old charm bracelet – it’s silver. I wonder if I should consider changing it out to necklace?
I also collect dust!
i feel the charms are safer from scratches and they are definitely quieter on a necklace so can wear it more often that way rather than a bracelet. soldering is expensive so my sweet mother put them on split/jump rings for me. eternally grateful for her! and the memories in those charms. so i say necklace.
Most of my charms are from my high school years, Kathy. Nothing new since then! But I’ll think about it – it might get me started on more charms.
i’ve collected and been gifted charms for many, many years … and it’s fine by me to find charms years after a trip or milestones (for which i couldn’t find one at the time). i search at antique markets.
love looking at it and reminiscing. i don’t display it, but could be shown like art. doesn’t take much room either.
the majority are sterling silver and the necklace is full (maybe 60+ charms? i should know that!) so i recommend itemizing it on homeowner/renter insurance.
anyway, i say go for it!
and i do have an old coin collection. basically stopped when i got to junior high school, but i look at the change i get … just in case!
ps … everyone in my family collects at least one thing. :)
xoxo
Thanks, Kathy!
I would love to know more about how you changed the charm bracelet into a necklace. I would love to do that so that I could add more charms.
hej, susan …
i saw this comment, but (in a hurry) thought it was from claudia so sent her an e-mail about it. don’t know if she could insert that here (?) so i will try to reply here.
to move charms from a bracelet to a necklace, we clipped off the mostly-soldered jump-rings (keeping the charms in chronological order because it matters to me) and put the charms on split-rings (each one like a circle-and-a-half, NOT just an open-circle-style ring pinched shut). one split-ring per charm. then we put those split-rings into the spaces on each link of the necklace/chain. “we” being my beloved mother. important to get a necklace with spaces in it big enough to hold a split-ring (one per link in the chain). went with mixed-metal split-rings rather than sterling silver; jeweler said it would be stronger and the split-rings meant no expensive soldering or having to take my 60+ charms to a jeweler, hoping they’d get my order right. can’t recall style name of my chain. might be “calypso” – ? will try to reply here if i recall for sure.
also, for claudia, too … with that many charms on something (bracelet or necklace), i’d consider getting the links to the clasp strengthened by soldering.
and insuring it.
hope that helps! if you want more info, please let me know.
kathy in iowa
it was an afternoon project and definitely worth it! charms are noisy on a bracelet, but not on a necklace. also seems much less likely for me to scratch it or something else now as a necklace … so i wear it more.
I just saw your email! Looks like you answered the question, Kathy.
Hi Claudia, pretty scene out your window this morning. We are having rain. In the past I have collected fabric, cross stitch patterns, embroidery thread, etc. Now I appear to be collecting yarn. And table linens – I make most of our tablecloths, but I love cloth napkins and snatch them up when I see pretty ones.
Caught up on your blog posts the other day and really enjoyed the posts about the Catskill Animal Sanctuary. Your pictures were so fun – I always wanted a pet pig (even before reading Charlotte’s Web) (and then I wanted a mouse after reading Stuart Little – LOL). It looks and sounds like a wonderful place.
I just eliminated a LOT of yarn from my stash. It’s so easy for the stash to build up and then it’s out of control!
The snow is so lovely. I wish that you could send your snow to the mountains of Tennessee to help them out right now. Such a beloved place for my husband and myself. Such a tragedy to watch it all unfold.
I have been a collector of many things over the years. In recent years I’ve purged many collections from my home. The ones that remain are antique Santa Claus figurines, a record collection (the older the better!), lots and lots of books (We cannot seem to stop ourselves), Fiesta dishes and my husband collects Nutcrackers.
I love searching for older books and have a rather large collection of them with some dating back to the early 1800’s. There’s no particular subject or author that I collect. If I find the book interesting then it’s added to my collection. We’ve been purging many of the things in our home for the last year. We only live in 1250 square feet but after 25 years together and many travels we were bursting at the seams with stuff. We plan to downsize in the near future to about 800 square feet for retirement. It was hard in the beginning to part with my collections but as I’ve continued to purge it has become a cleansing in a way that has surprised me.
Thank you for the wonderful post on the animal sanctuary! What a wonderful and amazing thing that they are doing for all of these beloved animals. Being a vegetarian for many years and a lover of all animals it warms my heart! Bless them for their work.
Enjoy the beautiful snow! Have a most lovely and blessed day.
I wish we could send snow there, too. It’s so tragic.
I love old books, as well. Our cottage is somewhere around 1100 square feet and it’s pretty stuffed with collections. I’m going smaller in size nowadays.
The Animal Sanctuary is simply wonderful, Belinda.
What I currently collect: McCoy, Red Wing and Shawnee pottery and vintage hand mirrors. I’m also attracted to certain vintage miniatures such as paintings and animal or Christmas figurines. I used to collect owls, but I’m done with those now. My hand mirrors (which I only have one!) will be hung on a bathroom wall along with different kinds of hooks, to make a gallery wall. I’m going to use the hooks to hang some of my necklaces.
After visiting that local restaurant on my birthday, I became intrigued by the beautiful small mirrors on the wall. I’d love to collect them for our downstairs bathroom, but I haven’t made any moves on that front. I think your hand mirrors will look stunning on a bathroom wall!
I woke up late Sunday morning to snow! We were only supposed to get rain. Oh well, it is pretty and we didn’t get too much.
The horses look so happy and healthy!
When I moved into my little gem, I knew I would need to edit a lot of things out so I concentrated on my absolute favorites which are aqua/teal/turquoise pottery. I’ve had the newer turquoise Fiesta Ware since the 80″s and have a pretty huge collection. It’s not just for display as I use it everyday, but I also inherited a few pieces of McCoy and Shawnee and USA from my grandmother and have since added to it. Your collection of McCoy has inspired me to get a few more pieces. My Etsy wish list is pretty long!
One other collection/obsession is lamps. I have two pottery lamps that I love along with glass lamps, and a beautiful brass and marble I got from Craigslist.
I pretty much love anything from the 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s!
Me, too, Chris! I love those decades and you know I love that color. When I bought the newer Fiesta in the 80s I chose that dusty rose color…now I’m not that crazy about it, but I only have a few pieces that are still intact after several moves.
I love lamps, too – especially little lamps (like the parakeet lamp or the one with little children on the base.)
Great collections, Chris!
My collections have a mind and volition of their own! I am almost hesitant to say I “collect” anything because then they take over. I end up donating them or selling whatever it is. Guilt is often involved if the item was a gift. I just have a few things that are special to me now. No longer 200 teddy bears … just a few that are near and dear. No longer every children’s primer from days gone by … just my favorites displayed on a small shelf. I appreciate having fewer things that I really enjoy.
Well, I think you’re right. Narrowing them down to some absolute favorites makes them all the dearer, Lori!
What a pretty photo! I enjoy the look of snow! Well you know I’m a collector! Past collections have included milk glass, creamers, sugar bowls and cat stuff. I still have bits of those collections but have moved on to mostly pottery. I love them all, McCoy, Roseville, Shawnee and so many others. I especially love pink pottery. I also collect flower frogs(a newer obsession), orphan salt/pepper shakers, flamingos (vintage only) and Paris items (photos, plates, etc). Too many I think but I do love them. I’m pretty done with egg cups, I love the special one’s I have but haven’t added to my collection in a long time. I still buy miniature pottery when I find it but lots of them I share with you (if it’s pink it stay here though). I haven’t bought any Roseville in a long time as it has gotten pricey again. I’m pretty happy with my collection as it is and except for a $1 McCoy thrift shop find, haven’t added to that collection in awhile either. I do enjoy the hunt!! At Christmas I collect vintage items only. So much fun to find something old in the boxes of stuff at the thrift shops. I have the ‘collecting’ bug and don’t think it will ever end. Hugs!
I have come down with that same bug, Linda!
Egg cups – I ordered one the other day, but it’s been on my Etsy wish list for over a year. You’ll see why I ordered it when I get it. I hardly collect them anymore, either, because the figurals are my favorite and they are very, very hard to find nowadays.
You’ll have to showcase your flamingos someday, Linda! I’d love to see them!
I’ve read several references here today on the post to Shawnee pottery. What is it? I’ve never heard of it.
You should google it, Vicki – or better yet, search on eBay. It’s pottery that was made by the Shawnee company. Some of my mini pottery is Shawnee.
Actually, I did. Curiosity piqued. I clearly needed a brain boot. I recognize the corn pattern. Shawnee was produced in that same Ohio area as Roseville, Hull, etc.
Yes, that corn pattern is pretty well-known! xo
Transferware, vintage Christmas, amateur art. None of this is active collecting, more serendipity.
Serendipity is the best, Margaret. I love, love your transferware. I have a few pieces, but no real room to collect any more.
I love those horses! I love your collections. You forgot cake toppers. I remember because they are charming.
As for what I collect…amethyst glass ( old). The old amethyst glass has gold added to get the deep color of purple. Newer stuff doesn’t have the same deep color.
I collect cut glass candy and relish dishes. My mom taught at a young age the difference between cut glass and pressed glass. She collected it, and I am adding to it.
I have also started collecting old children’s books. Like the Golden books. The newer ones don’t have the same artistry as those I grew up with. And, children’s new books tat have great artistry. That is my biggest requirement, Of course the stories must be good, but what goos is a good story with bad pictures?
Oh, you’re right! My cake toppers. Probably because they’re packed away at the moment!
Illustrations are absolutely a criteria for children’s book collecting. I love vintage illustrations, much like the ones in those Golden Books. Amethyst Glass is so gorgeous, Trudy!
Yes, amethyst glass; to die for…and I just love rose quartz.
I collect books I love, of course, but I have to really love them to hold on to them. I also collect framed art which I bring out on a rotating basis as the urge to redecorate strikes me. It’s so easy to change the look of a room by changing the pictures on the wall.
It’s a great idea to rotate things. I would do that if we had storage space to stow away the pieces we’re not using!
I stumbled onto a collectible when I was at the monthly Antiques faire yesterday. It was the first time I visited, though I’ve heard marvelous things about it. My friend spotted a binder with Disney characters on the cover. Inside were pages of summaries of the Disney animated films, along with postage stamps associated with the films. I walked away from it, but walked back and asked the dealer how much. We came to an agreement for $20 less. I gave it to my daughter, who loves Disneyana and collects stamps. I googled the item, since I didn’t know anything about it, and we actually have only 13 of the 24 films that were featured. On the hunt! However, was pleased to note that the set of two binders alone, without the inserts, were going for twice what I paid for, and the complete set was going for 10 times what I paid. My daughter said she’ll never sell it, but it’s good to know I didn’t overpay! I know how you feel about a particularly good find!
What a neat collectible, Wendy! And to know that you got it for such a fantastic price! Whoo hoo!
I collect a number of things, some I have only a few pieces of, some more than a few: ironstone butter pats, miniature restaurant creamers, Wades miniatures, tiny baskets, jadeite (and other “ites”), miniature “Shawnee-style” vases (like yours), McCoy Rustic line (in browns and greens), and colored alabaster Easter eggs.
I love all of those things, and Jadeite is something I’ve always wanted to collect. Aren’t ironstone butter pats the perfect collectible? Small, so you can collect a lot!
The only thing I really collect in the traditional sense are baskets. Started doing this in my teens when it just dawned on me one day – “Hey, I really like these things!” Have many of them now, wicker, rattan, a few ceramic, a few glass and quite a few of those beautiful Longaberger wood baskets made in Ohio. A number of my Longabergers once belonged to my Mom, who also liked them [although I don’t think she’d have called herself a collector]. She just loved going to the basket “parties” with me and my sisters – haha! I have seriously curtailed my collecting too, because I’m just running out of places to keep them. But baskets are great in that they can be used for many purposes, and almost all of mine ARE being used and viewed. I do have one that has colored wood accents for Fall, and another that has red/green Christmas accents. Other than those two, the others are usable year-round. I guess I also collect cookbooks, although I don’t really think of them that way. I just like reading them and if they have great photos [and many do], that’s even better. I think I have around 100 cookbooks now, and keep them on the bottom shelf of my china sideboard. 📖
Basket are useful and beautiful – the perfect combination, Janet. How many do you think you have?
Oh gosh, all told I probably have about 50 baskets, with around 25-30 being Longabergers. Those are the only really quality, pricey ones I have. All the rest were very inexpensive and bought solely because I thought they were pretty. I started collecting in college when I rarely spent more than $1 for any basket. Still use them all.
The Longaberger baskets are beautifully made, Janet.
Toy electric irons, books, planters, metal tins and toys, but I’m downsizing….or trying to!
It’s hard to do, isn’t it? I love all of those things, especially metal tins! They can be so beautiful.
Love your snow picture! We don’t get many snowy days here in South Carolina. Let’s see. I collect vintage children’s readers (love the graphics such as Mom wearing pearls and high heels while cooking in the kitchen), vintage children’s books, lady head vases, vintage Fisher Price toys, Little Golden books ( I have one of each title since they began in the early 40″s, even the ones with uncut paper dolls and complete puzzles in the back), wedding cake toppers and, like you, vintage Christmas ornaments especially Shiney Brites. My husband and I love going to garage sales, estate sales and antique shops to find new treasures.
I love those period graphics, too. And you have quite the collection of Little Golden Books! Wow! I also collect wedding cake toppers (forgot to list that one) but they’re in storage right now because I ran out of room for them!
i’ve deliberately collected two things – car vases, and some brands of decal-decorated dinnerware made in ohio, up through the 1960-’70s or so. wild violets are my favorite decals. neither collection is large. but i do have a plethora of cookbooks, as well as fiction and nonfiction, mostly paperback and nothing valuable or vintage. they need a major purge. –suz in ohio
What are car vases, Suz? Are they vases that used to be in early model cars? I think I saw one or two at the car show.
I love violets, so I can completely understand that they’re your favorites!
yes, you are correct – vases from early-model cars. i have just a few, but i’ve been especially lucky to find ones that still have the hardware attached for hanging them. –suz
How neat! What a cool thing to collect, Suz.
I’ve collected owl figurines for years now. Each one is very different and beautiful. I have a thing for owls! And I have a snowman collection I always put out for the winter season. They make me smile. And not to forget my teapot collection. Again, each one is beautiful and unique, to my eye anyway. I don’t have huge collections though because this little house just doesn’t have the room for it….
I love the photo of the snow! So pretty! I’m one that loves snow and we’re supposed to maybe get some later this week too. And I really enjoyed your last two blogs on the animals at the animal sanctuary. I’ve always believed animals have souls or spirits that live on. My little dog, almost 15 years old died two weeks ago. I am heartbroken, but feel his spirit with me everyday.
And I wanted to add that the inhumane treatment of any animal breaks my heart. Thank goodness there are sanctuaries like this, as those animals are so lucky to live out their lives there. But for the rest of the factory farm animals that aren’t so lucky I can hardly bear to think about. And there is not a lot we can do about it. I am in the process of going vegan, and I donate money when I can to our local rescue that takes in all kinds of animals, along with dogs and cats. I wish I could do more! My next dog will be adopted from this rescue, as all of my pets have been rescues. I would volunteer, but I am in a wheelchair full time which makes it hard. Sometimes my husband takes me there just to visit with the animals. I can hold and pet the little ones, which they enjoy and I do too!
Visiting with the animals is a wonderful thing to do, Lily – that’s as good as volunteering. Maybe better!
We have rescued all of our dogs, as well. We wouldn’t do it any other way.
First, let me extend my sympathy to you on the loss of your dog, Lily. I wish I could give you a big hug. I know how hard this is, my friend. His spirit is with you, indeed, and will always be with you. Sending you lots of love, Lily.
My mom loved owls. Teapots and snowmen are also wonderful to collect!
Claudia, thank you so much for your kind words. I really appreciate it. Losing my dear sweet little dog has been so hard. He was my constant companion for the past almost 15 years. I miss him so much and I can’t even put it into words how heartbroken I am, but I know you understand exactly how I feel.
I do, indeed. Sending you hugs and understanding, Lily.
So interesting, the things people collect! My plumber recently told me that he collects swords…it’s some particular vintage/style (kinda creeped me out; NOT the guy you’d think who’d have such a hobby). I know another guy who collects Matchbox cars (the little toys from baby boomer past). I’m through with it now, unless that one must-have comes along, but I’ve collected the vintage-repro Barbies for the past dozen years. I have a friend who collects 1950s dress patterns – Butterick, Vogue, Simplicity, etc.
I’ve collected Christmas ornaments for over 40 years. My husband collects antique cameras. I still have the first car I ever bought; we took her out for a spin this weekend. She’s age 44.
I’m also into glass bottles, like old perfume bottles, old pharmaceutical bottles; I like the various colors (some are blue, others green or brown or golden-yellow [amber], etc.). I sorta like glass-anything and go nuts over sea glass, especially sea glass jewelry which I consider a true art. And I adore most any kind of miniature. I’ve been filling shadow boxes full of them my whole life. When we were kids on (once-a-year-in-summer) family road-trip vacations or on the rare occasion of going to an amusement park or zoo, maybe a museum, we didn’t have any money for other treats unless it was something we could buy with pocket change from a paper route or babysitting. So, I’ve got a small collection of little souvenirs that are pretty meaningful (everything was so well-made back in the day, even ‘inexpensive’ things!); and they don’t take up much space. Some are diminutive handmade dolls we bought from Native American sellers on trips back and forth across the Desert Southwest of the U.S. in the 1960s; they are treasures.
This reminds me of a woman I know who’s been adding to her mom’s collection of silver and turquoise jewelry for, oh, the past 15 years or so. She inherited it…and fell in love with it. Although you can find things made much earlier, her collection is primarily from the 1930s; 1940s. Zuni, Hopi, Navajo. She only buys vintage, focusing on bracelets…and the jewelry is so amazingly, beautifully, handcrafted. My father, in earlier life, was a silver engraver; it’s an artisan craft that takes great patience and skill. I was glad to give her one of his silver belt buckles; she’s a horsewoman and he did a lot of western wear including silver(sterling overlay) conchos (decorative silver embellishments) widely used on Western saddles. He signed his own original work and would, years later, scout for his creations in antique stores and jewelry stores. I tried to get him to take it up again in retirement…bought him all the supplies although he’d always kept his own engraving tools from the 1940s…but he was too busy taking care of my mom in those later years of her poor health.
Love your snowfall!
Love that your dad engraved silver, Vicki! I love silver and turquoise. Only have a couple of pieces, but I’d love to have more. And sea glass makes my heart sing! I have some pieces that I’ve collected, but I’d love a whole lot more.
I used to, years ago, subscribe to the Martha Stewart magazine when it was really Martha Stewart behind the wheel. She had those indepth articles on specific things which were like So&So”101″. Once, she profiled sea glass. In her sources, she cited a woman who made sea glass jewelry. She lived in coastal Maine; gathered her own glass right there at low tide every day. I contacted her by phone; no websites back then. She sent me some photos and I bought one necklace. Lovely light seafoam green, single disk framed in a thin sterling border on a sterling chain. Completely handmade but very precise. Elegant in its simplicity. It was over my budget…but, well, you know how that goes. I was working hard at my job/paycheck and decided I deserved it (ha!). I’m not even a ‘jewelry person’ but I was intrigued about how this all came about; the artist worked in a little shack up from the beach at the edge of the woods. Probably well into her 30s, she’d returned to a windswept property that had been in her family I believe since the 1800s; had been farflung but she came back to settle down in the old, familiar place where I think she’d spent summers. Her life seemed sort of solitary but she also seemed quite content. I love the stories behind things, don’t you? When we collect, we don’t always know those stories and can only imagine…
What a beautiful image that is! Sitting in her home, collecting sea glass, and making beautiful things with it.
I miss the old Martha Stewart magazine. I don’t even bother to read it nowadays! She had articles about McCoy Pottery and egg cups, by the way! – one of those articles showed an egg cup like the one I’d had since I was a child and through that article I realized I could collect them!
Actually, that memory (this happens…your posts prompt my brain…but sometimes I don’t quite get all my facts straight!) is a little skewed; I just looked her up; found her! The artist is Lisa Hall; she’s married now and had a daughter. She even worked as a lobster’man’; I’d forgotten that part! What I think I got wrong was the property being from the 1800s; but her site mentions her grandmother still having the island home where this artist spent summers. Now, she lives in Maine year’round. Even has a gallery. I enjoyed re-reading about her. Her website shows all the many colors/varieties of the sea glass. My husband, who professes to never want to live anywhere cold again (raised in the Midwest), has this wild dream of also living Jan-Dec in coastal Maine. He fell in love with Rockport and Bar Harbor when he attended a month-long workshop there in the 90s. It’s one way to get him onboard with my much-planned and eventually-upcoming trip to the Eastern Seaboard because he waxes nostalgic over Maine and can’t wait to go there again. Friends, of course, have told him that winter is a whole ‘nuther scenario…
Winter in Maine is tough! But it’s tough here, too. I’ll look at her website, Vicki.
I’ve said it ten times, but I’d always wanted to find egg cups for you…I just never see them.
I do love my mom’s remaining Bauer pottery (garden planters, each in a solid color; good-sized pots); the colors were always so striking (chartreuse, dusky rose, darkest burgundy). I also have from Mom a rather large collection of decorative blue-Delft plates (to hang on a wall; the real thing, all from The Netherlands; Mom was half-Dutch). Some are fifty years old now.
My husband’s niece collects skeleton keys from previous centuries. One time, she bought the trunk which came with the key! Her dad collects those toy trains you’d put around the base of the Christmas tree; electric ones, Lionel I think. He needs a room just for his trains and tracks.
It’s great to have collections…and that there are all kinds of collectors. It means this eclectic stuff is actually saved for future generations. I’m always amazed when I watch that TV series called Antiques Roadshow…with the stuff people find in attics or sales; things that have been in their families for multiple generations. Lots of collections don’t even take up much room. My great-uncle collected coins and stamps. An aunt collected only vintage rhinestone jewelry. I know a guy who collects black & white snapshots he finds in antique stores or estate sales; even though the families are long gone, he sees them as a history of American life through the eras.
I once worked with a woman who collected one thing and one thing only…tiny ceramic or glass frogs and turtles. She had hundreds in a glass case. You’d look down into the case as if it was a fish tank/aquarium; very creative. I saw something on TV about a woman who collects salt & pepper shakers. She had cabinets of them, filling multiple rooms in her home. In a magazine once, a woman was profiled who collected anything about black & white cows. Her whole kitchen was filled with them…tea towels, china, cooky jars, wall art, etc. I have a neighbor who does this with little pink pigs.
I have a friend that collects salt and pepper shakers. I have a few pieces of Bauer from my time in California – one big-ish planter and another pot. I’ve always loved Bauer!
I started to collect Wallace Nuttings in college in the 70’s. I have no idea why, just thought they were pretty and easy to find in the antique shops I haunted around Storrs CT. I have quite a few along with some from his disciples, Davidson etc. I haven’t purchased any in a while but did put them up in a grouping in our newish downsized home. I started to collect some Roseville after my mother gave me a vase she got as a wedding gift in ’45. I don’t collect anymore and am trying to curate what I have to only the pieces I really love. I found I picked up pieces simply because it was something I “collected” whether I loved it or not. I also received pieces from well meaning family and friends when they found out I had a collection and then dealt with the guilt if it was not my favorite thing. Ugh.
By the way, I love the way Nancy’s scarf is blowing. They don’t make teenagers like that anymore!
I love that detail in the scarf, too! I have a feeling I’d be salivating if I saw your Wallace Nuttings, Deb!
As always, I enjoy your blog, it is never dull and boring, saying the same thing over and over. Collections can be so enjoyable. Looking around it appears I collect dust and cat hair. :-/ I certainly seem to collect cats. Living out like we do people are always dumping off unwanted pets, mostly cats. Otherwise, I collect those little deer figurines that used to come with a gift of a potted plant. I have moved up to some of the larger deer that were used to hold flowers or greenery. In the past I collected rabbit figurines, but that has slowed down, probably due to having so many. I only put the bunnies out in the spring, and the deer come out in the fall. I am also a textile addict, with more tablecloths, vintage bed linens, etc. than one household needs. I have started to cull that collection quite a bit but will still pick up vintage linen when I find a good piece. Due to you, Claudia, I have been looking at doll houses. Drat! I do not want to start down that road! I can see that becoming a major addiction. no. no. no. maybe.
I love those little deer figurines, Teresa! And I completely understand being addicted to textiles!
Uh oh. It looks like I’m ‘enabling’ again! I hope you find a dollhouse, Teresa!
Oh…you got our snow! We got almost 6 inches…but it seems to be melting…so no shoveling perhaps? Let’s see..my collections. There are my glass paper weights, crystal collection, vase collection, from crocks to porcelain. Then there are baskets, plants…and our wall metal work sculpturesfrom the 60’s and 70’s. While I (we) are not actively collecting…one never knows when something will pop up that one has to have! I’m sure you can relate! ;)
The snow is gone today and rain is in the forecast, Donnamae.
I used to have a glass paper weight collection! In fact, I still do, but it’s in ‘storage’ at my friend’s house in Detroit!
I like collections that serve a purpose, I hope! I collected stained glass things to hang in windows. Now they are art on my walls. We also collect cheap paintings that cover our walls, dishes and saucers, which are on our walls. Then corning ware, jadite, fire-king and depression glass that I wanted to use. I filled out the silver plate eating utensils that husband inherited from grandparents. I filled the sets out to pass on to grandchildren, now grandchildren don’t want them. I hate too much of anything but I do seem to have an inclination toward hoarding. Luckily I could always stop before the next collecting item took over. Truth is, everything I have is a collection of one thing or another.
Collecting useful things is the best idea, Jan. I try to do the same thing, though my egg cups aren’t really useful!
I just might have that same inclination – I have to purge every once in a while so I don’t hoard!
Your red shed covered in white snow makes a pretty picture Claudia…I’m just so happy that it is in your back yard and not mine…LOL…
All clear today, Nancy! It melted.
Horses are such amazing creatures. Now it’s easier for me to spot a camel in the desert than to see a horse, though there is an equestrian club here and folks do have horses. At one point, there were cops on the beach on horses. Not sure if they are still doing that. I collect anything heart shaped. Used to collect angels and teddy bears but curbed that. I also have a lot of camel and elephant themed items. That’s what happens when you live in the Middle East and visit Asian countries. :) My Albany boy still says the weather is not too cold for him. We’ll see how he manages winter once it arrives.
I forget that something like a horse might not be as much a part of your landscape as it is mine. But camels and elephants? I’m jealous!
I’m glad your boy is hanging in there with the weather. It’s going to get colder toward the end of the week!
I definitely inherited the collecting bug from my Grandma, and inherited a portion of her huge salt/pepper collection, and love them. Most are from the 40’s and 50’s. I’ve collected Schilling tins, bottles, boxes, etc. for 35+ years. Also, large wooden bobbins, flow blue china pieces, vintage kitchen utensils, vintage cookbooklets, vintage Santa Clause ornaments, Honey Bunch children’s books, and Mary’s Moo Moos figurines. I never tire of the hunt :)
Okay. I don’t know of Mary’s Moo Moos or Honey Bunch children’s book, so I’m going to have to do some research! I love learning about new things!
Hi Claudia. I collect a lot of things but love my vintage Pyrex collection the most . I love milk glass too and have a small collection on display . Xxx julie
I love Pyrex! No room for it in our cupboards, however! I envy your your collection, Julie.
Wow, your tree looks fantastic. The bark cloth skirt is perfect. Ah, collections, I have a few! McCoy pottery, chicken figurines (antique), owls (a new love), books always and forever, baskets, Ukrainian Easter eggs and Matroyshka dolls that my brother-in-law picks up for me when he visits for mission work there, antique kitchen linens of all types, angels (collection is being thinned to my very favorites and displayed one in each room of my home in an unusual place), and heart shaped rocks that I have collected my entire adult life. I probably have more that I don’t even realize. I have leaned toward hoarding, but am cleaning out and either giving to the kids or grands or donating to a hospice thrift store for someone else to enjoy. I am trying to condense and I display different collections during different seasons. Such fun to collect, but I am getting extremely picky as far as adding anything new. Generally, I have to divest something to add anything new or different to our home.
You are definitely a collector, Susan! I love all the various things you collect. I, too, am getting pickier – there’s only so much room and I think, after the initial excitement of amassing a collection, we get more discerning.
Hi Claudia. Me again. I just looked around my little house and realised I have so many collections and I just had to share. Besides the vintage Pyrex and milk glass I collect…
Birds nests
Vintage willow flour shifters
Cornish ware blue and white china
Meakin lilac time China
Pansy shaped pin dishes
Vernon Ward floral paintings/prints
Shorter ware
Royal Winton chintz
Vintage enamel ware
Sounds like a lot doesn’t it!!? But it all makes my little country home very cosy . Big love . Julie
I love reading about all your collections, Julie. I find I do the same thing. I look around and realize that I have even more collections than I thought! (And no, it doesn’t sound like a lot!)