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Post by mrsmess on Apr 2, 2010 5:48:29 GMT -5
That may seem a crazy question to ask on a site like this, but I am meaning collections that you deliberately amass over time...whether it be bottlecaps or boats, bus tickets or burleigh ware. I have always loved to collect china, vintage items, buttons, glass, and books. I grew up with parents who loved to collect things, but neither of them are what I would call hoarders, they just liked to collect things...stamps, paintings, etc... So I got the collecting bug from them. During the time we didn't have any privacy, for the 20 years that we lived above offices, I went a bit crazy with the collecting of stuff, it got out of hand...I now realise that it was my subsitute for having my own space...if I couldn't have my own space then I could buy bits and pieces that were mine. Now of course I am trying to reduce the amount of stuff I have collected in order to make the house more liveable, but I do still love looking out at markets and second hand stores for unusual items. I am just hoping I can be more selective in future so I can live more minimally and still enjoy nice objects. Or is that a contradiction...hmmm.... So what do collect, if you do....? While writing this a question has also come to mind...I wonder is it possible to be a collector without clutter? Or do people who are fighting clutter stop collecting things, like an alcoholic can't go near a drink?
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Post by canna on Apr 2, 2010 6:18:36 GMT -5
My eccentric collection: I collect "Alice in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass" books. I have over 100 of them. Each book is different; different cover, different sizes, Disney and many other artists.I have been collecting them for many years; and am always on the lookout for ones I do not have. I have one old one, that is my prize. It was published in 1892 and is in excellent condition; and I have never seen that particular book anywhere else, even on ebay. I have all my Alice books in a special bookcase just for them. I don't collect figurines, dolls or other Alice things, that would be going overboard for me ha. I haven't seen the Tim Burton movie with Johnny Depp as Mad Hatter yet.
"But I don't want to go among mad people" said Alice. "Oh, you can't help that" said the cat, "We're all mad here; I'm mad, you're mad!!"
The story of Lewis Carroll is interesting. And, there really was an Alice - Alice Pleasance Liddell (1852-1934).
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Post by downandout on Apr 2, 2010 6:26:11 GMT -5
i have a nice collection of dragons also some wizards unicorns stuff like that. hubby prefers weaponry like axes and swords. he also collects computers and tools. oh and i also collect angels and carnival glass (which originally belonged to my grandmother and mother but i love the stuff!). out of all of these things i would have to say the the tools are the only collection which is over the top. way too many and often just junky ones at that. some are worth keeping like the very old ones (from hubbys great grandfather) and the newer ones cause they work(!) but some other stuff imo could go. then theres the stuff in our house which isnt our collections but rather deceased family members collections. like WWII stuff from my dad. moms photos. sisters paintings. MIL's tea sets. i dont know how to let these go because they all meant so much to them. i sure cant answer your question about people who are fighting clutter do they have to give up collecting? i dont know but if i had to give up my collection then what would be the point of cleaning up say that cabinet? my intention has always been to display what i have. im sure we have all seen tv shows where someone has like a thousand pig figurines but they are all displayed nicely some even have their own rooms! i suppose if you have the space and the collection is rather organized you could have tons of stuff and it wouldnt be considered clutter. after rereading this i can see that my thinking is distorted. i should clean up that cabinet for me and my hubby. shouldnt matter if something is put in that cabinet or not you know?
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Post by Rory on Apr 2, 2010 6:34:05 GMT -5
I collect gemstones mostly those I have faceted myself. They are small and easily stored.
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Post by bluefrog on Apr 2, 2010 8:16:41 GMT -5
I have two collections---netsuke and pink lustre cups and saucers---which fit into the spaces I have to display them, with room, maybe, for a couple more each. So I have to be very selective about what I buy next. I've pretty much stopped looking, because I don't want more than I can display.
I'm still looking for a spot to display the 19th century ink bottles---maybe a shoebox full. They're all neat shapes and colors and need a spot in the sun. There was the perfect area in the house before this one, but I haven't found one here that the cats can't reach, but I can get to them to dust them.
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Post by notsomessyshell on Apr 2, 2010 11:28:44 GMT -5
I collect tea cups and miniature shoes. I have stopped getting new in both collections. It has to be really amazing for me to even consider it. And usually I am not so thrilled that I have to have it. I still enjoy my collection. It is in a curio cabinet and a display shelf. I also have a real thing for watches. Love, love, love watches. I have reigned myself in on this one, too. I still look, though. Hubby collects sports cards, mainly NASCAR. And NASCAR collectible cars. He has really reigned himself in lately, too. This move has opened his eyes to all that he really has and that he needs to downsize it! We have both purged quite a bit this week. I am hoping this simpler lifestyle will stick once we get settled somewhere.
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MiSC
Banned
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,611
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Post by MiSC on Apr 2, 2010 19:36:21 GMT -5
I'm on the phone, but I want to show off the one thing I collect. In this whole jumble of stuff, it's the only thing I've ever collected (as an adult. ) ornaments.homestead.com/public.html
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Post by mrsmess on Apr 2, 2010 20:37:19 GMT -5
Christmas decorations Misc! what a fab thing to collect, there are so many gorgeous ones to buy. What an array of things everyone collects....I would love to see all the collections. Canna what a wonderful thing to collect, I wish I could see all your books, they must be amazing. Bluefrog I sure wish I could see your 19th century ink bottles too! Downandout I think you are right we don't need to give up collecting, as displaying my china nicely one day does motivate me too.
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Post by Butterfly on Apr 2, 2010 21:53:28 GMT -5
I collect (hoard?) Christmas decor. Mostly glass ornaments by Radko, Fraga, Breen, etc. Also Radko snow globes, Radko cookie jars, the NP village by Dept 56, Mark Roberts Christmas fairies and other assorted decor. I love them but as they now number in the high hundreds, I know I've crossed the line. I have a few other collections that I no longer (been more than 10 years since I've bought any) actively add to. There is quite a bit of depression glass that I intend to rid myself of sometime this summer. I think it's pretty (pink and green and feminine) but I don't use it and don't have a good way to display it nor does it fit into my decor. When I collected it I was living in more of a farm house style home and it fit better. The rest of my knick-knacks are made up of art pottery, art glass, crystal, china and Limoges boxes. They all fit into two curio cabinets and I haven't added to them in years so I don't consider them a problem. ETA: Over the years, there have been other things as well. At one point I bought a dozen or so of the metal, wind-up reproduction toys (things like ferris wheels, etc.) I have dozens of beanie babies (Why?!), and, I'm sure, things that aren't coming to mind right now. But, these things are all in a home clear across the country so they are easy for me to forget. When/if I return, I will clear them out. Yes, I have long had a problem with collecting.
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Post by StuffNoMore on Apr 3, 2010 10:42:50 GMT -5
I use to collect Holly Hobby dolls many years ago. I displayed them on my LR shelves and when the shelves couldn't hold anymore I stopped getting them. That was way back when I didn't have my clutter issue. I still haven't gotten any new ones as I'm happy with the ones I have and the memories that go with each of them. This could have been a dangerous and expensive collection had I not stopped when I did.
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MiSC
Banned
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,611
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Post by MiSC on Apr 3, 2010 12:00:37 GMT -5
I collect (hoard?) Christmas decor. Mostly glass ornaments by Radko, Fraga, Breen, etc. Also Radko snow globes, Radko cookie jars, the NP village by Dept 56, Mark Roberts Christmas fairies and other assorted decor. I love them but as they now number in the high hundreds, I know I've crossed the line. I have no idea how many ornaments I have, but they're all pictured on those pages. The worst problem I have right now is that I need a bigger tree. A much bigger tree. But our ceilings are only 8 feet tall, so that's a bit of a problem. I'm limited to a 7.5' tree, and I'd have to bend down the top to make sure our star fits. (I have to bend the 6.5 one that we have down anyway, or the star wobbles.) I'd love to see pictures of your stuff if you have any.
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Post by bigtimetroubles on Apr 3, 2010 14:03:35 GMT -5
I collect and I am male....what you ask? some already know.... I collect owls...have a curio cabinet in living room filled with them...all kinds...one of my favorites sister gave me which is made from tin cans...it is cool...I have horn carved owl from Thialand.....as well as stuffed owl in a Santa hat that I just got for Christmas from my neice I got that last month as they did not come here for Christmas. I have glass owls, and ceramic owls and a gift I gave my mom is an antique Ivory owl that was bought on Guam....legal in the USA because it outdated the ban on importing ivory.... I may also have told you I love the owl cam video feed on SooS....in by ways....cool to watch Molly and babies...have yet to see McGee..... hugs btt
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Post by Butterfly on Apr 3, 2010 20:48:18 GMT -5
...I'd love to see pictures of your stuff if you have any. I don't have any pictures right now. I had some 5 or so years ago but the computer they were stored on had a hard drive crash and I lost them all. I haven't even put up a tree in several years. (A combination of too much clutter/squalor, depression and physical limitations - unfortunately this did not keep me from buying more. Three cardboard boxes in my foyer hold this year's purchases. Yes, I have a problem.) So, how crazy is that? Anyway, 80% or so are stored in various types of bins - some plastic, some fabric ornament bins, some just cardboard. The remainder of the ornaments are in their original boxes but have been placed *gulp - big admission* into garbage bags piled into a large soaking tub. I just ran out of plastic bins and haven't gotten more. As I said, I know I've crossed the line with this "collection". Some folks are coming to help me move things in the next 2 or so weeks and after that happens I will take some photos and post them, okay?
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MiSC
Banned
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,611
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Post by MiSC on Apr 3, 2010 20:51:01 GMT -5
...I'd love to see pictures of your stuff if you have any. Some folks are coming to help me move things in the next 2 or so weeks and after that happens I will take some photos and post them, okay? That'd be great. I look forward to seeing them.
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Post by bigtimetroubles on Apr 3, 2010 21:06:49 GMT -5
I wish I still had a digital camera for shots like this...mine died...so I have yet to replace it with the cost involved and tightness of my money....so no owl pictures as of this moment....
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