Collections. What craziness possesses us to search out, hunt for, buy and acquire STUFF? We know we can't "take it with us", our kids don't want or like it (for the most part), and most of it needs to be dusted. So why and how do we collect things?
I think we collect two ways; unintentional collecting and intentional collecting. The unintentional collector acquires things through circumstances. By inheritance possibly, through marriage or maybe you just had one lovely resin rooster and suddenly every Christmas and birthday you are unwrapping yet another rooster.
That is how my Christmas nutcracker collection began. One innocent nutcracker given to me by my son when he was five years old. Now I have over fifty! I have written the giver's name and year given on the bottom of each one.
I think we collect two ways; unintentional collecting and intentional collecting. The unintentional collector acquires things through circumstances. By inheritance possibly, through marriage or maybe you just had one lovely resin rooster and suddenly every Christmas and birthday you are unwrapping yet another rooster.
That is how my Christmas nutcracker collection began. One innocent nutcracker given to me by my son when he was five years old. Now I have over fifty! I have written the giver's name and year given on the bottom of each one.
Clyde, wearing his Christmas tie, sitting with a few of his nutcracker friends!
The Intentional Collector is much more purposeful in his or her "gathering". This collector buys something for value; either monetary or emotional.
There are many people that collect purely for investment purposes, I don't know any personally, but they do exist. They buy something that will only increase in value. Perfection, rarity and re-sale is the goal of these collectors.
Re-sale is the last thing on my mind when buying things to add to my collection. My goal is to accumulate and KEEP my often imperfect things! I am an emotional collector and I believe the majority of collectors are. I, personally, get heart palpitations and my palms get sweaty when I spy something I love to collect!!! I will spend the last dollar in my purse to get that thing! Sometimes we emotional collectors buy items because it triggers a memory, fills the last piece in a set, or just because it makes us happy.
There are many people that collect purely for investment purposes, I don't know any personally, but they do exist. They buy something that will only increase in value. Perfection, rarity and re-sale is the goal of these collectors.
Re-sale is the last thing on my mind when buying things to add to my collection. My goal is to accumulate and KEEP my often imperfect things! I am an emotional collector and I believe the majority of collectors are. I, personally, get heart palpitations and my palms get sweaty when I spy something I love to collect!!! I will spend the last dollar in my purse to get that thing! Sometimes we emotional collectors buy items because it triggers a memory, fills the last piece in a set, or just because it makes us happy.
You say you don't collect things? Look around you-I bet you have three or more of something in or around your home. We all tend to buy things that speak to us in some way; think about what you buy when you travel, or the things that you have kept from childhood.
There are many ways to display your collections; traditionally our parents kept them in curio cabinets, china cupboards or maybe marched across a fireplace mantle. My mom has many beautiful dishes and tea cups displayed in china hutches. They are in PERFECT condition and are rarely used. Only for "special" occasions. That, of course, is why they are in mint condition.
Today however, the trend is to keep things out and sometimes to even....GASP....USE them. EEK! Yes, sometimes things get broken, but I LOVE using beautiful things every day. These things begged to be used and touched. Items can be displayed in baskets, on a shelf or windowsill, on a mirrored tray, piled on a table, or just scattered throughout your home.
Today however, the trend is to keep things out and sometimes to even....GASP....USE them. EEK! Yes, sometimes things get broken, but I LOVE using beautiful things every day. These things begged to be used and touched. Items can be displayed in baskets, on a shelf or windowsill, on a mirrored tray, piled on a table, or just scattered throughout your home.
Some thing I buy because I love them, but I end up using them every day. The mannequins and busts in my home hold my necklaces because they keep their shape so much better than when hung they are hung on pegs.
Everyone who knows me knows my umbrella obsession. I have two hung in my living room. Really. From the ceiling. The peaked, pagoda-style ones are my favorite. They look just like any umbrella until you open them. Pure BLISS!
For those of you that have neither the time nor the patience to pick things up one at a time, a "collection" can be picked up at one place. All the lanterns pictured below were at one sale. The negative is that each piece does not have a story and you will have to cough up all the money at one time. However, this is a great way to decorate if you have a large home that needs a punch of personality fast!
Don't be afraid to mix old items with new- you don't need to be a purist for a great look. My clock collection has a clock from T.J. Maxx in it! Who cares, if YOU like it!
Collections can be great conversation starters, add personality to your décor and can be so much fun to accumulate. When I am out looking, I call it treasure hunting.
If you have a collection you love please share! Email your pictures to me and I will share them on my FB page.
Collections can be great conversation starters, add personality to your décor and can be so much fun to accumulate. When I am out looking, I call it treasure hunting.
If you have a collection you love please share! Email your pictures to me and I will share them on my FB page.
My collection of vintage luggage does double duty as Christmas decoration storage.
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