What do you collect?

[Kimberley]

Let's see them, ladies! What type of items are you a collector of? I haven't spent much time on my collection lately, but I LOVE Hummels and Lladros. Also, Precious Moments and decorative crosses.

[2tiredmom]

I collect anything with barns, shirts, sweatshirts, nick nacks, plates, anything.
If I had my way and lots of money. I'd live in a barn. I also use collect longenberger baskets. I have 63 of them but have stopped collecting because they cost to much any more.:)

[Taurus Babe]

I collect little boxes from all around the world. It's very fun!

[Willow]

Hmm...I collect lots of things..Cherished Teddies, Yorkies (alive and decorative! LOL) and Ty Beanie Bears, although I haven't bought a beanie bear in several months!

[May5]

I collect frogs (not real ones....yet...). So far I have like 50 or something like that.... they're starting to take up too much space!:o

[DianaB]

I have several collections. I collect Sabino glass. It's glass that has gold in it and it is white with opalescent colors all through it. I have several birds, butterflies, and perfume bottles. It's very expensive so I only buy one every once in a while. Here's a link so you can look at one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sabino-Art-Glass-Small-Flying-Bird-Figurine_W0QQitemZ130034033109QQihZ003QQcategoryZ2 9559QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I also collect Hallmark Christmas ornaments. This collection is one that my husband hates. It takes a lot of room to store the ornaments and the boxes, but I just love decorating for Christmas and getting them all out (which takes forever!!!). My tree is always very, very decorated. I play a little game with my grandchildren after the tree is decorated. Our tree stand makes the tree turn around so I ask the kids to find certain ornaments. Kind of a search and find. Everyone always has their favorites.

I also collect antique children's toys. I have several oak cabinets from the early 1900's filled with little kitchen things and I have a little laundry set with a clothes line, wringer washer, little iron, and even clothes pins. I also have a couple of miniature oak dressers. I just finished an antique children's dish set (I love e-Bay!!!) and I also have several other dish sets.

I probably have a few other collections but these are the main ones. I love going to flea markets and garage sales but I get a lot of stuff from e-bay.

[TootiesMom]

PUPPIES!
no, really, I collect rocks from places we go and Lady and The Tramp things... I also have an extensive Santa collection at Christmastime.. I think last year we were up to 115....
d

[Sherry Lynn]

I collect Waterford Crystal. I especially like clocks and picture frames. I love how the light reflects from them.

This past year I've started collecting perfume decanters. I only have 7 of them, but each one is very different from the others. There are some really pretty ones out there!

Kimberley.... I have a friend who used to work for Lladro (their US headquarters is here in Jersey) and has quite a collection! You'd go nuts!!

[blowry]

I collect Angels, churches and, antiques. The Angels and churches that I collect are usually very primitive.

[RLC12345678]

I collect collector's edition barbie dolls.

[DianaB]

I collect collector's edition barbie dolls.

I still have my first Barbie and Midge and several others from when I was little. I got my first one for Christmas in 1963. She still has her ponytail and her original swimsuit. I didn't have any sisters so my Barbies are in pretty good shape. Oh how I loved my Barbies!!!

[SweetCuteness]

Hmmmm... I collect shoes, purses, and jeans! ;) Kidding... kind of.

I don't realyl collect anything. I've started sort of collecting the little clay angels from hallmark. My mom and my brother got me my first ones, and I love them!

[BabyNicole]

Other than dust? :p Fisher Price Little People and sets (old FP)!

[rivermom]

I collect Santa Clauses. :D

[SweetCuteness]

Other than dust? :p Fisher Price Little People and sets (old FP)!

WOW... that's a lot of little people!

[BabyNicole]

WOW... that's a lot of little people!

Honey, there are 1000's more where than came from!! :D None of those are doubles!!! I have boxes and boxes full of duplicates! :eek: :p

[SweetCuteness]

Wow, that's nuts! How did you ever get started in collecting them? I thought my aunt was nuts for having like 400 Lucy Riggs ceramic bears!

[magnolia]

I collect (or rather used to before kids) GWTW memorabilia. I started out collecting reproduction B&W prints of scenes from the movie. First original piece I purchased was a B&W still print of Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable - only 120 prints were made for magazine publication only. The biggest (and most expensive) piece I have is an original movie poster from 1954 with a deep purple background - it is my most favorite piece because it's so different.

I used to collect beanie babies but they are now bagged and boxed and put away. For a time, we collected 1/24 scale Nascar cars - something the whole family enjoyed collecting.

But now, like Nicole, I collect dust :D

[Mandy]

I collect Swarovski crystals, the figurines & jewellery.

[Kimberley]

Other than dust? :p Fisher Price Little People and sets (old FP)!

OH, MY! That's a BIG collection of Little People!

[BabyNicole]

Wow, that's nuts! How did you ever get started in collecting them? I thought my aunt was nuts for having like 400 Lucy Riggs ceramic bears!
One of my friends got me into it! She actually sold all her stuff, but I still have tons. I'm actually going to go through it soon and sell duplicate sets on eBay. I have so much stuff in my parent's attic! :eek:

[BabyNicole]

OH, MY! That's a BIG collection of Little People!

Thanks! :p

[Janet]

Other than dust? :p Fisher Price Little People and sets (old FP)!

That is a great collection! Since I really don't collect anything, how did you get started and why these? :)

[RLC12345678]

I still have my first Barbie and Midge and several others from when I was little. I got my first one for Christmas in 1963. She still has her ponytail and her original swimsuit. I didn't have any sisters so my Barbies are in pretty good shape. Oh how I loved my Barbies!!!

Are you talking about the "Original Barbie" that is in the Black and White swimsuit?!

[RLC12345678]

I collect (or rather used to before kids) GWTW memorabilia. I started out collecting reproduction B&W prints of scenes from the movie. First original piece I purchased was a B&W still print of Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable - only 120 prints were made for magazine publication only. The biggest (and most expensive) piece I have is an original movie poster from 1954 with a deep purple background - it is my most favorite piece because it's so different.

I used to collect beanie babies but they are now bagged and boxed and put away. For a time, we collected 1/24 scale Nascar cars - something the whole family enjoyed collecting.

But now, like Nicole, I collect dust :D

I used to collect beanie babies, too!!!!!!! But like you, they are all boxed up. I figure they'll be worth something one day! Kinda how the original barbies are worth so much now, maybe beanie babies will be worth a lot one day.

[BabyNicole]

That is a great collection! Since I really don't collect anything, how did you get started and why these? :)

My friend had a great collection that I admired. I loved playing with FP little people when I was young. She gave me one as like a souvenir, and then I wanted more! :p

[Ponyup]

Music boxes, things with kittens, stuffed animals (have tons, must get one everywhere I go), & I guess Dean Koontz books.

[magnolia]

Music boxes, things with kittens, stuffed animals (have tons, must get one everywhere I go), & I guess Dean Koontz books.

Ahh....another Koontz fan!!! I just LOVE his writing! I think my favorite book that I've read by him was Intensity. I could NOT put that book down when it came out several years ago - think I read it in like 2 days!! The tv movie they made on it was good - but not as good as the book!

[Ponyup]

Ahh....another Koontz fan!!! I just LOVE his writing! I think my favorite book that I've read by him was Intensity. I could NOT put that book down when it came out several years ago - think I read it in like 2 days!! The tv movie they made on it was good - but not as good as the book!

Yeah, for some reason his books to transfer very well to movies. I would say my favorites have been watchers, from the corner of his eye, & false memories (i think that's what it's called)

[Sherry Lynn]

WOW Nicole!! You really are a collector!!!:p

I also buy magnets when I travel... the tackier the better!:p

[Taurus Babe]

All these collections sees so great! How fun! What everyone's favorite thing about collecting?

[DianaB]

Are you talking about the "Original Barbie" that is in the Black and White swimsuit?!

My Barbie has a red swimsuit. I sure wish that it was a black and white one. I think that the first Barbies were made a few years before 1963. I also have a Skipper and Scooter.

[Willow]

My Barbie has a red swimsuit. I sure wish that it was a black and white one. I think that the first Barbies were made a few years before 1963. I also have a Skipper and Scooter.


OK I know who Skipper is, but who is/was Scooter?

[beejyboo]

I used to collect Marys Moo Moos and Boyds Bears, now they collect dust too and now I collect real yorkies. I dont have a huge collection but the ones I have collected so far are priceless.

[highlans]

I collect Swarovski crystals, the figurines & jewellery.

Me to but my mum has a larger collection that I have to keep clean :)
I collect Waterford as well picture frames and candles so far.

[Janet]

It's so interesting to see what everyone collects. I really don't collect anything. I have so many things to dust already, I don't need any more. I've often thought it would be fun, but I need the money for redecorating and I just don't know where I would put anything else.

[Chandra Amaya]

I used to collect unicorns but lost most of those over time then the rest during a breakup. I would love to start collecting Maryilyn Monroe memoribilia & Celtic things but for now the kids come first so its dolphins for one daughter, fairies for the other & Racing stuff for one of my sons. The other son collects music & "goth" stuff.

[judy]

I used to collect cats (real and china, wood, etc.), elephants (not real), miniatures,
depression glass, pictures of paths, antiques, and there's probably more. Are 2 ex-husbands a collection?

Now, I don't collect anything unless I can wear it. I just don't want anything else for my house.

[Jlynn]

Other than dust? :p Fisher Price Little People and sets (old FP)!

Just saw this. Love this collection, I had all of these as a kid (not quite so many though, lol)

I loved my little people school, town, house, a-frame, school bus and airport!!!!

[potter]

Is it too late to jump in to this thread? I love collecting seashells and I have tons and tons if them, from small to big. They are really beautiful in their own way.

[Jlynn]

Is it too late to jump in to this thread? I love collecting seashells and I have tons and tons if them, from small to big. They are really beautiful in their own way.

So, what do you do with all of your seashells? Do you have a special way you display them???

[potter]

So, what do you do with all of your seashells? Do you have a special way you display them???

The small ones I keep them in styrofoam boxes lined with cloths. The big ones are displayed in glass cabinets.

[tina]

Craft supplies and kisses from my Yorkies. :)

[Jlynn]

The small ones I keep them in styrofoam boxes lined with cloths. The big ones are displayed in glass cabinets.

How cool...I love shells, just could never decide what to do with them.

Do you collect all of yours on your own or do you purchase some?

[twalla]

I collect junk!

From old medicine bottles and tins, blue or green bottles, misc tin.. vintage paper (for no purpose but to look at it), old quilts... suitcases..... to charms for my charm bracelet.

AND all that stuff collects dust :p

[goofywife]

I collect hanging outdoor tea light lanterns and Christmas balls from vacation spots.

[toodles]

i collect giraffes. unfortunately, not real ones LOL

all over my house and office you will find giraffe things. I think they are amazing.

[blueigirly]

I started off collecting lighthouses. Then people were giving them to me as gifts & I had to many. So I changed about 7 years ago & started collecting mermaids. I wanted to stay with the nautical theme. I grew up & later have always lived on or near water. Here are just a few.

[lisa]

I collect copper, pottery and yorkie things

[Tink]

I collect snowman items and old country style kitchen things. I have an antique kraut cutter, nut choppers, sifters, mashers, many blue canning jars of various sizes with zinc lids, etc.

[Tiramisu]

Picking up on an old thread:

In the 80s, I collected butterflies and thimbles. Sold the butterlies and daughter took the thimbles.

In the 90s, I collected lighthouses. They were taking over my house, so they're boxed in the attic.

My Sister was making porcelin dolls for several years, so she gave me a few and I have them displayed, but never really collected them.

My Hubby makes and collects knives, so that takes a bit of space.

I've inherited a collection of different teacups, saucers, and plates, but I don't collect them.

For the last 10 years or so, I can't get interested in collecting. I thought perfume bottles, bought one and quit. I thought pill boxes, got a couple and quit. I see everything as being dust collectors.

I'd love to have a Chamilia, Pandora, or Biagi bracelet and then collect charms. I could put that on my wish list to my Hubby and the kids.

[Dobie]

I collect kokopeli figurines

[DianaB]

This is a great thread to bring up again!! Thanks!!!



I'd love to have a Chamilia, Pandora, or Biagi bracelet and then collect charms. I could put that on my wish list to my Hubby and the kids.

The bracelet would be a great idea for a gift and you could get charms for gifts all year long. Great idea!!!

I collect kokopeli figurines

You're going to have to post a picture of your figurines because I don't know what they are.

[jrsygal37]

I collect Little People. They are the original Cabbage Patch Dolls that were hand made by Xavier Roberts before they became mass produced. I collect the very old 1979 dolls. Elaine

[HALEY]

we both collect Harley DAvidson t-shirt, i believe we have every state, in the US, plus when we went on our honeymoon down Cancun, mexico...

[DianaB]

Everyone has such interesting collections!!! I think that it's so interesting!!

[Tiramisu]

I have a very curious mind and this helps me "get to know" you all. I'm the kind of person to ask what kind of shampoo, toothpaste, etc. a person uses and I love the introduction quizes.

My sister collects Indian and Victorian dolls and has cows in her kitchen because they used to own a dairy. Of course, after fostering children and adopting 4 of them, I accuse her of collecting kids.

My oldest daughter collects angels and crosses, the middle one collects Dreamsicles, and the youngest collects polar bears. My DIL hasn't found anything to collect. My Mom wasn't a collector, but kept every little trinket ever given to her, making her a collector of trinkets?! My MIL has a jillion bird figurines.

[Shada]

Very interesting thread... can't believe I missed it beore!

What do I collect... hmmmm.. so many things over the years.
Right now I would have to say life sized porcelain dogs and cats.

Along with antique kitchen items. I have a shelve over my kitchen cupboards filled with 'old stuff'. Also have a love for red handled bakelite kitchen utensials.

My favorite thing to do is is go to antique stores and look for those items.

[gja1000]

I collect the old Fiesta dishes, stone polished New Mexico Pueblo pottery, and my husband will tell you that I collect turquoise jewelry - he's wrong about that last one - I have alot because I wear alot, NOT because I collect it :D

Hubby collects Hopi kachinas. Oh and since we've made three trips to Alaska, we now have a growing collection of walrus and mamonth carved ivory pieces.

When I get home, I'll post pix of the ivory, pottery, dishes and kachinas. The pix are on my desktop computer.

[Janet]

This thread is so nice. Some of you are collecting things I've never heard of and can't wait for the pictures to be posted. Oh I could google I suppose, but I want to see 'your' collection. I've just not been one to collect things. Always disliked dusting and too much clutter. I think my Mom's house looks like a little flea market with all the little things sitting around.

[gja1000]

This thread is so nice. Some of you are collecting things I've never heard of and can't wait for the pictures to be posted. Oh I could google I suppose, but I want to see 'your' collection. I've just not been one to collect things. Always disliked dusting and too much clutter. I think my Mom's house looks like a little flea market with all the little things sitting around.

Janet, you just need to collect the "right" things. LOL! My dishes are out in the open in a corner cabinet - so I do have to take them out and wash them occasionally. The other things, pottery, ivory, and kachinas are behind glass so that they don't collect dust!!!

[Tiramisu]

I collect the old Fiesta dishes, stone polished New Mexico Pueblo pottery, and my husband will tell you that I collect turquoise jewelry - he's wrong about that last one - I have alot because I wear alot, NOT because I collect it :D

Hubby collects Hopi kachinas. Oh and since we've made three trips to Alaska, we now have a growing collection of walrus and mamonth carved ivory pieces.

When I get home, I'll post pix of the ivory, pottery, dishes and kachinas. The pix are on my desktop computer.

Gayle, I have new (10-year old) Fiesta dishes that I am very tired of. MIL got them for me and, being OCD, the not matching drives me crazy.

Remember to post pictures!

[gja1000]

Gayle, I have new (10-year old) Fiesta dishes that I am very tired of. MIL got them for me and, being OCD, the not matching drives me crazy.Remember to post pictures!

Sandy, you are tooooo funny! Yes, I will post pictures. I use my old Fiesta for special occasions and I LOVE that it doesn't match. You'd be out of control in my house. My kitchen table is an old antique table and I have 6 antique chairs and each one is different - no two are the same. I love it when a bunch of us sit around the table, none of the chairs match. We each have our favorite chair and we sit where our favorite chair is placed. Oh, you'd just DIE in my house!!!

[Tiramisu]

Gayle, you'll appreciate this. Sometimes when I am totally scatter brained, I mix and match the Fiesta - the cobalt might have a green saucer, a yellow fork, a pink spoon, etc. It's a game I play when the g-daughters are setting the table. Nothing can be with it's matching set.

[Janet]

You two are a hoot. I think your kitchen table and chairs sounds great! Just like on Friends.

[gja1000]

Gayle, you'll appreciate this. Sometimes when I am totally scatter brained, I mix and match the Fiesta - the cobalt might have a green saucer, a yellow fork, a pink spoon, etc. It's a game I play when the g-daughters are setting the table. Nothing can be with it's matching set.

SANDY! When we use the Fiesta for a dinner - THAT'S the way we set it - nothing in a place setting can match!!!

[gja1000]

OK, here's some pictures of my collections.

This is the corner cabinet in my kitchen. I rearrange the dishes from time to time, and right now, I realize that what I have standing up in the cabinet is mostly the Homer Laughlin pottery (maker of the colored Fiesta) that was used to put on decals. Most of these dishes I collect have Mexican decals. It's the cream colored dishes with the pictures. Most of the traditional colored Fiesta is laying down in the cabinet. But you will see it in the other pictures.

1. Corner cabinet with Fiesta/Homer Laughlin dishes
2. The plate rack (that my husband made for me) hanging on the wall.
3. My pornographic Homer Laughlin bowl (look closely) - I've never found another dish with this particular decal, although I have read about it in antique books.

[gja1000]

Ok, here's my husband's kachina collection (yes, they are kinda scary looking!). They are hand carved out of cottonwood by different Hopi Indian artists. Each one has a different name and is symbolic of something or a ceremony.

1. (L to R) Morning Singer, Sunface, Eagle Dancer, Deer Dancer, Sunface
2. Deer Dancer, Sunface, Eagle Dancer
3. Morning Singer, Sunface

[gja1000]

Last but not least, here is the New Mexico stone polished pottery that I collect and the walrus and mammoth ivory carvings that my husband and I collect. This is an older picture, we have several more pieces of ivory now.

In the ivory, (L to R) you can see a musk ox, whale pod, sea otter chasing a fish, and a mother/baby whale pair. Also, there is an Alaskan dog sled in the front and a little eskimo figure. The whale pod (there are 11 whales - some on the back you can't see) was carved out of walrus tusk - there are no separate pieces glued together, it is one piece of antler with everything carved from it.

[lynne b]

Last but not least, here is the New Mexico stone polished pottery that I collect and the walrus and mammoth ivory carvings that my husband and I collect. This is an older picture, we have several more pieces of ivory now.

In the ivory, (L to R) you can see a musk ox, whale pod, sea otter chasing a fish, and a mother/baby whale pair. Also, there is an Alaskan dog sled in the front and a little eskimo figure. The whale pod (there are 11 whales - some on the back you can't see) was carved out of walrus tusk - there are no separate pieces glued together, it is one piece of antler with everything carved from it.

OMG your collections are beautiful, i like the ivory the best i think. right now i am into collecting dogs (LOL), one of the draw backs of breeding there always seems to be 1 out of my breedings that we become attached to and cant seem to part with. i have 7 right at the moment 3 are from my breedings. I really need to find a new hobby.

[Tiramisu]

Gayle, I love your collections and the way you have displayed them. I've been dusting a little this weekend, while I'm g-babysiting the 4 year old and 10 month old, and I've realized that I obviously collect pictures of my kids. I probably have around 80 pictures of kids around the house. That's just crazy!

[gja1000]

Gayle, I love your collections and the way you have displayed them. I've been dusting a little this weekend, while I'm g-babysiting the 4 year old and 10 month old, and I've realized that I obviously collect pictures of my kids. I probably have around 80 pictures of kids around the house. That's just crazy!

LOL! I collect pictures of my kids/grandkids too - and I'm sure I have about that many also. But I only have limited space to display them, so I have them in a drawer and rotate them on display.

[gja1000]

OMG your collections are beautiful, i like the ivory the best i think. right now i am into collecting dogs (LOL), one of the draw backs of breeding there always seems to be 1 out of my breedings that we become attached to and cant seem to part with. i have 7 right at the moment 3 are from my breedings. I really need to find a new hobby.

Lynne, I'd love to collect dogs too :) I've often wondered how breeders let all the puppies go. I remember in Janet's video, she called one of the pups something like, "My little man" - if I ever used "my" with a pup, I fear it would be all over and I'd never be able to let him/her go!!!

[judy]

I have collected different things over the years. It used to be cat figurines, then miniatures, then shells, and I can't remember what else over the years. Lots!

Now, I don't want anything that collects dust - no more collecting. But, then who knows what I'll find around here.

[Janet]

OK, here's some pictures of my collections.

This is the corner cabinet in my kitchen. I rearrange the dishes from time to time, and right now, I realize that what I have standing up in the cabinet is mostly the Homer Laughlin pottery (maker of the colored Fiesta) that was used to put on decals. Most of these dishes I collect have Mexican decals. It's the cream colored dishes with the pictures. Most of the traditional colored Fiesta is laying down in the cabinet. But you will see it in the other pictures.

1. Corner cabinet with Fiesta/Homer Laughlin dishes
2. The plate rack (that my husband made for me) hanging on the wall.
3. My pornographic Homer Laughlin bowl (look closely) - I've never found another dish with this particular decal, although I have read about it in antique books.

I like everything in these two pictures!!! I would love to have the Fiesta dishes...do they still make them? I don't really care for the Indian figurines much and I watch to many Animal Planet documentaries to want to collect the ivory things although they are sooooo beautiful. Just amazing the detail.

I'm still with Judy though, other than the dishes, I don't think I want to collect anything. After having a big garage sale this past summer I still want to get rid of more stuff.

[gja1000]

Janet, the ivory is fossilized ivory - they don't kill the walruses for ivory and the mammoths are long gone. The ivory is found as the Alaskan ice cap melts.

My husband is part Indian so the kachinas "speak" to him. :) He feels a strong connection to them.

[DianaB]

Gayle, your collection of Fiesta is so pretty and colorful! Your husband made you a wonderful plate rack too. How nice!!! The Katchinas and ivory pieces are really interesting! I can see that you've taken great care in picking them out because they are so intricate and very beautiful!!! Thank you so much for sharing the pictures of your collections! That was very interesting to see.

[judy]

Gayle,

Wouldn't you know it - I'm thinking about what to collect now.

;););)

[gja1000]

Really, I didn't set out to collect anything - we started with a couple of stone polished pottery pieces on a trip to New Mexico and then it just grew from there!!! We really loved them and learned so much about the pottery. In New Mexico the Indian land (typically called a reservation) is called a Pueblo - and in New Mexico there are about 15 (or so) Pueblos. Each one is known for a different kind of pottery or art. For example, the San Ildefonso Pueblo is known black pottery, while the Santa Clara Pueblo is known for red pots. Santo Domingo Pueblo makes pottery, but they are known for their beautiful jewelry, as are the Zuni. You can go right into the Pueblos (most of them anyway) and if there is a potter, he/she will hang a sign outside the house where they live and you just go in and look at their art and buy directly from them.

Most Indian artists love to tell you all about their craft and my husband and I love to listen to them, so we spend lots of time just talking. Indians are known for preferring to sell their art to someone who wants to hear the story of the piece or understand its meaning. Almost everything about Indian art has meaning. I once sat with an Indian silversmith at an art show and if someone came up to his booth and said, "how much is that", the price would be very very very very high. But if someone came up and asked about the same piece, listened to the story, seemed interested in the piece, then the price was reasonable.

Of course, my husband's fascination with kachinas came from our travels to New Mexico. Actually though, the kachinas he collects are made my the Hopi Indians which are from Arizona!

I didn't set out to collect Fiestaware either. I always loved it so my mom gave me her old Fiesta dishes (just a few pieces - some had been stolen years ago) and then my aunt gave me hers (both from the 40's-50's). I really loved them so my aunt bought me some at an estate sale, then I just began to pick up a piece here and there. Voila! Here I am with a whole cupboard full.