I loved Jody’s post a few weeks ago about the things she collects (especially since there were a lot of cat things and I love cats.) So I thought I’d be a copycat and share a few things I collect with you this week. As a kid, I remember collecting pretty paper napkins, the kind used for special birthday parties, wedding showers, or holidays. By the time I left for college, I had a large apple box full! When I got married, I gave my mom permission to throw my collection away. But since then, I’ve begun many more collections. Some of them have been on purpose, and some happy accidents.
Now, I’m not trying to one-up Jody (or 100-up her?) but I do have her mug collection beat with my 100+ mugs. But as I told her, I’m sure her house is WAY tidier than mine.
Another collection that goes along with my mugs is BEES. I guess because the name Deborah means “the bee” I’ve always been attracted to bee and honey things. I wonder if my mom had that in mind when she crafted this brown ceramic beehive honey pot? I found the yellow one at a garage sale a few years ago and my collection grew.
One of my very favorite collections is globes. This was one of those accidental collections. I found one at an estate sale and then another one, and before I knew it, I had a collection. Globes have become quite pricey, so I’m especially happy to have found several at very reasonable prices (most under $10). These bookcases in my office hold just a few of my favorites (and reflected in mirrors, which I also collect).
Another thing I collect is bowls. Cereal bowls, mixing bowls, snack bowls, serving bowls. I don’t know what it is that I like so much about the shape and function of bowls (well, except ICE CREAM!) but I just can’t seem to say “no” to a great bowl. I have them easily at hand on open shelving in our kitchen and a deep drawer to catch the overflow, and I use every one in my collection.
I also collect wooden measuring sticks of all kinds, especially those that have brass on them. I keep them in a pretty umbrella stand in the front entryway where I can easily access them. The smaller ones are on my desk in my office. I especially love the one upper right that has old proofreader marks on it and was likely used in a publishing house or printer’s office.
Of course, like many of you, I also collect books. Not as many as my husband has, but still, I have a nice library. I do believe books were made to be read, but I also love collecting them for their beautiful covers and especially old hardcover books with embossing. I have a small collection of antique books, a few dating to the 19th century, especially with red, green, or blue covers.
I collect a lot of other things (I’m definitely a maximalist when it comes to decorating!) and maybe I’ll share more another time, but if you didn’t already share your own favorite collections on Jody’s post, I’d love to hear about them now. And thank you for the idea, Jody! Hope you don’t mind me stealing it!
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I love old books, too. I think that started when my parents would go furniture shopping for antiques at auctions and pick up classics for me to read. My grandmother was also an avid reader of old and new books alike. When she passed away I kept a few from her collection (one was A Vow to Cherish). I still have a few books from my childhood: blue & yellow covered Nancy Drew titles, Louisa May Alcott novels, an old KS textbook and preparatory book for passing the eighth grade exams (they are over 100 year old). It is a neat way to look at history!
Thanks for sharing a glimpse into your collections!
That was fun to see some of your collections! I collect teacups, Beatrix Potter items, and of course – books! My collections don’t look as pretty as yours, so that’s motivating me to rethink how to display them. Thanks Deb!
My late mother-in-law was an antiquer and collector and I learned from her that displaying a collection in one space really made a statement. You can give Shirley Raney the credit for motivating you. 🙂
I love that you collect books, Jennifer, and am honored that A Vow to Cherish is among your collection. Those Kansas textbooks sound really cool! Great collectors’ item for a teacher! 🙂
I collect bookmarks…specifically leather ones.
I have quite a cache of them from holidays across the pond!
Blackwells, Jane Austen museum…I have found a few here in the states too.
When I see one, I snatch it straight away!
Loved the peek into your collections.
Why didn’t I think of that! What a great collection idea…one that can be used and that doesn’t take up much space. “Across the pond” is big-time on my bucket list so maybe I can start my collection there someday!
Love seeing your collections! Your home is always beautiful!
Like you, I collect mugs, mostly from places we’ve traveled. I also have some from favorite authors that were created to represent their books and given away during read alongs. As a teacher for over 30 years, I have some mugs that were given to me by students. In addition to mugs, I collect teapots.
I have many, many books!Among them is a collection of over 20 different Alice in Wonderland books.
In my kitchen is a collection of ceramic tiles from the 21 California missions, all of which I have visited, thanks to my daughter.
Lastly, I am a sucker for Lenox China figurines, and have a collection of angels and princesses.
Thanks for this post.
Mugs and teapots are a great combination! And the ceramic tiles from the missions sound wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing your collections, Betty!
How fun, Deb! I love quirky collections, and yours are fabulous! I share your love of honey (though, I’m not too fond of bees), and your bee & honey collection made me think of a place we stopped outside of Durango during our recent Colorado vacation. Honeyville. It’s an active honey farm where they raise bees and manufacture their own honey. You would LOVE their large gift shop. Every flavor of honey you can imagine. And so many cute tea towels and kettles and mugs. I had to seriously restrain myself. I could have easily spent hundreds of dollars in there. I ended up spending about $40 in two different types of honey (one whipped with raspberry and one mama bear) and two homemade jams – a bumbleberry (which is a triple berry jam) and mountain peach raspberry. They even have a sample counter so you can try before you buy! I can’t wait to finish off my current open supply at home so I can dive into the new ones!
I just put Honeyville on my bucket list, Karen! And my mouth is watering for those honey and jam flavors!! But I’ll have to close my eyes when I walk past the tea towel and mug display because I won’t be able to resist and my drawers and shelves are already overflowing with those items!
I like your maxamilist attitude!
I collect : hearts, blue things, small boxes, baskets, red, white and blue things, doilies, angels and if course books.
Love the sound of your collections, Paula, and your season to use the red, white, and blue things will soon be here!
Fun post, Deb! You have a LOT of collections, yet everything still looks so neat!
One question, though: HOW do you keep everything dusted? I can’t seem to keep things dusted in my home (of course, I’m sure the fact I have 6 cats living inside has nothing to do with it, LOL). 😉
I collect cat items (no surprise there!) and lighthouses. Thoughtful family and friends have added to my lighthouse collection over the years, so it’s grown. 🙂
When I was still teaching school, I collected a few old-fashioned schoolhouses, and also sheep (I’ve always loved sheep!). Still have those tucked away somewhere.
Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Your collections sound just like you, Patti Jo! As for the dusting issue, between good move-everything-and-wipe-it-down-good dustings three or four times a year, I use a feather duster to move the dust around. 😉 Honestly, the house we’re in now is built nice and tight and since we don’t currently have a pet and it’s just the two of us and occasional grandkid visits, our house really doesn’t get too dusty. But also, I learned long ago that as long as things are picked up and tidy, I do NOT let a little dust bother me! I read somewhere years ago that kids who grow up in a house that isn’t spotless and sanitized are less prone to allergies and overall healthier, so I took that to heart! 😉
Love your collections. And I love how you display them. I collect tea cups, Pyrex bowls, china dishes, books :-), and post cards. We started collecting post cards when my kids were young. When we would travel to different places, we would pick up a post card here and there. But the fun part is that people have sent post cards from all over the world. Many places in the US, France, Spain, Mexico, Alaska, Russia…. If you are traveling, please drop me a post card to add to my collection.
What a great idea to collect postcards! It’s like a scrapbook of your friends and travels to initiate a walk down memory lane every time you look through them!
I collect cookie jars. I have around 250 now. I have given a few away
to family and friends. I am 80 yrs old. I had a son and have 3 daughters.
My son had a double lung transplant and did not survive.
My mother was a twin. My youngest sister had twins, but lost one. My
brother is suffering from lung cancer caused from working at Arizona
Chemical Company 20 years. I am blessed to have lived so long in fairly
good health. My brother lost one of his twins due to suicide. I am sorry for telling my life’s history. My first husband was killed in an accident while at work at International Paper Company.
It must be so interesting to find unique cookie jars for your collection. I’m so sorry for the sorrows and tragedies you’ve experienced, Mary. I pray the Lord wraps you in the comfort of His loving arms. It sounds like you have a precious collection of people waiting for you in heaven.
Wonderful tour of all your wonderful “stuff”, Deb. I think I said once before that the globes are the best – makes me wish I still had the one Mom and Dad gave me years ago. My collections start with books – of course – then move to Teddy Bears (because when I was little stuffed animals weren’t near as cute or fun) – more books and embroidery fibers because I love to stitch. And I love reading about everyone else’s collections – so much fun1
I don’t collect stuffed animals but I love holding the ones my grandkids have! And they are SO cute nowadays! The embroidery fibers sound like having a wonderful “paintbox” of colors to stitch with!
I knew about all of your collection except “bees.” This fits. Maybe because you are so sweet. Funny thing…I am right now working on a column about letting GO of my collections. Wish me luck.