I admit. I’m not much of a collector. I prefer to keep my home uncluttered which was VERY challenging when my five kiddos were all younger and living at home. To that end, I’ve always had a “Donation Bin” going in my garage where I store items I no longer need or use. When the bin starts to overflow, then I know it’s time to make a trip to Salvation Army or Goodwill.
In spite of my constant pruning, I have managed to develop several collections.
Obviously, the first is BOOKS. But I guess I don’t really count that as a collection since it’s more of a necessity. *grin* I’ve always had bookshelves in almost every room of my house—non-fiction, fiction, research books, homeschooling books, and more. Just recently I started to thin out some of my bookshelves (since they’re overflowing). Let me tell you, it’s hard to part with books, even when I know we won’t use them anymore.
My second collection is CATS. Yes, I have five! As a result I’ve become known as the “Crazy Cat Lady” in my family and am therefore gifted with all kinds of cat items. Here are just a few:
My third collection is CANDLES. I do really love a candle on a rainy or snowy day. And since three-fourths of the year in Michigan is overcast (or so it seems!), my collection of candles has grown over the years.
My fourth and final collection is COFFEE mugs. I don’t have a huge number of regular mugs. But I have holiday mugs that I switch around—mugs that are themed for each season (Fall, Christmas, January Snowmen, February Valentines, and Spring). And of course, I also have my cat collection which is currently out on the counter!
CATS. CANDLES. COFFEE. And BOOKS . . . what more does a person need?
How about YOU? What do YOU collect?
Jody Hedlund
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Your cat collections are so cute! You may know that I collect mugs too. I have one adorable cat mug in my collection (a gift from Kim Sawyer and her posse) that my grandkids LOVE. I do have you beat with my 100+ mugs but I’m sure you have ME beat with your clutter-free house! 🙂 I loved this post and might have to…ahem…copycat you if you don’t mind!
Oh for sure, Deb! Copycat away! 🙂
My first collections was bells. Love them! As I ran out of space and finances improved, I moved from the small ones in the house to the large ones for outside. Over the years we have collected steam engine bells, large church bells, Navy ship bells, and an old fire wagon bell that was mounted on the side of the buckboard equipped with fire equipment. My two most treasured small bells are my conductor’s bell and the very special rose bell hubby bought me.
We have also collected Elsie the Cow, Wizard of Oz, and Emmett Kelly the clown merchandise. As you get older you figure out that it’s only “stuff”. When we downsized and moved to our dream destinations after retiring and built our smaller but dream home, a lot of “stuff” had to go. We kept what we really loved and what had special emotional meaning to us. I’m here to tell you hubby said we couldn’t move again, because moving the big bells was SOME chore. 🙂
Oh my goodness! I would have loved to see your bell collection, Kay! I can only imagine the history behind some of them! 🙂
I guess I collect hand painted china. I have two pieces done by really artistic ladies, but I take classes now and have quite a collections of pieces I’ve painted. Like some of the other older arts, china painting is a dying art, so I’m happy that I can help pass some pretty, usable pieces to my children and grandchildren. (On another note, I’ve recently read the first in your Orphan Train series and passed it along to a friend who read it overnight and ordered the others in the series. We both enjoyed the first one so much and don’t know how we missed out on it when it first came out.)
Hi Harriet,
Painting china sounds like a really beautiful hobby as well as collection! And thank you for the kind words about my book! I’m so happy to hear that your friend enjoyed it too!
Seashells that I keep in decorative jars or I create pictures or shadow boxes with. I also have two dozen Liddle Kiddle dolls that came in kola bottles, cologne bottles, or sweet treat cases.
Hi Terri,
I think I would collect seashells if I lived near a beach! There are so many different kinds! 🙂
Celoveku vrac vidal diagnas god zizni 2 ximii terapii 200 evro na zizn i vitamini smisl k zizn est razve i o pomosi negde sprosit ved mogut i vinovnim zdelat a tak kosacki ved u menja kot spasibo.
I have collected snow globes for a long time. I have a collection of Winnie the Poohs…In the last few years, I fell in love with gnomes and have amassed quite a few…Of course, my book collection is quite extensive…I have a ridiculous amount of cookie cutters…And, I collect Christmas decorations! My house looks like a winter wonderland starting on Halloween night and going through to the new year. 🙂
Aw, Vickie! I’m sure your house looks beautiful with your winter wonderland! I love gnomes and have a few, but not enough to count as a collection. Yet! 🙂
I collect miniature pianos and of course books..lol.
Hi Betti,
I’ve never heard of miniature pianos! How very cool! Are you able to play the pianos? I know, weird question! But curious minds want to know! 🙂
What a fun post, Jody! Like you, I have a candle collection. I also have quite a few soaps at the moment because I like to buy those when I travel, bring them home, and enjoy them later. 🙂
Thanks Becky! Soaps would be a really fun thing to collect too, especially bringing them home from different trips! 🙂
Small handmade pottery containers. Many are gifts..
Hi Evy,
I love handmade pottery and have collected some pieces over the years, especially mugs!
I collected Boyd’s Bear figurines for a long while. I still have them, but have no more room. But most of them are tied with something else n my life. I love Irish folk songs, and one is holding sheet music for an Irish song. I like chocolate and cross stitch, so those are represented. And there are a few mom-and-kids and now and grandma-and-grandson one. My husband and I got engaged sitting on a fallen log, and he found a Boyd’s Bear couple sitting on a log.
I also collect heart-shaped things. Muffin pans (for Valentine cupcakes), platters, bowls, wreaths, necklaces, etc.
And books—they are very hard to part with, but I’ve had to. We have three tall bookcases, one small one, several books on my desk, and three boxes of books in the closet. I need to purge again.
Hi Barbara,
I love what you’ve done with your bear collection. It’s almost like having two collections in one! And I agree that books are very hard to part with!
I’ve collected mouse figurines since I was in my mid-teens and I’m in my mid-70s now so you can imagine how many I have! Blown glass, brass, plush, felt, embroidery pictures, mugs, – you name it and I’ve probably got it! It’s been a while since I bought a new one but the first ones I bought are in a display cabinet on the wall, where I can look at them and be reminded of the places and occasions when I got them. There are others here and there throughout my home and I still enjoy seeing them. My family – who will have to go through them all eventually – will not be quite so delighted, however!
Hi Patricia,
I’m wondering if my cat collection would like your mice! 🙂
I would have to put books at the top of the list of things I collect. Next, I would probably say anything dealing with lighthouses. I have a few replicas, lots of pictures, and many items with pictures of lighthouses. It became known on one job I had that I liked lighthouses. Someone wanted to give me a gift and could only find a replica of a sailboat. I still have it somewhere.
Hi Edward,
You know I LOVE lighthouses! I’m sure I’d love seeing your collection!
Nothing unless you count my ereader TBR
Ereaders definitely count! LOL
Like you, Coffee mugs, candles, books (of course), but not cats. I collect Bluetick Coonhound paraphernalia. We have a purebred Bluetick named Tennessee’s Rocky Topper because we are Tennessee Vols fans. She definitely looks like Smoky, the Vols mascot. There is a pic of her on the Writing Journey page of my website with her doggie brother, Oreo. He’s a rescue that’s part hound and pointer 😉
Aw, that sounds like a really cool collection, Rebecca! I’ve seen lots of dog collection items around, but not sure how hard or easy it would be to find specific bluetick coonhounds!
I collect bells in any form, size, or material.
It started 46 years ago when my husband and I were married.
The first gift I opened was a crystal bell and from there
it took off.
The bell collection includes bells from the United States,
Canada, and all over the World.
Somewhere between 130-150.
Hi Janet,
WOW! That’s quite a large collection! But how neat that you’ve had the collection going for 46 years! I’m sure it would be awesome to see ! 🙂
I collect most of all books. I also collect Gone With The Wind things. I collect puzzles too. Since I turned 64 I have decided not to collect anymore GWTW things or anything that is not necessary except books and puzzles which is necessary to me. 🤣