43: collections

I've decided to collect vintage juice glasses like these I recently bought.

I have mixed feelings about collecting stuff. Really I love collections, especially of cool, vintage, or funky stuff. Like a restaurant with a ton of eclectic salt and pepper shakers- that makes me smile. And finding that one perfect thing that fits into your collection is such a coup.

But generally I think the idea of collecting is a bad one. You just wind up with a bunch of STUFF. And I think we all have too much stuff, don't we? Who has the space to properly display or use a good collection? I guess I just have to be very choosey about what to collect...so it's given it's proper love and attention and not relegated to a box in the basement.

Over the years I've collected various things:
Matchboxes (no, I never smoked...)
Broadway musical posters
concert t-shirts
that I've since given up on. They're just not as important to me anymore.

Two things I have collected and still do are FABRIC (never would have guessed, would you?) and fairies.

Fairies truly delight me, but I have so many now that I'm VERY picky about which ones I get. Some day I'll go around and photograph all the little wee people that inhabit my house. I've gotten so many as gifts that I've put a ban on them. Occasionally they would be perfect and I was happy to have them, but more often than not, they just weren't my taste. I only want pretty fairies, with pretty faces, that are not overly gaudy or girly. You'd be surprised how hard that is to come by.

So, I'm thinking the glasses are a good thing to collect since I'll actually use them. I generally like things to match and be more modern and simple looking than vintage mis-matched stuff, but I figure juice glasses used in the kitchen are casual enough. And I smile when I take them out. So now I have something specific to look for when going to a thrift store. :)

Another thing I like to collect is holiday decorations. I try to buy xmas tree ornaments as souveniers when we go on vacation. And there's something about halloween that makes me like folk art style decorations. I want to collect some of these adorable little statues by Lori Mitchell. They put out different ones each year. They kill me with their cuteness...

What do you collect?

JT

Comments

[Shawna]

Ooh, and next time you visit Cape Cod - I'm sure you can just imagine the Pyrex goodness that you'll find! I think most of my greatest finds come from yard sales and antique shops down there.

[Jamie]

I just found your blog & have been going through each post. I love it! I, also, collect the Lori Mitchell Halloween characters. They are so cute! I love your blog & am now a follower! :)

[julialifeisart]

I collect juice glasses too! And I just blogged about it, including a picture of some of your beauties (with a link to your blog, of course)! Just wanted to share the love. :)
http://lifeisartislife.wordpress.com

[Katybeth]

Money? That is what I would like to collect. Currently I am not really collecting anything but I love the idea of collecting juice glasses. Thanks--I think :-D.

[Colleen]

lovin all the cuteness, awesome collection!