Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Question of the Week...



Do you have any special collections?

I was so excited last week when my mom gave me my grandmother's collection of souvenir spoons. I usually see those in souvenir stores and think they're hokey, but my grandmother had some really cool sterling silver ones that weren't hokey at all. My favorites of hers were the Statue of Liberty and the Colorado spoon which had columbine on it.

I'd love to show you some pics, but an hour or two after leaving my mom's house, I realized I'd left my newly acquired treasures there. (Thankfully, she's going to mail them to me 'cause I don't have it in me to drive another 2000+miles anytime soon). *smile*

I've started different collections over the years, but I never really seem to stick with the same object for very long. I have 8 or so demitasse tea cups and saucers that I love, but I haven't bought one in years.

I do have a huge collection of Christmas ornaments, but that's really all I seem to consistently collect.

So...what about you guys. Do you have any special collections?

18 comments:

Joanne : The Simple Wife said...

I have souvenir spoons too--from my grandmother!

Hmm...I also have collections of:

tea cups
aprons
post cards
chickens
and from my childhood...SMURFS!

Amber said...

I'm like you...lots of little collections, but I don't ever really stick with one. But, I do have my grandmother's collection of bells. Some are kind of hokey and cheesy, but then some are really beautiful. I love them because they were hers.

Becca~CapturingSimpleJoys said...

Same here. I have some pretty tea cups and saucers but haven't added to it in years. Some are from my husbands mother and grandmother and one even that his dad had!

Do books count?! If so then I have a collection. If I'd kept every book I'd ever purchased there'd be no room. I've been forced to keep only the ones I really love. The benefits of living in a small house.

Gretchen said...

Do unused scrapbook and quilting supplies count? ;)

Actually, I have an egg cup collection, started for me by my maternal grandma, who is still living. Reminds me...I need to call her today. I have egg cups from all over the world, and some are quite antique. I love using them on Easter Sunday as placeholders with the tinted eggs.

I can't wait to see your spoons.

Kelly @ Love Well said...

I used to collect Coke memorabilia. I used it to decorate my kitchen.

But during The Great Purge of 2007, I got rid of most of it. I don't have the patience for collections these days. They take up space and make me feel tired.

leigh said...

I collect coffee cups. Kind of. But now I have too many, so some had to go after our big move.

I have enough junk laying around now, so I don't feel the need to collect anything else.

For my girls, I am collecting postcards of the places we go.

Anonymous said...

I have some pretty cups and saucers, small hinged boxes, hankies, tea pots and several others. I don't really add to them any more, or much because I don't like clutter. I rotate some things by season. Sonwmen in the winter, bunnies in the spring and summer and I have some fall things too and of course much Christmas. I try to keep it under control though because it can get to be too much work.

Jackie said...

The only thing I collect is pieces to my Christmas village. It's still fairly new so I only have 7 or 8 pieces, but I love it. I know a lot of people think it's silly (ahem...hubby), but hey, it works for me. :)

Barb said...

I'm not a big collector, but I do collect Willow Tree figurines. In addition to the entire Nativity, I have a curio cabinet full of them. They're very special because with the exception of just one I bought myself, they've all been gifts.

I don't think there's anything at all old fashioned about collecting spoons. I've seem some huge spoon collects and I think they're fascinating.

Becky said...

I collect Precious Moments figurines. I started liking them in high school and got my first for graduation. I do not buy them for myself but I love getting them as presents. On the bottom of each box, I write who gave it to me and the month/year recieved that way there is a special memory attached to each one. I also have some Precious Moments ornaments.

The other thing I sort of collect is old dishes, crystal bowls, and jars. Mostly, they have come from family and some pieces are over 60 years old. I decorate my kitchen w/them.

Leah Belle said...

i guess i'm not much of a collector.

i do have several (about 12) willow tree figurines. i love them...they were given to me as gifts to mark specific events in my life.

i recently started collecting the geographical marker pins to commemorate places i've been.

Adventures of Laura said...

That's so neat that you have been blessed with your grandmother's spoon collection. I collect postcards and I love it. They are cheap and don't take up much space. :) Last fall at the beginning of Bible study I asked this same question of my group as an "ice breaker." Would you believe that NO ONE in my group collected anything?! I didn't know how to relate to that. Thanks for this fun question! - I'm so glad to know there are women out there who have collections.

Moriah @ Please Pass the Salt said...

That's so funny! I've been collecting spoons since I was a little girl! A lot of them ARE cheesy, I'll grant you; but I'm VERY picky about the ones I'll actually purchase. Most of mine are silver. (At least on the outside.)

I studied in France for a semester so my favorite ones are from all over Europe from traveling those few months. I have an antique wooden holder for them but can't decide where I should hang it with all the rearranging of bedrooms.

Unknown said...

1. Does dust count? Cuz I got lots of dust collected.

2. Other than that I am not really a collector. I used to collect Music boxes but I got tired of dusting them.

3. See number one.

;)

Julie said...

I have a collection of teapots...

Puva said...

I collect postcards! And I've started to collect books (because books are amazing things). I used to collect stamps but that stopped quite a long time ago.

Jennifer said...

I used to have a bigger collection of items, but it was due more to gifts that I had received rather then something that I was interested in, if that makes sense.

When I was in my sorority at college our symbol was an angel, so needless to say that four years of angels found there way into our home. LOL When I unpacked them, I seriously couldn't think of what to do with them now. So I picked out my favorite four and packed the rest up and donated them to my chapter house. They were in awe and I was glad to give back to my chapter.

I also have a little collection of Precious Moments but they may find themselves donated as well. LOL

But I do have 2 little collections that I do care about. One is really small........the Partylite globes. I think there are only 6 or 7 and I have 3. So I keep searching ebay for the others.

The second collection is my Santa collection that stays out all year long. Everyone laughs when they see the Santa shelf in my entertainment center. I only collect unique Santa's........not the plastic or anything like that. Mostly old world and some from other countries. I found a Jim Shore Santa with the reindeer after Christmas for a bargain price of $25! I scooped that up fast. LOL

Tiffani said...

Well,
I agree with Kellie on the dust thing...BUT, I too, really like Willow Tree although I only have 3 of them...

I don't display these but I love collecting neat salt and pepper shakers...I've got a nut and bolt, head and tail of a fish and lots of others...the combinations are always unique and funny...

my biggest collection is Christmas ornaments...it's a family tradition that wherever we go throughout the year on day trips, vacay, whatever..we pick out an ornament from that place/town and it's SO fun recalling those memories when we decorate the tree!!!