My grandmother had a gazing ball in her yard when I was growing up. I loved watching my reflection distort in it, seeing the sky, her home and immense gardens reflected and bowed in a shiny blue sphere. The gazing ball was an extension of her devoted gardening, art among the asters.So I’d like to have one. Actually I’d like a couple, a small collection. Seeing them in my yard, beside the vegetable garden, maybe one in the back near the birdbath, would evoke nostalgia, and flowers, and summer evenings. Collections are a reflection of who we are, or who we were; of things we like, things that make us smile.
Do you have any collections reflecting your life? An extension of your passion? Coffee cups, bangle bracelets, writing journals, antique china, photographs? What do you collect?
~Joanne
38 comments:
I have several of my mother's, who collected sugar bowls and creamers, Rivers of America books, among other things.
But what I can't resist is a cookbook, especially a vintage one.
I collect miniature tea sets and tea cup and saucer sets. I also have a VAST Snoopy collection!
I collect copies of "Little Women." I have tattered copies and copies that I wouldn't dream of taking out of their protective covers. Any size, shape or form...I love to add to my collection! Incidentally, it was not until after I had named my son Bronson did I find out that Louisa May Alcott's father was named Bronson Alcott. Coicidence? I think not!!!
Tut-Tut - Vintage cookbooks, sounds like a nice tradition, trying vintage recipes!
Melissa - Those sound so pretty, I'll bet they look nice grouped together.
Michaéle - I like that, a book collection. Are most of the copies illustrated? Re Bronson, you were all on the same wavelength!
Actually most of my copies are not illustrated. A few that I bought for my girls are. I love the "Illustrated Classics" series. My kids loved those when they were early readers.
I'm working on my brown patterned transferware, up to four whole pieces! Also ironstone and vintage china.
Cookbooks of course! I have a whole room full. They are full of history, science, love, passion, and sometimes even violence. I read them like you all read novels.
Michaéle - I have some old illustrated novels, they're so unique. You don't really see illustrations these days. I'd imagine it's way too costly.
Rightonmom - Transferware? What is that? I'm clueless. Sounds interesting ...
Candy - Wow! There's a lot going on in those cookbooks. A whole new genre to consider!
What a nice memory you have!
I don't have any official collections, but I do tend to gather many notebooks, and I enjoy old photographs, of which I've always thought I'd like a collection. Maybe I'll make good on that. :)
Mmm... well aside from my addiction to thrift-store books and cheap vhs movies, I would say... mice.
I've actually collected mice (ceramic, stuffed, whatever) since I was little. My dad called me Miriam the Mouse, and I always got one in my stocking on Christmas.
My collecting fever trailed off after I finished high-school, but my wedding cake topper was two cuddling mice, so I think it still counts.
I collect cute things for my backyard garden. I love the gazing balls. Hope to get one next summer.
Janna - I like the sound of the old photograph collection. It seems like you could come up with story ideas with them as well.
Miriam - The wedding cake topper definitely counts! I like the tradition in the Christmas stocking though. That's sweet.
Barbara - I love garden decorations. Stepping stones, gazing balls. They add a lot of charm.
Lots of cookbook collectors here! I also collect them, especially the ones with stories and anecdotes along with the recipes - and the old spiral-bound church and PTA collections.
One that reflects my vegetable gardening -- I collect ceramic dishes in the shape of fruits and vegetables, and different illustrated editions of "The Night Before Christmas"
and whenever I come across a strange needlepoint at a garage sale I just have to buy it. The weirder the better!
But my husband has more collections that I do. As you can imagine, our house is a little cluttered.
Alas, living the college and then grad student life, I've moved at least ten times in the last six years. That kind of life doesn't really lend itself to collecting. Someday, though. Someday.
JGH - The fruit & veggie dishes sound whimsical! Love the illustrated books, too. And that's what a home's for, filling it up with stuff we love!
Renee - You're collecting addresses? Memories? Towns to write about in your books? ;)
Do shoes count? At this point, we move around a lot so we try not to buy a lot of stuff, but I'm looking forward to the day when we can settle and I can start buying original art pieces. I like photography and also cool pottery.
I am not much of a collector. Books, for a while, but now I have too many still unread, so that's out.
Some poodle things, but I don't want to be the crazy lady with a house full of poodle tchotchkes, so I don't encourage it.
Glass flower frogs (the round disks with holes in them), but not more than a windowsill full.
Blogs, but we know where that leads.
Rachel - Shoes definitely count. I like that idea of collecting artwork though. Very cool.
Kitt - Hmm. Collecting blogs. The key here is to be selective. So many blogs, so little time!
I collect editions of Alice in Wonderland, all things Lewis Carroll really; also J.D. Salinger and F.Scott Fitzgerald. And Bob Dylan bootlegs. I used to collect vintage hardbacks in general, particularly children's books, but I began to run out of room (and money)... so now I specialize.
My name is Angela and so was my great aunt who passed away when she was five. Our name in Greek means "Angelic." I collect angels and have since I was a little girl.
As I became a young woman and mother, my collection included coffee cups...I am a coffee addict.
My collections definitely reflect who I am, not to mention it's fun.
I have over 300 pairs of salt and pepper shakers. My grandmother collected, left them to me when she died, then people just sort of starting giving them to me as gifts assuming I'd pick up where she left off. There was no point fighting it.
Robin - I have a charming illustrated h/c Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, with beautiful pictures. You must have a wonderful collection. The Dylan bootleg is interesting, too. Live recordings?
Ang - How nice to have a collection reflective of your name, and tied to your family. Very special.
Colby - A few more and you'll have a pair a day, all year! What a fun collection though.
I collect old sea balls. I love them. The history behind them. In some parts of the world, they are known as witch balls because they were said to protect against harm while out at sea. I love the fractures on them, the net--sand wear the cracks and often wonder about how many years they traveled in the sea, origination, before ending up on shore. I'm only lacking the cranberry as these are the hardest to find: they date back to the Royal Fleet. As did the purple, but I have one...so I'm always searching for my elusive cranberry sea ball--and seaching. : D
I collect photographs for my album and scrapbook. I have this one scrapbook with all my Christmas pictures. It tells the season's stories and brings me right back to my favorite time of year.
I have stopped collecting, per se, because I'm trying to eliminate clutter. But, I will add very special pieces to a collection of roosters and to a collection of amber carnival/depression glass that started with a few pieces that belonged to my grandmother. The roosters are my own thang!
Kimmirich - I've seen these, but never realized their use or history. I love the sea, and find yours a fascinating collection. Hope you find the cranberry soon!
Jen - That sounds like a beautiful way to collect memories. Nice.
Amy - Love the amber color, very understated. Like it in jewelry too!
My collection is a little on the silly side--I collect holiday socks. Halloween, Christmas, St. Patrick's Day, you name it. It's a fun way to keep warm and stay festive!
In college I collected shot glasses (Not quite sure what that says about my youthful days) from all the places I travelled. I'm sure they are still in boxes somewhere.
My big collections now are books. I just can't get enough of them. It doesn't matter the kind...literature, nonfiction, cookbooks, children's books, etc.
Anonymous - Love it! Tis the season to break out the Christmas socks!
Moxymama - Oh the memories packed away. But the books, we've got a lot of book lovers here. Maybe even a little club :)
I have collections of a lot of things- tea sets and porcelain dolls are among my largest collectons.
I don't have room for an eighth of the things I have, so sadly many of my prized possessions are in boxes of the shed, but I like to collect them and I like to see what other people collect.
Maybe in 17 1/2 years when I kick my youngest child out of the house I'll convert the kids' rooms into museums for my collections... :)
Oh, and I love wind chimes for outside, although I only have a couple. Need to get a few more of those.
I love to wear printed tees with funny sayings on them. The best ones have inside jokes on them. They embarrass my friends immensely, but I love them.
I first thought those were spheres. Once given to people for a job well done!
Surprise, coffee stuff, books and all. ; )
Not to mention music from around the world etc. Books, but have been trying to declutter and we are doing a great job of it, finally.
Enjoyed your previous posts.
Sadly, work (with a computer/Kirtas scanner) has me leaving looking around left to mostly some times for awhile on the weekend, more so here in the winter of course.
Cheers! ; )
I like to get a tee shirt from places I visit. They bring back memories, and I can wear them. I need to get one from my hometown--one of those I heart NYC shirts soon.
Avily - I had to laugh when I read how you'll wait 17 1/2 years to set up your collections! Ah, patience. And love the wind chimes too.
Kasie - Now there's a fun collection! :)
Coffee Messiah - Coffee, books & music? Is there anything else?
Laura - Fashion souvenirs, a wearable collection! Hope you get your NYC shirt soon.
Hi Joanne,
The only collection I have are books, but I often reflect on my childhood traditions and some have grown with me into adulthood. Your post reminded me of birthday and holiday customs, so thank you.
Bea - I never considered family customs & traditions as a cherished Collection. What a lovely thought ...
I love the look and feel of a country cottage. I live in a residential gated community with cookie-cutter homes. So while the exterior may appear similar to other houses, I am slowly building the ambiance of a country cottage.
One of the ways I am doing that is by collecting teapots, coffee mugs, aprons and baskets. I don't simply collect to display or store in a cabinet. I use these items on a daily basis.
To avoid clutter I keep quite a few in storage and switch the pieces during the year for variety.
Cheryl - Love the idea of building your own country cottage around you. When we set our minds to it, so much is possible.
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