Ten on TuesdayThe Clutter Collection Edition

Collect. Collecting. Collections. Those are dirty words in my house. I fight a tendency or a genetic compulsion to keep things. Or another way of looking at it, I try to avoid getting too attached to things (my success or failure in that endeavor is for another post). I don't like to keep too many things and with a couple of exeptions I think I do pretty well. I don't love cluttered shelves and if I can't keep it organized or tamed I let it go.

Sounds easy, right? Wrong. I have collections, some have come and gone and others have taken over and then been culled as I matured or ran out of room or just plain got sick of them.

I have a lot of thoughts about the things that people collect and collectibles (not the same thing). The main thing is this. Once it is known that you 'collect' something you get inundated with so many of that thing. Some of the gifts will be great and others will not. Some will weigh you down. Even when you have as much as you want of a thing, some people won't get the message and you will continue to collect, like it or not. There is at least one person in my life who believes if to have one is good, ten is better and all of them is best and that philosophy is shared, like it or not.  I cannot even.

I also see collections, or most things for that matter as STUFF! Stuff that has to be organized, stored, packed, moved. Ugh. It stops me from buying a lot of stuff. I just imagine it at home (Where will I put it? Do I have a specific idea in mind? Do I need the stress of it hanging around?) and then packing it if and when I someday move. It keeps a lot from coming home with me.

The other thing about collections, people tend to collect for future value or as an investment and depending on what it is, the market for things varies. When you are ready to sell, it could be that nobody is wanting to buy. So I only collect because I want the thing, that is all.

So collections have come and gone, some remain, some are diminished and some are in this list, thanks, Carole!:

1. Nancy Drew and Bobsey Twin books. I have some really old ones, but these days I don't think anyone actually collects those any more. Anybody? I have a bunch and they can go for the pick up.
   
   
   
   
2. Campbell's Soup stuff. I had so. much! STUFF! Old stuff, new stuff, Christmas stuff, ornament stuff-like all of them. I kept buying and buying them. I gave up the memorabilia years ago, it was cute at first and when the kids were little, but after a while I outgrew it. I wish I had a photo, though. It was impressive. The ornaments? I've put them up in their own spot for years and last year I decided I'd had enough. I didn't store them with the rest of the Christmas stuff, but they are still in the basement. I thought I'd have that yard sale...Anybody collect them? ;)
3. Match books. I don't even know why. I don't collect them anymore.
4. Blue Sheep stuff. That's what I call it, but I think the pottery company calls it Spongeware Sheep. It is very difficult to get and I'd love to add pieces, but I've rarely gotten a piece that hasn't had to be shipped from England and it gets very expensive. I have teapots, mugs, bowls, cannisters, and assorted other items. Because I do use them, I try to double and triple (or more) up because I've been known to chip or crack a piece. I like to have back up. If I could get a set of dishes! OH! I'd be so happy.
   
   
   
   
5. Golding Drop Spindles. I love using them, I love looking at them. I don't have as many as some, but my collection slowly grows.
   
   
   
   
   I even manage to cross-over some of my collections:
   
   
   
   
6. Let It Snow by Mary Engelbreit. The great thing about seasonal collections is that you can clear the space, put them up and then they go away. It makes them seem fresh and I look forward to bringing them out. I used to have a lot more snowman stuff, I love them, but decided to pare down that collection to. I have a lot more than is in this photo, but a lot less than I used to have.
   
   
   
   
   
7. I have a collection of sheep stuff, figurenes, some stuffed things. Some arent' cutesie, but nice. I'm culling the herd though.
   
   
   
   
8. Another seasonal collection is my choir of Byers Carolers. I'm picky about those, there are certain ones I like, mostly dressed in blue. I also like the Christmas Carol series, but that hasn't turned to serious collecting.
9. Seasonal and crafty, I collect cross-stitch and felt ornament kits. My intention is to actually put them together and I have started some, but something always gets in the way, so it turned into a collection. Hmmm..(Kind of like the yarn and the fabric.......)
   
   
   
   
10. Kisses and hugs and cuddles with this little munchkin. Now there is something I can never have enough of.
    
    
    She is always moving! Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle.
    
    

Twenty-nine.  I kept it to ten! Well, I could've added the teapots. I'm very selective and have given a bunch of those away, but I still have a fair collection.

Comments

[Vicki]

Oh boy, wait until she really IS moving. Junah is faster every time I see him, and I think he'll be walking by the time he's a year old. He's already bypassing knees some of the time, getting around on hands and feet!

[Carole]

That's an awesome picture of your grandbaby! And I know what you mean about people buying you stuff once they know you collect it. My snowman collection exploded because of that and I got a lot that, well, just weren't special enough for me. But then - what do you do about it? Ugh.

[claudia]

Thanks for sharing. Certainly that last collection is by far the most important.

[margene]

I love your Golding collection and your teapot collection, but, of course, the grand baby kisses are the most important thing in life!

[etherknitter]

Boy, I'm not sure you can be a real collector if you can cull! I cull at the start....don't collect unless it means something because otherwise I drown.

[Kim]

That little face!! :)

[Kym]

Adorable baby!!! Such a happy face. I adored both Nancy Drew and the Bobbseys when I was a young reader. I wish I had kept my books . . .