Collections

Do you collect anything?

My first collection began before I was born: a bell collection. It began because when my sister found out I was on the way, she ran around the house ringing a souvenir bell she'd gotten on her senior trip. And so began my bell collection. That collection is now boxed up in our attic (because dozens of bells collect oodles of dust), but I have fond memories of my bell collection and all the unique pieces that comprised it.

I did collect some weird things along the way: the balls from roll-on deodorant bottles (don't ask) and business cards.

But now, as an adult, I don't think I really officially collect anything except scrapbooks. In fact, I don't think collections are as big of a thing now as they were when I was a kid. People are minimizing, not adding to their possessions.

Maybe people do still collect, but the collections just look different than they used to. Rather than setting out to collect all (fill in the number blank) of something to have an entire set, they simply want mix and match pieces to fill their home that tell a story.

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* Like cutting boards, for example. I'm not sure how much actual chopping these boards see, but I've seen many Pinterest-inspired kitchens with a variety of cutting boards in all shapes and thicknesses leaning up against the backsplash or hanging from the wall in a gallery-style gathering. And since charcuterie boards have gotten so popular, people need cutting boards to house their groupings, right?

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* Rae Dunn pieces seem to pop up in many of my Instagram feeds. I confess I wish I would have thought of it. Plain white pieces with simple words printed in black? And everyone wants them? I could have done that! But alas, I did not. I fear that this one would be a collection I'd feel the need to own in its entirety if I started collecting, so I just don't start. But I do think they're pretty.

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* With the increase in the popularity of farmhouse style, I've seen a lot of enamelware everywhere. (Authentic and manufactured.) I really do like it, but I would want mine to be functional, and I'm not sure some of the true vintage pieces would be, safely, anyway.

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* The same goes for milk glass, and I've started to be more drawn to it than I once was. My mom gave me a cake plate that sort of jump-started my love for that look. Plain and simple and pretty. (And so far, I've managed to keep it mostly free of cake, which helps the old waist-line, right?)

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* Globes and clocks - all vintage, of course - show up in a lot of the decorating blogs I read. (I haven't even managed to buy one regular globe yet, so I don't think I'm on track to be considered a collector.)

I looked up collections on Pinterest and found a million ideas, including: erasers, shells, spoons, clothespins, irons, radios, typewriters, buttons, magnets, lunchboxes, marbles, postage stamps, mirrors, coins, rolling pins, and more.

I think I'm content to keep my collections confined to the Christmas season, when I have themed ornaments for each tree, but it's fun to look at and think about having a collection. (And not of deodorant balls.) So what about you? Any collections living at your house?