(PHOTO by: BILLY KINGSLEY / THE TENNESSEAN)
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800 + Pez Dispensers (This is what drew my attention to the article. My Aunt collects, or did collect pez dispensers. Terree if you are reading this leave a comment and let me know if you are still collecting and how many you have.)
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300 Regional Cookbooks
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2,800 Unopened Miniature Liquor Bottles (Now that’s a mini bar!)
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260 Steiff Animals
I remember as I was growing up I would go from collection to collection and the novelty would usually wear off. It could have had something to do with me not wanting to dust as well. I’ve collected miniature figurines, perfume bottles and of course the dreaded beanie babies. The last of my collections went into the garage sale last year. I realized the two small collections I had left had been tucked away for nearly 7 years in boxes. They didn’t take up much room but really, what was the point in holding on to them. For me it wasn’t even sentimental anymore. My collections made it through 10 of my last 15 moves and I decided I am not moving them again.
For those of you that have collections and love them and have them out here are a few ideas from HGTV.com for displaying your collections effectively.
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Show off a collection in a hallway, foyer or other usually vacant space to dress it up.
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On shelves or in a hutch, pick a background color that lets your collection pop, such as yellow behind blue and white Transferware.
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Add focus with lighting. Use a flashlight to test whether the best lighting on your items comes from above, behind or underneath.
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Any glass items look great displayed on a mirrored tray.
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Rearrange the collection periodically to keep things interesting.
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Display one great object in place of two more modest pieces.
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If one item is very large, display it alone in a different room as a focal point or conversation piece.
So far in my organizing journeys I have only seen bears and boxes but I look forward to the first organizing client that presents me with an interesting collection to organize.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow, $1200 not to shabby. I wish I had a couple of collectible Pez laying around right now :) Elvis Pez how cool!
Hey Tanna,
Yes, I still have my Pez collection although I did sell off a bit of it at one time when we were trying to get some money together to move to the house we were buying. Believe it or not, I sold about 5 of my best pieces and collected about $1200 towards our house fund. I probably have somewhere around 300 pieces. There are so many new ones each year that I haven’t been buying every new release like I used to…we just don’t have storage for them. I did just get a set of three Elvis Pez though from a friend packaged in a gold record box that is just the coolest. Most of them are packed up in boxes, but the Elvis are on my desk at work so I can enjoy them.
Take care,
Terree
I can’t say that I collect anything any more. As a child, I collected figurines from different places/vacation spots and Madame Alexander dolls. Unfortunately, I was not kind to the dolls and they are not of any value–and haven’t been for some time!
I think when my mom made me dust each one of those figures every week, it sparked something in me that squashed any desire to ever collect again. :)
Ah yes, Blue Willow. We have quite the collection of those going around in my family. When it is my turn I will surely eat on them as well. Really, what is the point if you can’t enjoy them.
I collect two things and they fit into my philosophy that everything in my home has to be both beautiful and useful. So, no beanie babies or bottle caps or magnets for me. Instead, I collect inexpensive blue willow dishes, which I actually use (which dismays the antique dealers immensely!). I pick up a few pieces on every trip, but never more than I can and will actually use.
The other thing I collect is brass candlesticks, the kind with a base and a handle for carrying. They’re all over the house, covered in wax. :-)
When I eat or light a candle (something I do several times a day *g*), I’m immediately reminded of the wonderful places I’ve visited.