The Cozy Chicks | Cozy Up To Some Killer Books

The Cat Collection

When I was newly married and starting a household, I thought it would be fun to have a collection of something to display – you know, like those fancy glass paperweights or decorative kaleidoscopes (way too pricey for our budget) – so on our first vacation, we purchased a lovely (and inexpensive) ceramic owl, a pretty mustard yellow color, as the first of my brand new owl collection. But on our second vacation, I spotted a tall nutcracker that I thought would look great at Christmas, so I decided to start a nutcracker collection instead.

Next vacation, I spotted a decorative teaspoon and remembered that I had inherited several from my grandmother that might look nice displayed beside the new one in a spoon rack. Yet another collection.

That was followed by a Lladro of a little boy fishing to commemorate the birth of my son, the start of my Lladro collection, I thought. But when my daughter came along, a collectible plate of mother and daughter I saw in a magazine ad brought tears to my eyes and resulted in the beginning of a plate collection. That was followed by a miniature crystal animal collection, a Christmas rocking horse collection, a perfume bottle collection, a ceramic pelican collection and, well, you get the picture.

Did I mention that I dislike clutter? So my collections, such as they are, have been either put behind the glass doors of cabinets or stowed away in boxes. I was reminded of my bent toward collecting things when I dug through some old boxes last week and found a collection of cats that I’d started in college – lovely carved wooden cats, brass cats, glass cats – if it could be molded into a cat shape, I bought it. How sad that they are hidden away, but putting them out isn’t a possibility. There’s no room.

I couldn’t possibly sell them, though I know someone on eBay would snap them up. My daughter, who is just setting up her own first household, will want to start her own collection, I’m sure. My son doesn’t do collections. He’s still a bachelor. So in the box the cats remain, unless someone can find a solution for me.

Am I alone in this? Tell me about your collections and if you display them. My kitties would be ever so grateful.

Have a great week, and happy Easter, too!
Kate

21 Responses to “The Cat Collection”

Hi Kate,

That’s a lot of collections! I know what you mean though about not having the space to display everything. We would not have the space either. It could be nice from time to time to look through some of the boxes though.

The main thing we collect are magnets from places that we travel to. I bought some magnetic boards from IKEA, and the magnets are on the boards on the wall. I love looking at them because the magnets remind me of our trips. We have different styles of magnets, and when we travel, I try to pick the magnet that best represents what our trip was like. Like for Yosemite, I picked a magnet that has the tent cabins at night in the moonlight because we camped out in those when we were there. A long time ago when I first started traveling I started collecting mugs at each place I went, but I realized after a while, that I would not have the space for mugs. Since the magnets are small, and I can display them on the board on the wall, they have proven to be the best choice for us.

I also have a small owl collection from when I was a kid. I had not added to it for many years until last year when I bought a little stuffed “Hedwig” from the Harry Potter books. I love my owls though. I have one that mom mom painted for me in a ceramic class that has engraved on the bottom, “To Linda From Mommy…1976.” If our house was on fire, that is one thing I would grab.

by Linda on March 23rd, 2008 at 12:18 am
I inadvertently have a collection of bunnies. I had one or two rabbit-themed things as a kid, then a few years ago one of my grandmothers died and I ended up with a bunch of rabbit doodads she had. I gave in and decided if I had to have a collection, at least the bunnies go with my preferred country decor.

by Tori Lennox on March 23rd, 2008 at 12:26 pm
I’ve started and stopped too many collections to count. And now that I’m in the middle of cleaning out the attic, I can’t help but want to kick myself for keeping them all.

I figure banging my head on the rafters too many times to count (you’d think I learn!) is punishment enough.

by Heather on March 23rd, 2008 at 3:17 pm
I have a collection of 22 live cats. Does that count?

by Dani on March 23rd, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Dani, I have only one comment on your collection. AAAAAAAAAACK!

by Kate Collins on March 23rd, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Collections: I start one, then forget, or don’t go anywhere for a long time. I have a whole shelf full of shot glasses, a drawer full of spoons, and we won’t go into my beanie baby stage. I have addictive tendencies, thank god it’s not around alchol or smoking.

Right now I’m into elephants. They are scattered all over the house, gathering dust and bringing me good luck, I hope.

by Lynn on March 24th, 2008 at 7:32 am
My sister started a Willow statue collection for me. Every year on my birthday I get one. I also have the Willow nativity scene that is kept out all year. It’s too pretty and special to put away with the Christmas decorations.

I started my own Santa collection after I found a jolly guy that made me giggle. I hinted and hinted at friends and family but noone ever gave me one! SO, I’ll just buy them myself when the mood strikes.

by debbie on March 24th, 2008 at 7:56 am
My mother in law started my Cherished Teddies collection, but I started collecting the Willow Tree statues also. But I will also admit to picking up the “Cutest Thing!” also. When I was a kid I collected rocks, small pepples to large boulders. When my son started his own rock collection, my father could only laugh and say there was justice.

by Donna on March 24th, 2008 at 8:30 am
I collect books that I remember reading from my youth and keyrings. Now the books are displayed on my self but the keyrings are kept in boxes because I don’t have enough room. My son is a natural born collector. He will collect rocks, oddly shaped shells and anything from vacation that catches his eye.

Happy collecting!
Rosalind

by Rosalind on March 24th, 2008 at 8:38 am
I collect Made In Japan Christmas Figurines. I have over 200 of them. I had to buy a China cabinet to house them (which is probably worth more than the entire collection). Not all my “specimins” are in pristine condition. Some of the wings, musical instruments, arms, legs and even HEADS have had to be reattached at one time or another. Some of them are flaking paint. I’ve paid as much as $30 for one–and as little as 5 cents for others.

Unfortunately, that’s not my only collection. I have brides and grooms (from wedding cake toppers), a flock of sheep, Santa wood carvings (that my Dad made), pretty china tea cups, brown transferware dishes…I could go on and on.

by Lorraine Bartlett on March 24th, 2008 at 8:54 am
My mother and grandmother collected china and silver items, so I inherited them (anybody want a set of demitasse cups?). I have seldom been inspired to add to them, but at least my mother provided display cupboards for them all.

When I was an art historian, in another lifetime, I couldn’t afford paintings, so I started buying 19th-century etchings and engravings, which I still enjoy. Unfortunately I’ve run out of wall space for them.

Books don’t count, do they? And, yes, there are a couple of boxes of beanie babies in the attic.

by Sheila Connolly on March 24th, 2008 at 8:57 am
I collect Santas. If we happen to spot a Christmas store on vacation anywhere, I like to get one from that state to add to our memories on the Christmas tree. My darling husband actually made a fast U-turn on our last vacation in Maine because he spotted a Christmas store that I missed while reading a map. How’s that for a great guy? He’s already added the huge Christmas store to our itinerary for our MIchigan vacation next month. I think I’ll keep him another 20 years.

What about rotating your collections? Change them out every month or every few months so you can enjoy them and keep the memories going. I finally broke down and displayed a few of my Santas in our living room. They are on the same shelf as a small part of my old (VINTAGE) book collection. I still have my mother’s Nancy Drews, Cherry Ames, Vicki Barrs, and some My Book House books that were hers as well.

by Allison on March 24th, 2008 at 9:33 am
I”ve got bookmarks galore given by friends, sent by authors, picked up at various events. The latest addition is one that tells about the Friends of the Libraries quilt, “Kansas Tresures” that some lucky person will win in May.

My box collection was started by a friend who would bring me little boxes from places she visited. It grew when other friends & relatives started giving me boxes too. I have a lovely music box from my mother. My son-in-law sent a wooden box from Korea and another one from Saudi Arabia. Then my daughter worked at a Hallmark store & got me lots of Uncle Beans’ Treasure Boxes. My grandsons gave me a “Grandma” box last Mother’s Day.

The collection I most wanted is still pretty limited: Hull vases. My mother & father had gotten one as a wedding present. I lusted after it for years until my mom gave it to me. I’ve since bought a few, but really want more.

And yes, I’ve 3 larges boxes of Beanie Babies - most were gifts, though I have to admit, I bought some of them.

by Jody on March 24th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Reading about all your collections reminded me that I didn’t mention I also have a Santa collection and an ornament collection. And an angel collection I inherited. What is it about our natures that make us want to collect things?

Good idea to rotate collections, Allison. I’ve heard of people doing that with artwork, too.

by Kate Collins on March 24th, 2008 at 10:42 am
I have a collection of horses (Glass, wood, porcelain and Breyer) and Madame Alexander dolls from when I was a kid. I now collect books–if that can be considered a collection. They are basically my crack. I can’t seem to stop myself from buying books.

My daughter now collects Breyer horses.

by Michele on March 24th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
I usually lurk in the shadows, but this is one topic I must address!

Allison, I live in Michigan. The huge Christmas store wouldn’t be Bronner’s in Frankenmuth, would it? Christmas 364 days of the year and you’d better clasp your hands behind your back and leave your checkbook in the car. It’s HUGE. Seriously, though, they have the most amazing things there. Frankenmuth itself is a lovely city, with LOTS of good shopping. I recommend eating at one of the family style restaurants. Some of the best Pennsylvania Dutch food ever.

Tori, I, too, have an inadvertent collection of bunnies. My birthday is in April and I often received bunny/Easter-themed gifts as a kid. I’m not much of a collector, but I finally decided that, if I’m going to keep them all for sentimental reasons, I may as well go with the flow and admit I actually *like* bunnies. No live ones, though. Cats, instead. I only have 5, Dani, but if I had the space, I’d add to it.

Kate, I was also going to suggest revolving your collections. Have one shelf or curio cabinet set aside for your collections and trade them out with the seasons.

And my biggest collection to date is definitely books, Michele. I just sorted them this weekend. Luckily, my husband is nearly as bad, only he doesn’t read as many different authors as I do.

by ellephelps on March 24th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
FRANKENMUTH! I love it there! When my kids were little, we took them several times. Anyone who loves Christmas, or collects ornaments, and wants some of the best German cooking in the world, you must go. Bronners will blow your mind.

by Kate Collins on March 24th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
I can’t say that I have any collections unless you count my dear departed Aunt Ann’s handmade quilts—made the old-fashioned way, handstitched tops and then when quilt was put together, she took them to her Quilting club where they placed it on the frame and everyone sat around and quilted by hand. She lived in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

I’ve got a queen sized Log Cabin (along the Family room wall) and a Lone Star (on a quilt rack in FR),, a queen-size Cathedral window (on the wall of my bedroom), and a Crazy quilt. She also made twin bed quilts for all four of my daughters–Dresden plate, Maple leaf and two different Little Dutch Girls. I also have a “Popcorn” quilt displayed on wall quilt rack in the front foyer.

I have all my quilts displayed, usually on walls, along with all the original art I hang on my walls. To me–handmade quilts are Folk Art, just like the striking folk art I find when I travel, bring back home, and display. Art is art, and I have to have it around me to enjoy—be it oil paintings, watercolors, carved mahogany heads, carved stone faces, or Mayan ruin rubbings. Art is art and it brings us joy.

by Maggie on March 25th, 2008 at 9:32 am
In my attic are two fabulous collections, started when I was very young. The first one is a collection of bells. Not just any bells, but pleasing to my own ear bells. I used to set them out on a table or bed, arrange them according to pitch, then ring each one. Still, they are in the attic with only a handful (4-5) coming out at Christmas time or sitting in my china cabinet.

Another collection is Unicorns, again started when I was young. I probably have 50 of them. Sadly, they are boxed up in the attic with a handful only of the most precious ones (blown glass dipped in gold, crystal ones, etc) on display.

I don’t know what will happen to these precious collections, but I can’t seem to get rid of them (the desire is not there)

One other collection I might mention - is guns! Although many of them belong to my son and my husband, many are solely mine. This one collection, however, sees frequent use. We probably have over 40 guns in our house (often more on a temporary basis) and while they mostly remain locked up in gun safes (yes - safes - plural), many of them get frequent use in my classes and one prize gun, a replica black powder gun, hangs over a doorway in my home. It gets brought down and used several times a year, but looks nice hanging by the Native american flutes, antique key rings, brass cattle bell and a Stratovarius violin. I do worry sometimes when I am driving the Texas highways for an event, that I could get stopped (inspection sticker, broken taillight - whatever) by a less than understanding county sheriff who may blow a gasket when they look into the back of my car and see a dozen or more gun cases stacked in the back! It’s all perfectly legit, but you can bet there are some of those less than stellar ‘peace officers’ who would rather shoot first and ask questions later. (I mean that metaphorically of course - they wouldn’t SHOOT me, would they?)

Rhonda in Texas

by Rhonda on March 26th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Rhonda,

You made me smile this morning! I hope they wouldn’t shoot you. Ha. I think you win for having the most unusual collections. Doesn’t it just kill you — perhaps that’s not a good word choice — to keep your bell and unicorn collections in the attic?

by Kate Collins on March 27th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Kate,

I have several collections. I collect stickers, autographs (which I put in my photo albums), unicorns, and anything about Shirley Temple…except figurines I don’t think look like her. The things I have out are my unicorn and Shirley Temple collection. Unfortunately, I don’t have all my Shirley Temple collection out. I have the music boxes, mugs, and some plates out, but I don’t have a lot of plate hangers. There are two plate sets, and I only have 3 hangers. Weird story about one of the plates….I just came home from some volunteer work one day…went to my room and saw a plate on my bed. I just figured mom took it down for some reason. Turns out it just fell down. Luckily it wasn’t damaged.

by Traci on March 30th, 2008 at 6:03 pm

The Cat Collection

21 Responses to “The Cat Collection”

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