I love collections in my home. Things displayed in multiples seems to speak to my decorating soul in a powerful way. I have made some mistakes along the way….think 1990 Longenberger basket obsession…when I realized I was collecting what I thought I should be collecting rather than what I really wanted to collect. Expensive lesson for me. I am a wiser collector now. Let me share some life lessons I have learned on my collection journey…and show off a few of my most favorites at the same time
1. Display collected items together…they lose their impact if they are separated . Think of Grandma’s home with her ceramic cats scattered throughout the house on every surface….don’t do that! I like how my vintage rolling pins look in this giant egg basket…suddenly simple objects are seen as an elevated art display!
2. Collect what you love and what resounds with your soul…Be honest when you no longer feel the love and gift or donate. Also, don’t serve as a storage facility for family member’s “treasures” out of guilt or obligation . If you don’t love Aunt Lulu’s souvenir thimble collection , find someone who will delight in them…Aunt Lulu would approve! Many of the chickens on display on my dining room hutch come from a friend who inherited them from a relative. After 20 years of storage I was excited to give them an honored spot in my home.
3. Don’t collect with your child’s college fund in mind…unless you collect early Picasso abstracts. We all know someone with tubs of Beanie Babies in their basement just waiting for the magical buyer to show up and pave the way to Harvard. The price of my beloved Lusticru omelet pans (French flea market finds) on eBay tempts me to enlist my friends to send me every piece they can find…but then the memory of finding these beauties would be forgotten in the crush of enamelware.
4.Master the art of rotation. Seasonal collections are a great way to freshen decor with little effort. For example, I display seasonal vintage postcards on a 24 pane window in my kitchen. They make me smile. In May and June I display vintage French seed labels.
5. The best collections are aquired over time and experience. It is so tempting to see a beautiful collection on a blog and jump on the EBay express to immediately duplicate it. Most likely that blogger has been collecting for years and that collection represents her/his life and experiences. Let your collections represent you! This collection of antique kokeshi dolls is unique to me and my life experiences in Japan. I have never seen a collection like it and love the unique and unexpected element it adds to my home.
Someday I hope the Princess will share my love of collecting…beyond collecting compliments on her performance of Frozen Jr.
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A Day of Small Things... 
I really like the rolling pins in the basket. I have yet to see a glass rolling pin in person. I would like old seed packets enlarged and framed. I am not a rooster person but they are growing on me. Finding a hen is challenging. For me, I love Chinoiserie and blue glass that I rotate with amber for fall and red for Christmas. When collecting consider the size and storage. If you live alone, there is no one to stop you. LOL.
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I’m finding space getting a little scarce for me as well. Rotating is an excellent way to show off treasures
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Great collections. I love the rolling pins 🙂
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Your kokeshi doll collection is amazing! So many different shapes, sizes, styles! I have one doll that was a gift from a friend 30+ years ago…it is cherished…maybe time to start a collection?
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They do get a little addictive, they remind me of my wonderful time in Japan
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Thank you from your Vroom Vroom Team for sharing your links with us at #262 SSPS Linky. Please check back weekly to see if featured on the blog post or by any of the co-hosts.
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Love your collections
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You have such lovely collections.
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I love collections, and your’s are displayed beautifully! The wooden people collection is one I remember from some past post, very cool.
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I love these! Collections are in so many ways an artform when displayed creatively. Thanks! This post is one of my features for Senior Salon Pit Stop #263. Come and say hello.
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So excited thank you
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This is a great post! I love your rolling pin collection, and the very personal kokeshi doll collection. And the window pane with the seed packets is really cool!
Visiting from the Traffic Jam linky!
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I’m glad you joined me
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I love the rolling pin collection! They look great and I wonder if you use them also as they look like you could
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They are all so well loved. I have never used them but maybe I should..
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I LOVE your little wooden koheshi dolls! I used to go collection crazy myself with purchasing Hallmark ornaments, but had to quit that…no child’s college fund though, just not enough room 😉 Happy Pink Saturday!
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Room is scarce for me as well.
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Some of my favorites
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Very organized collections! I’m a collector of many things! I had to put a stop to some of them!
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