Do you collect things? What and why?
@Perspectives (7131)
Canada
August 24, 2007 11:59pm CST
As I look around my office I see one of my favorite collectibles...owls. I have a variety of narrow shelves on my desk to display my collection and to date I have 25 minature owls made in a variety of materials, ceramic, wood, pewter, plastic and each one has been chosen because it 'moves' me in some way. The texture, design, expression, its uniqueness...all stirred something within and motitvated me to add it to my collection. There are more in our great room and dining room. I have a variety of owl pictures in different rooms as well.
I collect owls because they are traditionally associated with healing and feminine energies and have an ability to look at things from different perspective. They are known for their wisdom, mystery and have an ability to see beyond the appearance of things. That is a good skill for any writer to develop so I have an owl on my business card and they are my company logo. So that is one of the things I collect and why.
I also collect butterflies and inherited my love of them from my Mom who passed away two years ago in April. She taught me that the butterflies and their metamorphasis represent the various stages of spiriutal growth. Coming from a shadowy crystalized stage into a place of lightness and freedom with gentle wings fluttering in the wind. I have butterflies all over the house...and they are a constant reminder of my Mom's transition and how she has her wings. Personally, I do not collect either owls and butterflies for the sake of it. It is not about numbers...it is what they represent to me.
Soooooo I have shared what I collect and why...is anyone else interested in doing the same? What do you like to collect...how many do you have...when and how did you begin your collection and what does it give you? Oh one other thing...do you have a ceiling to how many you will keep...or will you just keep on keeping on and making a place to showcase your collectibles? For me as long as I see an owl or butterfly I like...I'll keep adding. If I run out of room or our house feels cluttered...well that will be my cut off point. How about you?
4 people like this
12 responses
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
25 Aug 07
I tried this morning to answer this and download a pic. and it wiped it all out and never could download oic evne to my profile.
I collect rocks , Shells. horses ,unicorns,pegasus.
Got Rocks from most states we have lived in and shells from all the beaches I have been to
Alot of these on my desk
and One of my horses came from polynisia made from mohogany very old aorund 40 years old
thats the pic. I tried to download .
1 person likes this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
26 Aug 07
you most welcome cant think of you forgeting rock and shells lol
and it was of the Mahogany horse I was trying to show you I really need to take pics of the rocks and stuff I have on my desk . I have shells and stuff packe and not sure where for I am running out of room to put thiings lol
Also outside around to of our trees we have ringed them with lava rocks
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@Perspectives (7131)
• Canada
26 Aug 07
See...the value of chatting either in person or on-line. It 'twigs' the memory. Maybe you could check out the photo I posted here for you and see if any of my rocks...match your rocks. Hmmmm that does sound a little quirky...LOL...but you know what I mean!
Take care and we'll chat tomorrow. Luv and good stuff coming your way Lakota...hugs!
@Perspectives (7131)
• Canada
25 Aug 07
Oh my goodness...thanks for reminding of that! I also collect rocks and shells too. Sorry your download didn't work...I had that happen a couple of times while trying to add images to some of my posts too. Luckily I have in house tech support because my hubby is a computer guru. When I am stuck all I have to do is say..."Sw----e---e----t---t--ie" at the top of my lungs and he is there...like the champ he is! He is there to help straighten out the kinks in my slightly warped and at times incapable computer brain.LOL
If you do manage to sort out your challenges I'd love to see your collectibles. You could always post other responses...1 pic per post. With the way we chat you could show me all of them...your shells, your horses, unicorns and pegasus...I'd love to see them if you can find a way to download them. Thanks for reminding me that I love to collect special gifts from nature. I have included a photo of just one of the ways I display them...in a big wicker stand by our deck doors. I have other smaller baskets with more rocks, crystals, shells and polished stones throughout the house.
Be good to yourself dear friend...sending you on-going hugs, blessings and well wishes.
@Aussies2007 (5336)
• Australia
25 Aug 07
This is the third time in 10 days that someone ask me this question.
I always had a hobby. My first one when I was in my 20's was a model railways with the whole work... like the ones you see in exhibitions. That lasted me 10 years. But I still have it in boxes.
Then for the next 10 years... I collected stamps in a big way. I put $30.000 in it. And lost a lot of money when I sold it.
In the last couple of years... I have started a collection of movies on DVDs as I love watching movies. I have more than 300 so far.
Another one of my hobbies during the eighties and nineties was to copy movies from the television on video. I ended up with over 1000 hours of video tapes.
I have a fatal attraction for everything pretty and beautiful. I mostly collected stamps because it was pretty to look at. I also have a small collection of Australian miniature cars... because it is pretty. If I could... I would collect pretty women. But they are too expensive. So I only collect their pictures. (laugh).
@Aussies2007 (5336)
• Australia
25 Aug 07
I don't have a cat collection. Only one TomCat. But this could soon change... as three months ago he bought home a female wildcat from the bush. And she's been staying around the house ever since.
1 person likes this
@Perspectives (7131)
• Canada
26 Aug 07
Wow..that is one handsome cat..and I love the markings. One of our ginger cats has a really big tail too...but I am not sure from the picture if it as big as yours. Does he have a name? If he and the female mate I'd love to see photos...and what will you do with the kittens? Questions, questions...I know Aussie always more questions!lol
@Perspectives (7131)
• Canada
25 Aug 07
Hi again Aussie...
I find the types of things you have collected and what meaning they have for you interesting because of the diversity. Well collecting beautiful women has proven to be an interesting hobby for those who can afford it...look at the Playboy King Hugh H. He has mastered he art and continues to support his 'habit' in his P.J cladden lifestyle at 'the mansion.' I guess it shows that money really can buy 'love'...or a resonable facimile! LOL
My hubby has had a penchent for collecting DVD's and movies too. The DVD collectibles have reduced the amout of storage we need and I like that. Do you have a picture of your cat collection? I have six minature pewter cats...but being that we have 'collected' 5 live ones I do not have as many of as the owls and butterflies.
Anyway, thanks for dropping by again! I have included a photo of a few of our five furry cat friends to show your our 'live' collection.
@gypsylady28 (945)
• United States
25 Aug 07
I collect lighthouses and my husband is into sailing ships. Our kitchen/dining room is decorated in a nautical theme. My husband also collects eagles, and I like bears (realistic and stuffed), so our living room is kinda done in a nature theme. We haven't gotten to cluttered yet, so we will keep collecting for now. I also like butterflies, but most of the butterflies I have are on clothing or jewelry.
1 person likes this
@Perspectives (7131)
• Canada
26 Aug 07
Your place sounds similar to ours. We also like wolves, aboriginal artwork and we like eagles too. Yes, keeping collectibles in a manageable amount and effectively displayed can be a challenge as the passion for 'collecting' grows.
@princessa200145 (616)
• United States
25 Aug 07
i do collect things my favorite is anything that has to do with dolphins or any wildlife creature i am also a collector of shoes music purses makes for a very cluttered place lol i hate it when i have to move because getting all of these things boxed and such takes hours and hours and then some things have to be decided on what to take and why but if u love your stuff i guess u do it anyways
1 person likes this
@Perspectives (7131)
• Canada
25 Aug 07
Well you wouldn't be the first gal pal to collect purses and shoes...they do seem to be a feminine passion!LOL.
As you wisely said..."if you love your stuff...you do it anyways!" Yes...such is our love of collecting our collectibles whatever they may be. Thanks for adding yours to the topic.
@jcj_111776 (3216)
• Philippines
25 Aug 07
I do collect books, err, well, that is romance books. I know it's not that so special but it has a lot of sentimental value for me. The truth is, my husband wanted to throw away my books for countless times. His reason is that in my collection of books, I'm also collecting dust. Huh!I do dust them from time to time, but he doesn't know or sees me doing it. Anyway, I bought my first book when I was in my last year in grade school. Then another book followed and so on and so forth. From one book, I realized that I have bought 20 books before I even reached freshman year in high school. I think that's when I've started collecting those books. I even take such good care of them. Before reading it, I cover it up in a clear plastic wrapper. So, it will last longer. And it did. After, 17 years, I've collected a lot of books and I make sure that they are safely tucked away, away from my husband's grasp.LOL.
@Perspectives (7131)
• Canada
25 Aug 07
Well we just discovered another similar interest..although I have downsized the amount of books I now collect. However, for years I kept adding to my library and it proved to be very challenging each time we moved. Boxes and boxes...and more boxes of books to pack, load...unload...unpack. Finally I reached a point of choosing the cream of the crop...and only add to my collection when I know is a book I will return to. Now my library consists of research material for the health and wellness end of my writing and presenting and reference books for the writing and marketing of my projects. I never seem to have enough time to sit down with a good romance novel or fiction. Maybe sometime I will...I think they have a lovely way of transporting the mind to another place.
However, my girlfriend would love to sit and chat with you...she is like you, a truly dovoted romance novel fan and would have the same approach to guarding her books from anyone who wanted to reduce her collection for any reason. She enjoys the strong character development, the ups and downs of loving relationships and truly is by her own admission "a sucker for a happy ending."
Thank you for sharing what you love to collect and why...it is great fun to hear about hobbies and interests of on-line friends. I like it because it rounds out our perception of each other and takes chatting to a little more personal level without feeling invasive. So thanks again for adding such valuable perspectives to our topics.
Warm regards, your cyberpal Raia
@rohitthehero (25)
• India
25 Aug 07
i collect sterograms a 3D image in 2d photo........ they r just amazing
1 person likes this
@Perspectives (7131)
• Canada
25 Aug 07
Hi...and welcome to Mylot. Are these photos created through Photoshop? if not...would you be willing to explain them a little more fully and tell us where they might be seen...or collected if anyone is so inclined?
Thanks for adding your collection passion...something new and different is always interesting.
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
25 Aug 07
Well, you must already know the answer is butterflies! I have collected butterfly decorations for a very long time now. I believe it started when my children were little. Now, for every holiday, birthday or special occasion, I get butterflies. I am running out of space to display them all. The solution to this problem would be to rotate the collection. There would be less wear and tear on the items too.
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
27 Aug 07
I collect piggy banks and cross stitch charts. I have over 5,000 charts many that I will never stitch but I just can't get rid off. I have 15 piggys including clear glass ones and a Big Boy one (from the old Big Boy restaraunts). I am working at filling them with all my change.
Have a good day!!
AT PEACE WITHIN
@Zelmarq (12585)
• Cebu City, Philippines
25 Aug 07
Wow thats good for I only have a very cheap collection and I am not able to show case it coz I dont have the resources to do it. maybe when I finally get a home where I could place it would be the right time to display it.
I am still living in a small apartment and theres no way I can make it look good the way you make with your owl collections.
1 person likes this
@Perspectives (7131)
• Canada
25 Aug 07
Thank you for your feedback. The mini-shelves are my way of finding a way to showcase them without having things look too cluttered. Some of the butterflies are magnets and we have a large circular column supporting the spiral staircase leading up to my office. It is another place I have displayed some of the magnetic butterflies and owls. Sometimes when space is limited shelving is a way to display things.
So good luck with whatever you collect. To me it doesn't matter whether things are 'cheap' or expensive...as long as they give us pleasure. My Mom always said it is not the cost, but the love or thought within the item. Good luck...and happy collecting!
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
26 Aug 07
I have a love for owls too, but at the moment only have one nice figurine of one that I keep on the table near my bed..to watch over me perhaps?? But I also have figurines of other types of birds especially Seagulls--a Jonathan Livingston Seagull thing perhaps??
as far as I can remember I've always loved collecting rocks, pine cones, and seashells. I love collecting things with a Native American theme to it, like my lamps that I have with a southwestern/native theme to them, plus figurines other knick knacks. I love also collecting figurines of wizards....I have a real classic...it's a Royal Dalton porcelain figure from 1979 of that famous Lord of The Rings wizard, Gandalf--plus years ago also got figurines of some of the characters Beatrix Potter created like Little Tom Kitten. Love collecting Fairy figures as well...gee, come to think of it...I do collect a lot! LOL
@irishmist (3814)
• United States
27 Aug 07
I have many different collections. First I have my mask collection. My avatar at the moment has one of my masks on it. I also collect small victorian houses & doll figurines. I also love my wizzard and dragon collection. Oh but the dusting I have to do.
@tsitra100 (171)
• Barbados
25 Aug 07
I collect usefull information and ideas because for me there's nothing better to collect.
1 person likes this
@Perspectives (7131)
• Canada
25 Aug 07
I like that...great ideas are a wonderful think to collect. Thanks for reminding me that it is something I also love to collect. Hadn't conidered an intangible collectible like that. Good point!
