The Joy of Collecting

Whether you collect a little or a lot, one thing or lots of things, collecting is, and should be, a source of joy. In a busy life, where so much of our time is devoted to others, collecting is all about you. Collecting isn’t practical; it’s emotional, a bond between you and everyday objects that were fun to find and even more fun to show off.
 

• Collect things that have personal meaning. Seek out objects you’ll love to live with and enjoy displaying. When I was growing up, I loved baking with my grandma; now that I’m older, collecting cookie cutters reminds me of those happy times that made me the person I’ve become. A friend collects first edition children’s books she loved as a child. Maybe you’ve always wanted to collect perfume bottles… or baseball caps… or old mirrors. Collect what you love and you’ll love collecting.
   
• Enjoy the hunt. In a fast-paced world, collecting is a leisurely pursuit, a pastime where the reward is as much the seeking as the finding. Revel in the thrill of the hunt and the excitement of discovery. Find treasures wherever you go — antique stores, flea markets, estate sales and thrift shops. Buy for nobody’s pleasure but your own. It doesn’t matter what your finds are worth; what matters is what they’re worth to you. Some of my favorite collections are things I’ve paid the least for.
   
• Share your collections with others. Don’t hide your treasures in a chest — display them for all to admire. Line them on a windowsill or shelf; cluster them on a silver tray; hang them on the wall; arrange them in an open-front cabinet. Mix and match them to form tabletop vignettes and wall art. Every time you look at your collection, it should make you feel good. That’s the best reason of all to collect.
   

Start a collection of your own. Maybe you have an item you cherish. Add a second and you have a collection. Let your décor inspire you. A collection of roosters or red toile would be a fun-loving addition to French Country style, while ironstone or tea cups would give an Anglophile great pleasure. Pieces of hotel silver make a romantic collection for an avid traveler. A collection can be folksy or elegant — whatever pleases you. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• cake plates
• cookie jars
• china
• vases
• candlesticks
• Majolica
• vintage kitchen tools
• vintage silver
• art glass
• pewter
• pottery
• vintage linens
• antique jewelry
• old maps
• TV memorabilia
• apothecary jars