If you are a collector, let other people share your pride and joy. Don't sprinkle your collection out of sight in a meaningless jumble. Notice how groups of small objects when they are well arranged, become important and effective... Collect what you will, but see to it that you arrange your hobby to its best advantage.
-Dorothy Draper
Aunty Voon was my nanny from the time I was old enough to speak till I was about seven. From the time I knew them, there were always piles and piles of yellowed, hardened newspapers everywhere: hallways, front porch, corners of rooms, courtyards. I remember them already yellowed and this was the late 70s! Uncle Voon collected every daily paper since he was old enough to read (or something).
My sister's friend in Philadelphia hoards bicycles. We were stopped at the front door of his large shed by about what must be 500 broken, run-down, rusted out bicycles - I forgot to take photographs in my stunned condition!
My grandfather liked collecting old day-planners... never used. And torchlights, all with functioning batteries. And huge nail-clippers.
These were the type of people I use to label
"hoarders".
I've come to realise now... that we are all, hoarders... collectors, gatherers. At the very least, like
bower birds, dragging bits and bobs that catch our eye into our little nests.
(Aren't these nests spectacular??? These nests are built by the male birds, who steal bits of bright blue from houses, courtyards, restaurants etc to attract their female counterparts. And they ONLY ever steal BLUE! Not pink or green or yellow! When my blue pegs from the line would go missing we'd know that there was a bower bird nest somewhere near.)But collectors, hoarders, bower birds, always have different reasons for their inclination. Uncle Voon thought he could sell a newspaper of significant meaning one day. John repaired those bicycles to give away to kids who couldn't afford them. Bower birds drag in these shiny (and often blue!) items to make a beautiful home, to lure a mate and well... prolong their species.
And so do we (no, not build a home just to prolong our species). We interior-home-decorating nuts, we book-lovers, we baking-and-cooking-loving people... don't we like collecting what attracts and inspires us?
I collect, I confess. And I don't think I"m alone by a long shot. Celebrity interior designer, Nate Berkus collects a piece of rock or shell from every vacation as momentos. Martha Stewart collects.. well.. everything... but her jadeite fireking collection is second to none.
I thought I'd end this musing with a guilt-free show of a few of my collections:
Books
Nicola by Loui Shabner now graces the creative home of Kim from Desire to Inspire!
Vintage ribbon
Art glass
50s broochesLittle girls' frocks
Paper napkins
Children's booksStationery
Art
China
(Incidentally, don't you just love what must be a treasured collection of antique 1880's Coalport Indian Tree china against the watermelon of the walls in the first photo?)Bags
I also thought I'd add some inspiration from Flickr:
Pez:
Eggs:
Teapots:
Pencil sharpeners:
What collections do you have?
Anything quirky?
Like 50 year old lipsticks? ;)
Do share!
Located above the Museu de Arts Decoratives in the Palau Reial de Padralbes is the Barcelona Textile Museum.
Not where you would probably expect me to be spending time, but honestly, we had some time to kill! What a pleasant surprise I had in store.
The amazing collection traces the evolution of fashion: providing interesting 'how tos' such as how the 'new look' bust was created, seen above, and contrasting elements of different styles.
The patterns of these victorian skirts below were contrasted to a much later 20th century version.
And just how are those hoop skirts held high? Well, here's how!
Seeing the clothing in person and relatively close up was much better than reading about them in a book or magazine.
The workmanship and details on some of the pieces were amazing, especially loved this flapper look. Notice the white suit in the background, so Gatsby'esque!
Examples such as these mid 19th century Empire styled dresses were in such immaculate condition with such vivid colors you would have thought they were just sewn yesterday.
Seeing this fairly recent dress compared with an Edwardian train was another example of a great pairing.
And just how are those bustles kept up (throughout different periods)?
The layout of this exhibit really is impeccable. I always say the right presentation can make the most mundane exhibit interesting (I recently saw a fascinating exhibit on parking garages at the NBM. Come on, I mean...they made parking structures interesting!).
These bodices were in such beautiful colors.
More amazing beading work.
This is a whole lot of look, but in the right situation, pretty fabulous!
Spain's own Balenciaga is of course represented. I loved all of his clothing they showed. 
Some more bizarre pairings showing yet again how things never change; they just come in and out of fashion, nothing is ever 'new'. 
These body conscious dresses below come from all different styles and time periods.
Not everything is so beautiful, will these ever be back in style? That red men's polyester number really made my skin itch!
Make sure to stop by this amazing museum, right on the metro line. You can't beat 3 museums in 1: Textile, Ceramics and decorative arts.
I have 2 'trees' -both artificial - in my tiny apartment. The above is ceramic and is one of my prized possessions as it belonged to my grandma. 
My main tree, above, is a tabletop size and holds my collection of 'fun' nostalgic ornaments.
The country church is a pretty blue with a red door and a little tree outside. All of these churches plug into your light string and have 'stained glass'. 
The colonial church has arched 'gothic' windows & doors and some great white tracery details.
The adobe church has that southwestern feel. Only 8 more churches to collected (although one is currently in the mail!)
