We are being advised to declutter our homes, live simply, and to get rid of our possessions. Magazine articles and television programs encourage us to organize our lives and eliminate chaos.
I enjoy keeping collections and the fond memories that go with them. Our home holds champagne glasses full of glass and shells from my favorite beaches.
I am not advocating senseless accumulation of "stuff".
I don't appreciate products manufactured specifically for collecting and episodes of Hoarders make me shudder, but the admiration of specific items and the desire to accumulate them is a natural thing.
I remember, as a child picking up beautiful shells on the beach and arranging dolls that my father brought me from his international travels in the US Navy.
I have friends and FamiLee members that collect beer steins, milk glass, nutcrackers, baseball cards, bobble head dolls, and NY Yankee's memorabilia.
Collections can also be found objects such as sea glass, bird nests, or heart shaped rocks.
They can even be non tangible things. Experience collecting has become popular as baby boomers retire and fill out their "Bucket Lists".
Whatever the interest you share a desire that is as old as mankind itself.
Personal collections of books, art work and fossil specimens have formed the basis of museums and libraries all over the globe.
The challenge of collecting is more than half the enjoyment. It has become easier in recent years. The introduction of the internet, search engines and sites such as ebay and etsy has given us the ability to search for items around the world. One of my favorite ways to search remains The Hunt. Donning comfortable clothes and sunscreen and carrying lots of collapsible bags we make an itinerary of garage sales, salvage and antique shops or second hand stores and spend the day searching. I picture myself an intrepid explorer, whose success or failure is determined only by the will to keep looking.
I have found some wonderful supplies to help in The Hunt.
This sea shell collecting bag is hand crafted by PurpleToedGypsy on etsy using an ancient Viking weaving technique called Naalbinding.
This shadow box frame hand made by ShadowBoxShop on etsy illustrates how beautifully collections can be displayed.
This elegant hand crafted leather photo album by Crearting on etsy would be a fabulous place to keep all of your special memories.
what a great little article! I, too, love the hunt, and to collect ~some things. Thanks for featuring my little beach treasure pouches...i also have begun making them in slightly larger sizes! Happy hunting!
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome. I was so pleased to see them on etsy. They are so much nicer than the recycled onion bags that we used to use as kids!
ReplyDelete