Friday Question #111
Do you collect anything? If so, what is it, how long have you been collecting it, and how did you get started collecting it? If not, have you ever thought about collecting anything? For either answer, is there anything you wish you collected?
I am somewhat ashamed to admit that sitting in my parent’s home, I have a massive collection of Barbie Dolls (still in the box), Star Wars Toys (some still in the box, but all from the 1997 and later re-release), and books. I am talking boxes upon boxes (the books are on shelves). These were just the toys that I loved from my childhood (Barbies) and teenage years (Star Wars) and most were gifts. Of course, I still do get random Star Wars things as gifts from time to time now. And do collect the Star Wars Hallmark Ornaments.
In my own home, I just seem to have amassed a collection of books and running shoes. I have really cut back on buying books though, and much of anything, in general. We just don’t have a lot of space! Or, a lot of money. Ha ha. I’m sure if I thought about it though, I could come up with a few things we have a “collection” of: DVDs, random parts for the Datsun* with more on the way, t-shirts from races…
You can kind of see our bookshelves in this picture of our “loft”/office (from this post). I cut back on buying books we only had a few empty shelves left – and when I realized I never reread them! I need to update this picture, now that I have a real chair for my desk!
In the future though, when I am a super billionaire, I would love to collect cars. The real, life-size ones, with running engines, that you can drive. Maybe I could have something like this sweet showroom we visited in Módena, Italy. Or maybe something like this from the Ferrari showroom in Maranello, Italy.
*I kid, I kid! They are mostly gone now anyway!
Themocracy
I collect vintage glassware…and now, apparently, I’ve started working on my collection of Sweet Valley High books 🙂
How cool that you collect barbies!! I want to come over and play! 🙂
I collected coins as a kid, and now have quite the collection of some really old ones that I never even knew existed. I’m not really much into it any more, but it’s still fun looking at them for memory sake, since both of my grandfathers handed me their old coin collections (I guess it runs in the family?
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I collect bar coasters. Not sure why it started, but my first one I got from Crayola Cafe on a field trip. Now I have a crazy amount just saved from various places… and my friends even send them to me when they find an interesting one. Not sure how I’ll explain that one to a future husband when he sees my bag full o’ coasters…
That’s so cool! Have you done a blog post of your favorite ones?
I collect shot glasses from places I visit. I am not sure I remember to buy one everytime I go somewhere but I try to. I also have a few decks of cards from vacation spots. I suppose I collect race shirts too. 🙂
Lately I’ve been collecting wine corks and hope to display them in a creative way when I get enough. Oh, and I sorta wish I collected bottle caps. Some of them are so neat! Maybe I should start.
I collect Christmas ornaments from every place I visit. It was an idea I got from my parents because Christmas ornaments are small (so easy to pack) and when you decorate the tree every year, the memories about a trip come back.
I started collecting postcards when I was in Girl Scouts (a few years back). More recently it was snow globes. I’ve kind of cut back on the snow globes, mostly because they take up quite a bit of space, but I still grab postcards whenever I go somewhere.
I really love Erin’s Christmas ornament idea, though!
The only thing I try to collect is memories. Seriously. I hate clutter. So, collecting things kind of goes against my grain.
I completely relate to this!
When I was little I collected Beanie Babies haha, I had soo many ah! Now I don’t really collect anything.. I guess you could say I collect pictures! I take tons and treasure them like nothing else.
Not right now, I used to collect things when I was a kid now not so much. I do want to start collecting prints from a certain photographer but need some money to do so.
I used to have so many books- I wanted a library in my home with floor to ceiling built in book cases (maybe someday?) but when I moved I sold or gave a lot away.
I used to collect spoons as a kid. That was more my Mom’s hobby for me than actually mine.
So yeah, no real collections to speak of as an adult. Though I have started a wall for bird paintings.
I don’t like a lot of stuff around, so don’t have any collections right now. Boring, huh? I do hold on to old journals (priceless).
I collected matches for a long time, when it was more common for restaurants to give them out. Wow times have changed!
Now I collect marathon pins, although the ones I’ve done didn’t all offer one. Overall I’m trying to declutter…a car collection? Sweet!
i don’t collect anything because i just cannot deal with the mess of collecting. not that everyone’s is a mess, but i can assure you, my collecting would be the mess of the century. i had collections when i was younger, and yes, i still do have those, but they are small and things that i’m surprised that i still have when i “find” them again! 😉
I’m with Nilsa — I’m not big on stuff (even though I have TONS of it!), so I don’t really collect anything.
I do have lots and lots of books, but I want to sell/donate some before our next move. Also, I bought an eReader (the B&N nook) so my book-loving ways won’t start to crowd us out of house and home! 🙂
I collect Kentucky Derby Glasses & spoons (in which I or someone else who visited that city/state/country). My father started the spoon collection for me before I was born. As I’m the same as teamarcia, I also collect Marathon pins but unfortunately, not that many places sell those. I only have 1 from the 3 I’ve done. But I keep looking!
i collect rocks and shells from the beaches around us 🙂 happy friday!
Technically no. I don’t collect anything because ibhate clutter and dust. Ahem…that being said, I tend to buy lots of coffee mugs from random places. I nevr really thought of it ad collecting but wow, maybe it is! 😉
I’ve never been a collector. Although, similar to you, I used to buy books all the time so I suppose that could have been considered a collection. Now, though, I try to use the library or borrow books instead of buying them.
However, I guess I have a collection of sun, moon, and star Christmas tree ornaments. I don’t buy them myself, though. Almost all of them were given to me as gifts. Does it count as collecting if you don’t actively do it yourself?
I was wondering the same thing – if it still counts if someone else gives it to you. A lot of people used to give me Star Wars stuff, and it got kind of old. Now, I try to keep the house clutter free 😉
Love is cartoons since the mid-80’s, have shoeboxes full and books full of them! You could say (owning close to 600 of them) that I am a book collector.
shot glasses. I have over 60 from all over the world. They are prized to me!
Ive been trying to figure out what I collect because I KNOW theres something. But I cant think of anything. Clearly whatever it is means an awful lot to me 🙂
bags … it’s more a compulsion than a collections.
bowls … I love bowls, small, large, clear, painted
I tend to collect purses and hats. Its hard to find hats that fit my weirdly large head though, LOL.
I’m a newbie book collector too. I love, love, love buying books and never go to the library because I want to OWN all my books. Most of the time I don’t even borrow books because I want to buy it myself.. :3 My dream is for my future house to have one room that I turn into my own personal library.
I wouldn’t really consider DVDs or books a collection unless they were of a specific type or subject or by a certain author… ok, based on my own revised criteria I’d have to say, yeah, I collect books.
And fluorite. Because it’s cool, yo.
There are also a variety of collections from childhood: stuffed animals (I’ve given ~75% away but still have quite a variety), demi-tasse cups (all gifts, in a box somewhere), goblets from my grandmother’s collection (also boxed somewhere). I’m sure there’s more. Despite the great strides I’ve made, I’ve still got packrat genes.
i collect postcards of everywhere i’ve travelled to. i used to hang them on my cube wall (my goal was to cover one entire wall!) but now i keep them in a photo album 🙂
I collect old board games (and I have a few old barbies). I think the graphic designer in me loves the graphic on the old games. I also have a nice collection of old tin globes.
I collected a crapload of stuff as a kid. Now I’ve moved on to only unique magnets from all the places I travel. It’s a nice reminder on the fridge 🙂
My answer is ::here::
Have a great weekend.
Still in Maui, but had to jump on and at least TRY to catch up 🙂
I’ve never really liked to amass stuff, so I don’t really collect anything. I used to be a collector of books, I guess, but I stopped that. I give all my good books to friends/family, so if you looked at my shelf, you’d only see my rejects. Ha. I’m kind of excited to try the eReaders, actually. You?
I am surprised you give away all the good ones! Although, why would you share the bad ones? I cannot imagine myself using an eReader, but I have stopped buying books. Or at least, at the rate I was buying them!
I am not a collector because I don’t like to have stuff. I guess I am a book collector of sorts although I’ve stopped buying books and hit the library up instead.
I think Ali is with you on the car collecting though. I think you just wrote about his exact dream!
Sounds kind of silly, but I have been collecting PEZ dispensers since I was a little girl. I have hundreds of them! But I live in a tiny apartment with no place to show them. I have no idea which ones I even have anymore, as they are just piled in a box. 🙁 But I heart them because they are fun! 🙂
Cool! Which one is your absolute fave?
I collect two things – those miniature travel spoons that you see in gift shops… the ones that have some sort of city/location specific decoration at the top of the handle? My Grandma collected them and I bought a lot for her, so when she started asking people what they wanted when she passed away I asked for those and she gave them to me right away.
I also collect keychains and pins from Planet Hollywood or Hard Rock Cafe – again, travel related.
I collect music, but since it’s all digital and takes up no physical space, does that count? Otherwise, I like to pick up cool Lego minifigs on occasion.
I don’t see any reason why music wouldn’t count! 🙂
I think it is SO neat you collect books! I’m always envious of those with a lot of books. I have maybe….40? And most are kids books (from teaching). 🙂
I actually don’t collect anything…but if I DID, I’m right there with you – I would LOVE to collect cars. I just love cars, especially the old ones!
My dad and brothers are mechanics, so I was around a lot of cars growing up. My dad has a few classics too 🙂 You can see one of them used in our 1989 family photo here. My family still spends some time at car shows and stuff. My parents were at one this weekend! (Otherwise, I think they would have come for the half marathon)
A Star Wars collector, huh? I had no idea. As for what I collect, most things penguin. Stuffed penguins, stickers, characters, photos. I have the top shelf of my bookshelf covered in stuffed penguins and other penguin figurines.
BTW, sorry I’ve been absent out here. Trying to play catchup out here. I’ve missed reading your posts.
Oh gosh. I am a huge Star Wars fan! I don’t have any of the cooler, older toys though.
I’ve missed reading YOUR posts. Where are you, Marty? What’s up? 🙂
I collect baby name books…I know. I don’t even have kids! I’ve been obsessed with baby names for years though. I used to collect shells when I was a teenager, and friendship bracelets. I’m surprised my ankles don’t have permanent indents from the bracelets!