Why do we collect things?
I was looking around my workspace today and I seemed to be surrounded by small collections. It got me thinking about the connections we have with THINGS and why we collect them.
Feathers
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| Feather Collection |
Well, it should come as no surprise that I have a collection of feathers. This is about three years in the making, of found feathers and gifted feathers, which is pretty amazing. :) I love each one!
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| So many beautiful patterns |
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| Some North American Blue Jay feathers |
I read "The Beauty of Life: William Morris and The Art of Design" a few years ago. It was the first time I had encountered his well-known quote which was given in his lecture "The Beauty of Life" delivered in 1880;
"Have nothing in your houses which you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful"
I wish I could live by those words, unfortunately, I have a lot of editing and downsizing to do before I get there! (This includes some ugly, but useful second hand furniture amongst other things.)
Handmade Lampwork Beads
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| These lampwork beads have taken up residence on my desk. They're in a little glass bowl and I look at them every day. I pick them up in my hand and admire them often. They were each handmade by the artisan Christel Wille and I treasure them. |
Antique Buttons
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| I purchased a jar of buttons at an auction years ago. Recently, while going through them with the kids, I noticed there are some real beauties in there. Knowing nothing about buttons, I make up stories in my head about where they came from. The black ones, some sad mourning Victorian woman. Are some of them faceted glass? Black Jet? |
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| I have this one hanging on my pin board. How cute is that?! |
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| Treasure! |
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| I think many of these are made from mother-of-pearl. |
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| Is there anyone who can walk by a perfect shell on a beach and NOT pick it up?! |
Pinecones
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| It's possible I am part squirrel. If I see a nice pinecone, or acorn, I have to pick it up. The kids have apparently the same affliction, and there are larger pinecones in our mudroom along the windowsill. At the mall the other day, I noticed some HUGE real pinecones decorating the Roots store window. I had to restrain myself from going in and asking what was to become of those pinecones when they redecorate. Come to think of it, I may call the store yet. It would be a shame if they threw those away. |
Smooth Stones
Cars...
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| Well, we pass on the idea of collecting to our children. Not only is there a "stick collection" at my front door, a "rock collection" in the back garden and all along our window ledge in the mudroom, there are "collections" of toys all over the house. |
I hope you enjoyed a look at a few of the things that I enjoy. What do you collect?
