I collect books because I love to read and can't pass up a free or cheap book that looks interesting.

I collect house plants because I love the way they look and the challenge of keeping them healthy and flowering. I liked weird ones too - like tillandsia, carnivorous plants, and cute cacti.

I collect craft items because I love to do crafts when I'm stressed out. I have to curtail that though. I spend too much money (even though I mostly shop sales and craigslist). I have more stuff than I'll ever be able to use.

So how about you?

They say that if you have 3 or more of something, it's a collection. I have a lot!

I don't collect anything because back in the early 80's when we bought our home there was a built in corner cabinet in the kitchen and I thought I would start collecting tins since I alrealy had a couple. My friends and family started delivering tins to me like wildfire and within a few months I had tins coming out my ears.

I will never collect anything again.

I collect samples.

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Owls-I got started on this one when I was 2. My present from a family friend when my baby brother was born was a stuffed animal owl. Still have it.
Snowmen ornaments-they are just cute.
Shot glasses-to see what places I've been. I'm not a buy a tshirt and wear it kind of gal.

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I've never lied to you. I've always told you some version the of truth.

cherished teddies
snowmen
and
dust

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I apparently collect dustballs.


But other than that the only thing that I really collect is Dean Koontz books. I have one that is valued at $1800 the last time I checked. It went quickly into the safe after I found that out. It was bought for only $175 so that is a good return on the investment.

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Sell crazy some place else, we are all stocked up here.

I collect the newer My Little Pony horses - the 3rd Generation. I have over 150 of them right now and am not even close to completing my collection. This is my favorite collection, as it does not take up much room (I have them mostly stored in boxes and a storage tote) and I know that when it comes time for my son to go to college, the ponies can at least help to pay for part of that if need be. Plus, they are all so darned cute and pretty!!!


I also collect Mt. St. Helens items. Mostly books about the mountain.

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"Yesterday my life was duller, now everything's technicolor!"

I collect antiques, Coca Cola items, basketball cards and Madame Alexander Dolls.

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visit my homepage http://penny.mycoupons.com/

I use to collect Beanie Babies when the Beanie craze was about. But one day while looking at my collection of over 300 collecting dust and realizing that I've stalked every UPS man in the state of Virginia, it was time for me to stop. I have since donated every one of them except a few of the bears that I just couldn't part with (b/c I paid an arm and a leg for). They were the last of my "crazy" period.

Now I collect Angels. I have a DD that was 8 months old when she passed away. Her name was Angel Hope. After she died, I was in Value City looking around and there in front of me was this statue of an Angel using a hammer to drive a nail in a fence with HOPE written on a board on the fence. It was a baby Angel and it just perfect. I was walking around missing her something fierce that day and when this popped up, I knew it was her telling me it would be okay. After that, I just started collecting the baby Angels. I don't go over board, I have a full size cabinet I show them off in, but I only buy the ones that I like.

Oh and I collect a lot of dustballs too....lol.

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Proud Single Mother to 18 year old Twins Ashley/Davey, 14 year old Shawna, 5 year old Emma, and my Boo Bear, "Angel Hope" (1996-1997) RIP Boo.

Dust, unfortunately! and spider webs it seems, we have been invaded by teeny-tiny spiders and every day I have webs to deal with ( I think they are IN the ceiling fans)!

-Koskeshi dolls ( wooden Japanese folk art ) Here is an example of one I have (mine are not for sale
)Japanese Creative Kokeshi Doll, PlumBlossom_red #US14 - eBay (item 330238295839 end time Aug-19-08 18:58:28 PDT)

-Blue and White dishes/pottery (asian styles only)

I Never really collected anything but books, and buttons ( the type you pin on , with sayings) until I went to Japan.

I bought one little Kokeshi for a souvineer and never could seem to stop I have a curio of each (B&W/kokeshi) and I am trying to keep it that way.....but DH has a trip to Okinawa coming up so I will be expecting to add to one or both collections!

I agree! I don't collect anything either.

Once when I was in high school I had a cold and my voice was hoarse. A friend of mine called me "Froggy". After that everyone started giving me frogs. I collected them for a while, but then after I graduated college and got married I was not going to display all those stupid frogs in my new house! I never unpacked them. People started asking where they were. I told them they were fine for high school & college, but I had no place for them now. Finally they quit giving them to me. I donated or threw away most of them. I saved a few special ones.

I hate knick knacks. I hate dusting them and keeping them nice. I don't collect or give anything like that to anyone. Collections need to be kept nice (dusted) and they take up room. Also, I'm too frugal to spend money on stuff like that.

So, none for me at all, either.

Lisa

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"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"

We collect smashed pennies and quarters from where ever we can get them. Now family and friends bring them back from their trips for us. We also collect money from all over the world. We even have Iraq money before and after Saddam was on it. The boys & DH also collect knives and guns.

I did the beanie babies too, still have the darn things stored away. I put a LOT of money into those things.

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I agree.

And I don't understand people who collect stuff and keep them in boxes instead of displaying them.

I can see if you have them in your home where you can look at and enjoy them, but stored away

Wow! I have or had one of those. Coworkers gave it to me as a sort of going away trinket when I left a job back in the early 80s. I never knew what it was called. Now I'll have to dig through my old stuff and see iif I still have it!

There are some called Sayonara Kokeshi that will have a scroll attatched that people can give as a going away gift for goodbyes, etc to be written inside the scroll and then once it is rolled back up and tied (like a kimono) it just looks like a regular doll.

I just fell in love with them, don't know why, but I do enjoy them! I just wish I wasn't compelled to keep all the boxes in a tote in my closet....lol

money, LOL.

I have a few items that I like, but, I wouldn't say I necessarily collect anything. I am not one for lots of clutter, and I don't like having stuff that I don't display or enjoy. Having said that, we eat off of our "good" china at least once a week. Why keep it for a "special" occasion??? What is more special than a meal with people you love???

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

I don't really collect anything, I hate stuff. UNless you count my stockpile then you could say I collect free groceries?

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"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." ~ Bernard Meltzer

Ants....
That seems to be my latest collection. Would anyone like some? But really, I don't collect anything either. My mom does-owls, pigs, cows, and some country bumpkin' looking sculptures that are apparently worth a few dollars, and of course she decorates for EVERY holiday. It's funny though, because I used to babysit a little girl who came from a very affluent, pristine household. When I brought her over to my mom and dad's basic run of the mill ranch house, and she saw all of the "stuff," she took a deep breath and said, "This is the most beautiful house in the world!" More to dust in my opinion.

did the beanie baby thing way back too, DD is going to use some for her girl scout project, she's making activity/comfort bags for the kids in the hospital so I told her she could put some in there.

I now collect forest green depression glass and other antiques.

Okay, OP, you asked for it . Are you ready for this? I can't believe I'm going to admit this, but I think DH and I collect nearly everything known to man. Not really, but pretty close. Okay, here it goes...

I collect unicorns (been collecting since I was 7 or 8), Disney figurines, dolphins, and I have a few pieces of Fenton glass (I'm trying to get my Dad to part with some of his collection, but so far he's not falling for that idea.).

My DH collects dragons, lighthouses, and cars (Matchbox, Hot Wheels, etc.).

Jointly we collect Grateful Dead memorabilia, concert t-shirts (kind of - these get worn), records (LPs), Pez dispensers, bobbleheads, and Precious Moments figurines. I think that's all. Friends also think we collect Hallmark ornaments and DVDs, but I don't consider those collections.

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Don't dream it. Be it.

I used to collect Pez dispensers too! I still have them, but I haven't added to my collection in years. I have very few with feet. I mostly bought new ones that I thought were cute.

PEZ dispensers and Sorcerer Mickey items

I collect ornaments - when we travel these are my keepsakes from the trip. Each year when I decorate my tree I get to re-live the good memories. I also love the Hallmark ornaments - I buy ones that reflect my families interests. I love pulling them out each year.

Also, I am building a Dr. Seuss collection -started with books and Hallmark ornaments. My favorite acquisition is a Madame Alexander Doll named 'Wendy Loves the Grinch' (my name is Wendy). Ebay is my friend in building this collection at an affordable rate.

I collect Fenton also. Not everything but I do like the small baskets.

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Living well IS the best revenge!!

I'm with AIA, I collect money. I do not display it, however.

I collected bears in high school and college and for awhile thereafter.....it is really hard to get out of collecting something as it is an easy gift-giving thing for people..... I still get bear items some 20+ years later.

The only other thing I "collect" is Christmas tree ornaments. There, there's no such thing as too many, unless you're in charge of taking down the tree. LOL. I keep them all in their original boxes. Such a pain.

I have some work-related collections...but nothing that would make sense to anyone...

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

That's precious.


Lately I've collected a little cellulite on my upper thighs. Does that count? Other than that, I collect small cat figurines, like Hagen Renaker and other small kitty figurines. (This is one that I have, note the size.) Most of mine are only an inch or two in size, and some are up to 5". Because most of them are quite small, they don't take up a lot of space, and I have them in a wall curio so I don't have to constantly dust them.

I also collect pretty, colorful art glass... mostly old (Fenton, Viking, Murano, etc.), but new stuff as well. I love hand blown glass.... vases, paper weights, ashtrays, etc. The colorful vases displayed near the window are really pretty when the sun hits.

I have a little bit of Italian pottery, and I'd like to get more, but I haven't been to any yard sales in over 2 years.... Which is usually where I find my collectibles. I also have a few pieces of old Hull and McCoy pottery that I really like, but I don't consider it a collection.

I almost forgot my biggest collection, candleholders! (Pretty glass ones of course.) I guess it kind of falls into the art glass collecting as well. I just like colorful, unique and/or elaborate glass. Apparently there's something about light shining through a "pretty" (as I like to call them) that just makes me happy. Whether it's the sunlight on the vases or a flame in a candleholder, it's just delightful and serene at the same time.

.

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No outfit is complete without cat hairs!

~~~MsMiser

I collect crushed pennies too!

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I've never lied to you. I've always told you some version the of truth.

We collect crushed pennies. When we had our oldest daughter some of our vacations were truely done a strict budget that left no cash for soveniers from places. So we came up with the idea of doing the crushed coins. My husband punched a hole in each one and we placed it on a keychain for her. We had our second daughter and continued the tradition. Now even when they go away without us (for instance Grandma took the younger one to Bush Gardens in VA this summer ) she came home with a crushed penny for daddy to punch a hole into and add to her collection.

Nativity sets. I really enjoy putting them out at holiday time. Of course, they are a pain to get back into their boxes and pack away so they don't get broken.
I bought three different ones this vacation to Alaska. I got one all with polar bear characters, one with eskimo characters and an igloo and one with the matryoshka dolls. (Mine do not stack inside each other, they are all the same size).

I have a crystal set, several ceramic sets, a wooden set, fabric set, fisher price set, etc etc etc.

Fabrics from the 1800s and antique 1800s quilts. They are quite pricey now, and I started years ago before they became popular items. They have definitely grown in value. I have lots of high quality modern quilt fabric too. I quilt although not as much as I used to.

Civil war items. We love history. Lots of old coins.

My DH has a few thousand Hot Wheels, Matchbox and Toootsie cars. They are all cataloged, boxed and worth quite a bit. He has the originals ones that he played with as a child in the 1960s and that started his interest.

And the ever popular cat hair!!

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Donna

I love to collect anything real old, I especially love to collect old tea pots, old china, old tea cups and saucer. Old linens, old flowering pots, old bed spreads and quilts. I love to collect these items because they fit into the theme of my house which is called antique country cottage shabby chic. I also love floral designs and my favorite colors are pale shades of blue, yellow , and green lots of pastels. No black, reds, or gold here. Peace to all . catherine

I have a small collection of Swarovski crystal elephants (and one dog from my brother). I also have this recent collective problem with cake plates. I look for them everywhere, especially antique stores. I have to stop because I have about 8 and that is about 6 too many.

Nothing, really...

...unless you count those years of collecting men.

But, I was married last Nov, so those days are over.

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I'm the kind of woman when my feet hit the floor in each morning, the devil says "Oh crap, she's up."

I colect the same things

I also have Boyds bears and at work I have a huge pen collection ( I have no idea why but I have 70 something pens here )

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~~~~**Maryann**~~~~

I just got a firm grip on reality....
Now I can strangle it

I collect tea cups/saucers. I have lots I got from my grandmother and my great aunt.

Another collection is sand. My aunt and uncle used to travel all over and they would bring me back a bottle (spice size) of sand from wherever they went.

And lastly I collect polar bears. Stuffed, ceramic, pictures, all sorts. I fell in love with polar bears many many years ago.....still love them as much to this day.

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Friends are like butt cheeks.
Crap might separate them,
But they always come back together.

We have a collection of Tom Clark gnomes but we have not added to it in years.
DH has several train ones.
We collect Christmas trains, but only the ones that DH realy likes.
I collect snowmen and try to find small ones.
I just started collecting Jim Shore snowmen. I also have a couple of his ornaments and a Christmas tissue box cover!
We also collect refrigerator magnets from places we have visited.
I put them all away when we remodeled the kitchen and haven't gotten them back out yet but the side of the fridge is getting full again!
I also seem to collct fabric and scrapbooking supplies.
I cannot use them right now because I don't have great use of my right hand.
Can't wait till it recovers and I can get back to sewing and scrapping.
DH has several model trains and train magazies and train "stuff"

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Square dancing is friendship set to music!

I'm not actively collecting anything right now. I have enough stuff in my house and don't want any more but I do have collections of vintage Fiestaware, Longaberger baskets and Pez dispensers (not many, maybe 20?). I'm thinking about getting rid of all the baskets except the few I actually put to good use. As my kids get bigger, my home seems to shrink so I really don't want to bring in any more unneeded stuff.

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Cecilia

"We must love them both--those whose opinions we share and those whose opinions we reject. For both have labored in the search for truth, and both have helped us in the finding of it."
Saint Thomas Aquinas

I collect old hammered aluminum ware, old Christmas ornaments and I don't call it collecting but I am kitchen gadget junkie!

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Always be a first rate version of your self instead of a second rate version of someone else.[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
What the country needs is dirtier fingernails and cleaner minds.

I collect squished pennies too!

I also collect something that I don't have a proper name for. They're those plastic wall decorations that are made of plastic chips that are melted together on the back so the back is flat but the front is all bumpy. They come in shapes/styles for all holidays, especially Christmas and Easter, and bunches of other shapes/styles too. They were very popular in the 70's but are still being made today.
I have a bunch of those, some for every holiday, plus a lot of non-holiday ones. My favorites are the seahorse I have for the bathroom and the chickens for the kitchen.

I just love them because they're so tacky/kitchey, don't take up a lot of room, are hard to break and the grungiest one you can find will usually clean up easily with some hot soapy water and a scrub brush. Plus I love hunting at yard sales, flea markets, thrift stores and of course ebay for them.

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Jesus SAVES by shopping smartly and using double coupons!

shot glasses and turtle figurines (I have live ones too - 10!) But I've come to realize that photos are my favorite collection. I have my faves enlarged and framed. At first glance, people think they are just scenery pictures on my wall, but a closer look shows that they are from our travels/life in general. No place fancy either... the lake, a ghost town, ski resort, local beach, a butterfly on my tree, a bird.