November 13, 2007
Unusual collections
Written by RobynDeHart in Jaunty PostDo you collect anything? I’ve always been a collector myself. When I was a young girl I collected anything to do with unicorns. I had candles, glass and ceramic statues, stuffed animals and even Christmas ornaments. I went through a cow phase when I was in college. Not really sure what happened to all of my unicorns and cows. Now I have two random collections, ink wells and pocket dragons, I haven’t added any new pieces to either collection in several years, but I still have them on display both in my office. But my most active collection is somewhat unusual, I suppose and while I haven’t been able to add to it in a while, last week I was able to. I collect seaglass and have for years. I have quite an extensive collection, filled mostly with clear (or white), green and beer-bottle brown, but on occasion I’ve found special pieces like red, black, blue and turquoise. Seaglass has gained in popularity in the last few years so I’m sure most of you are familiar with it, but for those who aren’t it’s bits of glass that’s tumbled and smoothed in the ocean’s waves and sand making it dull in both sheen and sharpness.
While most people comb the beach, searching the sands for that perfect shell or whole sanddollar, I look for that shine when the sun hits the glass and it winks up at me. I’ve been saying for years that I’m going to do something with my glass collection, make a mosaic of some sort, but nothing has come to mind just yet. So for now they sit in elegant crystal bowls in my house. So how about you, do you collect anything unusual?
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Shana Says:
I collected cows when I was in high school, Robyn! Actually, my sister and I have an extensive doll collection from all over the world. My grandparents have traveled to almost every country, and they brought a doll from each back for us. Pretty cool, huh?
There’s a book by Anita Shreve where sea glass features prominently. You might enjoy it.
Rainy Says:
Love your sea glass collection. I’ve collected some shells and stones, but it’s been random. I thought of Anita Shreeve’s book, too. Gotta read it.
I collect interesting salt and pepper shakers, most of them seem to be Disney, but not all.
I would love to begin a collection of nesting dolls. I’ve only one but it’s a start.
Do books count as a collection, because wow, I’ve got tons of them!
Kathryn Says:
I have started collecting biscuit and cracker tins - I have them displayed in my kitchen in that hard-to-fill space between top of cabinets and ceiling.
We pick up sea glass too, but haven’t really kept at it (also not getting to the beach too much). While in New Brunswick several years ago, there was a curio shop that had made boxes like old fashioned window frames (several sections to a box) and they had filled the sections with sea glass, backed them with sheets of glass and then hung them in windows as light catchers. Very pretty.
Lois Says:
I have my rubber duckies.
I started a few years ago, a couple years into college with the number one celebrity, Ernie’s Rubber Duckie. And it’s grown since. 
Lois
Shirley Karr Says:
I like Kathryn’s suggestion for the glass. A friend recently had a house at the beach custom built, and the accent tile on the kitchen and bath backsplash is colored clear glass — very pretty and elegant. They almost seem to glow like jewels.
My mom collected spoons from wherever she traveled, so I began collecting key chains. They’re hanging in the hallway on racks designed to hold souvenir spoons. It’s a challenge to find unique keychains from each city I go to instead of settling for the ubiquitous lucite rectangle key fob. One of my faves is a miniature leather cowboy boot from Dallas.
Margo Maguire Says:
Can’t say that I’ve ever been a collector. Things just seem to accumulate around me inadvertantly!
And now I’m trying to purge our attic and basement of everything my kids have collected over the years.
Robyn DeHart Says:
Thanks for the recommendation on the book, I’ll check it out. And great ideas on what I can do with my glass. One of these days…
Mary M Says:
I loved Anita Shreve’s novel: Sea Glass too.
I used to collect postcards when I was a kid. A neighbor of an older friend of mine who died gave me a set of postcards she wrote on a solo trip to Europe in 1959. It’s great fun to read her comments traveling through Europe in an earlier era and looking at the vintage photos.
I just started reading Courting Claudia. It’s great! And you scored another wonderful cover. I want the cover model’s dress! Even if I don’t know where I’d wear it.:)
Mary M
Linda Says:
That sea glass is really pretty ! I’ve heard it mentioned before, but never seen any.
I mainly collect Buffy and Marilyn Monroe memorabilia.
catslady Says:
I like the idea of the colored glass. I have a collection of coffee mugs and playing cards.
Minna Says:
I collect stamps, dictionaries, recipes…
Hey, here’s one more idea of what you could do with your seaglass:
http://kirppis.yle.fi/node/259
If you like, I can translate the instructions for you.
WildKid Says:
Really good and really interesting post. I expect (and other readers maybe :)) new useful posts from you!
Good luck and successes in blogging!