Collectables?

What do you collect? Anything interesting? weird? or just random? Let me know about them here!!!!!

I've collected many things over the years but now that I'm all grown up and "sophisticated" I collect wine bottles (full ones) with fancy labels...I think this is an art form that probably goes unnoticed sadly...there are some beauties out there on most supermarket shelves. no one is allowed to open these wine bottles in my 'special' rack...this is my 'liquid art collection'.

So now that I've revealed my fetish ...what's yours?

My latest purchase...

http://www.bobsbrewandliquorreviews.com/2012/11/if-you-see-kay-red-wine.html

I used to have a similar collection, but eventually I opened them. Good thing, I only lost a couple of bottles to vinegar.

I collect odds & ends. Mostly books. I have a rock collection from everywhere I have traveled. Some unusual ones, too. A block of the Great Wall (from the rubbish heap where they have been rebuilding it), a castle block from a Spanish fort in Nicaragua (the guard helped me unearth it), a fist-sized rock from Stonehenge (also approved by the guards), 3 egg shaped volcanic rocks from Kauai, and rocks from 14 places around Ireland including from the grave of my grandparents in Galway.

Very neat thread!

I would say journals, but maybe that's in the past now. I've gotten a lot better and am actually trying to USE my notebooks. It's neat to find ones with leather covers or ones with different materials/types of paper. And pens too. Obviously if I have something on my mind I need to get onto paper, I'll use anything. But I think the feel of a pen matters and the ink as well. You can really make that piece your own then.

My favorite shopping is thrift store shopping. We have 3 Goodwill's in our city plus 3 other thrift stores, one run by the Franciscan brothers. I love the smell and feel of old, musty books, wondering what kind of adventures they've been on, where they've traveled. Lately in the past few years, I've been collecting mugs. I'm looking forward to having my own apartment in the upcoming years and want it to be "eclectic"; I'm not one for matching things. I also am constantly using mugs for coffee so it's fun to find ones with different logos, quotes or really deep ones perfect for something warm and cozy :)

I think most of mine will be vinegar by now lol!!!

I have some rocks from around the world but they all have little paintings of some sort so I had to pay for them. When I visited the Great Wall there was a section where you could get a small rock, initial and date it and leave it in a pile..looked a bit like a grave lol!!! I have a bottle of wine from there with a picture of the wall.

MA...if you collect notebooks you would go nuts over in South Korea! Their notebooks, pens and stationary are just so cute...I also can't resist buying them. They also have beautiful handmade cards at a fraction of the price I would pay for them in Australia.

I used to collect MacDonald's happy meal toys and have a few different complete collections. Malaysia put out a collection of small teddy bears years ago...all dressed in different costumes from around the world...think they may be my favourite :)

Do animals count? If so, I collect reptiles. Haha.

These are such fun little collections, especially the notebooks one! but I honestly think that's the writer in all of us.

I collect post cards, whether they are depicting current portrayals of places or if the are old ones I picked up from thrift stores post cards are absolutely wonderful and they make for fantastic inspiration against writers block, artists block and nightmares! :)

I've never thought about this before but now I have and I actually collect really weird, fancy looking shells from wherever I've been on holiday and had the pleasure of visiting the beach lol.

I had a huge glass jar of sea shells from different coastlines that I've just given to my grandkids :)

Just bought a butter churner and tried it out for the first time today so...hey guys...I just have my first home-made butter slab and it tastes perfect so...I've now been looking on Ebay for the older varieties...this could be my new collectors item :)

Just a funny experience I thought I'd share..When the cream separated I had around 120gm of butter and 5 table spoons of buttermilk so I looked at the recipe that came with the churner and to make scones I needed 75gm of butter and 5 table spoons of buttermilk so...now I have 16 scones..no buttermilk and the tiniest piece of butter left...not enough to even butter half my scones so...better start churning again haha!!

You brought to me very beautiful memories :)
My father was very passionate bout the past. He collected old books, maps, documents, expensive Persian carpets and awesome collection of old coins.
I can still remember the smell of the yellowish pages, it was very special part of our family house.

I think the older generations enjoyed this hobby much more than the newer generations, sadly.

"I have a rock collection from everywhere I have traveled."
Same. I have more rocks than I know what to do with... Most of the rocks from our road trip through Southern California, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada have earthy red and brown hues. Rocks from our most recent road trip through Oregon, Washington, and Idaho are grays, blacks, and whites. Kinda cool to compare. I have some massive slabs from Yosemite.

I would like to start collecting flowers/bits of plants and press them between book pages to dry and flatten.

I used to collect shot glasses, but 20 shot glasses is more than I'll ever need, so I stopped.

Movie tickets. I have almost all of my movie tickets from when I was preadolescent up until now! Many so faded they're impossible to read.

Musical instruments, I drive the wife mad.

I have sold some on to make room though so I may be over the initial obsession,

I am down to just 2 bass guitars 5 electric guitars 2 acoustic guitars and a piano... Monday I am having a look at a double bass.

I was hoping no one would mention musical instruments...but now that you have Darren...several guitars...a piano, mandolin, banjo, harmonicas...didgeridoos..I could open up a music shop I'm sure!!

Darren, I'm super jealous! Can I come over, please? I'll take some off your hand and your wife will thank me haha

Very neat, Hellon! I have an acoustic I got in high school that I've had stored away for awhile.... I tried to practice and teach myself how to play, but it seemed much harder for me and I just stick with what I know: the piano. Someday I want to invest more time in it. I like taking it out in our front yard and sitting under the trees and just strum, even if it's not a coherent melody.

I collect birthday cards.

Instruments: piano, mouth harp & a digeredoo
I had a superb bass guitar which I sold to buy my first wife an engagement ring (the music world gave a collective sigh of relief). Rosaura refused to let me buy a custom bagpipe in Sterling, Scotland. I guess both my wives have contributed to the betterment of mankind.

I keep all my birthday cards too.

Between Kevin and me, we have: 1 electric guitar, 1 acoustic guitar, 1 acoustic & electric guitar in one, a bass guitar, a harmonica, a drum set, an electric drum set, a keyboard, a synthesizer, a saxophone, a cajone, a rain stick, roto toms, an electric drum pad, loads of amplifiers and speakers and microphones... Kevin's an actual musician. I play pretend.

Larry, my hometown school is the Piedmont Highlanders and our school band had bagpipe players! I don't know if it's the Irish or the Scottish in me, but I looooooove listening to bagpipes. Makes me want to stop what I'm doing, stand tall and leak a small, proud tear.

Wow each of you have some very nice collections. At the risk of sounding like a hoarder I will tell you some of my collections. There are a few I have sold as I bored from them.

COCA COLA: I had dishes, bottles, signs, trays and clothing. I sold 99% of this collection save for some antique coke bottles.

UNICORNS: Was probably my first collectable as a young teenager. I had lots of trinkets and knock knacks. They either got broken, lost, sold or gave away. I have only one now. My daddy gave it to me for my 16th birthday. It means a lot because he actually bought it and didn't send momma to store with money to get me something.

TEAPOTS: I still collect them, painted, old, unique, odd or otherwise. Currently my kitchen shelves are lined with about 45 of them.

DECANTERS AND ODD SHAPED BOTTLES: Inherited my mother's collection.

SAND: From every place I have visited. Quite uniquely displayed in a clear bottle different shades of sand make it look like one of those old colored salt displays.

RAILROAD INSULATORS: My hubby collected them and because they are beautiful I have started collecting them.

SPOONS: The decorative ones that have a places name on them.

MEMORIAL PAPERS: From the funerals I have been to, some with pictures of the deceased. I collect them in one book like a scrap book. I research family history and this actually helps.

BOOKS: Anne Rice, Stephen King and John Grisham

PICTURES: I am a picture fanatic.

$2.00 Bills and Coins: My Dad use to give us a 2 dollar bill in a card on our birthday every year and on Christmas. I continued the tradition with my kids and still collect them.

VINTAGE DISHES: Electric gravy boats, Percolators, Corningware dishes, carnival glass. Odd China pieces.

THIMBLES, BELLS, SALT AND PEPPER SHAKERS.
COSTUME JEWELRY, BROOCHES, EARRINGS, NECKLACES, BRACELETS, HAIR PINS, SHOE CLIPS

Interesting, this is a whole market, Kay :)

Kay, you are just too cool.

Oh, forgot to add. I WILL be a collector of dogs once I move out and am on my own. So... that has to count, right??

Yes Samia sadly it is.

MA. If animals count then I guess I should count my 6 dogs 11 cats 10 chickens and 5 goats. Ughhhh

Dixiedaisy, let me know if you ever want me to housesit ;) Dogs, cats, chickens, and goats!!!! Add in horses and you have the perfect menagerie.

I collect owls figurines, fairy unicorn's,

I also collect odd figurines....my favorite one is a goddess of fertility figurine.....she is so unique looking....

I know some of these have been mentioned but the wife and I have several collections going:

Shot Glasses from places/cities that we have visited

Sand from the beaches we've been to

Scarves for the local soccer team (Seattle Sounders)

Video Games (Currently over 240 titles)

and our most prized collection is our video game consoles, every major console dating back to 1977, and adding lesser known as well as new ones all the time.

Kinda weird, but I like being a nerd.

AJ, congratulations!! I saw on Facebook that you got married. How exciting.

I'd be all about the video game consoles, but they're just soooo expensive. I bought a PS3 the second they came out and then realized I needed the money, so returned it. I haven't been able to afford a new console since then, but I'm an ancient nerd who still enjoys playing Nintendo, Super Nintendo, N64, Sega, Playstation 1 & 2, and Wii. Someday I'll have an Xbox. Somedayyyyy.

This is a fun thread. I feel like I've learned about all of you :)

Thank you!

We buy most everything second hand and I like to search for deals at swap meets and garage sales. It's amazing what you can find with some digging. I got a PS3 for $15 because it needed to have its drive reset. A simple job the owner just didn't want to do. I play my N64s more than any console, easily my favorite.

AJ!!! You're married?? Congratulations :)

I also collect shoes....I have at least eighty pair that I'll admit to haha!!! That doesn't include sandals because....well, they're sandals not proper shoes :)

I have really small feet so every time I go to Asian countries where they have my size I tend to go a bit nuts!!!

EDIT

For those members who are not familiar with AJ..he is a former mod...the designer of the current logo for the mod account ( background poem is by Sybs I believe) and just a genuine top bloke....once again congrats on getting hitched AJ....

Great summary of AJ!

A PS3 for $15?! I'm not tech savvy and wouldn't know how to repair a console, but I do buy most things at thrift stores and off Craigslist. Ok, and Amazon, fine.
I found a PS3 and 40" flat screen tv bundle for $250... Not sure if I should go for it or not. Maybe I can barter. That's a meaty sum. I should probably just hold off for awhile longer lol.

80 pair of shoes? Holy smokes! I have like 12, including sandals and each one having a specific purpose.

Thank you for the congratulations and kind words, I didn't realize people here thought of me that way. I totally forgot about making the picture for the mod account.

Jane - depending on the TV, $250 isn't too bad.

I understand the collection thing, because it is sentimental. But I'm trying to be a minimalist and to me stuff is just stuff

Know what you mean.
On the one hand Rosaura & I have spent the past year clearing out each room & it really hurt to dispose of several collections.

On the other hand, it feels so much lighter!

On the gripping hand, there are some collections I simply brought to my office rather than get rid of them.