Start Your Collection!

A couple of years ago, I was just at the point of exploding. I had been taking care of everyone but me, and one Saturday afternoon when I couldn't take it anymore, I laid the kids down for naps and woke my husband up from his, and told him I would be back in a couple of hours and asked him to keep the laundry going if you wanted clothes to wear to work on Monday. I jumped in the car and off I went.

I got about two blocks before I pulled over and turned off the car. I looked at myself in the rearview mirror and said, "Where are you going?" I had no idea what I wanted to do. I hadn't done anything just for pleasure in so long, I couldn't remember what I really enjoyed. As I sat there thinking, I remembered all the time my mother spent cleaning and rearranging her antique dishes collection. She loved those dishes, and whenever she needed her space you would find her with them or out scouring for more.

I started my car and headed for the nearest flea market. As I was driving, I thought about different things that I might like to collect. Now, just a couple of years later, I have quite a few collections of my own, including antique dishes, and I have my own peace and happiness from something I created just for me.

Choosing What You Want To Collect

To begin your collection, thing about some of the things that interest you. Decide if you want to collect items just for the enjoyment of collecting or if you would be more interested in collecting items that may become valuable investments.

For example, if you are doing it strictly for your enjoyment, you may think about a specific animal you like. I have a very large cow collection taking over my kitchen. My sister redecorated a room in her house in the trendy fruit motifs, and she now has quite a collection of fruit décor items.

Other ideas are teapots, hats, movie memorabilia, buttons, pens, angels, fairies, t-shirts, or candles. Anything that captures your fancy can get you started. My husband has a matchbook collection that he takes great enjoyment from. He just gets a kick out of unusual matchbooks from different locations.