A new word for vintage shops and “THRIFTING” as my sons gorgeous girlfriend calls it!I just read about it in HOME & ANTIQUES magazine from England. Of course,I adore the word as that is what HEN HOUSE is all about!Some of my best buys are vintage.Heck, I’m VINTAGE!Found myself telling the youngest son last Sunday…………..dont toss this when I’m gone I grew up with it as we packed up the Christmas decor and those RADKO ornaments will be worth money one day!It kills me to think a lot of my collections will be tossed or given away………………perhaps, I need to start the edit.I cant stand when women come into the shop and say “I have too much stuff I need to start weeding it out.”Makes me sad………………its stuff that brought them enjoyment why do they feel the need to clear house when they are at the age to really enjoy it.One thing is to realize you have collected enough of one item another is to be tired of it and give it all away………………….
Are you a collector?
Do you edit your collections?
Have you stopped collecting because the passion has faded or you found yourself with way too many?
I would love to hear what you have to say……………….tell me your thoughts.
Keep Collecting Edit Collections Enjoy Collections
This is your BEST POST YET!!! Really! Brilliant! Well Written and Thoughtful Musings of those roaming thoughts we occasionally have about wiping our collecting slates clean. On the other hand, if it weren’t for those of us who decide to indeed Wipe the Slate Clean, our darling local thrift shops, flea markets and misc brocante would be barren and we would be forced to shop with the giddy masses at the (gagging as I type the word) Mall!
Contessa you are Divine!
NO mall shopping for us!Can you imagine the BARONESS and the CONTESSA dumpster diving!Now that would be a photo worth posting!
Well Contessa I love this posting! Truly,it brings me the greatest joy to collect Antiques, Vintage and Thrift treasures. They all have history and life to me and enrich my life and others. I have become more organized with my collectables, but I make sure I use and share them all. I use my vintage silver, crystal and china. If they break, so be it. Even my young grandsons are appreciating our vintage treasures! I love that! And no wonder I never leave your shop without purchasing something delightful to bring joy to my life. There is always room for more.
xo luvs
Fancy Nancy
You made a good point!Use the GOOD STUFF…………I totally agree.Enjoy it……..let it breath,be admired.Love the fact the young eyes are “getting” it too!It’s all in the teaching!Never too early to train the eye in my opinion!
I’d never stop collecting (teapots, for one thing). Can’t even think of getting tired of it!
I’ll admit that when you move from house to house every year, it’s not very simple to bring with you all your teapots. But hey, they’re part of me, of my everyday ritual – so it’s worth it!
Sometimes I also think I am vintage! I haven’t met many 22-years-old teapots collectors.
I was born vintage!
You are delightfull!I had no idea you collected teapots…….the search begins!
On Fri, Jan 18, 2013 at 9:23 AM, Cheryl Ireland Hooper wrote:
I could write a tome on this subject ! But will limit my thoughts to a few………I think one is born with the collecting bug……I know I’ve had it since I was four , when I asked a neighbor for one of her knick-knacks…….a blue hob-nail glass shoe , still in my cabinet today………Which brings me to my second point of collecting , …….For me, an item most hold a sentimental significance , or be wonderfully decorative to my eye, or bewitching to my heart …….Funny you would mention all your items one day being tossed. ……. I think about that too……Will someone , not in the antique / thrifting biz EVER understand the value in my chippy French pottery ? …….Or care that I travelled hundreds of miles carrying most of the pieces throughout nearly the whole of France , then home ? I doubt it ! Sometimes when I think about it, I put post-its with prices I’ve paid for things on the backs, or inside the items , hoping that will be a guide to my passion ……
SPACE……The collectors’ SPOILER……..As we’ve lived in the same 1400 square feet forever , collections on occasion must be edited . ………That’s where being in the antiques business helps , as there is hopefully someone else out there who wants it when you no longer do…..And fortunately for me, I have always loved small items , so that helps ! Plus I am more of an ” I want one of each” type of collector , rather than a “whole lot of one thing” type. ….Well, except for my chippy French pottery that is ! ……. More ART on the walls……Our most recent way to resolve the SPACE issue……Decorate the vertical spaces ! But regardless of space , I can’t imagine NOT leaving the ‘collecting door’ open forever……
As an antiques dealer and collector , one of the comments that I hear from people, both men and women is, ” What would you do with THAT???” ………This one always leaves me speechless. …… As they pick-up one of my wares for sale, turn it over , expressions of incredulity for the item’s ‘uselessness’ spreading over their faces , always annoying me and leaving me muttering to myself ” IF I HAVE TO EXPLAIN IT , OH NEVER MIND ” ……
Lastly , do I love my collections ? Yes ! And while I do not keep ‘the finest’ , as a girl’s got to make a living. I love everything I own at this point and never tire of admiring it ……
Thanks Elizabeth ! I love talking about ‘stuff’ almost as much as I love gazing upon it ! Cheryl
Love your thoughts on this topic!I think you and me are pretty much kindred spirits when it comes to this subject!
Can you stand just one more thought about collecting from me ? …….I love ‘collecting’ at least one item, purchased from each of the wonderful antique dealers / friends I have been lucky enough to know …….Like the Italian pen holder purchased from The Hen House, obviously useful , and so pretty on my desk ! Cheryl aka Vignette On Ruby Lane
That is a gorgeous idea too!Well, the things that we have acquired from you on RUBY LANE have never made it to the shop.They will never see the light of day outside my abode!TREASURES ALL OF THEM……….thank~you!
Whoohoo! It looks like you hit a gold mine with this subject!
Alas no collecting for us as collecting requires Euros but I sure do love your new word…
Bisous,
H
Hi!! Can’t figure out where to click to leave a comment on your February post??? so I will leave it here. You scared me… even checked my phone thinking “is it February already?!” I lose track of days/weeks easily;) Hope you get three homemade Valentines!!
Lovely to meet you!
best,
joan
I’m so sorry!I was a little early with FEBRUARY FEVER, but I need to plan and invite ladies for a luncheon so thats why I did it!I know what you mean about leaving a comment it is TRICKY!Once you receive the e-mail with my post click on the name of the POST above the google sign.(Letters should be in GREY)That takes you directly to the site!Then all you need to do is click on the TITLE of the POST and scroll down to the comment box!Try again please!You arenot alone in this problem!!Your home looks amazing!I have always wanted a FARMHOUSE!Especially, when we lived in ITALY!
XXX
I never have to wonder what to do with my treasures when I decide to edit. With two grown daughters and a grown grandaughter, I never have to wonder long. I am so happy the girls have my love for treasures.
That is the perfect solution!How lucky YOU are to have them.I have BOYS and well as much as they “GET IT”, I just think I have too much!But No editing here………..YET!