Collectors in your family and what they collect.

[Mary Queen of Scotch]

My dad tends to singularly fixate on an (often consumption-centered) interest, then drop it abruptly when he either burns out or finds “hobby peace.” His current obsession is watches. He used to collect fountain pens (mostly Pelikan), and had a mercifully brief model train period. His most collectory-collecting was of steins and other breweriana from The [My Dad’s Name] Brewing Company, which his great-grandfather owned and operated pre-Prohibition. There was something funny about ebay randos outbidding him on an item that quite literally had his name written all over it.

I think my mom saw herself as more of a shopper than a collector. She was a clothes horse and, in a sense, a wardrobe completionist. Every garment had an array of expertly color-coordinated and impeccably made separates, outerwear, accessories, designer shoes, etc. to complete the look. She could put together seemingly infinite iterations of head-to-toe periwinkle, for instance . We used to joke that her dress sense was “Garanimals chic.”

My siblings and I were all doomed to inherit that materialist gene, although I’m the only one who’s made a hobby or eight out of it. Unlike @Matata , I’m still an unrepentant packrat (as god is my witness, the next time I move it’ll be into a pinewood box).

 

[AdaBeta27]

I used to collect shoes when I was young and single. I have small feet and once upon a time, back in the day, I could clean up on the sale racks and the sample shoes and the odd lots that turned up at places like Value City dept. store and Rack Room Shoes. The more exotic, the better. Good stuff from Italy, USA, Spain, Brazil. (Do they evem make shoes in those countries anymore??) I also sew very well, so I'd find a pair of shoes on some clearance rack, and if they didn't go with anything in my wardrobe I'd just whip up an outfit to match. I lost interest in shoes after China put the other places out of business. But I've kept all my old shoes. Getting new heel caps put on them is getting more difficult and expensive, though. There are very few shoe repair shops nowadays.

 

[missy]

I went through phases and my interests changed and what I collected changed.
We used to collect bicycles and had many different ones to enjoy.
We no longer do that and ride just one bike.

I don't know if I would have been considered a boot collector but I do have over 40 pairs of SW boots.
I no longer collect anything. Not on purpose at least.


My mom used to collect antique dollhouse and dollhouse furniture.
It was really quite amazing.
My parents also used to collect rifles purely for skeet shooting.

Now it seems my parents collect feral cats and take them in to keep them safe.
Not all of them...just the ones who they are able to somewhat socialize
And they feed all of the outdoor ferals and do TNR and my parents keep the back door open to one of the rooms so they can come in if they want to from the inclement weather.

Here are some of their ferals





My grandfather when he was alive had quite the collection of stamps.

My dad used to collect history books (he loves reading history books lol).

That's all I can think of at the moment.

 

[MoxiRoxi]

My husband collects die cast cars.. All sizes & brands.. but specifically Toyotas. He worked for Toyota for many years and started collecting when he was in his 20s. He's got quite the collection of unique vehicles now that he has a dedicated room in our home with display cases for his collection.

 

[rainydaze]

My mom collected Barbies and baskets.

My MIL collected Hummels. I think her interest in getting new ones waned years ago.

DH is not a collector at all. It's not his personality to spend money on things that are not a necessity or useful. Actually, he collects money!

Right now, one of my kids is collecting plants.

 

[AdaBeta27]

I went through phases and my interests changed and what I collected changed.
We used to collect bicycles and had many different ones to enjoy.
We no longer do that and ride just one bike.

I don't know if I would have been considered a boot collector but I do have over 40 pairs of SW boots.
I no longer collect anything. Not on purpose at least.


My mom used to collect antique dollhouse and dollhouse furniture.
It was really quite amazing.
My parents also used to collect rifles purely for skeet shooting.

Now it seems my parents collect feral cats and take them in to keep them safe.
Not all of them...just the ones who they are able to somewhat socialize
And they feed all of the outdoor ferals and do TNR and my parents keep the back door open to one of the rooms so they can come in if they want to from the inclement weather.

Here are some of their ferals





My grandfather when he was alive had quite the collection of stamps.

My dad used to collect history books (he loves reading history books lol).

That's all I can think of at the moment.

I love cats. Some of the neighbor's cats ran away from home and moved in with me and my cats and became housecats. I'm certain they think they upgraded. Lol

 

[jaysonsmom]

My dad collected Mont Blanc pens up until retirement around 62....he is now 82 and giving his collection away slowly.

 

[Mary Queen of Scotch]

My dad collected Mont Blanc pens up until retirement around 62....he is now 82 and giving his collection away slowly.

Happy to take a Hemingway off his hands. Least I could do!

 

[jaysonsmom]

Happy to take a Hemingway off his hands. Least I could do!

Let me check with my dad to see if he ever had the Hemingway set, and what is left of his collection

 

[RMOO]

My MIL has a huge collection of milk glass. Unfortunately, she no longer displays it. And with age (now 90) she has long ceased adding to the collection. She also has a lovely collection of, mostly antique, glass or crystal candlesticks.

I collect Santa figurines (one each year of married life.) It is really the perfect collection for me because it is on display from late November until early January. Each year it brings me joy to see them again, but at the end of the season, I am ready to get my home back to its normal (less cluttered) state.

Edited to say that this should be a fun thread!

Now that I have my collection out on display, I thought I would update my post with a picture.

 

[DiaLuv]

I came up with the idea for this thread over coffee this morning thinking about my mom. She collected music boxes, And I remember my oldest brother gifting them to her on special occasions.

She also had a small collections of porcelain horses but probably my favorite was a collection of felt mice. I think they were all Christmas-themed so I only remember them being out around the holidays, I think a woman at the bank where she worked made them for her.

I don’t remember anyone else collecting anything. DH and I are organized collectors, we each have a display cabinet and that’s where everything goes. Our poor kids though….he collects toys, Transformers and Lego mainly, so they have grown up looking at all these awesome things they can’t play with

Any collectors in your family and what do/did they collect?

YadaYadaYDa what is the name of the mouse? She is adorable.

 

[ilovegemstones]

I am a collector too. Since I was a child - minerals, stone eggs, stamps, coins...
I had a clown collection for a while which would have really freaked my girls out today! I have a lot of plants and pets now but wouldn't call them a collection - we live in a jungle with 4 parrots, 3 chihuahuas,
9 aquariums, 3 dart frog tanks and about 2000 plants!

 

[YadaYadaYada]

YadaYadaYDa what is the name of the mouse? She is adorable.

I don’t actually know what they are called but if you search vintage felt mouse or handmade felt mouse, you will probably find some.

 

[Phoenix]

My mum, God bless her, used to collect toilet paper (well before Covid, lol) whenever the supermarkets had the sale. The top of the wardrobe in her bedroom used to be a sea of white - hundreds of rolls of white TP.

I miss her so much!