By guest blogger, Ashley W. K.
Stamps, coins, Herend figurines, Madame Alexander Dolls – these are a few items that come to mind when I think about collecting. Some collections have been handed down from one generation to the next. The sentimental value and memories behind collectibles make them more precious than gold! My mother started an angel collection for me when I was a child. Each year around Thanksgiving she would give me a new Wendt & Kuhn angel. We would display them on a table or on the mantel as they were a part of the holiday decor in our home. (BTW…if anyone knows where to buy these locally please let me know!) I proudly display my angel collection around the house each year….thanks Mom!
Thanks to Martha Stewart, I also have a sea glass collection. This was something I started in my 20’s based on an article she wrote in a past issue of Living. Most of the broken, sand worn glass seems to be the remnants of bottles. Some of the real gems I have are clear being from Coca Cola. Every now and then I find a curved piece with part of the raised logo from older bottles. I think the brown is from various beer bottles. Sometimes, if I’m lucky, I’ll come across a green piece (thanks Heineken!) or a blue piece (maybe Skye Vodka?).
Everyone in my family collects sharks teeth and has as long as I can remember. We find them in all shapes and sizes. Topsail Beach seems to have an abundance of the smaller, razor-like teeth. Wrightsville and Long Beach have fewer, but bigger, teeth. It takes a trained eye to spot these black beauties amongst the many broken shells along the beach. Look for them close to where the water washes upon the sand.
Last fall, I was thinking about starting some kind of collection for my daughter. I asked several friends if they had any ideas or if there was anything they or their family members collected. While my question did not spark any ideas, it did spark the CSP ladies to ask me to write about this topic. So, please share with us your collectibles and memories associated with them!
6 comments
I always received a monogrammed silver bell from my grandmother at Christmas. My mother continued this tradition with my sons. It's great at Christmas time, we have so many that are displayed all through the house.
Hi Ashley!!! Good to see you on CSP!! Great post! My mom helped me start a couple of collections that are now fun for the kids. This is a great idea, and one I should start for Emily!!
My Mom always gave us each our own Christmas ornament, and when we got married she gave them to us for our trees. I'm doing the same for my kids.
My mom started a Madame Alexander doll collection for me when I was a child (they were $20/each back then) which continued through my 20's and after losing a bet, started a Pez collection. That's been a better collection for my son( vs. the dolls) and we've been to a Pez Museum in PA. We're kind of nerdy but it's fun!
We've started collecting fun magnets whenever we go somewhere. They don the side of our fridge right now and it's fun for my son to reminisce about the different places we've been. Now it's become a fun thing to look for when we go somewhere.
When my daughter was born, I bought her a silver charm bracelet and one charm. Every year for her birthday, I place a charm on her bracelet to represent some interest/activity/special event that happened that year. She doesnt know about it, but I will present to her when she turns 13, and then we will continue to add to it while she also can then wear it.