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[MomCat]

I'm in the antique business, and all I can say is, enjoy your collections. No one else wants them, and they aren't worth anything, but who cares as long as you like them. I've seen items sell for pennies compared to what they were worth several years back. We always talk about the ups and downs in the business, but I can't imagine these young people all of a sudden becoming interested again. Heck, I can't imagine ME becoming interested in collecting anything again. Clutter annoys me.

[issiestorm]

I no longer actively collect anything because I've come to a point where I no longer want to acquire things. But I have collected Egyptian scarabs and Tinkerbell (Disney) figures. I still have them but no longer add to them. We had a bad earthquake here a few weeks ago and my furniture and everything else crashed all over the place, and I lost some things. I won't be replacing them, but I'll keep what I have. They may not be worth anything, but they are to me and that's all I care about. One person's clutter is another person's treasure.

[lovesrecess]

I have never really collected anything but I do have valuable items I love ....on another thread someone posted a Kovel's link that lists 10 things that are now worthless after being highly-sought-after collectibles in the past...I do remember Hummels were on the list and are worth a lot only if they are over 12"" tall and made prior to 1949....I know the small ones can't be worth much now since I have seen several at the Goodwill store and they were still there a week later.

[curlywhitedog]

I inherited my mom's Precious Moments collection. I'm not a fan of PM but she was and in her memory I keep them in my grandmother's secretary in my upstairs office.

My own collections included Boyd's Bears, both stuffed and resin, and LLadros, neither of which I collect any longer. I don't regret what I bought, those things made me happy at the time but I'm in a different place in my life now and they no longer provide that same joy.

My collection days are over and my "getting rid of days" are at my doorstep.

Maria

[NickNack]

I have a small collection of white stoneware and paperweights. I'm trying to get rid of a lot of things now (not these two collections) and am selling stuff on Ebay.

[Mominohio]

I think for many, the key to enjoying a collection can be a couple of different things.

First, they collect or were given what a relative collected, and it reminds them of that person, and times past.

Second, they collect something in small quantities, so it doesn't get overwhelming and end up being boxed up in the basement, or they collect things that they use on a daily basis (like dishware, or something similar) and it doesn't just take up space, but is useful.

I have a couple of things that I collected to a point, then stopped when I got what I thought was an attractive grouping or the line changed and I didn't like it anymore.

I collect Rowe salt glazed pottery, and it is on display as well as used. I have Longaberger baskets, again, tastefully displayed and used. I have some of the original Tom Clark gnomes, and they fill a shelving unit in my rec room. When the color schemes changed, I didn't like them and stopped. I collect Pyrex mixing bowls, changing out the colors for the season, and again, very used. I have a small collection of Baldwin brass candle sticks, and use them to set formal tables. I collect old things from my family, a handful of Christmas decor from the 1950's, a couple of Bibles that go back to the 1800"s and belonged to family, old furniture and some glass ware, anything that dates back generation in our family and belonged to loved ones, that I was fortunate enough to inherit and hold until the next generation will appreciate it. I also have a collection of quilts, some handmade by my grandmother, others not, and display them on a couple of quilt racks throughout the house.

Almost everything I have "collected" I have had for decades, still love it as much as I did when I started, still display and use it, and never let the collection get out of control so that when someone walks in the house, they just roll their eyes. Many of my "collections" you would never think of as such, because they are used and displayed throughout the house, and not just set all in lines in large cabinets like a store front or something. Most people who come to my house might not even notice that I have "collections", and that is to me, the sign of a "healthy collection" as opposed to something that borders on hoarding. To me, a collection is 3 or more of anything, so a collection doesn't have to be 20, or 50 or 100 or more of something. Some things I have a collection of, I have only 5 or 7 pieces.

[151949]

On 9/21/2014 RedHeadedWench said:

Lord, I have Hummels from my grandmother and mother, and I don't know what to do with them....and they are the older ones too. I have tried selling them, no one wants them, so they are wrapped carefully in a storage box.

I collect Bombay Company trinket boxes, I have a few, they are not worth much, but I like them. I have a few pieces of Belleek, but I don't consider myself a collector.

Radko ornaments and finials are my real collection. Almost time to whip them out too!

I understand the pre WW11 ones are still extremely valuable if they are in perfect condition. you should try to sell them if you don't care to display them.

[bettyboop33]

Anyone remember Byrde crystal from QVC? It was from Germany and I must have 40 pieces of it, packed away.

I checked ebay and most doesn't sell. None of my family want it so someday I guess it will be donated.

[morning glory]

I collected the Fenton big alley cats and have four of them. Fenton went out of business but if I ever see another of the big alley cats I would buy it.

I collect First Editions of books and county histories and old atlases.

I collect Patriotic figures. Uncle Sam's are my favorite. They are not as easy to find as you would think.

I also collect calendars from the early 1900's. I also collect old postcards for holidays. I like paper things from over a hundred yrs. ago. The artwork is beautiful.

I love Smiley Face things. I love the bright yellow and the big smile. I have a few cups and other items of Smiley face on top of my bookcase lined up so I can see them every day. The things I buy are not worth a lot but they are things I love.

[Andrewsgrandma]

I seem to collect pigs, lol. I have quite a few pigs, ceramic, resin, clay, etc. They are scattered in the yard and kitchen. I like pigs. I don't actively collect them, I acquire cute pig things when I see them. My latest addition was a cookie jar this summer that I got at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. It holds dog treats. My dogs just love when the pig head is removed! My dad was a 'collector'. He thought a lot of things were collectable and would be worth money some day. He collected pewter civil war sculptures, coins and some kind of porcelain sculptures, LLadros. My mother collected her china pattern and lots of Waterford crystal. She now frets about who will want and love all of her crystal. Their best friends owned some bible book/gift stores in northern Calif. They, over the years bought hundreds of precious moments. They had an entire wall of a huge room devoted to those precious moments. Last I heard my mother said that they were reportedly not worth much at all. The widowed wife isn't sure now what she should do with the figurines. She is down sizing. I know my 2 adult daughters have zero interest in collectables or collecting anything. Maybe a generational thing?