I love what op shop mama is doing, taking the op-shop show-off a little further and showing-off her fantastic collections, so I've decided to copy her.
I was never actually much of a collector, even though I always op-shopped clothes, until I met my now husband who was a big collector of studio pottery, and a total horder. Collection=the stuff he collects that I like; Hord=the stuff he collects that I don't! Mind you when I met him all I owned was a car and a bed so that's not saying much. However, copious dates invoving vintage shop trawls and a collector was born!
I don't collects lots of lots of things, I collect a few of a few things. I have several things I fantasise about collecting, such as paintings by Leo Bensemen. Keep your eyes peeled Helga! Heh! Also I have things I plan on collecting once I find my first piece ie single colour enamel saucepans and casserole dishes-I've been watching The Delicious Miss Dahl, lusting over her kitchenware! My most recent collection was started only yesterday, inspired by a collection of Opshop mama's, about which you will find out more at the Sunday Thrift show off...
I'm not sure I know much about the psychology of collecting in general. If I examine my motivations, mainly it is about nostalgia, not in general, but specific to particular, happy moments in time I've experienced.
The inspiration for my collection was the loom woven cotton striped beach mat I bought in a harbour side shop in Cassis in the South of France on holiday a few years ago. The feel-good associations of that purchase/holiday have remained with me and I've since had a thing for thick, rustic cotton things, mainly table cloths with a woven aspect and faded colour scheme.
And I do use them; I like spoiling myself with a dainty high tea and half an hour of silence when my little one goes down for her afternoon nap, served against a nice backdrop of one of these.
None of them are pristine, a pale tea stain here, a tiny hole there, but I love them all the more for that. Wabi Sabi I think it's called, finding beauty in age, imperfections.
I have been contemplating asking Naughty Shorts if she could make me a summer frock out of my favourite of all...
Can you imagine one of these, from this?!!! Yes please! Not sure if there is enough fabric though...
One day, when I'm an old-dear, I will have filled that cabinet up with more of these pretties and I'll sit lovingly stroking them instead of a cat!
Ok. I've shown you mine, now show me yours!
Ok. I've shown you mine, now show me yours!
I'll be keeping my eye out from now on...
ReplyDeleteA dress in that fabric would be gorgeous Max, go for it!
I LIKE them. And I like how you have stored them.
ReplyDeleteYay! MAybe I'll do one of those linky thingies.. as I LOVE seeing collections and how they're displayed!!
ReplyDeleteLoved this post.I am a huge hoarder/ collector and always starting a new one lol.I still can walk in my house without tripping over anything other than kids and their toys ha.Reading so many blogs always gets me wanting to start new collections.Only thing thats not grabbing me is the pyrex collections.But there is still time lol
ReplyDeleteLove your table cloths, im verging on being a hoarder but i love to use the term 'collector' lol. Scarlett x
ReplyDeleteLeo Bensemen?! Well,I've learnt about an new to me artist today!! Hmmm,will see what I can do,darl!
ReplyDeleteI rther love worn clothes,tea towels,etc.History! That frock is lovely,and would look fab made from some pretty tea towels!
Collecting? I think I collect handbags....and I try NOT to collect anything else,as I have hoarded billions of shoes,clothes,jewellery and general crap! Can't imagine owning only a car & a bed...must have been liberating!
I keep missing Miss Dahl,dammit! I expect the show is a pretty as her book?!xxx
I fall into the hoarder and collector category in equal measure. I'm also an avid 'acquirer' and seem to acquire double the amount I buy! Acquired goods have a special place in my heart, my version of having adopted cats to stroke! Lovely post, and lovely 'collection'. x
ReplyDeleteHey Max,
ReplyDeleteI really like your approach to opshopping / collecting treasures. It's very honest and you are obviously quite clear about what you like and want to acquire (or not). I wish I could say the same. I am new to opshopping, but already completely obsessed with it. My two best friends are to blame!! I just buy randomly, so I like your post because it's making me think about what I'm buying and that I should start looking at what I have got and what I would like to collect. Seems more focused. I am going to look into my treasures and if there is the start of any collection, then I will share it on my blog. Thank you for inspiring me. Great blog. xx
I know what you mean about Pyrex Nelly, I just dont get it!
ReplyDeleteHey Helga, I've got Dahl on DVD, I havn't seen the book yet...bags is good, i can do bags...
Florence, go with random, its much more fun and when you run out of space you just get rid of the stuff you don't like as much and voila you have collections left over heh!