I Collect: Stefanie

I love the Internet. I was doing a little googling the other day and came across this fabulous blog by fellow collector Stefanie. Having been inspired by Lisa Congdon's "Collection A Day," Stefanie decided to blog about collecting everyday for one year. Quite and ambitious feat. 

I collect: Many, many things, but my largest collection is vintage elementary school books from the 1930s-1960s.  I also collect vintage toys.

Its been going on for: I got my first school book in 1984, but I've really been collecting them seriously for maybe 10-12 years. I have somewhere around 500 school books. As far as my toys go, I've been a toy collector for nearly 30 years. I am a toy designer by profession, so this sort of goes with the territory.

I look for additions to my collections at: Mostly antique malls/ flea markets. Although I've bought things on eBay from time to time, it sort of feels like cheating to me. I prefer the joy of the hunt!

When I find one I feel: Excited! But I have to keep photos of my various collections on my iPhone, because I can't tell you how many times I've bought duplicate books- it's so hard to keep them straight, and there are so many! Now, it makes it easier to look at my photos to tell what I have.

The star of my collection is: My near-mint set of Scott, Foresman Dick and Jane books from 1951 & 1956. (There is actually one I don't have, but it's a 6th grade reader, which isn't as desirable, so I haven't been in a huge hurry to finish the collection)

The oddest piece in my collection is: If you count all of my collections, I think I'd have to either go with my 1867 wooden patent model of a steam valve, or perhaps my diddley-bow... that's a little one-stringed musical instrument.

A way my collection has gotten me into a tight situation:  I guess the tightest situation my collections have gotten me into is my blog. A year ago, I came across a fellow collector who posted one of her collections every day for a year. Although it was a fun blog, and she had some cool stuff, I thought my collections were more interesting, and I decided I could do a similar blog. I decided to post one of my collections every day, Monday through Friday, and then feature another collector each weekend. I'll tell you, it's been a tough year. I've decided to suspend my blog on June 30, when my blog reaches one year old. It's been really stressful (but fun!) to document my various collections because I tend to do it one day at a time instead of all at once. So, nearly every morning, I'm setting up stuff, taking pictures, editing the photos, and then putting together the blog entry. As the year has progressed,  I have created  'special days', like Toy Tuesday, and School Book Friday, and I also added Orphan Wednesday, where I feature my 'unique items' that don't fall into the 3 or more rule. 

I'm really glad I did it. It's given me a chance to document the extent of my collections, photograph everything, share it with the world, and learn a few things to boot. But doing a daily collector blog is not for the faint of heart. I plan on putting everything into a book when I'm done. I also am thinking seriously of thinning my collections out substantially too. I'll definitely keep my books and musical instruments, but I'm willing to part with many of my other collections.

Some other things that I like to collect are: vintage toys and games, musical instruments (mostly stringed), ephemera, books. You'll just have to look at my blog to see the different kinds of things I collect!

My family and friends think my collection is: My husband wishes I'd dust a bit more, my kids roll their eyes (they are all grown, and none of them are collectors), but my friends think it's awesome.

I've received a couple of honors for my collections: in 2000 I won the Judges Trophy at the Ventura County Fair in California for the best collection (school books). I was also featured in 2004 in Playthings Magazine (a trade publication for the toy industry) as their collector of the month, again, for my school books. 

My collector blog: http://copycatcollector.blogspot.com/

My creative blog: http://stefstyleblog.blogspot.com/

My gallery on Collector's Weekly: http://www.collectorsweekly.com/user/stefdesign

 

 

Thank you so much for sharing Stefanie!

Collecting Taxidermy

African Springbok Antelope Shoulder Mount

From what I hear, collecting taxidermy is extremely addictive. A friend of mine had a collection that got so out of control, she said, that her home started to resemble a natural history museum. In order to slow down her accumulation she imposed a rule for herself-that she could, from then on, only collect albino animals!

Taxidermy is popular with many subcultures and has been around for quite along time. Because of this, the resources available for those interested in collecting taxidermy, or witnessing taxidermy collections are quite vast. 

20 Ducklings Unmounted

During the Victorian era, taxidermy gained an unprecedented popularity. It was used frequently in great interior design, and a symbol of wealth. Victorian naturalists did not have binoculars or cameras. Often times their only method for identifying a species was to shoot it and examine it later. By the 18th century almost every town had it's only tannery and taxidermy set up. Customers could bring in animals and hides to literally have them "stuffed" with cloths and rags. By the 20th century taxidermists were considered artists-bringing life to the dead by posing and creating realistic settings to display their pieces in. 

Field Natural History Museum

Two interesting and well known taxidermists are Martha Maxwell and Walter Potter. Martha Maxwell is said to be the 1st woman naturalist who killed and stuffed and collected her specimens. She created natural environments to display her findings in. During her career she discovered a number of new species including (that which is named for her) The Maxwell Owl. Walter Potter, the most outstanding anthropomorphic taxidermist, spent the greater part of his career recreating famous nursery rhymes with taxidermied animals. Including "The Death And Burial Of Cockrobin," the highest grossing piece in his collection-which was broken up and sold in 2003. 

With taxidermy having a long history and passionate following there are great opportunity's to witness truly artistic and mind blowing pieces. There are many natural history museums all over the world, filled with dioramas, tableaus and menageries, waiting patiently for your patronage. Martha Stewart even recently revealed her taxidermy collection! You can find taxidermy in movies and t.v. shows (like Fox's sitcom "Scrubs" where the main character has a 'pet' taxidermeid dog). Taxidermy is on display and for sale in some wonderful and hip boutiques like San Francisco's Paxton Gate (Where I have been known to drop way too much money on plants I've never seen before). And of course, the Internet is an every flowing stream of taxidermy in all it's glory. One wonderful website being "Minnesota Association of Rouge Taxidermists," is dedicated to showcasing the work of modern taxidermy artists from Minnesota (props to my homeland!) and beyond. And also enjoy the humorous site "Crappy Taxidermy."

Squirrel Head Necklace

There are so many books about collecting taxidermy, beautiful, beautiful books. It's a collection all in itself. I found a good many of them on Amazon including  "Windows On Nature: The Great Habitat Dioramas of The American Museum of Natural History,"  and "Walter Potter and His Museum of Curious Taxidermy," and "The History of Taxidermy: Art, Science, and Bad Taste," plus the highly acclaimed "The Breathless Zoo: Taxidermy and The Cultures of Longing." Also check out "The Authentic Animal: The Odd and Obsessive World of Taxidermy," and "Still Life: Adventures in Taxidermy."

Stay on after the jump for some alternative and vegetarian taxidermy examples! 

I Collect: Colleen

I'm super excited to bring you the next instalment of the "I Collect Interview!" I'm happy to introduce you to the hilarious, beautiful and creative Colleen. She maintains the wonderfully entertaining blog Fresh Vintage; with lovely photographs, great vintage finds and ideas and lots of humor. Colleen tells us about her naughty collections and shares pictures with us of the more behaved ones.

My Name is: Colleen

I collect:  Sex education books and naughty vintage gag gifts

Its been going on for: About five years

I look for additions to my collections at: Yard sales, thrift stores, flea markets, Amazon.com and eBay. And occasionally, my nice blog readers send me gifts for my collection. I've found that the best source for sex ed books are at the estate sales of medical doctors, especially gynecologists. It doesn't happen very often, but it is like hitting the jackpot when it does!

 

When I find one I feel: Like a junkie who just got a hit! I know - bad analogy, especially since I never did crack. But I would imagine that it feels similar.

 

 

The star of my collection is: The crocheted peter heater that was owned by my husband's grandfather. It is from the 1930's and has a poem attached.  That is the piece that got me started collecting gag gifts. I also have some rare sex ed pamphlets and books that have some very interesting graphics!

The oddest piece in my collection is:  A book called "The Intimate Side of a Woman's Life". It just contains an insane amount of bad advice (which was considered good advice at the time).

 

A way my collection has gotten me into a tight situation: I have two kids: 7 & 9. I have to hide my collection of books and gag gifts from them. I haven't been caught yet, but I am sure that day is coming soon.

 

 

Some other things I like to collect are: Vintage globes, white matte pottery, apple crate labels from Yakima, WA - my husband's home town.

My family and friends think my collection is: Entertaining and funny. We've been known to sit around with a glass of wine on my deck and read passages from my sex ed books. Always makes for an enlightening evening!

Thank you so much Colleen!! 

Find more I COLLECT INTERVIEWS here.

 

Collecting in Childrens Literature

I was reading a book to my daughter the other night and came across this little poem about collecting:

The Stamp-Collecting Trollusk 

 

I loved Mercer Mayer as a kid. I still have a lot of my old books. This one that I was reading to my daughter, my dad used to read to me.

Collecting: Vintage Aprons

A few years ago a lovely lovely lady gifted me a most beautiful handmade vintage apron. It was a full apron made of a very busy (but adorable) fabric. It had detailing of little pockets and turquoise trim around the edges. I cherished it. I wore whenever I was cooking something special. And this is how my vintage apron collection began. 

Crochet White/Pink/Red Apron $14.00

a·pron /ˈeɪprən/ Show Spelled  

noun
1.a garment covering part of the front of the body and tied at the waist, for protecting the wearer's clothing: a kitchen apron. 

Black Gingham Apron $14.00

Aprons are as old as time. Traditionally it was a garment worn for housework etc. However, as time ticks by the apron has evolved into many things, including a fashion accessory. It's commonly used now as a uniform. Outfitting waitresses, nurses, barbers, doctors, chefs, artists, butchers, welders, blacksmiths and so on. This utilitarian attire knows no bounds. 

Floral Bib Apron $25.00

The English word "apron" is said to be derived from the old French word "naperon" meaning napkin or small table cloth. 

Turquoise Embroidered Half Apron $15.00

Apron styles are endless. There are full aprons, half aprons, pocketed aprons. I've seen aprons made of hoops, old towels, quilted, rick-racked, embroidered, and laced. There is no end to the possibilities of apron types. Your apron collection can be as varied and vast as the sea. 

Lace Half Apron $19.99

If you are interested in learning more about collecting vintage aprons there are many books available on the subject. Pay a visit to your local library and see if your librarian can help you track some down! Amazon.com has a good variety available too. "The Apron Book: Making, Wearing, and Sharing a Bit of Cloth and Comfort"is available for $16.99. "Aprons of the Mid 20th Century" 160 detailed pages sell for $29.95. Also look for "Aprons: Icons of the American Home" and  "Gingham Aprons of the 40's and 50's: A Checkered Past".

Mustard and White Gingham Apron $38.00

There are so many options for displaying and showcasing your apron collection. Don't leave those beauties locked in a closet or trapped in a drawer! For some creative apron sharing ideas look here: Country Living and here: The T. Cozy and also here: Joyful Abode. 

Embroidered Full Apron $24.00

And check out this interesting and detailed feminist commentary on aprons throughout history. 

Santa Half Apron $9.99

All of the aprons you see here are available for sale on Etsy. Thank you Etsy sellers for the use of your lovely photographs!

Collection A Day + Lisa Congdon

To quote San Francsico's 7 x 7 Magazine, "Unless you've been living under a rock, this should not be news to you." Hopefully you've already discovered "A Collection A Day." Lisa Congdon and her year long documenting project have been featured in The New York Times, The SF Chronicle, Martha Stewart Living, NPR, SwissMiss, and Apartment Thearpy, to name a few.

It was only a matter of time before The Collect Collective expressed love for A Collection A Day. Though Lisa Congdon was too busy to give us an interview, she was so sweet to send these photographs for us to use. 

The Collection A Day project spans exactly 365 days. It began on January 1st 2010 and ended December 31st 2010. For an entire year, a image was posted of one of Congdons's personal collections. It was either a photograph shot minimally with a clean white background, or a drawing or painting of a collection. This simplistic representation of Congdon's vast collection of collections was so intriuging and stimulating it left us all wating each day to see what she would present us with next. 

In March of this year UPPERCASE published the "A Collection A Day" book. It comes packaged in it's own collectors tin. If you are interested in purchasing the book, signed copies can be found here, where there are also other sweet tidbits for sale. 

If you are looking to purchase photographic prints from "A Collection A Day" they can be aquired here, on the new collection a day blog where you will also find information about the book, press info and dates for book singing events. 

If you would like more information on Lisa Congdon's current projects, art and illustrations, it is available at Lisa Congdon.com. And her prints, drawings, paintings, greeting cards and even necklasess are available on her Etsy site.

Thanks Lisa, for the use of your stunning photographs!

Instant Collection

1923-1934 Vintage Honey Bunch Children's Books $149.00