Monday, September 24, 2007

Collecting


How is it that we start a collection? Until recently, I never really considered myself a collector. Having started to blog about my dishes, however, I find that I have a serious collection. Either that, or a serious problem! LOL

I'm not the sort of scholarly collector who knows all about the objects of her passion. I'm more the sort who sees something she likes and says: "That would look really great in my den!" And that's how my latest collection started.




I was in the thrift store one day, when I spotted a lovely flower print. I'm definitely a flower person -- wallpaper, curtains, dishes -- all flowers. Before you could say "crazy flower woman," I had also scooped up four small frames filled with pressed flowers. There was this big 75% off sale going on, so I was going a little crazy.




On a later visit, I found three more.




I don't know why, but these pressed flowers really speak to me. They were obviously made by someone who cherished her blooms and went to the trouble of arranging them in these tiny frames. Did she pick them from her garden? Or during a walk down the lane? Were they, perhaps, a gift from a sweetheart?



I don't really have any answers, but I know I will cherish them in her stead.

13 comments:

  1. What a great collage of art! Sometimes you can't rationalize your obsessions - you just have to embrace them!

    Love,
    Julie

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  2. I love them! We have a lot of "antique" stores where I live, but very few actual thrift stores. Actually, what I should say is, we have A LOT of thrift stores, but unfortunately, their owners prefer to think of themselves as Antique Brokers (and that belief is reflected in their prices). lol Your prints and flowers are wonderful finds, though. Good for you!

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  3. Your pressed flower prints are lovely - Someone put alot of thought into creating them - they were a great find.

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  4. The best collections are the ones that speak to our hearts:-) I have several framed pressed flowers and my favorite is one that identifies the flowers as Pennsylvania Wildflowers from July 1985. Handwritten on the back is the name of each flower and a word of caution..."do not place in direct sunlight" it is signed BEL'85 for Bridget O'Leary. I found it in a thrift shop years ago and have treasured it ever since.
    Rhonda

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  5. Rhonda, what a great story! I love it when you can find a little slice of life like that!
    Mary

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  6. Those look so nice all together. You just reminded me that I have some flowers pressed between the pages of a book. I think they've been there about 2 years now. I need to make something with them!

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  7. Your prints look right at home and were obviously meant just for you. I'm not a serious collecter either but when something "speaks" to me, I can't pass it up! ~ hugs, Lynda ♥

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  8. Wonderful collection!

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  9. Very pretty. I have never seen any of these,but they look great.

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  10. I just love these Mary! I can never really sell any of my collections..I don't look at them as a financial thing, most are not worth a lot. Like you, I just buy something that speaks to me and that I fall in love with!
    Your collection is so special!

    I added your blog to a post today. I am beginning a little post thing dedicated to introducing my favorite's to others. Yours is a big favorite of mine!

    Hugs,
    Sue

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  11. My mom used to press flowers with me when I was little. We would pick out the flowers and then iron them under wax paper and set them in a book. Thanks for the lovely reminder of a sweet memory. Your flower pictures are wonderful.

    Hugs,
    Dena

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  12. Those are gorgeous...they look very old world!
    Blessings,
    Robin

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  13. Wonderful collection and thank you fro sharing that with us

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