Collector of Things

I’ve never been a “collector. ” Many people are.  I have a friend who collects Depression Glass; another who collects rocks and gems.  My daughter-in-law used to collect turtles (not live ones though), and another friend collects all things related to elephants.  I also have a friend who collects all-things-stars.

My husband collects model cars. Not all model cars. Just one. The 1955 Chevy Nomad.  That was his first car.  He bought it in 1965 for $500. He sold it 2 years later for $500 and thought he was a great financier. Now they are worth about $75,000+. Drat!  Anyway, to me “collections” are just “dust catchers.”  Especially when they are on open-shelf display. Which his were.

So I set about to find a way to reduce the dust that the cars gathered and create a more esthetic display as well. I found this golden oak cabinet that someone was selling for $60.  It has glass shelves, interior lighting, and with a nice paint job, it would be perfect for my (our) needs.  I started the makeover by taping off the glass to protect it from the paint.

 

I painted it using Annie Sloane’s Old White chalk paint, distressed it by sanding along the edges, and used a gel stain to antique it.  We are in the middle of moving some furniture around right now, so the cabinet is sitting in the middle of the room, but at least, you get the idea of the finished product.  And actually, the cabinet isn’t the main focus of this story. I am.

Remember I said we were moving furniture around? Well, actually we are moving furniture from one room to another, totally switching the purposes of each room.  

As I was settling into my “new” craft room, I had an epiphany.  I AM a collector.  You can’t see my collection. I don’t have to dust it. But, nevertheless, I guess I do fall into the category of a collector. 

col·lec·tor
k??lekt?r/
noun
1.
a person who collects things of a specified type, professionally or as a hobby.
“an art collector”
 

While some might call me a collector of fabric, I prefer to think of myself as a collector of “possibilities.” I love the smell of new fabric. I love looking at the patterns and feeling the texture of the material.  But what I think entices me the most is all of the possibilities that are before me when I look at my fabric stash.  What will I do with the yellow fabric with the adorable little flowers on it? Or the red-checked fabric that reminds me of a picnic?  Actually, that’s what my husband asks me too, “What are you going to do with this all?”  

My answer?  “If I do nothing but look at it, that’s enough for me.”  

After all, what is he going to do with all of his model cars?  

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Comments (22)

  1. Charlyn

    I collect scrapbook kits.

    July 13, 2017 at 12:41 pm
    • Karen

      LOL! Yea, Charlyn, I think we probably all fall into that category. At least we don’t have to dust them, right?

      July 13, 2017 at 1:18 pm
  2. Rebecca

    Ha ha! I love this. And as you know, I collect a lot more than elephant stuff. I’m always amazed at your transformations but $60 for that cabinet means I want YOU as my shopping partner every time I go.

    July 13, 2017 at 12:48 pm
  3. Gail Wilde

    Liked it better before you used the old white chalk paint. Better yet, remove the blue to reveal the wood beneath. Yeah I know, my idea if style is nowhere near everyone else’s but so what? I am me.

    July 13, 2017 at 1:54 pm
  4. Michelle

    Scrapbook kits, fabric, patterns, quotes,….LOVE your answer to hubby.
    m

    July 13, 2017 at 2:58 pm
    • Karen

      Yes, if I REALLY think about it, I do collect things too… I had just never really thought of it like that.. I thought of it more as “supplies.” LOL!

      July 13, 2017 at 6:34 pm
  5. Sandy

    Nice job on the showcase! I got my husband a case too for his NASCAR stuff. I have so many collections that I wouldn’t know where to start.

    July 13, 2017 at 3:30 pm
    • Karen

      Well, that just means more dusting… maybe. 🙂

      July 13, 2017 at 6:33 pm
  6. I love this story. We collect what is important to us. I collect Pfaltzgraff’s Napoli dishes and hope some day to have a full set. Our collections are who we are. It is quite right that you collect fabric and I’m not surprised at all!

    July 13, 2017 at 3:43 pm
    • Karen

      Oh, I LOVE Pfaltzgraff, especially their Christmas things!

      July 13, 2017 at 6:32 pm
  7. Judy Carter

    Love your reasoning, Karen. If it makes you happy….that’s all that counts.

    July 14, 2017 at 9:51 am
  8. Steph

    Nice job on that find – that is a beautiful cabinet! I am definitely in the fabric “collector” category! Although my family says I could open my own store. I really need to do a BIG job of reducing this “collection”.

    July 14, 2017 at 10:55 am
    • Karen

      Glad to know I’m not the only one. 😉 I actually did reduce a lot of my fabric collection. I have 3 big plastic bags (32 gallon each) to take to the quilting store. They do a lot of quilting for service organizations, so I hope they can use it.

      July 14, 2017 at 4:29 pm
  9. Karen Courtright

    Karen, love, love, love the job you did on the cabinet. One nice good lookin’ piece of furniture you now have for $60 and a bit of paint! Very cute story too! My parents started us collecting things when we were little. First stamps, then salt and pepper shakers, then charms. Sold the stamps, most of the shakers, still have the charms (like the feel and “tinkle” of them), and now I still collect s and p’s but mainly ones from the depression era and individual ones (sigh), and glass baskets, and antiques, and killer dust bunnies that carry machetes…..(oh, did I just say the last thing?????) ;oD I have to ask you one question. Are you a decorative artist?? Ever since I found you (I won’t say how many years ago–cough, cough), you look sooooo familiar and your name, too. I was really into decorative painting from around ’90 to about ’01. Have been wondering if you’re the person I’m thinking of or if it’s all just a “pigment” of my imagination. Thanks for all of your wonderful designs and your awesome!!!! tutorials. I don’t reply much, but am very appreciative of all you do! Hugs…..

    July 15, 2017 at 10:58 am
  10. I collect Snickerdoodle Digital Kits—————–and all things stamping and crafting ————–and sewing————-and owls—————and keys. Is this hoarder? or Collector? or enthusiast? Or focused!?

    July 15, 2017 at 1:36 pm
  11. FussBudget

    Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your writings. I was feeling a little off all last week and you figured it out for me. There was no Snickerdoodle newsletter. Well, I’ll be feeling much better this coming week. Don’t forget to hit “Publish”.

    July 16, 2017 at 3:29 am
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