Sweet September and thoughts on collecting

The famous gourd pyramid at the Country Living Fair is something to strive for! I'm building a very small version for my porch table. My pumpkin patch did not provide for something as stupendous as this.

 

 Next year, I am going to plant the entire hillside in front of the barn with Ornamental Gourds. Aren't these gorgeous?

  The fair was GREAT! We had an absolutely fabulous show, signing books non-stop and selling more lithographs than I have EVER sold at any show. My paper gardens were a success as well but I did not sell my favorite one, weird. James and I participate in 20-25 art festivals each year, as I have done for over 25 years. It can be very exhausting. But some shows are simply a pleasure to do. This was  just such a show. I never had a chance to leave my booth, so the only purchase I made was this antique bird cage that was luring me from the booth across from ours.

 I hung it on the bathroom wall above the claw foot tub.

 The fair was filled with wonderful artists, craftsmen, and antiques. The crowds were enthusiastic and loaded down with treasures. It got me to thinking, when I came home, about how many collectors of art, antiques and curiosities,   are out there in the world. Nearly everyone that I know collects something

or MANY somethings.... a good rule of thumb is: if you have more than 3 of IT, then IT, is a collection.

Collections are as varied as individuals. I have a good friend who collects HOUSES.. she has 7 of them!

I collect  many things....like...

BIRDS.

Both outside AND inside the house.

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I have often  discussed my collections on this blog and today will continue to lure you into the world of "collecting stuff".

Wooden birds are one of my favorites... also birds nests,  bird cages, old bird prints, feathers and broken eggshells. 

I had found this wonderful old bird dish which I hung on the wall. At some point it was knocked off and broke into 5 pieces. I loved it so much, I just glued it back together again and it now sits atop a cupboard with a wee wooden bird inside. 

 I don't mind the cracks, I just see the birds.

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 Little Birds sit upon shelves, window sills and mantles..

 along with pewter tea sets, teapots, creamers.

 I LOVE PEWTER AND BRITAINNIA WARE

 I could use a different tea set every day, and that is fine, for

I dearly love tea.

  I find these vintage items to be quite lovely. They connect me with history and a way of life that is  foreign to us in this high tech world in which we live. I like the beauty of the vessels and the simple ritual of pouring tea, which it represents.

Why do we collect things? Perhaps it is an appreciation for

design, form and beauty. Maybe you actually put your collections to use. I have many old watering cans, and I use them all.

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The salt galzed stoneware pottery in the old cupboard above is not antique,  but created by talented artisans who have kept alive the method of throwing stoneware, the old way. I really appreciate artists who work in traditional ways to keep old crafts alive.

These tiny stoneware goods are no bigger than 2 inches, most are much smaller. Can you imagine the patience it takes to create these tiny treasures? I love that! No wonder I collect them.

BASKETS

 At last count, there were 70 antique baskets in this house.

 Again, baskets were an indispensable part of life in Early America, the "paper and plastic bags" of the day.

 The difference being, they were hand made, attractive, and lasted a lifetime...or longer. When I look at an old basket, I see the skill that went into weaving it, the peaches it carried, the eggs it gathered, the laundry it held. It is truly a thing of grace.

Miniature baskets are the sweetest.

Psanky eggs.

 Think about this- someone takes a humble egg, blows out it's insides , and then spends countless HOURS with a stylus,waxes, dyes, and a small flame, to create intricate and delightful designs upon aforementioned humble egg-shell. Why WOULDN'T you want to have a collection of these delicate and fragile artworks??!! 

Sewing implements

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Sewing baskets, pincushions, needlework items are fun collectibles. 

Threads, needles, pins, darning, embroidery hoops,,, these represent the delicate work of  a woman's hands. Whether she was sewing the family clothing, or darning socks, counting tiny stitches in her pieced quilt, or exercising her creativity with an ornate sampler... It was the work of her hands that provided so much for her family. Every woman had a sewing box,  from the farmers wife to the Lady of the Manor.

  Some may consider it  materialistic to collect so many things, what  a lot of unnecessary junk, they may think to themselves. But I don't care. Some folks love  travel and eating out, some women love jewelry, clothes, new cars, and having their hair and nails done. I don't care about any of that. I am...  a collector.

Collecting helps the economy- I am serious!  Just think of all the self-employed artists and craftsmen, small antique businesses and entrepreneurs we are supporting. I am one of them! If folks did not collect my books or my art, I would be out of business.

I also collect  fuzzy things. 

This is Sasha.

 I want to hug them,  kiss them, cuddle them, indulge them with their favorite treats , love them and give them a good home. 

This is Peepers, a very undignified name. 

I have known SO many cats in my life. I guess you could say I've Collected them. They are all unique, just like we are,  Just like our collections are.

 I hope you are a collector too. 

   Just a word about my birds... I lost 3 beautiful hens to a predator while we were out of town. It just breaks me up when that occurs. One of them was raising 10 baby chicks.  

To my dear departed Demelza, Esmeralda, and Baby Mavis, may you dwell in the land of Heavenly feathers with all my other lost lovelies.