Do you collect anything? Tell us about your collection or favorite item.

From: Connie Farrington

I have two collections. One that gets collected FOR me, and one I collect myself.

The first is a MONKEY collection, of unknown origin, and includes monkey plant hangers, stuffed monkeys, monkey statues, and even monkey spaghetti tongs. My sister and my children keep this collection going. I have recently purchased a metal bird cage at a flea market to house some of them due to the overflow of my shelves. No one, relative or otherwise, needs to ever give me another monkey.

The second is a collection of "Women of Character". Most are at least 9 inches tall. Some are wood, some metal, some cloth, some papier mache, some ceramic, one clay. One is carrying a pig, one has rollers in her hair and carries a mop, one scowl-y old lady just has her hands on her knees and looks mean. One wears red velvet and looks utterly haughty. Several are musicians. A couple are seamstresses. I try to select women that seem to know what they are about, even if it's not what I would choose to be doing. When my quilt studio gets finished (a long ways off), they deserve a spot on high shelves where they can watch my busy fingers work with needle and
thread and seam ripper. They'll probably think I'm just as funny looking as they are.

From: Connie Olson

As my children would tell you, "what doesn't she collect!!" I'm what you call "a little bit of this and a little bit of that" collector. I started saving little things when my children were very small. Especially the "MacDonald" toys when they first came out.
I also have several stuffed animal sets from Hardee's. And when Hardee's first came out with the California raisins I saved those too. A couple of holiday's later my sister gave me a ceramic set of them, all 17!!!
I have a grandson Tyler who when he was little was also nuts about the C.R. so I have promised him that they are all his. He is thrilled about it too. "Cool" as he says. Especially the ones playing instruments as he is in a band.
I have several "Beanie Babies" the ones I liked the most are the ones I bought. Then few old dishes, a couple of sets of M&M dolls. "Desert Storm Cards" Old furniture that I rec'd as my older relatives passed away. The family has spoken for items they like.
My favorites items were the old railroad watches I already gave to my grandsons. They belonged to my father, grandfather, great grandfather, gr. g.r grandfather and a great uncle.
All this stuff I have will more than likely go to them sooner than they think. That way it will empty my shelves and rooms for me. No I don't plan on filling them up again.

From: Philip Harris

We don't collect much anymore. I do collect all the James Bond movies. I do have all 18 . I collect books on Warren County History for research. I used to collect coins. I still have a few. When I was a young lad I collected match box covers. I had several hundred. I don't know what happened.to them. I did have a large Indian Arrowhead collection that was stolen. I do have a lot of genealogy I have done. My daughter Renee Zamora has taken over that job, for which I am grateful.

From: Heidi MacDuff

I collect thimbles and old sewing tools. I also have a miniature owl collection. I collect things that are happy.

From: Marie Zamora

I'm starting a small collection of guitars. I have an accoustic Ibanez Performance PF5, a Washburn, and a Hondo H-76 electric that was retired in 1982.

From: Renee Zamora

One of my favorite items is the porcelain Siamese cats I have that used to be Grandma Harris' (Sarah Miller Harris). I can remember my mother giving me H&S Green stamps to lick into a little book, until we had enough to buy the Siamese cats for Grandma. They remind me of my grandmother and my mother. It was the only thing I asked for of Grandma when she died. The other thing I seem to collect is genealogy related items and people. My computer room is full of genealogy notebooks. I want to collect more family photos and get all my photo albums digitalized so I can share them with others. The other collection I seem to have is McDonald Happy Meal toys. After my gastric-bypass surgery my stomach is only big enough to hold a Happy Meal so I've been saving all my toys.

From: Lucy Welden

I collect anything with Butterflys, bells, music boxes, jewelry(necklaces, earrings, pins. I have a favorite pin that I like to wear.

From: Gail Goodrich

I collect rocking horses. I started about 25 years ago. I have a full size rocking horse and one about a half inch high, and many many in between. I have them in every room in my house. When I was a child I was crazy about horses. When we went to Grant's department store I would just sit on the horse and be happy. If I had a dime to put in it I was really happy! My friends here called me one day from the Bargain Box and said they had a cute rocking horse for only $3. I said okay and they brought a hand made, full size rocking horse. It is real cute. Most of my horses have been given to me as everyone knows I collect them. Jerry Eggleston has made many for me in ceramics. I love them all.

From: Amy Freeman

This year I started collecting angels. I love the Kneaded Angels the most, but the Willow Tree ones are beautiful. My mom got me my first angel at Christmas, and Jenny and Carrie got my the Sisters by Heart Willow Tree one. I can't wait to watch my collection grow.

From: Lois Rotella

I do collect something. I collect Dolls. I was started on my collection by my mother for my 13th birthday. She said I was too old to play with dolls so I got special dolls. I think my mom like the idea also. I have dolls from Tiawan, Russia, Mexico and others places. I also have Madame Alexander dolls and Efannbee Dolls. My latest collection is Marie Osmond Dolls and Special Barbie Dolls. I really enjoy looking and decorating with them. My nieces all say who is going to get them when I pass away. I told them they can divide them among themselves. Photos of Dolls 1, Dolls 2, Dolls 3

From: Jenny McMurray

I collect books and I just started to collect Willow Tree figurines. My favorite Willow Tree figurine is the one titled Sister and Brother. It reminds me of my two children Hannah(11) and Liam(19months). I love having books in my home and love the fact that my children will sit and read, and that they find it rewarding to do so.

From: Brenda Olszewski

Well for a while I was collecting Teddy Bears. I was getting too many and didn't have the room. Now I like Willow Tree figurines. They are so beautiful. I have 3. Each one of my girls have given me one.