If money were no object, what would you collect?

[Canice]

This weekend DBF and I went to the Antiquarian Book Show, and I was reminded (as I am every year) that I would LOVE to be able to collect mint-condition first editions of some of my favorite kids' books (e.g., the Henry Reed series by Robert McClosky, the "Betsy Tacy and Tib" books, or a particular set of Beverly Cleary's books -- in additon to all the other little charmers I just happen to come across). Since the show is about books, papers, maps, lithographs, botanicals, etc. I have to say that I would also LOVE to collect 19th century lithos, especially Courier & Ives prints of small town America and early prints of San Francisco.
Usually the word "collection" makes my blood run cold --I am the "anti-stuff" -- but every year I go to that show and fantasize about what I would do if I had the coin and the real estate to pull together that collection of kids' books and lithos.

What about you? What would you collect if money were no object and you could just buy away in any category??

[badunnin]

Do frequent flier miles count? ;) :D

[lindrusso]

I'm not very interested in collecting anything in particular, but I do love glasses (antique or modern, wine, beer, whatever) and serving dishes/platters (every time I make something I sort of envision a certain dish to serve it in).

And in my case money is not the problem, storage space is. :D

[Abbey]

probably art. I would love to have original artwork that I love hanging in my home. My first thought was dishes, though. LOL. I am a dish freak and would love to have a pantry full of different sets. :)

[wallycat]

If money AND space were no object ;)

I too try to shy away from "collecting" stuff but apparantly my kitchen speaks volumes about that :rolleyes:

I also like art, cookbooks, shoes....

I think your question probably means the less mundane, so I would hve to say art and cookbooks.

who am I kidding....
WINE :D :D :)

[BlueMoose]

Vintage quilts. I love the ones from the 30's and 40's. I have a small collection now, but I'd like more of them (and some in mint condition).:)

[DocAgocs]

Modern furniture ala Design Within Reach catalog. Of course, having the proper house to stick it in would help. Although frequent flier miles was a good answer and I'll have to think about it some more...

[Kayaksoup]

Old Books.
Shoes.

[stefania4]

For me, cameras and other photography equipment. For DH, dogs. His philosophy about dogs is the same as mine on black pants - how many do I need? However many I already have, plus two.

[CompassRose]

Nothin'. I would buy a larger house, and hire a design/organisation specialist, to put the collections I already have into attractive and functional order.

[pilgrim719]

Houses! :D I'd have homes all over. Apartments in various cities, vacation homes everywhere, etc. I think it would be so much fun! Yup, definitely homes and shoes. I'd really need all the houses just to store the shoes I'd be buying! ;)

Kari

[SamanthaD]

If money were no object I would have more animals in my life -- not as a collection but as a hobby and lifestyle. I would have some land and a pony and some pygmy goats and maybe some alpacas if I lived in a cooler climate.
Samantha

[Alethea]

Wine, books, shoes, handbags, and spices.

If you asked BF this question about me, he'd say PETS. Not precisely true, because money, time, and space are needed. Though I would love more pets!

[SamanthaD]

I would also have to add shoes and jewelry!!!
Sam

[BarbaraL]

Houses, locations, and time

Houses - I'd first get a bigger house (I don't have enough room for the stuff I have now), then get vacation homes in fabulous places;
Locations - I'd love to travel
Time - I'd pay someone to clean, shop and yes, even cook, for me, so I'd have to enjoy my fabulous houses, travel plans, friends and family

[nixmom]

Originally posted by badunnin
Do frequent flier miles count? ;) :D

Ditto! I'd travel all over the world. :D

Fountain pens!! DBF just does not understand the appeal of a $250 fountain pen (let alone a $4000 one! :eek: )

[cangoss]

I would collect Quimper pottery. The FF miles would come naturally, because you have to travel all over to find it :D

I have a few pieces, but they're so expensive it's hard to justify at this point in life. Plus, I don't have a good place to display it.

[Mimeea]

Time!! Even an hour or two everyday would be great! Realistically, tho I would expand my humble cookbook collection. :)

[hannah_phi]

Le Creuset cookware, shoes & boots, glass art, sunglasses, vintage dresses, and cookbooks. I'm sure there is probably more, but I can't think of it now.:D

DBF would collect animals too. His dream is to have a goat farm and make cheese. I have a feeling he would also collect scooters and motorcycles, even though he hasn't riden one in years he always dreams about them.

[sunberst]

i would collect memories.
i would travel and collect all the memories from everything i experienced. everything i saw, heard, smelled, tasted & felt. i would capture those emotions and carefully keep them within me.

to do this i would need lots of money to travel all over the world.

there is really no tangible item that i would collect.

[swquilts]

Unemployment? :D :D

Wine probably and frequent flyer miles!

[KimKelly]

Wine and swimsuits! I really love good wine, not that it has to be expensive to be good, but I would love to have a huge collection to pick whatever suited my mood that moment. And I just have problem paying $100 for a swim suit! I have a couple that I've purchased over the last few years, but they are all from Victoria Secret clearance , and even one from Target! I would love to just pick a suit and not be upset that it cost so much. And then of course I would need a place to wear the suit.... so assuming I still have money after buying all that wine (and pretty glasses to drink from!) and my new swim suits I would have to fly someplace tropical....

K

[oceanjasper]

Sand...from every beautiful beach in the world. Now that would be amazing. :)

[mbrogier]

Monets, VanGoghs, Renoirs... you get the idea. Maybe a few diamonds ;)

[scrappycat]

Okay...here is what I "collect" right now: old religious prints and pictures, 1940's framed floral prints, vintage fabric, vintage china, 50's red and yellow kitchenware, vintage sewing baskets and notions, old books, vintage hand-painted tole trays, sterling silver and silverplate flatware and tea services, vintage tablecloths and other linens, and vintage framed "mother" plaques and poems. So, if money was no object, I would buy a bigger house, because I have absolutely not an inch of wall space left to hang anything!
Pam

[Escher]

I would love to collect arms and armour....

suits of armor, swords, historical rifles and the guns that tamed the wild west.....

I have the modest beginnings of a helmet collection now, plus a rifle that was assigned to a D-Day invasion unit....

[HDgirl]

HD's!! Vintage and new/custom.

DH= would collect guns. Oh, he's already started. :)

[MrsReber]

Originally posted by HDgirl

DH= would collect guns. Oh, he's already started. :)

Sounds familiar :rolleyes:

One thing I always thought would be cool is to collect degrees. You know, college degrees. I once said if I had the money, I'd just go to school and collect degrees in every topic that I found interesting. Although, after reading these other posts, I kind of like the idea of collecting houses!

[Pat58]

OK, you said "money was no object." Which means I wouldn't have to work and also would have a full time staff to take care of the mansion, cars, grounds, etc.

Here is what I would collect: I would set a side a large area on the estate and develop a Cooking Museum. I'd have antique appliances, like the Caloric range in my basement that I can't part with because it's too cute. Kelvinator refrigerators, iceboxes salvaged from Lower East Side tenement buildings, a functioning colonial hearth with antique cookware and utensils.

Let's see, butter churns, hand-cranked ice cream makers, pottery, cast iron utensils. There is a colonial house in my neighborhood and it has things like a large curved "bowl in a board" used to knead bread dough. They also have a nifty egg boiler, with individual metal trays that closed over the eggs and they would dip it in a cauldron of boiling water on the hearth. A huge wooden spoon for stirring food on the fire without burning your bodice!

My aunt used to have an antique toaster where the sides unhinged and bent outward, we'd of course have to add a selection of nifty gizmos like that.

A whole area devoted to fruit crate art, and a library of antique cookbooks.

There would also be an area devoted to Native Americans and how they cooked, gathered, hunted and preserved food. All winter long I complain about the freezing temps and snow and ice, and I have to wonder how indigenous peoples survived these winters without oil heat, insulation and PolarTec undergarments.

Hmm, and a canning display. I just love how the jars of multi-colored preserves, vegetables, jams and relishes look all lined up in an old jelly cabinet.

Admission would be a donation to Meals on Wheels!

[KristinK]

Like Kari, I dream of having houses around the world.

On a smaller scale, I would love to have beautiful linens and quilts -- a simple way of keeping a room looking fresh.
Originally posted by DocAgocs
Modern furniture ala Design Within Reach catalog.
My brother's GF works for them. Nice stuff.

[AndreaU]

Pat58- my husband DOES collect "antique" toasters! Money is usually an object, but there are some rare gems that we splurged on. At last count, I think we have around 80 of them!

I currently collect vintage Fiestaware. It's becoming a very expensive habit lately, so I suppose I would buy any and all rare pieces I could find. Then, of course, I'd need an addition on our house to house it all!

As for something I don't currently collect, if money were no object I'd start collecting VW Beetles (the originals).

[Canice]

Funny you mention Beetles, Andrea. I would never really do this, but I used to say that it would be fun to collect funky little cars like those old Volvos, VW squareback, Nash Metropolitan, Fiat 500, etc. They're so charming!

[Natasha]

Originally posted by oceanjasper
Sand...from every beautiful beach in the world. Now that would be amazing. :)

The husband of one of my friends does this. It's a lovely idea. I was able to bring him back some from a vacation I took a couple of years ago. It was fun to be able to augment the collection!

Natasha

[AndreaU]

Originally posted by Canice
Funny you mention Beetles, Andrea. I would never really do this, but I used to say that it would be fun to collect funky little cars like those old Volvos, VW squareback, Nash Metropolitan, Fiat 500, etc. They're so charming!

Ooh! I'd take any one of those cars, too! Add to that list a VW Ghia.

[Guest]

Nothing came to mind when I first read through this thread. But today, inspiration struck - some pieces by Dale Chihuly. His glass work is out of this world. We saw an installation a few years ago and it was breathtaking.

[kristalsnow7]

You're a woman after my own heart, Canice! DBF and I actually do have a small collection of antiquarian books and first editions. We spend hours at book fairs! Have you checked out www.abebooks.com ? They have quite a nice selection of first editions.

It is so darn expensive, though. I wanted to get him a copy of A River Runs Through It for his birthday in a few weeks, but a decent copy with an unclipped dustjacket goes for several thousand dollars! :eek: He might just have to settle for a homemade apple pie or something......

Aside from adding to the book collection, I'd also like to be able to afford some really nice artwork.

[HejazSunKat]

Had to think about this one but it came to me last night. If money were no object I'd collect Art Nouveau and/or Art Deco furniture and objects.

While I'm at it I'd be flying all over the world (in search of pieces to add to my collection) and collecting experiences and memories from my travels.

And how could I forget? DH and I have developed an insatiable passion for oriental carpets since we've lived in Saudi...I'd have me a rotating collection of those too. :)