One thing most collectors cannot be accused of is having common sense. And yet, if approached with some restraint, one can build a nice collection without forcing the family into the poor house or anyone missing a meal. So, how does one collect within a budget or within “normal” parameters?

Why Collect Anything?

First, let’s consider the act of collecting. To non-collectors, everything has its use, and if not used, should be discarded. If you need one again a few years from now, you will buy another one then, to use when it is needed. Easy peesy.

Collectors, on the other hand, do not require all their possessions to have a use. For those that are part of a collection, the mere existence of the objects is sufficient, and, as a matter of fact, the point. One can collect non-material things, like philosophies or the words to songs, but most collectors deal in physical objects. And their presence in numbers is what makes a collection satisfying.

What is not Collecting

Simple accumulation is not truly collecting. For those unfortunate souls for whom accumulation is the point, and where organization, documentation and preservation are not part of the process, the acquisition of new materials is not collecting, but more likely hoarding. Collectors also focus on a few, or even many kinds of things, but they do not collect everything. I have many collections myself, and it may seem to some that I collect everything, but I do not. There are things I use and throw out, or do not bring home in the first place. The things I collect are generally arranged in groups of like items, and, when I buy additions to an ongoing collection, that intent is very clearly in my mind.

What to Collect

There are almost as many things to collect as there are things. The beauty of collecting is that the individual decides what to collect, and the parameters that bound the collection. Maybe the collection is of green glass. A gift of blue glass can mean the item can be used, traded for green glass, or a new collection has begun, blue glass. This is a frequent happening to collectors, the addition of a new collection or the broadening of the parameters of an existing collection. Now the collection is of green or blue glass, or cool colors of glass (green, blue, purple), or maybe it time to go all the way to the rainbow colors of glass. The collector decides.

When to collect

The time to buy, or acquire in other ways, something for your collection, is when it is available. Waiting until it is deemed “collectible” means higher prices and more competition. Try collecting something no one you know is collecting. Instead of Dale Chihuly glass, collect something most people use and throw out, like glass soda bottles. These will take some looking for, but that is part of the fun.

Common Sense Collecting and Cost

This is one place where common sense must rule your collecting. Buying something for your collection when the kids need new shoes or the groceries have not been paid for is not common sense. It is obsession. The collector always puts first things first, and food, shelter, clothing, insurance, etc., all come first. Collecting is a luxury that must wait on discretionary funds. Hopefully, if you collect something that is not rare, these available funds will allow for periodic additions to your collection, which is another reason why collecting something common and readily available makes more sense. The prices are lower and a collection can be built using less money.

No doubt collecting Dale Chihuly glass is as satisfying as any other collection, but it is one that requires deep pockets and higher levels of security. A collection of something less rarefied can be just as satisfying without requiring expert advice and the help of others. Collecting at a more mundane level also allows the collector to keep a lower profile, preserving his or her anonymity and alleviating security concerns to a large extent.

The definition of a collection is within the determination of the collector, who decides, what, when and how much a collection requires. And remember, collect with common sense. It can be done.

Most of the time when we buy something unnecessary, we hope it will increase in value and justify our buying it for that reason. We always hope we are not wasting our money. And when things are tight, it would be nice to get the money back out of the collectibles so we can make the car payment or buy groceries. Now the disappointment comes. Not only can we not get our money back, we can’t even get half our money back. Bummer.

Why is this? Well, there are a number of reasons our personal economics turn out this way. We tend to buy with out hearts, buying what we like and hoping others will like it more when we are ready to sell. Unfortunately, the only things one can buy where this may actually be the case is gold or silver specie. Not even jewelry or diamonds are going to be readily convertible into cash when you need it unless you are known to the jeweler buying them, and you are not likely to get what you paid for them unless you have been holding them for a long time.

So, is it hopeless? Pretty much. Unless you work constantly with a dealer, and have spent a lot of time and money with him or her, he or she is not going to feel obliged to help you find a new buyer for your collectibles. This is one reason why making friends with a dealer or two in your area of collecting is a good idea. They can not only hunt down the items you really want, they will be there when it comes time to sell off part or all of your collection. If you do not already have a relationship with a dealer, you should consider starting one for the future.

That does not help with getting your money out of your collectibles today, or this week. For the short term, unless you are willing to take a considerable loss and can find someone with ready cash, selling your collection is not going to happen in a hurry. Collectibles are only as valuable as the amount of money you can get for them on the day you need the money, so, without a lot of preparation, that means most of us are collecting for ourselves and our collection has little value to the outside world.

Collecting is about love for the objects and not about any increase in value, or even the possibility of getting your money back in time. On that basis, collect and enjoy glass in its many forms, and consider the pleasure of accumulation all the pay back you are going to get from the glass collectibles.

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by a Guest Author

Playrooms are notoriously messy. No matter how much parents teach order, beg, plead or cajole their children, playrooms are always little magnets for messes. Even if a parent gives in and picks up the chaos while their children aren’t looking, it is trashed again 15 minutes later. Organization is the key to preventing the mess from overtaking the entire house. Large tubs and colorful laundry baskets can be designated areas for large items and glass kitchen canisters make great a catch-all for the smaller items. If your children are young or particularly rambunctious, you can stick with a hard plastic canister. Here are 8 items that you can contain in them easily.

1. Crayons, colored pencils, pens and markers are frequently disappearing under every heavy piece of furniture in the house. Try using a canister to house them all and maybe, just maybe, they’ll stay in one place.

2. Lego pieces. Sure, they look great when they are put together. Unfortunately, they never stay that way long and they really hurt when you step on them with bare feet in the middle of the night.

3. Matchbox cars have their own display systems but they always seem to end up underfoot as well.  Stuff them into glass kitchen canisters and keep them within easy reach. They actually might even take on an artsy appeal of their own and add to your eclectic home decoration.

4. Puzzle pieces are another great item to store away before they walk off.

5. Another great idea to place all the kids painting supplies and brushes in glass kitchen canisters.

6. Fill glass canisters with all the small balls that enter your house. Marbles, super balls, extra tennis and baseballs can all be stored in canisters.

7. People are another item that fit in canisters. Well, little toy people, army people, doll house people and wobbly people, that is.

8. Last but not least is the vast array of scrapbooking materials that are often left on counters and tabletops. Scissors, stickers and hole punches can all work well stored in glass kitchen canisters.

Go to the Table of Contents to see all topics covered so far.

Click glass collectibles to go to the most recent entry on this site.