The joy of collecting.

When your heart leaps at the sight of something I think you have a sign that this is so beautiful it will bring you joy and you might have the basis for something you might like to collect. Pink plates with roses do this for me! Also little rosy jugs and crystal jugs, I just think they are gorgeous. And useful. I do use them for milk, flowers etc.

Happily the truly gorgeous plates I love are vintage ones. Even better they pop up in op shops (thrift shops) and I have paid around 50c to $2 for mine. These days country op shops are usually the best as the city ones have become expensive. Still I do find them in all kinds of places.

When I set the table for an afternoon tea it looks so pretty, everyone having their own setting. Everyone seems to love it too. A pretty table is so special and inviting.

I also use cut glass plates. I love them. Usually these are so inexpensive. All these plates were 15c each. I use them also on Christmas Day. Little cut glass bowls for jam and cream etc. it all works together.

A few roses in a little vintage jug makes buds from the garden into a pretty feature. This green jug below is Staffordshire and I paid cents for it. I decided the green looks lovely with the pinks and it looks wonderful with pink flowers so I use this all the time.

The thing is collecting is really fun! If you have kids helping them to start a collection is wonderful for them.

For us collecting might be the way to accumulate something you adore that really is way out of reach. But bit by bit and maybe from op shops it becomes a dream you can make come true. The great fun along the way is even better! Like attracts like so once you collect something people tend to know what to give you!

When we go away we tend to drive to country beach towns and stay a few days here or there. I will go into every op shop there and in near by towns as we drive around. And if we see a yard sale or fete or anything I am there! So in the end it means some of my pretty plates or jugs come with the memory of a holiday and the great fun we had. Really I have had some amazing finds! Chenille bed spreads, crystal champagne glasses, vintage rose fabrics... lovely stuff!

Our next trip away is to a far off little beach town where my Dad was born. Last time we found the house he lived, where my Pop worked and brought back photos for him. And we met an old man who remembered my Pop! They have a lovely little op shop that is the kind of one you have to explore for an hour or more and I can't wait to get back there. There are several little near by towns as well. I love our little holidays and really collecting something adds to it. The thrill of the chase maybe?