Collection Challenge - Favorites and Swoon Worthy Home

I had two people recently challenge me to show my FAVORITE vintage finds.

First Judy A wrote "Show me your Collection of things you have collected over the years, that you cannot ever part with".  A couple of week later I got an email from Lisa who suggested the same type of challenge, "I wondered if you could show us a collection of some of your VERY most favorite things?  The things that make you positively swoon".  

I've been thinking about this topic and decided to share.  The things I am swooning about today are pretty much house related.  I have lots of swoon-worthy holiday decorations, but I wasn't going to go pulling all my bins out for this post.  This is my personal swoon worthy HOME post.  Most of what I have shared today are things that I don't find often or have taken me awhile to collect.

Vintage jewelry wreath.  A friend gifted this wreath to me and it hangs in my house year round.  It is dated 1953 and I treasure it.  I did a more detailed post on this wreath here.

I bought this chair at an estate sale down the street years ago. It has the original upholstery and came with extra fabric.  I used some of the extra fabric and had the seat cushion redone in a bit more of a funky look.  I have never regretted this purchase and it makes this corner of my house so happy.  I bought it in 2007 and did a post on it here, here and here.

My collection of baby rattles definitely makes the SWOON list.  I seriously love waking up to them every morning.

Darling aren't they?

I also swoon over these pincushions that I purchased at an estate sale. They were at a hoarder house and I found them in a couple of spots.  I will never part with them.  EVER. The little shoes are also one of my favorite ever finds.  The color and the little bows make me giddy.

I am smitten with my giant honeycomb mushrooms. Estate sale found.

These estate sale found straw flowers make me swoon and I will never part with them. They are handmade and are a great assortment of colors and styles. They live in my house pretty much year round.

These two quilts are favorites for sentimental reasons. The wedding ring quilt is baby size and was my Mom's. The church ladies made it for her. The other quilt was my grandmothers.  I used it every night when my kids were babies to set up "camp" for nighttime nursing and such. If I am feeling down, it is my "comfort" quilt.  

I have three chandeliers that hang in my house (so that is a collection).  One in particular is my favorite.  It is a family hand-me-down from my Aunt Ruth, who passed away years ago.  I did a post on it here.  This chandelier makes a fabulous pattern on the ceiling at night.  My Aunt Ruth would be happy to know one of the things that made her SWOON makes ME SWOON.  

My outdoor concrete statue Bluebell definitely makes this post. My sister gifted her to me a few Christmases ago.  I did a post on her here.  

This Alameda Antique show find makes me swoon. I found it a couple of years ago. It advertises vintage linoleum.

I would love to order from it.

My old store display stork is definitely on this list. I have lots of other storks in my collection, but he is a favorite for sure.
I couldn't forget my little mannequin head that still has no name.

This little tin bucket is such a simple find, but I really love it.  I have never seen another like it and it will live in my someday beach house.

These fish baby rattles are also another SWOON worthy collection. They will swim to the beach house someday too.  I love them in the old fish bowls. I did a challenge @224 on them here.

Many of my favorite tiny things are collected in my curiousity cabinet. (There is a category link on my right sidebar). I collect all my special "littles" there.  I need to do an update on that cabinet as it changes almost weekly. My bathroom cabinet is the same eye candy idea, but with vintage bath and first aid things. I did a more detailed post here, when I put it together.
I was SWOONING when I opened a package after I was the high bidder on an Ebay action. These spun head figures in their original boxes definitely were a favorite find.

Thanks for the great challenge idea Lisa and Judy. I had fun revisiting my favorite finds and collections. I think this post could probably keep going on and on as I am sure I will think of things I missed once I finish this.

I think I will end with one holiday SWOON.  My collection of vintage Santas definitely makes my house memorable during the holidays and is one of my favorite collections.

If you have an idea for a future collection challenge, leave me a comment and finish the sentence "Show me your collection of ____".  Fun to mix it up this week.

Comments

[Erica]

I absolutely love the stories behind those quilts. Makes me swoon too!!

4 days and counting...

~Erica

[cherrypit]

This post makes me swoon! It must have been hard to choose among all of your wonderful things. I love the linoleum display. I sure wish those kinds of options were available today. I also find the colors in your grandmother's quilt remarkable. Love them! Thanks for sharing.

[Melissa]

Choosing a favorite is like Sophie's choice...how could you choose?!?
Why you have enough wonderful things the only way to share would be through a book.........................................................just an idea.............. :o)

[martina]

Great idea Melissa!

[Shara]

Lots of swooning over here. And you didn't even go to your studio! SWOON! I might need to do a post like this - I have been asked this too. Will need to put on my thinking cap.....

PS. YOu really need to name your dude.

[Sheryl Remy]

Your whole home is swoon worthy. I particularly like the honeycomb mushrooms, stork, straw flowers and Congoleum advert.

[Judy Ainsworth]

FABULOUS!
Thank You! -Judy A-

[Musings from Kim K.]

This swoon worthy post is pretty darn over the top with all sorts of amazing goodness. I still think you need to have a book about your collections and how you've displayed them. Well done and maybe my favorite post YET!

[Doreen]

Not sure how you decided what to choose! I'm still swooning over your post of these few things! Love them all. The quilt story....I just love :-)
Baby rattles, Santas, fish rattles, mushrooms, curiosity cabinet in bathroom.....LOVE!
Love your IG pics and glad you're still blogging too!
Thanks for sharing :-)

[Maureen]

Seriously - how the heck could you even choose? Your whole freakin' HOME makes me swoon!

[janet]

Fun stuff! Still LOVE the linoleum samples.

[Mary]

So fun! My 7 year old daughter and junk hunting buddy loved reading this post with me! I think we will be hunting for rattles and more Santas! Thanks for sharing! Mary and Emma

[Kathy]

I loved this post and seeing the sweet collections you live with every day. So nice that you have a "comfort" quilt. Family treasures are extra special! Your home is wonderful.

[rosie]

Thanks for a beautiful little trip to wonderland. Love, love, love it! Love, rosie.

[mary scott]

Just think of how happy the original owners of these things would be to know how cherished they are by you, & being enjoyed by all of us here. My favorites are in your bathroom cabinet. Such wonderful colors!

[Erica]

I love this post! Seems like I pretty much remember when you got all of these things...except Bluebell! She's amazing!
Erica

[Lisa W.]

It was such fun to see some of your favorite things ! It would be hard for me to pick a favorite of your favorites .... because I love everything you have shown ! The flowers and the cotton head people however, are a bit beyond swooning for me - they are to die for ! You have the best stuff Laurie ... thanks for sharing !

[Melissa - Finding Vintage Treasures]

That linoleum poster is spectacular. I would love to have a kitchen floor in one of those designs.

[Mary Ann]

Oh my gosh, I grew up with a chandelier almost exactly like that hanging in our dining room. It had belonged to my father's grandmother. We would have Saturday mornings when we had an assembly line to clean all the crystals - remove, wash, rinse, dry, re-hang. After my father died, and we were preparing the house for sale, my sister replaced the chandelier. It now hangs over her bed.