When does collecting become an obsession? Is there a cut off point?
I've been collecting costume jewelry for many, many years. I currently have over 10,000 pieces. Fortunately, it takes up little storage space. Nobody really knows how much jewelry I really have because it takes up less than 12 square feet of space.
Does having that much jewelry make it an obsession? I decided that perhaps I have gone a bit over the top, so I'm currently winnowing out my collection by selling pieces on the internet. Now, I'm going to stick to two main focus areas for the jewelry I plan to keep. Retro, especially the Coro retro, and plastics. In a sense, they are two opposites. The retro has long, cleans lines and simple designs and perhaps a single rhinestone for color. The plastics, especially the celluloid, can have very complex floral designs and lots of color.
Will this bring down the size of my collection? Probably not. In order to obtain the pieces I want, I often have to purchase whole lots of jewelry at auctions and estate sales. Is it worth it? Absolutely! The treasure hunt is part of the obsession too.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Who Am I?
Well, I guess I could get very existential on the topic, or even wax poetic, but I'll just stick to a few basics.
I've been interested in costume jewelry since I was little girl. My mother worked for a large jewelry company as an enameler. When they would do their inventory, they would dispose of flawed stones of all types. She would bring those stones home and put them in her jewelry box, where I would find them and play with them.
Of course, that box was full of all kinds of other jewelry too. I remember large Trifari brooches, sparkling Judy Lee sets, blue Pell rhinestone brooches and rings - lots of rings. Diamonds, emeralds, rubies, turquoise... I could go on. My Mom loved rings more than any other type of jewelry. I'm sure that many people have similar memories of the magical items in their Mom's jewelry box.
Ever since those days I've been fascinated with costume jewelry. I've been collecting for years and continue to refine my collection. I support my passion by buying and selling at antique malls, garage sales, flea markets and the internet.
I'd love to hear other stories of how people got interested in costume jewelry.
I've been interested in costume jewelry since I was little girl. My mother worked for a large jewelry company as an enameler. When they would do their inventory, they would dispose of flawed stones of all types. She would bring those stones home and put them in her jewelry box, where I would find them and play with them.
Of course, that box was full of all kinds of other jewelry too. I remember large Trifari brooches, sparkling Judy Lee sets, blue Pell rhinestone brooches and rings - lots of rings. Diamonds, emeralds, rubies, turquoise... I could go on. My Mom loved rings more than any other type of jewelry. I'm sure that many people have similar memories of the magical items in their Mom's jewelry box.
Ever since those days I've been fascinated with costume jewelry. I've been collecting for years and continue to refine my collection. I support my passion by buying and selling at antique malls, garage sales, flea markets and the internet.
I'd love to hear other stories of how people got interested in costume jewelry.
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