If you've been reading my blog, you probably can tell that I really like Western style. I'm always picking up some little (or big) Western item for my home. Several years ago I started a collection of tiny Western Boots. The picture to the right is the very first boot that I found and couldn't resist. That started it all. This boot is probably a toothpick holder and is about 3" tall. It's rather retro in style, I think. I now have about 20 different little boots made from all sorts of materials, from metal to carved wood, resin and china. Some have been gifts and some I've found on vacations or just special shopping trips with friends.
I think the hunt for things in a collection is probably the most fun part of collecting to me. It's probably wise to collect valuable items as an investment, but I tend to attach too much sentimental value to the items that I collect to ever think about parting with them.
Another Western collection that I have is Christmas Tree Ornaments. That started with a cute cowgirl and stick horse bought at a craft show for my daughter when she was about 3 or 4. She's 30 now, so I've had some time to add to that collection, too. I now have enough ornaments to decorate one whole tree western style. These ornaments range from Cowboy Snowmen and Santa's to horse figures that match every horse we have or have had, to Rocking Horses and rusty stars. I'm thinking of starting a sub-collection of Cowboy Snowmen since I seem to keep finding such cute ones that I can't resist!
As I said earlier, I think the best part of collecting is the hunt for items or receiving new ones as gifts from someone who took the time to notice that you like a particular type of item.
Happy Collecting!
