I collect too many things. I collect tons of toys/action figures/dolls/squishies/stuffed animals/minifigures (Barbie, My Little Pony, Sesame Street, Looney Tunes, Lego, Nickelodeon, Disney, Schleich, Funko Pops, Reborns, Cabbage Patch Dolls, Coraline, etc.) I have an entire room for all my toys and collectibles. I collect books, especially children’s books and books about subjects I am obsessed with, ranging from Michael Jackson, Nirvana, and Dance Moms, to art/artists, writing/writers, poetry, comics/manga, and antique books. The books also have a room of their own, which they share with my husband’s smaller but still sizable book collection (mostly history, true crime, and science fiction grace his shelves).
I have a huge collection of art supplies and stickers (which also get shoved into my extra “toy room”). I have a large collection of cds, especially from my favorite artists (MJ again, Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Enya, Simon & Garfunkel, The Beatles, 60’s 70’s & 90’s hits, Disney soundtracks, etc.)
I have an entire dresser drawer full of bookmarks, a wide selection of cute or nerdy notebooks/journals/stationery and a cabinet full of magickal/pagan themed objects I use for my little ritual altar. I also have a large collection of sentimental items I have saved ranging from photos to cards to letters to objects from loved ones who have passed on.
I am emotionally connected to many of the things I collect and the idea of parting with them is traumatic. I figure this need to collect things is part of the autistic side of me, but sometimes I become overwhelmed by the size of my own collections!
Maranda Russell 
27 responses to “I Am An Obsessive Collector”
This is a great post. I buy things with emotional reasons that I intend using but then don’t. I either need to start using what I have bought or get rid of it. I’m putting it off until spring…that’s my deadline.
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Yeah, sometimes my collecting gets so out of hand, I feel like it is hard to even enjoy much of it because I can only display so much at one time.
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I think collections are important. I know everyone is trying to live an uncluttered life, but if you’re creative you have to have things around to inspire you. At least I do. I have cleaned out and moved so many times, I regret things I’ve lost along the way. I like having shelves and little things displayed, and lots, and lots of books. Just seeing them and remembering the stories makes me happy. And I have many books I read over and over — I Love my picture books. They are my anti-depressants. With my art, I switch things out — store things in the closet in spring, put up things that have been in storage out again. I have a lovely postcard art gallery in my bathroom. They make me happy. I don’t have to live a minimalist life. Things, toys, books — they help me cultivate delight.
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Yes, some of the things I love do indeed inspire creativity. I like the way you look at this subject 🙂
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That is a pretty big collection. My biggest collection is books which unfortunately have found their way into totes in my basement.
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Yeah, I thought about taking a picture of our room of books too, but it is kind of messy right now because my husband also uses it as his office.
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That must be a pretty big sized collection then.
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LOL, yep!
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Love this omg keep collecting it’s fun and priceless!💕
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Aw, thanks 🙂
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🙂
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I get that they hold memories
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Yeah, that is a big part of it, even with the toys. I have a lot of toys from the era I grew up in.
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Loved this post Maranda. We collector people know what we want. I loved collecting books. But I bought a Kindle and gave away five bookshelves to the local library. Though I still have three bookshelves of hard bound books to treasure. My wife loves build a bear, though she is a full grown adult. We have about 25 of various bears about the house. Save me from bears.
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I have quite a few Build a Bears myself. Probabaly around 10 or so. I bought a Kindle a few years ago, but I still prefer print books by a huge margin.
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I can’t do that. I get too confused and muddled up and overwhelmed. I slept in this morning and had a panic attack because I couldn’t find a pair of matching shoes in the storage box of shoes that I keep under the bed. And I couldn’t find my keys or anything. LOL in panic mode, all normal “i should have been a hufflepuff” axioms prove me to be a liar lol
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LOL, I am pretty organized at least, even if I have a ton of stuff.
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Yay! So that’s why you’re allowed to have nice things. You take care of them 😀
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Yes, I do take care of my things 🙂
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Love this post. I loved collecting stuff when I was younger. For some reason I even collected beer mats. But stopped a few years back. Son is now obsessed with collecting, doesn’t like letting things go. He loves just looking at collections. Lego figures, cuddly toy animals, dinosaurs, Wrestling stuff, football cards.
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When I was a kid I never played with toys, I liked to either count them or just set them up. I don’t count them anymore, but I still love to set them up.
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I love collecting too, Maranda ^^
I think it’s genetic lol, because my Dad had loads of collections too – he was into coins, stamps, miniature cars. I’m into loads of things, quite often related to crafting. I have several sewing machines, dolls (both reborn types and BJDs); craft books galores, thimbles, bookmarks, buttons, yarn, fabric . . . and love being in my little sewing room where I am surrounded by so much “stuff” which, some people would consider “clutter” but to me, it’s all very important.
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Maybe it is genetic! My mom has so many things she collects too, but her interest is more in decorating than mine is. Mine tends to be more nerdy.
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You are beginning to sound just like Amanda, but I admit to being far from perfect too!¬
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LOL, we can be imperfect together.
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Collections are brilliant!!!
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I agree!
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