Traditionally, the beginning of a new year is the time to clean house and eject the clutter that's been accumulating throughout the last year. 

Many of us walk the fine tightrope of clutter vs. collecting.  The Litmus test to determine the classification of your treasures is easy -

How Are They Displayed?

     Pilied in the back of your closet:   Clutter

     Mounted in shadow boxes:   Collection

     Still in the flea market bag after 3 years:   Clutter

     Organized in a place of prominence:   Collection

Amanda Peele Designs

Whether you prefer antique, vintage, or contemporary toys, it's one of the most popular subjects to collect.

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   Collecting owls was very popular in the 1970's and   
   has made a comeback with kitschy collectors.

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Ever wonder what you could do with those antique handkerchiefs from your grandparents?  Frame them!

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Mirrors not only make a beautiful collection,

they're also a wonderful source of light in any room.

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Not many of us would think to use our bathroom as a place
to display a collection.  Charming. 

Multi-media designer Dawn Southworth enjoys creating

clever art through collections of ordinary objects:

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When she married, I presented my daughter with a shadow box  containing antique and vintage watches from the women in our family -  my daughter's great-grandmother, two grandmothers, my sister, and a watch that I wore as a teenager.  Brass plaques identify each owner and the dates of her birth and death.  There's a space and a plaque for my daughter to include one of her watches when her daughter marries.  Needless to say, it was a tearful moment.

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Italian artist Guido Cecere attempts to interpret society's

fascination with material objects by mounting everyday

items in unusual presentations:

Collecting represents not just the items you've gathered but the adventures you had in pursuit of them.  The things with which we surround ourselves say so much about us and, hopefully, reveal that we're passionate about preserving treasures of interest and beauty.