A Baker’s Dozen of Resolutions for Collectors

Last year, my personal New Year’s resolution for 2019 was to collect less and curate more. If I’m honest, I’ll admit that I had more success in collecting less, but less success in curating more.

Perhaps that means the coming year’s resolution should be to focus and persist more, which, of course, usually help with any kind of goal, plan, or project.

Instead, I’m going to outline the basic objectives that seem necessary to reach the lofty goal that all of us committed collectors should have, which still is to curate all that we collect–and to do so in a timely fashion.

Here, then, is my renewed New Year’s Resolution–to collect less and curate more in 2020–as well as the steps to make it happen:

1. If I have a backlog of things to be identified and inventoried, avoid shopping for new and take the time to process what I already have.

2. When I need to create or expand an inventory system, don’t waste time designing a new, personalized, or complicated spreadsheet of details to try to record. Just get the basics down, and get the task done.

3. Make sure my labeling or inventorying system lets my family members know which pieces I cherish the most, so they can be informed if they need to make any decisions on my behalf.

4. Make sure, too, that my system, and other communication and correspondence as well, lets my family and friends know which pieces I’m specially leaving to them.

5. Work on storing collectibles properly, too, and be sure to keep them organized by taking the time to keep like things together.

6. That means investing time in organizing rather than shopping.

7. Be sure to keep beloved things protected as well. Use whatever boxes, bins, or other filing systems are appropriate and protect items from dust, light, moisture, and temperature.

8. This, too, means investing the time needed to protect what’s currently in the collection rather than looking for more.

9. When I do shop, if I usually focus on quantity in numbers, hold out for quality and acquire only better pieces that enhance rather than expand the collection.

10. When I cull, by donating or selling pieces in my collections, again consider quality and learn to let go of the mistakes I’ve made or things I’ve outgrown.

11. Look for ways to share our collections with others. Use practical items when entertaining or taking a dish to pass. Look for opportunities to give a talk (perhaps at a library or school) when we can educate others about our collecting passions. Share photos of nice pieces–as well as useful information–on social media.

12. Look for ways to use our collections ourselves. Take the time to rotate decorative vignettes around the house throughout the year–especially with seasonal or holidays collections.

13. Perhaps most important take the time, and make the effort, to display my collections around the house. Not just for a few weeks, but for the duration.

I need to get those pictures and photos framed and hanging on the wall. I can clear the clutter and create more space for arranging my collections, and I can identify a few more reasonable spots where I can add a curio or corner cabinet and get my collections out of boxes and on display.

For, once again, that’s the goal for the new year: Using and enjoying my collections more.

Happy New Year, Everyone!

Patti
The Committed Collector