Wednesday, October 20, 2010

WOYWW 72: Rocking the night away

For the 10th week in a row, I made it to everyone's desk whose link was viable at Julia's Stamping Ground, where the links are kept. I even went back to many that I couldn't comment on last Wednesday. If I missed you, I apologize. There were a couple that just wouldn't let me leave a comment, no matter what I tried. Now on to this week's post. After all, you are busy and don't want to hear me complain about blogger!

Last week, Brenda at Butler's Abroad and Kirsty at Handmade by Kirsty both wanted to know basically the same thing: why I have so many rocking horses (about 450, give or take a few) and if there was a story behind this obsession collection. So instead of showing a sterile desk this week (still having trouble getting anything artistic going), I will answer the question of the rocking horses. If this is your first time visiting my blog, please click to see the entire photo.

It all began back in the mid-80s, while on one of my many business trips. I met this woman who collected old perfume bottles. She had them everywhere in her home, and they all had to be hand blown from before the 20th century . She said she wanted her collection to be everywhere she looked, and even though many were displayed in vignettes, she truly did have them EVERYWHERE.

That got me thinking. I suddenly wanted to collect something, something I could place in any room in the house, but at the time, the trendy things to collect in the States were those country ducks with blue ribbons, owls, or cows. NO THANKS to all those options! So I decided to collect something difficult to find. After all, the hunt was as much fun as the collecting, and I've never been exactly trendy.

I had always loved rocking horses, so that was how it started. Mainly, I found them at Christmas, but I also went looking elsewhere.


Although it's a lousy photo, I found this ceramic one in an antique store in Arkansas.

This is a shelf in my office that holds many. You can see three in this photo, so I do ascribe to keeping them together. After all, I don't want them getting lonely.

I apologize for the photos. Seems my "good" camera is on the fritz and I am now using my old one that turns everything nasty colored.

On that same shelf you can see one of two votive candle holders.

And this is a vignette on my wall in the office. Again, very poor lighting (not brown spots) and photo.


I found this earring (very blurry in photo) in a parking lot. Only one, but too cute to let go. It now hangs on the container that holds my paper clips.

This was the best I could do in the dark of this office shelf. There are three here, one of which is the ceramic mug, I failed to turn toward the camera.

Although it's a poor shot, this is one of my favorites. It is handmade and came from Alaska.

No place is sacred in my office. The rocking horses are allowed to roam free,

just like these two, which I will have to show on my workdesk one of these posts, since they simply refused to photograph on the bookcase shelf. The back one is blown glass and the one in front is part of a pewter train set I got in Omaha while on internship there.

The small glass one in the photo on the shelf above is a cousin to this one, which broke when a friend sent it to me. Never letting a rocking horse die, I turned it into an award winning medal!

And finally, technically not a rocking horse, or even a horse at all, I love this one for its shape, which is a shoe scraper. Now who would clean their muddy feet on this baby? Not me, that's for sure. I hope you've enjoyed seeing just a few more of my many, many rocking horses.

Today's blog is another person I met through WOYWW. But I also see her on Project Dress Up, too. Sherry, the owner of Sherry's Simple Blog, works in many media. She might be making an altered book out of coasters, making paper dolls, turning matchboxes into Christmas decorations, or designing dresses for our monthly exchange. Sherry lives in London and even I know that's in the UK! Although I wouldn't call it "simple," if you like altered art, be sure to stop by Sherry's Simple Blog today.

96 thoughtful remarks:

MadeByKarla said...

Love your collection! Thanks for the snoop!
Karla #7

Sheila said...

A great story. Thanks for letting look at your collection. Now, off to find something to collect...

Candace said...

Love you rocking horses
Enjoy your day and thanks for sharing

Candace #15

Mandi said...

Oh what a fabulous collection!
Well done on visiting everyone, I tried then lost my computer again so failed! Very honorable of you to achieve it
Thank you of course for making it to mine!

Have a great week
mandii xx

Kath Stewart said...

thanks for the crafty snoop and I love that cute little rocking horse....hugs kath xxx

cheryl said...

oh just love your collection,you have here hun all so different yet all so beautiful,hugs cheryl 25

voodoo vixen said...

Aaaaw, thank you for the lovely look at your gorjuss rorocking horse collection... (mine is lizards and they my home in Scotland freely too)!!

Neet said...

Thanks for sharing all those rocking horses, to think this started with a perfume bottle collection. May you continue to find many many more. #22

Annie said...

You have a really lovely collection. I'm sure everyone that knows you keeps a look out for more to add to your collection. Will keep my eyes open :-)
A x

HeARTworks said...

Thanks for the snoop! That sure is a lot of rocking horses- my favorite is the earring! Patsy from
HeARTworks

Julia Dunnit said...

Oh an even greater glimpse. As you know, I am something of a collector myself (!!); even each of my christmas tree ornaments have a story to tell - and that's what I like about most collections..especially this one, great subject and each comes with a real 'life' story! Been so busy of late that am not sure when my next screen time for catching up will occur...AND I know what blogger's been doing to you - it's been causing me to wail and screech for a while now.Aggh.!

Kaz Hall said...

Just love your collection of horses, well done for getting round everyone too I struggled with error 503 on blogger grrrrr but will try agin this week. Thanks so much for the snoop

kazxx

Sue said...

Hi ya
wow very well done on visiting all the desk for 10 weeks, thats brill, i hope to make it round all this week, luv your collection of rocking horses,have great day, happy WOYWW, sue,x(13)

Morti said...

Fab display Elizabeth. I used to collect ornamental cats in the same way - now it's dragons! Thanks for swinging by once again - hugs to Bleubeard

JoZart Designs said...

That is really interesting but I'd hate to have to dust them all! Next I want to know if you have names for each of them? I'd have to name them but doubt if I'd remember over 400!!
Thanks so much for a great snoop, have a great WOYWW day,
Hugs JoZarty x

Nicks said...

wow what a fab collection!

Susie Sugar said...

Aww so cute
Hugs Susie xx

Hels Sheridan said...

WOW hunny, that is a heavenly collection of rocking horses... and I LOVE the one on the train... perfect! have a great day! Hels (40)

Helen said...

I love the rocking horses, it is amazing that there are so many different styles and places - and things you find them on. (38)

Lothian Crafts said...

Congratulations on visiting all the desks again. Blogger has been a real pain lately with not allowing comments to be left. I love your story about why you collect the rocking horses and thanks for a nosey at more of your collection. They are lovely and I love seeing them each week.
Elaine no66

Cardarian said...

Oh you have the little rocking horses everywhere so nice....I really enjoyed your post today! Lovely!!!
Hugs,
Cardarian

nnalorac said...

Fab collection, great snoop round your workspace, thanks. nnalorac.xx 64

Twiglet said...

Wow - fab little horses - thanks for sharing. What a lovely home you have too!

Lulabelle said...

Wow What a fabulous collection! Thanks for sharing.

Maria Moorhouse said...

Great collection!!!
Maria #73

Kate said...

Great collection....i dont collect anything maybe one day i will find something collectable lol.
Kate x

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing more of your rocking horses- I collect dragonflies, but I don't think I have more than 20......need to get back on THAT wagon!

Elizabeth said...

Great collection - thanks for sharing your obsession/collection with us. And, judging by that book collection, when you are not crafting your counting! Thanks for visiting my desk today - note to self: must do something with that bling! Elizabeth #60

Kate said...

Great collection.

I find some blogs I just can't load let along comment on and they crash my little pooter so I have learnt which ones not to click on which is a shame :(

** Kate **

Zue said...

It is really incredible to see such a variety of rocking horses. I love the last one ..the boot scraper, but I also think it is amazing that you have one half of a pair of earrings...do you often wonder where its partner is?

You are quite right about the pumpkin, I shall cook it...thanks for the recipes.
Have a great Wednesday
Sue xx 72

Jules said...

What a great collection! Thanks for your lovely comment - fitting work, PhD and scrapping into one life is hard sometimes, but so worth it! Jules (63)

The Crafty Goat Girl said...

Hi both of you, wow so many horses, how fabulous! I have about the same in cat form, lol!

Thanks for the lovely welcome for CoCo. She is certainly settling in well, just goes to show that love and a good meal can cure all! Fabulous workspace as always and lots of creativity going on! Thanks for sharing, hugs Heidi (#26).

Darla said...

Great collection. As you said, the hunt must be fun.

Darla

Tracy Evans said...

What an absolutely fantastic collection of rocking horses, I particularly like the shoe scraper on, not that I would scrape my shoes on such a beautiful creation, I love it because it's such a different shape, it's unique. Think we all collect something at sometime, I collect hearts. Really enjoyed looking at your collection. Have a great day, Tracy Evans x

Caterina Giglio said...

I don't think I have seen a rocking horse in years, and now I know why, you have them all!! lol! great collection! I think collections are fun, I once had an angel collection but now only have a couple, been collecting statues lately...now off to check out your link!

Blueberry Moonlight said...

Lovely story about your collection, thanks for sharing. You have so many beautiful and colourful rocking horses. I was wondering if you have favourites or ones that have particular sentimental value.

Hi to Bleubeard *waves*

Rosie said...

Oh boy, that's some collection you have there! I know exactly what you mean about it being more fun if something is hard to find too! Personally I collect rubber stamps, I just haven't found a good way to display them all yet - or is that I'm scared to show people just how many I have??? (71)

Maggie's Crafts said...

Lovely collection of rocking horses. :) Thank you for sharing.

Maggie

x

akilli melek said...

Thanks for sharing, i also wondered about the rocking horses. hope to see many more on wednesdays as we hop around.
I watched the time travellers wife and liked the film, so now I'm trying the book. I did twilight series the other way round - wont do that again. happy wednesday. caroline #36

~*~Patty S said...

always fun to see some of your collection ... rocking horses certainly are a unique thing to collect!
oxo

Carola Bartz said...

I love your collection, so cool! Whenever I'll see rocking horses I'll be thinking of you now!

Sherry said...

Oh Elizabeth, I am truly honoured that you thought of me and as I said on my blog, I've never been featured anywhere before, so that makes me feel very special - lol. Thank you so much!

Your rocking horse collection is fabulous! They are all so cute (and some not so, but still an intrinsic part) How lovely that you rescued the broken one and changed it to something very special. Thanks for sharing it all with us.

Sherry (103 this week!)

ps, when I saw Julia's linky list and you weren't up there at the top, I thought you weren't playing at first - it seems you have competition now for that first spot!

Plumrose Lane said...

What a cool collection ~ they're darling!
♥Sharon

Caro said...

Wonderful collection - I love the fact that they have snuck around the whole house for you to enjoy! Have a great WOYWW

Terry said...

It was great reading the story of how you started collecting. Definitely more challenging to find than many other items. Thanks for sharing!

Terry #4

Carolynne said...

Thank you for sharing, I really enjoyed the little tour of your horses

xx #99

Bluefairy4U said...

Wow, that was so interesting. I too love your boot scrapper, would never ever put my shoe/but on it either. Love and Hugs JO.xxx*96

Holly #83 said...

The horse you have from Alaska is my fave.. What a neat collection, I'm a Polar bear collector.. but with us moving so much it's gotten harder to keep my collection so I have a few here and there. Thanks for sharing with us.

Rachael said...

WOW what a fab collection!
Rachael (106) xx

Kym's Crafty Cards said...

What a wonderful collection. I'm a newbie to the WOYWW so please be gentle with me!! Best wishes, Kym (No 42)

donnalouiserodgers said...

I need your birth date - and a timely reminder so I can do you a 'rocking' bday card...

dx

peggy gatto said...

your horses "rock"!!!!!!!!!!
fabulous collection!!!

Scrapcollectr said...

E- thanks for the early blog post (are u changing your method of visiting blogs since I'm #88. Hee hee) I had to add a post script because of something amazing that happened to me so I hope I've enticed you to drop by again. Happy WOYWW!

Aisling said...

Wow... pretty impressive. I cannot possibly start any collection whatsoever, otherwise my boyfriend just throws me out! Before I started crafting, I had no idea that it would involve collecting so many things: stamps, inks, paints, buttons, papers, magazines, newspapers, ATCs, etc
Thanks for visiting me! # 82

Sunshine Girl said...

Thats a fabulous collection you have got going there! - thanks for sharing (no. 46)

dandelion dreamer said...

an incredible fun collection of rocking horses....you should start MAKING them too!

Andrea - Wales, UK said...

Didn't join in WOYWW this week, feeling a bit rough...runny nose and all that goes with it.... Doing a bit of hopping from my sick bed and I thought I'd stop by to see what you've been up to.
Lovely story and fab pics.

A.xx

Joanne said...

Wow! what a fabulous collection. Now I want to know - who does the mucking out??
Luv Joanne xx

Daniele said...

thats a serious amount of rocking horses that you have collected.....good job they don't need feeding...lol
hugs

Ciara said...

What a great selection you've shared with us. My favourites are the two with the woolly manes :-)

Ciara
xx

Lou Mac said...

I love your collection of rocking horses! They're gorgeous!! What an inspiring story!!

Thanks for dropping by and commenting.

Lou Mac. #105
xo

Susanne said...

Great collection. I love the little rocking horse ornaments from Hallmark, I believe it's one of their longest running series. S#112

Anne said...

What a fantastic collection , Elizabeth -- will keep a eye out for any unusual ones for you
Anne xxx

Unknown said...

WOW Elizabeth - I love the story behind your rocking horses and moreso, the reason for you starting to collect them. My mum loves frogs! When I was younger - I used to collect novelty erasers and my sister collected novelty keyrings. If I see a rocking horse ever again, i'll think of you!!

Paula x x x

Turtle In The Sand said...

Rocking horses are so much fun to collect. A few years back the local art guild painted carousel horses (life size). They sold them to raise money and you can still see them around town proudly displayed in front of businesses. They always bring a smile to your heart when you see them. A symbol of carefee happiness.

You mentioned the sunflower card on my blog. That actually is not a digi, but a Spellbinders Nestability. Lynn ordered it on-line.

Good luck on getting some inspiration. I bought a new MS punch today and now I have an idea for a Christmas card. My husband wants us to do the Polar Express theme and I found the bell punch.

Linda C #86

Anonymous said...

I love your collection of rocking horses! I think having a collection/obsession or two is always a good idea. Thanks for the peek into your home!

Shari #123

Diane said...

I love collecting things too, although I don't think I have quite that many in my collections (I like to collect collections--if that makes any sense to you) These are great!!

kelly said...

Great collection. Yes it must be great when you actually find a rocking horse. Like you said the fun is in the hunt.

Kelly #124

Pam said...

Now that is one Rockin' collection! I think from what I see that there IS something unique about the shoe scaper and I love it! SOOOO very impressed that you got to everyone's posts! How in the world to you do that and 10 times in a row! That is real commitment!

AmberInk is #1 this week can you believe that??

Sue said...

Hi yep yep we made it all the way round, phew, me Joey is fine hun just busy & forgot to do post! lol, sure she will remember next week, have good day hun, sue.xx

Anonymous said...

Lovely story about your collection . /you have some interesting items. /Thanks for commenting on my blog - I have managed everyother desk up from mine this week and a few extras.
x Tricia (80)

Ohhh Snap said...

Thank you for sharing your collection with us! Lovely to see all those rocking horses :D. I tend to have a small collection of collections lol. At one point I had 27 typewriters, but have whittled that down to 10. I also love Eiffel Towers, but I have a tower of scrapbooking papers lol.

#101

Halle said...

I don't have any large collections. Must be my ADD tendencies...can't focus on any one thing that long. Thanks for sharing your rocking horses.

Hope and Chances said...

I am super impressed by your collection, I love that you have them everywhere, I believe they come alive and night and move around! Also, brilliant shoe scraper but I agree, you wouldn't want to use it :-) Christine #14

Sarah said...

Still amazing to see all the horses popping up. I did everyone too last week - it's a hourney.

Thanks for visiting...sasa 19

Sarah said...

I mean journey!

lisa said...

What an amazing collection and well done for finding something that suits you as a person. I think if you're going to go to the trouble of searching things out it has to be because you love them.
I used to collect cottages but got so fed up of having to move them to dust they gradualy got put away and now live in the attic. A real shame really but I would never part with them.
Love and hugs Lisax

Louise said...

Thanks for visiting my blog - I love your rocking horses - I look out from them every week.

Anonymous said...

Good Lordy lovey! I can't believe that you just woke up one day and decided to start collecting rocking horses! Lol!

Hugs
Brenda 87

Unknown said...

I thought I had landed in a science lab for a minute. LOL
Love your rocking horses - a great idea.
Carol

Chrissie said...

I just love them, what a fabulous collection and what a wonderful subject for a collection too, simply charming!
Do you have a favourite?
Chrissie

sandra's crafty corner said...

wow soo many rockin horses lol your as addicted to them as i am to my stamps an promarkers lol

hugs sandra
69

Unknown said...

Wow that is a huuuuuge amount of rocking horses lol, but so cute - thanks for sharing and thanks for visiting my blog - Alex (133) x

Sue from Oregon said...

I have so enjoyed your wonderful horsey tour today! I have several collections too, but they only come out at Christmas!

Spyder said...

Love your rocking horses, a really lovely collection, and clever you for getting round every one, I got lost half way and started at the bottom! Have a great week, happy woyww, I'm worn out!!
((Lyn))

Phree said...

Thank you for a lovely post today, I enjoyed reading the story and seeing pics of some of your collection.

Theresa Plas said...

Congrats on visiting everyone's desk again! Really enjoyed seeing your collection and reading about each featured treasure!

peggy aplSEEDS said...

wow, i don't think i'll ever see another rocking horse without thinking of you! have you ever altered one?

Tuire Flemming said...

Oh, you have been so diligent visiting all the blogs... you see, I´m here only now!
Lovely rocking horses, but I like most that odd shoe scraper :)

Anonymous said...

Rocking horses....yeeks, I still have that rocking horse ribbon - the ginormous roll. I'll post some to you when I mail my 12 days pages. I spaced it. The upside is that I also spaced the fact that I have the ribbon, so there is lots left :)
I am a total poop, and do not visit many WOYWW pages so I didn't figure it was fair for me to link up this week!
A

MaggieC (Silvercrafter) said...

Thanks so much for visiting my blog and commenting on my parchment as well as my desk. Your blog is a fascinating place to wander through. Thanks for sharing so much with everyone else.

Janetlynne said...

What a great collection......Thank you for sharing....also congrats on 10 weeks in a row....sure which I could do that.

Janetlynne (84)

Penni said...

Wow love all these rocking horses.

Sorry I'm late visiting this week.

Hugs
Penni
X

shazsilverwolf said...

My first week in WOYWW, so I am gradually getting round the blogs- love your blog, and the Rocking Horses are adorable.

Lizzie J said...

Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment for me. The card background is actually a baby wipe that I used to clean up after spraying glimmer mists. The mica falls off when they dry but the inks look great.

I love your rocking horse collection. Do you have one you can sit on?. There is a workshop here in Kent that makes them and carousel horses. I always wanted one as a child but we didn't have the room so every time I pass by the workshop I look in the window and dream..

Lizzie x

Angela Toucan said...

fabulous collection, thank you for sharing your story