10 Odd Things To Collect, Great Gift Ideas Too!

Almost everyone has had the pleasure of collecting certain items that catch their fancy at one time in life or another. Baseball cards and marbles for little boys are popular with another generation, where hot wheels and autographed sport jerseys, ball caps and T-shirts are some things people might collect today. Little girls like Barbie dolls and butterflies, earrings and bangles just to name a few. Below is a group of things that I like to collect and now share with all of you.

One not so odd thing that I have managed to get the entire household to jump in and collect is organic waste. It took some doing but for the most part we all collect anything that can go into the compost pile on a daily basis. I make coffee everyday so the filter and grounds all go to the compost. We also add all fruit and vegetable peelings. There are houseplant leaves, yard leaves and grass clippings that make up the majority of what we collect for the compost. I often bring home pumpkins that are out of season, bales of straw, bagged grass and leaves from other houses curbside waste pile. A few extra bags of grass clippings can really boost your own compost production. Getting the entire household to pitch in is easy when they figure out collecting is directly related to the quality of fresh garden produce they will enjoy for their efforts. I would actually urge all gardeners to take up collecting organic material if they are not already in the habit.

This item I like to collect has a sentimental appeal at first. The bricks I pick up come from Lake Michigan. They can be found in rock piles along the beaches. Some of the bricks are small rounded pieces and some of them are larger. Most of what I get come in two colors. One is orange and the other is yellow. Now my attraction is because of the buildings and structures that these bricks have payed the due of creation. Old bricks that have fallen from time, left to wash on the beach in the weather. I use them in my garden. I use them for splash areas, also for trim and border type affects. Sometimes they set in a heap until I need them but I always like to bring some home when I find them.

Sounds a little crazy. I never put them in the trash. They fall in the yard throughout the year. I gather them up and pile them near the compost. Many times you cannot figure out where the compost begins and the stick pile ends. They work together as one mass. The sticks I use for all kinds of things. Most often they become the beginning of a fire in the fire-pit. We use it at night when we hang out in the yard. Dibble stick for plantings at hand, make a marker for freshly planted seeds, tie a string to a couple of stout ones to make a light weight trellis. Sticks come in handy for many chores around the yard. The pile also serves as a wintertime nest for various animals. I am sure that rabbits, terrapins, mice, voles and maybe even a opossum or raccoon enjoy the large compost and stick pile through the cold months.this collecting behavior serves many purposes and is actually one of my favorites.

This has been on going behavior for about thirty two years. It might sound weird but visual stimulation is a key here. It comes from the combination of the jar shape, the collected materials inside and the color and texture of the package as a unit. Collecting in jars can be fun because you can stick to one theme such as the beach or the ocean or you can go eclectic and mix it up. I have this one jar I have been keeping for about thirty years.The interesting thing about a jar full of collected items is that you can keep a bored child busy with it for quite some time. I have used these jars as a way to entertain children who come to visit and get bored waiting for their parents to leave. It is especially good with children between the ages of 5 to 9. You do have to make sure the kids are careful with your jars ingredients but, that teaches them respect and consideration so it is good for self discipline too! Very small children are better with a basket of collected items that are safe for them to handle. What you put in the jar is totally up to you.

Dice have always been a fascinating thing to me. These little cubes with the dots on each side have been around for a long time and they have warmed a spot in my collecting heart. I do not seek them out but I always put them in a jar when I find one, two or, three. It started when my Mother took a trip to Las Vegas and brought me back a couple of shooters from some casino. I have been keeping the dice every since. I would say it has been some 40 plus years. I do not collect these for another reason. Throwing the bones is an ancient term for tossing the dice. Which leads me to another thing I enjoy collecting.

Some will be fragments of past lives, like the bones of a bird or the teeth of a shark. My collection was quite extensive but a recent mishap lost much of this collection. My newest favorites are a couple of Horseshoe Crab shells. They made a long trip from Florida via my suitcase. I have them pictured here amongst other things.The thing about this collection that attracts my attention is the life gone by. There was a time when the item was alive and functioning on this planet. That is very cool to me anyway. These you have to take care with because they can often have a foul odor unless they are cleaned and dried properly. That does not stop me from bringing them to the house. I bleach, bake or boil anything that can stand the pressure. I let the sun cure what is too fragile to scrub.

Yes it is different but, this collecting started because I would salvage parts from the broken pieces when I first started dabbling with jewelry making. From time to time I still pilfer from old costume jewelry. Mostly, I just have these items because I like some unique thing about the piece. The kids seem to like these pieces too! Maybe it is the Peter Pan part of me that won't let go!

Lots of people keep rocks I think. I get them for memories of the places I travel to. Not always too impressive, some of the rocks I keep because I like the way they feel in my hand. I do not classify or worry with anything more than a personal attraction or function I will use them for. Many of the rocks I keep wind up in my aquarium.

Rusty objects catch my attention for some reason. I like old stuff. Rust always speaks old to me. Big washers are always cool. I like giant nails and chains and the more rust the better I like them. I never do much with the rusty stuff I keep.I keep it just because. Guess you could call me a pack-rat. Go ahead it won't hurt my feelings.

I was known for taking in critters that were misplaced when I owned land in Texas but now I am speaking of a horse of a different color. I have some sort of infatuation or simple attraction to those little not so furry friends small children seem to have a hard time hanging on to. I picked up a small rubber dolphin in the street where I was getting in my car just yesterday. Tiny toys are fun for me and the best thing is they will fit in the jars.

In another one of my life times I had this thing for collecting odd looking shoes. I would purchase a pair that were unique and out of the ordinary. I no longer go there but, It seems Paul Edmondson has a brother who likes to collect shoes. He left a comment on this HubPage expressing his interest in these shoes of a different decor.

Speaking of decor there are many collectors of porcelain figurines. If you are one of them or know someone who is, my sister is offering a collection of items in her Ebay Store that is something to consider. Check out September's Collectibles. Christmas is just around the corner and she has some wonderful pieces for sale.

Coins have been a very popular collectible throughout history. This HubPage tells the story of a few rare coins that made there way into one of my collection boxes many years ago. It is quite a story, well worth reading and sharing with your friends. So be sure to check it out too.