Compact Collection...

I had to pack away my compact collection during the attic conversion so that they were not affected by all of the dust etc. Tonight I eventually put them back in the cabinet, I just wished that I had taken a picture so that I new the best place to put them but never mind. This picture is not terribly good due to the poor light in the living room. I started collecting them about 10-12 years ago when I happened to stumble on an antique fair in Plymouth. It sort of took off and I have been collecting ever since. Here is a selection. The willow pattern one in he middle is one of my favourites and I bought that last Christmas. I had to dash between my house and my in-laws with just enough time to put the winning bid on it. It is immaculate and stands out with its simple blue and white colour.

The two little ones at the front of this picture are very recent Estee Lauder compacts which tend to come out at Christmas time and are defiantly collectibles of the future. So this is a standard item on my Christmas and Birthday list every year. (My birthday is 23rd December you see.) The gold one is called The Quilt is very apt.

The willow pattern was the last compact that I found until I visited The Riverside Antique Shop in Ely, which is a converted barn and has items on three floors! There is found the compact on your left as you look at the screen, it shows the QE2 and was made by Stratton. So it has been a while...until tonight. Putting them all back in the cabinet seemed to revive the question shall I collect any more? There are 70 all in all. Well I succumbed and number 71 will be on its way to me next week..The picture was taken by fbootbabe at Ebay and there are at least two more that I may be tempted to add to my collection, but I will have to think about it.

This is the back of the compact, It has an attached lipstick holder as well and I do not have many of these type of compact. With 70 I am now looking for anything which is eye-catching, and hopefully before 1965.

Sophie helped me to unpack them and was very impressed to be allowed to help and told me which ones she liked the most. I am delighted with this interest as I hope to pass them all onto her one day. I jokingly said you must never sell these and she said very seriously 'I am not going to, they are too lovely!' Ah bless. It is a collection showing an area of women's social history and the compacts do follow design and materials of the time and era.

So, do you collect anything? Leave a comment to say what you collect as I would be interesting to see what other people like to collect.

On the crafting front I have completed a tutorial which I hope to post in the next few days. Started a sample for a recycling project from one of my new books and yes, I am still knitting for charity. I got some sponsors this week too.

Well enjoy the rest of the evening and I will be back over the weekend.