Scott, for many years my husband and I were self-collecting purists.  We had
some given to us or won as door prizes, but we separated them, and used them
as part of our home decor.
 
However, we have found as we have aged and no longer have the stamina for
the self-collecting, and moved away from the beach, and the collecting
became harder and harder, we relented.  We began to see so many exotic
beautiful things for sale by dealers at shell shows, etc.  So, we have begun
to buy.
 
But it is a different feeling.  I love the shells in our collection because
I know the circumstances where they were collected.  The ones I have bought
are the ones I admire for the pure beauty and use for decorative pieces, or
pieces of art to admire in my home.  Somehow you begin to separate the two.
You have two collections - the sentimental collection and the esthetic
collection.
 
(Don't attend the COA bourse - you will be too tempted.)
 
Sylvia S. Edwards
Huntsville, Alabama
[log in to unmask]
 
----- Original Message -----
From: Scott Schubbe <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 1999 5:56 PM
Subject: Re: [CONCH-L] Shell Favorites
 
 
> Well, I might as well throw in my two cents worth on this topic. I'm not
sure
> how many of you on Conch-L are strict self collectors, but I am. So
expensive
> shells are of no significance to me, unless I have collected them, which I
> have not. I love to look in the shell shops at all the beauties, but I
would
> not consider buying any to add to my collection. I have some shells given
to
> me by others, that I display but are not a part of my collection. Even if
> someone walking the beach with me found something I didn't have, and
wanted
> to give it to me, I still wouldn't add it to my collection because I
didn't
> find it. I'm that strict.
<snip>