Cute Collectables

Many collections of this or that start with a well timed gift. People’s interest is somehow sparked by that extra special gift and a collection or collector’s spirit is born. Of course, this can take many forms from key-rings or jewelry to music boxes or porcelain figurines. Indeed, anything can be collected and can often lead to collections valued at quite high monetary values.
For the person giving gifts, collections are ideal hunting grounds to find the perfect gift. With a little investigation and thought the person receiving the gift usually gives up clues and hints on what is missing from their collection making life a lot easier when the festive season comes around.
The collection does not have to take the form of ‘things’ either. Some people like to collect plants and bonsai trees are perhaps one of the most unusual and unique gifts you could give someone with a green thumb. Once considered to be very expensive and difficult to keep, these miniature versions of full size trees have become something of a status symbol. Collections of bonsai trees make great decorating pieces and it is a superb way to bring nature into anyone’s home.
Music boxes are another collectable with the added advantage of carrying a favorite tune to remind the recipient of your thoughtfulness. Depending on the style required, you can even design the box to some extent giving it a unique and unusual finish. Sometimes you can also add a year, for anniversaries for example, to make the gift extra special. Many websites will design a tune especially for you should they not have the tune you require in stock as standard. Some music boxes come ready to be decorated; a great gift idea for the younger set since they can choose their own color combinations etc.
Yet other music orjewelry boxes have a common theme running through; for example, carousels or Christmas themes. Yet others feature cute animals or well known characters playing pianos or animated animals and are much favored amongst the older and younger set alike.
Liberace was famed for collecting anything to do with pianos, his signature piece, and owned many pieces of jewelry depicting the same. For the more modest amongst us there are a host of piano shaped musical boxes on offer with and without delightful creatures playing on them. Some come with interchangeable cylinders to give you a wider choice of music. Yet others have a memory chip – this is the 21st century! – which carries several tunes of your choice. Again, this is great for the holiday season since they can be left to play through the whole sequence and adds ambience to any home setting.
A rather unusual collectable is the egg shaped music boxes styled after the Faberge collection made famous by the Russian royal family. These superb objects add a touch of class to any elegant setting but with the added advantage of playing a tune also. They come in several rich color finishes along with a gold trim.
One of the great things about giving collectables as special gifts is that they stand a great chance of becoming a family heirloom in future generations. Try leaving a label on the bottom, or hidden away inside, with the date, year and occasion that the gift was given. This helps enormously with family history and many stories will be told of the piece. For example, imagine giving a superbly beautiful music box on the occasion of a graduation. The name of the recipient, college attended and year would be great social history to pass on down through the family. The tune could be meaningful to the recipient or even the family involved and will evoke many pleasant memories of that time.
There are several limited edition collections available on the market and Thomas Kincade’s collection is exceptional in both price and variety. When you purchase a piece of this work you are assured of quality craftsmanship as well as a piece that will grow to become a family favorite. The Christmas
music boxes are excellent value and will be cherished amongst future generations.
For the younger set there is also a choice of gold or silver jewelry. Try starting a charm bracelet with a new charm being added for all those special occasions. Many ladies today treasure their bracelets with a story behind every charm. Indeed, these form their own ‘social history’ with miniature wedding and engagement ring charms, stork charms complete with baby, graduation scrolls and precious stone charms given on special occasions. It can be the story of one’s progression through life and evokes great story telling sessions! As the collection is added to the bracelet becomes more valuable, both in monetary and emotional value, and is usually passed down to female members of the family.
Some people like to collect items with a common theme. Angels are a firm favorite amongst many and you will find them in many forms. Some praying, some with special messages for that special person or some just depicts faith, hope and charity. Some like to give angels as a way of saying ‘I am watching over you’. This is rather a sweet and sensitive way to tell someone that you are there for them.
The importance of gift giving sometimes is not within the gift itself. Rather the thought and meaning behind the gift is what will be remembered for years to come. But if the gift is the type that will be treasured then that is better. It makes the gift, and the occasion, that much more special.
Of course, whichever gift you choose for someone else or for that special gift to yourself, it doesn’t necessarily herald the beginning of a collection. Some people would not like their future gifts to revolve around the same old subject matter and would rather have a variety of gifts to look forward to. If this is the case, then the world is truly your oyster when it comes to choice.