Hector the Collector

I'm a collector. I have many collections, but I like to admit only three: Postcards, Dolly Mamas and Lolitas.

Postcards began long before I remember, but I believe it really took off for me in elementary school. Not only are postcards a cheap souvenir that my parents never minded buying, but they are beautiful. They are the easiest way to reflect on all the places you have been. Of course, I will never forget my trip to Hawaii, but the trip to the train station in elementary school is a bit more forgettable (but not with postcards). Postcards are a wonderful conversation piece when guests come to visit - especially when they are easily accessible to them on an end table. This is, and always will be, my favorite collection. Here are a few of my favorites:



Dolly Mamas began after Christmas my freshman year in college. I went to the mall to peruse the after Christmas sales, and a tiny kiosk in the center of the mall, a 50 percent off kiosk, caught my attention. I fell in love with my first Dolly Mama, "Naughty or Nice." She eventually made her way to my dorm room my sophomore year and looked too cute on my desk. I remember one afternoon my roommate (May), my boyfriend (Hank) and I were hanging out in the dorm room after class, and May was wondering what "Naughty or Nice" was so she could find one for herself. I had since thrown the tag away and had no clue... I remembered something along the lines of Dalai Lama, but I knew that wasn't it. I'm sure Hank would take it back now if he could, but he found them online for us, Dolly Mamas!! They are loud, crazy, creative, girlie and down right super fun (and tacky). Too many Dolly Mamas and five years later, the collection is as complete as it needs to be. Here they are... Make you smile ladies with their whimsical nature and fun expressions (and they have a holiday line too):


*Some of my favorite signs they carry: Holiday Hammered, Rise and Whine, Domestically Challenged & All Lit Up

As for Lolitas, I would say I shared Dolly Mamas with May, and she shared her Lolitas with me. They are the same, but different... Themed out glassware/metal figurines with fun names. Both artists, Joey and Lolita, started by creating their ideas for their friends and today both have a successful product line that has been extended & extended into pillows, office accessories, towels, stationary etc. They saw a niche not filled and an opportunity presented itself. Thank you to them both! Here are my absolute favorite Lolitas:


*Themes: Cooler By The Lake, Hair of the Dog, Parisian, Leopard, James Bond, Apple & Pink Giraffe

While I will always love Lolitas, her more recent glassware is no longer completely "hand-painted" but has printed stickers placed upon them to take away the timely writing and more detailed artwork. While the new additions to her line have lost their luster with me, if you can find some of her originals (circa 2003), they are truly a gem.

All of this post to say that I would love to use my entrepreneurship minor and create something for people to collect. I believe a collection is an extension of yourself and your interests. Someone can learn so much about you by simply walking into your home - no explanations necessary. So here's to starting a new collection, my collection of posts.