Friday, September 2, 2011

How A Dog Collection Came Together

 "Mickey" painted by Olive Cullivan in 1955
 Have you ever admired mass groupings of things?
 They are called collections~ it sounds so important.
All it really is though, is putting all of the same types of things together 
so you can look at them in one spot.
Sounds pretty simple and it is...
but even I didn't realize that I had the
 makings of a dog collection right underneath my nose. 
Above on my bookcase you can see a collection of small containers and boxes, 
and then you can see a pair of labrador retriever statues that belong to my husband. 
He used to have a yellow lab and these bring Buster to mind. 
Mr. MD also had a bunch of other dog figurines laying about here and there,
 some still next doors in his childhood bedroom.
 After visiting with designer Betsy Speert
I became enchanted with her dog collections,
 which were totally amazing!
  Shortly there after I saw this little
 bronze terrier at an antique co-op and I snatched him up.
  Betsy's collection had inspired me to want my own~
and then I realized we had quite a few dog figurines ourselves,
so I started assembling them and it was so much fun!
 The two labs sit in front of a ribbon Buster won long ago.
 That grumpy looking bronze dog is hubs too.
This french bulldog came from an Etsy seller
 and hubs had the larger bronze terrier in his collection.
At an auction I bid on this bamboo style shelf for $10 because no one else wanted it~
I am glad I did, because it ended up being a great place to set up the dogs.
 The big chalkware figure is very old and belongs to my mother in law.
 It was her mother's and it is the spitting image of her childhood dog, Tiny. 
Not all of the dogs have a nice pedigree, just like in real life. 
I tucked in a squirrel that my grandfather carved.
Dogs love to chase squirrels.
 This is a small oil painting my grammy did of her family dog, Mickey.
 She painted it in 1955.
I have loved this painting forever and finally
 asked my dad if I could have it. 
I credit my grammy for a lot of my artistic abilities, 
and I am thrilled I can have one of her paintings.

Inspired by a post on croquet by Alison at The Polo House blog
I decided to add some pieces from our old croquet set.
The bronze boxers were from Dave's childhood too.
 A charming little dog collection might be my husband's favorite thing I have done.
It brings his childhood things together so that he can enjoy them on a daily basis.
My grammy's painting makes me smile each time I see it~
Do you have a collection just waiting for you to assemble?
linking to 

Mod Vintage Life

22 comments:

  1. What a sweet 'collection', I have a small dog collection too. It is a 'happy' collection isn't it:)
    Debra xxx
    Capers of the vintage vixens

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  2. I love your little dog collection. You have some really sweet ones. I collect the Staffordshire dogs - real ones and fake ones! :)
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia :)

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  3. I love dogs, real and fake ones. I have several dog from my personal collection too. I have vintage, porcelain, new ones, bronze and artwork. I love your collection, we could talk about it!, but I specially love your grandma's artwork, such talented lady and now it's a personal vintage. I did a post back, My little Friends...if you ever have time. Thanks for sharing more ideas on my passion. Hugs, FABBY

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  4. Amy looooove your dog collection and the charming bamboo stand they sit on. I find dogs so inspirational and are so decorative in objects as well. And of course love dogs in real life too:)

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  5. One day I realized I too have a collection of dog figurines and placed them together.... yours are charming!

    ~ Violet

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  6. Adore the dog collection. They are all the rage now it seems. Love the added croquet pieces. Just perfect.

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  7. So sweet! I think, even more than the collection itself I love that you've found something to display that makes your husband happy every time he sees it. I'm always hoping that the things I putter around with and put together touch someone in a positive way, but mostly Hubby just comes home and scratches his head and say, "ok!" Ha!
    : ) Meg

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  8. I think we sometimes don't realize what we have spread out all over our homes that really are a collection when brought together, Amy! I have quite a bit packed up, but when I take everything out at the new place I am going to keep that in mind. I'm sure it will make for a nicer visual impact to display all my similar items together.

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  9. Love the dog collection...I have one too, even one or two of the same dogs. I love the bamboo shelf!

    Nancy

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  10. you have a great collection, I really like it!! Have a nice weekend, hugs, Flavia

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  11. What a wonderful collection! I love it and I am tickled that you have the dog picture that your Gramma painted. She was a very good artist! Great post- xo Diana

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  12. Love your collection but especially the painting of Mickey! Your grammy was so talented and how special to have that piece of her!

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  13. I just love dog collections! And yours is especially cute.
    Brenda

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  14. I just love your dogs!! My collection is birds :)

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  15. Sweet collection...puppies are the best! Keep looking for an antique cast iron puppy that I can afford, no luck yet but I'm still looking!

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  16. Now *this* is a great collection. I love dogs, and I think that dogs are certainly a worthy subject for any collection. Amy, yours is fantastic, and I thank you for sharing it with us.

    I do not collect anything like this, but I do collect MacKenzie-Childs pottery, books, and reclaimed wood picture frames because I have photos of the kids all over the place! ;P

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  17. Oh thAT REMINDS ME OF ALL THE LITTLE DOGS I COLLECTED ONCE then sold them all them I got tired of them

    yours looks so sweet all together

    I did buy 2 dogs today and will post them soon

    Janice

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  18. So charming Amy~ your collection is just darling and love your Grammy's painting :)

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  19. Morning Amy,

    What a sweet dog collection. It looks like they are all ready to play!

    Janet xox

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  20. This turned out so sweet Amy!
    I love dog paintings too and once saw an article of Jackie Kennedy's home in which she had oil painting groupings of doge EVERYwhere!
    Oh I was beyond inspired!!!
    Love that little shelf and the x you made with your puppy painting.
    So nice that it is a family heirloom painting.
    :)
    xx
    Alison

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  21. I do love your colleciton and you did a wondeful job making it fun to look at. The extra bits and bobs fit in well.

    I started with one breed of dog in my collection but as you say, as wih real life, somehow those others have found a piece in my heart and my home.
    I need to do more of an "organized" collection to share them with others.

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