Fanfreluche collects all sorts of things

I admit it, I am a serial collector. There, you have it. When I see something old that I find either beautiful, unusual or just plain weird, the first thing that cross my mind is "that could make an interesting collection", or "I can use it for...". It has always been that way, as long as I can remember.

It must have started when I was about 7 years old ( that's the oldest memory I have of wanting to collect something). My father is to blame in a way because he was always bringing me little things to add to my room: bird nest, sea shells, cute unusual rocks and other little items. Plus he had what I called a "treasure box": an old tin box filled with antique Roman coins, old matchboxes and other trinkets. I spent hours and hours looking at the treasure box, making up stories about these old coins. He was also a stamp collector and got me hook on stamp collecting.

Then there was also aunt Edma and Stella (not really my aunts, they were my father"s aunts, but I loved them very much and called them auntie). Their house was filled with antiques, and at 7 years old I knew what I wanted in the future: a house filled with antiques! I remember they were giving me the Red Rose tea Wade figurines and they kept drinking lots and lots so I could complete the Nursery Favourites set.

So, by the age of 8 I became a collector. It started with worldwide stamps. And with the years it expended, I touched all kind of collectibles and antiques: stamps, coins, banknotes, minerals and fossils, magic the gathering cards, vintage t-shirts, vintage china, vintage jewellery and so much more. 

Now, I know what you imagine: my house filled and overstuffed with useless junk. I know what you think, you've seen those TV shows about "hoarders". If I had kept all those things I collected over the years, then yes you would be right. I would be living in an over stuffed apartment, not a tidy place like I keep right now. I would long have lost track of what I collect and what I need to complete these collections.

You see I love buying antique and collectibles, but over the years I dropped many collections for various reasons: money, lack of time, lost interest.

When I buy something, there is a reason to it besides the fact that I find the item interesting: either it is to complete one of my collection, or I will use it around the house (I am a sucker for vintage household stuff), or it is a good piece to resell (I do ok spotting good underprice little known collectibles), or the object is so curious I need to have it so I can find more about it.

France used postage stamps and covers
A collection I started early in my collecting life: I must have been about 14 years old. I dropped my worldwide stamps collection to start more specialized collection, including France and Canada stamps.

Notgeld or German emergency money
I bought my first Notgeld I was a teen, on approval (not the best way to buy stuff usually but i did not knew better at the time). I did not really start collecting Notgeld seriously till about 5 years ago tho. I specialized in whimsical and weird banknotes: witches and witchcraft, animals, propaganda.

Vintage photos
My husband's grand-father left a huge photo collection from his early travel to Africa, Asia and the Middle East. That was enough to get me going on a new collection of unusual vintage photos. Anything weird I love it: funny, bizarre, unusual. I am also spending time scanning and classifying the old collection of my husband's grand-father. These photos have a great historical and ethnological value.

vintage French pottery:  I use them as flower pots and planters mostly. I love rustic, folk-art style antique French pottery such as Savoy and Alsace pottery pieces. 

Antiquarian books with color plates: I just love old books with color plates. Any topic will do: fauna, flora, maps, costumes, children books. The older the better. I always love the surprise of opening a book and see what treasures it holds.

I frame the plates I like, keep the rest for later use. I also make the nicer ones available in my zazzle store on various support such as postcards, ipad cases, mugs and so on.

I buy these books for the plates, and can get deals by looking for books in poor shape. I will never, ever tear a nice book apart for the plates.

Medieval French fashion noble lady costume by FrenchFlair