plate wall at the lake house
Posted on 17. Jul, 2010 by Princess Lasertron in home
My parents own a home in Spirit Lake, Iowa near the area where my mother grew up. A few years ago, the house completely flooded. When my parents went to see the damage, the walls were sagging and crumbling and the floors were destroyed–most of the house was then rebuilt.
The silver lining in that catastrophe was that my mother got to completely redecorate.
…black and white checkerboard floors
…black cabinets with wainscoting
…a gigantic picture window
…thick black trim and baseboards
…a gigantic new shower in the master bath
Re-doing a house is fun but it’s the accessories that make it feel like home again. Like a collection.
My mom collects Iowa plates and dishes. When the swamp house was fixed up and re-done, she began to move all of her belongings back into the home and found a special place for her collection.
Everybody who visits the house stands in front of them and scrutinizes every piece–the words, the hand-painted illustrations, the interesting differences.
I can’t believe that this many state-themed plates exist in the first place.
Let alone that my mom seems to have found them all.
I love that this detail in my parents’ home is so personal to them–not just bought for the sake of displaying, but a collection that brings my mom back to her roots in beautiful Iowa.
I don’t have any collections personally. I can’t find the right thing.
Do you?
Claudia
17. Jul, 2010
2:03 am
I am collecting little white creamers. they have to be plain white and as small as possible
Rachael
17. Jul, 2010
8:26 am
I collect salt and pepper shakers. I think it’s because my Busia did too. I love the Japanese ones from the 40s and 50s. My favorite one is a kangaroo salt shaker with the joey pepper shaker in her pouch!
lauren
17. Jul, 2010
9:02 am
your mother’s plate collection and the way she displays it is absolutely awesome!! you can tell that she, too, has a keen sense of style. if she would be willing, i would love to see more of the lake house. there is nothing like some ‘real-life’ inspiration.
i collect vintage wooden toy blocks. i just love items that depict letters and these are a small, yet perfect item. easy to handle whenever we move!
*
Jhrme
17. Jul, 2010
10:08 am
I’v started collecting N’s for our N wall. My new last name starts with an N. New ones, old ones from signs, unique ideas for displaying the letter mixed in with grayscale family photos.
Twisted Chicken
17. Jul, 2010
12:04 pm
I love the plate wall. That is such a fun collection!
I collect Monopoly games. I have many, many games of all styles and ages. My favorite are the vintage games from before 1970. I also love the versions from outside the United States. I try to collect Monopoly games from other countries that interest me like England, Japan, New Zealand, etc.
We play all my games, too. My games do not sit on shelves untouched…no way! We open and play all the games. That way everyone gets to enjoy the collection.
liz
17. Jul, 2010
12:27 pm
i love your mother’s plate collected! i have a soft spot for all things iowa since i graduated from iowa state.
i personally don’t collect anything. although my mom collected plates and precious moments, my maternal grandmother collected humbles and precious moments and my fraternal grandmother collected thimbles and bells.
Andrea
17. Jul, 2010
1:06 pm
What town in Iowa is she from?
Princess Lasertron
19. Jul, 2010
10:32 am
spencer/carroll
Nicole
17. Jul, 2010
1:56 pm
I can’t find one particular thing to collect either! There a few things that we keep buying (mid-century items, Oldsmobile memorabilia), but nothing dedicated like that plate collection, which is beautiful by the way!
Chaely
17. Jul, 2010
5:49 pm
I have an antique jewelry collection. This is a part of it. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3567/3776013114_fbb4dcb1a6.jpg
Can you call art a collection? I have a lot of weird art & pottery.
Amanda @geekdetails
17. Jul, 2010
7:02 pm
I have a small collection of teapots and a large collection of wonderland themed stuff. Aside from books, I think that’s about the only thing i collect.
Renae
17. Jul, 2010
10:17 pm
It sounds like you collect buttons!!
I grew up in Iowa -super close to spirit lake -totally home for me. And I remember my mom having similar plates as well. Oh, the midwest!
Oh, and fyi I blogged about one of your bouquets a while back…
Ani W
18. Jul, 2010
5:16 am
I have too many collections: kokeshi dolls from our stay in Japan, magnets from my husbands Navy travels and now from our family travels, books about Japan/Japanese related topics…there are a few more things, but these are the most interesting.
Dreaming Bear
18. Jul, 2010
10:08 am
Hello from an Iowa girl! (Cedar Rapids area) LOVE that collection…and so glad to hear their house is back in order. As you know, many, many families were affected by horrible flooding in 2008.
If I hoard art supplies such as papers, paints and glues, does that count as a collection? Ha.
On another note, I’m getting married at the end of October…is it too late to inquire about a bouquet?
Princess Lasertron
19. Jul, 2010
10:32 am
fill out the bridal inquiry form and I’ll see if we can fit you in! xo
bxcolby
18. Jul, 2010
4:29 pm
That plate wall is amazing! I’ve not seen plates hung so lcose before but it really works… I collect recycled glass (jugs, vases, candlesticks…) but they have to be from thrift stores/charity shops or ebay.
Gail S.
18. Jul, 2010
8:19 pm
Tell your Mom – Beautiful collection!! I love to collect Old Hat Pins! They are getting real hard to find and the adventure is finding “good” ones. I have quite a few (approx. 200) and have them displayed in hat pin holders.
Christy
18. Jul, 2010
9:04 pm
Love the plates! I collect vintage aprons and and glass bottles. The thrill of the hunt while scouring thrift stores and garage sales is at least half of the fun!
megan v
19. Jul, 2010
1:05 am
I can’t believe how small the world is. I’ve been reading your blog since I moved from Michigan to Ohio and got my first job out of college over three years ago. Life brought us to a tiny town in Iowa called Estherville…. which is RIGHT next to Spirit Lake. We now drive to Spirit Lake all the time… to go to their Wal-Mart.
I, too, am shocked at all the Iowa plates that seem to exist and are ALL owned by your mom!! It looks awesome though! xo
Kristel
19. Jul, 2010
9:49 am
What a neat collection!
I collect Boylan soda bottles. I love the vintage look. My husband and I want to try to take some of the bottles and make drinking glasses out of them. We just have to figure out how to make it happen.
SidneyKae
19. Jul, 2010
10:04 am
I love it! I also grew up in Northwestern Iowa (in a tiny town called Pomeroy to be exact) and started collecting Iowa plates as well! Most of mine however are University of Iowa related because that’s where I’m at for school.
Megan's Mom
19. Jul, 2010
2:01 pm
HELLO all of you who are FROM Iowa or KNOW Iowa or LOVE Iowa! There is no state more beautiful than Iowa.
Remember….I am MUCH older than you all are, and I’ve been collecting for years and years!
It is so interesting to hear about everyone’s collections. My definition of a “collection” is TWO THINGS!!!
Just remember…”Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” (William Morris)
megan v
19. Jul, 2010
11:49 pm
Hiii Megan’s mom! I agree Iowa is absolutely beautiful! I have only lived in the state for two months so far and I have fallen in LOVE with it!!!!!! I have been so happy since moving here! Your Iowa plate wall makes me happy
and I love the quote you shared. Such a great thing to keep in mind!!
meg duerksen
19. Jul, 2010
7:28 pm
i LOVE this.
your mom is too cool.
i am definite collector….and like she said i have nothing i don’t love. i am good at throwing out or moving on if i don’t like it.
i think you do have a collection….buttons!