A collection that sings to my soul

A Collection That Sings to My Soul

On top of my piano at Henington House sits one of my favorite collections. There are lovely greens, touches of blue, little birds, leaves, fruit, and handles shaped like branches. Each piece has something that makes me want to look a little closer.

Now, if you asked me to tell you much about it, I couldn’t. I couldn’t give you a proper history lesson or tell you what every piece is worth.

But I can tell you this: it sings to my soul.

And that is a lovely reason to collect something.

Sometimes we think we need to know all about a particular pottery, pattern, or period before we begin bringing pieces home. But we can begin simply by noticing what makes us feel good. A color we keep reaching for. A shape that catches our eye. A bit of whimsy that makes us smile.

The learning can come along the way, if we’re interested. In the meantime, we get to enjoy the beauty.

Give Your Favorites a Place Together

I keep these pieces together on the piano because I love seeing how they relate to one another. The greens are different, but they settle in so beautifully together. Little leaves and branches repeat from piece to piece, and there is always another detail to notice.

Giving a collection a place together lets us enjoy it more fully. A small piece that might get overlooked on its own suddenly has a wonderful presence among its companions.

Try gathering a few of your favorites on a shelf, a buffet, or a little table. Arrange them so you can see and appreciate each one. Give them a little breathing room, then live with them awhile. You’ll soon find yourself adjusting a piece here and there until it feels just right.

The Pleasure of Looking

A collection also gives us something delightful to keep an eye out for.

When we’re thrifting or browsing an antique shop, there’s a particular pleasure in spotting something that might belong with our favorites at home. We can enjoy the looking, take our time, and wait for a piece we love at a price we’re comfortable with.

There’s no deadline and no need to finish. Part of the fun is wondering what we might find next.

Let Your Home Hold What You Love

I want to encourage you to enjoy the things that speak to you, even if you don’t know their proper names or have a wonderful story behind every piece.

“I just love it” is a perfectly good place to begin.

Our homes give us daily opportunities for little moments of pleasure. Passing the piano and noticing a tiny bird. Catching the light on a beautiful glaze. Moving a small teapot where we can see it better.

This collection makes me happy, and I’m glad I’ve given it a place where I can enjoy it every day.

What do you collect simply because it sings to your soul?

Catherine Strange

Henington House & Gardens

Historic Neighborhood • Hattiesburg, Mississippi

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