Collecting

Most of the time, I have no clear reasons for collecting something.

I just like whatever it is.

But I have one collection that's different.

It all started with

 that cup on the far right.

I don't know if you can tell from the picture, but it's a slightly different blue than the other two. The design isn't a perfect match, either.

It was made by Taylor, Smith &; Taylor, and the others were made by Homer Laughlin.

My grandma gave me the one made by T.S.T.

She told me it was part of a set of six that she received as a wedding present. They were "freebies" that were put in boxes of Quaker Oats, and someone had saved 6 matching custard cups and gave them to my grandma and grandpa when they were married.

I thought that was sweet~that someone would patiently collect these so they could give someone a nice gift.

I found out, when I was looking for larger pieces to go with my custard cups, that you can only get small pieces in turquoise.

So I bought a few more pieces, then discovered that I could get larger pieces in yellow. 

(The larger pieces that I have were all made by Homer Laughlin, and I've been told they were the precursor to Fiesta Ware.)

Platters,

Bowls, 

Pie plates, casserole dishes, jars with lids, and little ramekins with handles.

I went a little crazy collecting for awhile.

I like thinking about who had owned them before me, and I sometimes wonder if maybe they were originally a wedding present. 
That's what's hooked me.

All these pieces were well used when I got them, and I use all of them.

Dinner plates have been hard to find.

(probably because they got dropped a lot. I once dropped a stack of 12 stoneware plates and broke every single one of them, so I can see how plates would be scarce.)

They do exist, though, so I'm still looking.

What do you collect, and why?