Annie B, a frequent commenter on the blog, won last month’s “Love the House You’re In” contest. Her prize: The lovely and talented Mel Kolstad immortalized her house in a collage, above. Mel writes:
I had a great time making this collage for Ann – I always love making them, but the fact that her house is still standing made it even better. Just a week or so before the contest, there was a tropical storm that rolled through North Carolina. Many of Ann’s neighbors suffered major damage to their homes. Thankfully, Ann’s house wasn’t hit as badly. Sort of gives a more poignant meaning to the phrase, “Love the House You’re In”, doesn’t it? 😀
To enter this month’s contest — and to win a custom collage featuring you and your house: Leave a comment on this post answering the question: What is your most prized possession? Please read all the rules here before entering, they all apply. I’ll pick a reader the last day of the month. 
Meanwhile — thanks to Mel for another fabulous collage. You can find Mel’s collage works on flickr and her blog, Much Ado About Stuff.
Diane says
I have a couple of prized possessions. One is a set of depression era dishes that were my grandmothers. Also, some pictures she had of herself from the 1920’s.
The other I recently acquired is a penguin hot/cold server I received from my mother. I remember it always being used when we had guests at our home as I was growing up.
Elaine Cantrell says
My favorite possession is a yellow chair from the 1940’s. The chair has beautiful flowing lines with a flared back that delights the senses.
Laura says
My most prized possession is the candy dish that was in my grandparents house. It’s a beautiful robin egg blue with a pink rose on top. It’s made by Brahm (?) California pottery. They always had it in the cupboard in the kitchen next to the stove. I have it sitting on the buffet that was also in their house.
Jennifer says
Over the years, my most prized possession has changed many times, but right now I’m most attached to the 1960’s era stereo console that I found on Craigslist and use as an entertainment center for my flat screen tv. I bought it to save $$ from having to buy a cheaply made but expensive entertainment center but have grown to love it for how happy it makes me when I look at it (which is a lot!) and the fact that it still works. It belonged to the owner’s grandparents and they obviously loved it as much as I do because it is in wonderful shape for being so old. You just can’t beat that cool style of furniture from that time.
Cara Henderson says
My grandfather’s Lundstrum stacking barrister bookcase. My father (82 years old) told me that his dad bought it one section at a time, as he could afford it. Unfortunately it has had a hard life, the glass got broken, my neice burned candles on it -a holder, and so has been repaired and restored, but I love it. And it looks really good in the 1963 red brick ranch we bought last year!.
Jen Carmichael says
Wow this is a tough decision. b/c although i’m a consumer and have stuff i love to really identify which is the most prized definitely makes you think. about a lot. i’d have to say however that it is my sewing machine. being able to sew and DIY a lot has provided me the opportunity to have things for my home i may not otherwise be able to afford and to be more self sufficient.
Susie says
Well, most obviously, my most prized possession is my 1957 home. It’s my first house, and after a year and a half here, I can’t imagine myself ever living anywhere else. The longer we’re here, the better it gets. We’ve done everything we’ve wanted to do to the inside of the house including making a pink kitchen and a swanky bar. So far this Fall, we’ve added a drive-in theater outside. And we have so much more to do!
My second most prized possession is my powder blue ’66 Mustang. My dad brought me up loving cars (especially Mustangs), and my dream car was always a powder blue Mustang. He and my mom lucked up and found it really cheap and got it for me as my first car. I was a sophomore in college. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to let go of it.
But, as far as home furnishings/decor go, I would have to go with my favorite pole lamp. 3 different shaped ceramic shades, one teal, one orange, one white. I got it at an auction. It was in its original spot in the house’s empty living room, and no one else cared about it. I walked in and gasped and had to ask the auctioneer to auction it off. I scored it for $5. I still consider it my best find, and the mother of all pole lamps.
Maureen says
I would love to win a collage – I have checked Mel’s Flickr photostream and really enjoy her work.
My most prized possession (aside from my house!) is my original Salvador Dali drawing. It’s a princess and a unicorn and it is nice to know I have the only one! 🙂
Mel says
Wow! Thanks Maureen! I don’t know if a collage of mine would ever live up to an ORIGINAL Dali (!), but I very much appreciate your very kind words! 😀
MaryE says
OMG–I just read the previous post, and it is so similar to mine! I just scrolled down to the bottom and started to write without looking at anyone else’s, and I can’t believe how alike our posts are!
MaryE says
My mother’s wedding ‘crystal’, which I have been enamored of since I was only tall enough to peek over the table top. It’s by Cambridge, pattern ‘Rose Point’, and is so delicate and intricate and girly. She said it was available in dime stores for about $1.00 per piece in the 1940’s. Now, they go for minimum of $40.00 per piece on Replacements dot com and ebay. I said ‘crystal’ before, as the original prices would lead you to believe that it is not–but it passes the ‘ding’ test, when the rims are flicked with a finger tip. It’s the only thing of hers I ever wanted, and she gave it to me. With 6 siblings being recipients of her treasures, there is an even distribution of china, silver, furniture, artwork, etc., but all I ever wanted was this crystal.