[TechAPhi]

I collect:

-- Teddy Bears
-- Limoges boxes
-- Matryoshkas (Russian nesting dolls)
-- State quarters (for my Dad, I give them all to him)
-- Waterford crystal toasting flutes and ornaments

I buy teddy bears all the time. Much too frequently in fact. There is a gift shop at CNN that I pass everyday, and I must confess to stopping there once a week to look at (and usually buy) bears.

As for limoges, Alpha Phi has a series of hand-painted limoges that were designed by a University of Texas A-Phi. They are custom-made in France. Each piece is unique--and pricey! I've actually been to Limoges, France and bought a few pieces there. My collection isn't expanding as fast as I would like though!

Matryoshkas--my first and true collecting passion. I've never been to Russia, so I've had a few friends pick me up some when they were there on various business trips. I had a Russian linguistics partner in college whose mother was kind enough to send me some too. My parents are friends with an astronaut who flew aboard the Mir Space Station, and the crown-jewel of my collection is a piece that he took up and back with him. Other than that, I scour import stores across the US (and elsewhere) looking for unique pieces.

State quarters--since my heart isn't all in it, I just collect when I happen to get quarters in change. I give them all to my Dad when I do find them.

Waterford crystal-- Probably self-explanatory. It's so beautiful! I collected all the millennium flutes and am working on those unique colored hocs. Every year I try to pick up one or two Waterford crystal ornaments as well.

So how about you all?