Did You Ever Think You Were Alone In This Hobby?

I did because I didn't know anyone who collected plastic animals. My mom and other people thought what I did was something for kids. I realized its something that it makes me, me. The reason why I collected plastic animals in the first place was because my fascination with nature. My parents pretty much tolerate my collecting and friends think its cool but I get embarassed sometimes whenever I make suggestions on Safari Ltd's Facebook page shows up on all of my friends newsfeeds. I am glad this forum exists for other collectors to come together, we can help each other find figures, see other's collections, etc.

Never:) I found other collectors really quickly) However, model horse collection (my mail passion) in my country isn't that popular, and very few of those who collect realize what exactly they collect Almost half of our 'collectors' are little girls who just pick up every Schleich or Breyer horse they see without even knowing the breed, the sculptor's name and what this horse is faimous for (if it's a replica of a living one).
As for wild animals collectors- well, I know only three of them (and two are here, on this forum ). So I prefer foreign forums:)

I collected animals as a child and later not. In my 20s i bought sometimes a few species where i know i dont have this, but not more. I bought later more on ebay but i think also i am alone with this toy collection. Than i bought from Torben, he tells me from this forum and now...............

Oh, totally. Norway on the whole isn't a collectors' country, and AFAIK there's no animal collecting community here whatsoever. My family and friends don't share my interests at all... Obviously I'm nerdier than the national average by several orders of magnitude, because I don't just collect, I actively seek out information about the things I collect. What a weirdo, right?

I never thought about that before

But now I think..well, yes, hmmm..

5 minutes later : Yes, of course they think I am crazy
But not only beacuse of my collecting...I AM crazy

Just imagine, - an old woman living alone in the middle of nowhere with cats and dogs and horses and birds...and bees..and spiders...and plastic toys ...and...
Actually I am proud of being crazy

Sumo wrote:

Oh, totally. Norway on the whole isn't a collectors' country, and AFAIK there's no animal collecting community here whatsoever. My family and friends don't share my interests at all... Obviously I'm nerdier than the national average by several orders of magnitude, because I don't just collect, I actively seek out information about the things I collect. What a weirdo, right?

I love such weird people

Susanne
And it's really great!
I think that very few old ladies can say that they have a collection of plastic animals at home))

Crazy ????? Crazy !!!!! More than me ????? Who ?

I never thought I was the only animal toys collector, I knew a few ones in France but I guess they stopped now.

It doesn't matter because you are all here and I know now something, we are better and more clever collectors together

My bank account is in danger since I knew you too

I felt weird about it for a while, during the age of turning into a teen. Most americans I know collect trains, or playing cards of various types, and most are older, like between 40's and beyond. These thoys were my friends when I was little, and it wasn't until 2009 that I started seriously collecting. Then I found this amazing forum, watched it without being a member for a long time, finally joined, and yes Kiki my Bank account (mostly my parents right now) are in danger of being drained! I like to collect these toys because I love animals and nature, and I like having little copies of the creatures I love so much!

Yeah, of course there's that feeling but deep down we all must have known that somebody else must be collecting them or they wouldn't exist. I'd also like to point out that I dislike them being called toys as I don't play with them.

Being a collector of these things just adds to the ever growing list of things that make feel like an alien in an otherwise rather mundane society but also another thing that makes me who I am - a true individual.

Yes, before I really had anything to do with computers I thought I was the only one who collected animal figurines. I was so happy to find people with the same passion as me and it's absolutely wonderful to be able to share it with everyone.

It's interesting topic, thank You for starting it! :) It's nice to read all the stories

I started collecting (collecting again, first I collected animals figures as a kid) when I was 18, in last class of my secondary school You can imagine what teachers thought when I came with toy animals to my school (schleich giraffe, schleich musk ox on my desktop then) My parents however didn't laugh about my hobby, they knew I was more or less freak girl from the early childhood...
First year of collecting I thought I had to be one of not many adult collectors, I didn't know any. Luckily later I found forum and I didn't felt as much crazy anymore And thanks to forums collecting is much more fun!!!

ana wrote:

It's interesting topic, thank You for starting it! :) It's nice to read all the stories

I started collecting (collecting again, first I collected animals figures as a kid) when I was 18, in last class of my secondary school You can imagine what teachers thought when I came with toy animals to my school (schleich giraffe, schleich musk ox on my desktop then) My parents however didn't laugh about my hobby, they knew I was more or less freak girl from the early childhood...
First year of collecting I thought I had to be one of not many adult collectors, I didn't know any. Luckily later I found forum and I didn't felt as much crazy anymore And thanks to forums collecting is much more fun!!!

You remind me of a day when I got a figure of a Lich King from 'World of Warcraft' and brought it at first to my work place, and then to my English classes. I wasn't going to share it with anyone, but he was too tall (and the box was too big) to hide him into my bag. And so my colegues were laughing at first, but when they got him in their hands..

Cyhyraeth wrote:

ana wrote:

It's interesting topic, thank You for starting it! :) It's nice to read all the stories

I started collecting (collecting again, first I collected animals figures as a kid) when I was 18, in last class of my secondary school You can imagine what teachers thought when I came with toy animals to my school (schleich giraffe, schleich musk ox on my desktop then) My parents however didn't laugh about my hobby, they knew I was more or less freak girl from the early childhood...
First year of collecting I thought I had to be one of not many adult collectors, I didn't know any. Luckily later I found forum and I didn't felt as much crazy anymore And thanks to forums collecting is much more fun!!!

You remind me of a day when I got a figure of a Lich King from 'World of Warcraft' and brought it at first to my work place, and then to my English classes. I wasn't going to share it with anyone, but he was too tall (and the box was too big) to hide him into my bag. And so my colegues were laughing at first, but when they got him in their hands..

We don't have to worry when someone is laughing, do we?

ana wrote:

Cyhyraeth wrote:

ana wrote:

It's interesting topic, thank You for starting it! :) It's nice to read all the stories

I started collecting (collecting again, first I collected animals figures as a kid) when I was 18, in last class of my secondary school You can imagine what teachers thought when I came with toy animals to my school (schleich giraffe, schleich musk ox on my desktop then) My parents however didn't laugh about my hobby, they knew I was more or less freak girl from the early childhood...
First year of collecting I thought I had to be one of not many adult collectors, I didn't know any. Luckily later I found forum and I didn't felt as much crazy anymore And thanks to forums collecting is much more fun!!!

You remind me of a day when I got a figure of a Lich King from 'World of Warcraft' and brought it at first to my work place, and then to my English classes. I wasn't going to share it with anyone, but he was too tall (and the box was too big) to hide him into my bag. And so my colegues were laughing at first, but when they got him in their hands..

We don't have to worry when someone is laughing, do we?

No, we don't))

K907 wrote:

I did because I didn't know anyone who collected plastic animals. My mom and other people thought what I did was something for kids. I realized its something that it makes me, me. The reason why I collected plastic animals in the first place was because my fascination with nature. My parents pretty much tolerate my collecting and friends think its cool but I get embarassed sometimes whenever I make suggestions on Safari Ltd's Facebook page shows up on all of my friends newsfeeds. I am glad this forum exists for other collectors to come together, we can help each other find figures, see other's collections, etc.

I have similar feelings. I have always been interested in animals and nature, but also toys.

When I meet new people, I usually never tell them about my hobby. I'm not afraid that anyone will laugh at me. If someone asked me if I collect anything, I would answer. But I don't feel that the figure collecting is one of the first things that I want to share about myself, because it might sound weird to some people. : )

Actually at first I collected only dinosaurs, but now I collect also other animals, so my collection has grown so rapidly it scares me sometimes.
Before, I always admired the Schleich shelves in toy stores or toy sections at department stores, because the animals looked so pretty and realistic. I always said in my head "i collect only dinosaurs i collect only dinosaurs"... But then, one day I just decided to start collecting extant animals too. I think I wouldn't have made that decision without knowing how collectable the Schleich animal figures really are and adults seriously collect them. So forums like STS has affected my collecting a lot.

I started once a Schleich-colection when i was much younger, about 10 years and mostly horses. But I sold them all for nearly nothing (children are so stupid sometimes ) When I moved to an other city for studying and university, I saw the "new" elves in the local toy shop, I hadn't take a look for figurines for a long long time I always thougt "wow, they're nice", but because I already have had so much fantasy stuff and decoration in my small apartement, I didnt buy them. first . My ex-boyfriend gave me my first elve as a christmas-gift, and then it started... I am sometimes prett neurotic, so next to the beautyful figurines I am happy when I can complete some "families" and get rare items I felt a bit nerdy about my collection first, I always needed to explain friends, that I dont sit down and play with the figurines But I didnt feel alone because my new boyfriend is also a collector, he likes transformer and warhammer figurines. So you can imagine how funny it is in our apartement, with robots and elves (and all the many animals, knights, indians and so on that came in ) But I am very happy about this forum because I dont know any other Schleich-Collector in person And i always smile inside of me when I buy new figurines and get asked after paying, if it should be packed as a gift and I say: Noooo, thanks

I think its important to enjoy everythink that reminds us to our childhood, like toys, making bubbles in the garden or whatever. If it is fun, it cant be wrong, right?

Well sort of...I used to think that plastic replicas of animals were only for children to play with.

I think that figures are an art-form in their own right too. It takes a lot of skill to accurately sculpt a living animal, and just cause these figures are aimed at kids doesn't mean that no effort was put into making them. And I also think the natural world is so beautiful, I like the idea of having a small piece of it that I can appreciate and admire whenever I feel like.

If I had not gotten so into collecting, then I would not have met the love of my life

The Internet is an eye-opener, that is for definite

tyrantqueen wrote:

Well sort of...I used to think that plastic replicas of animals were only for children to play with.

I think that figures are an art-form in their own right too. It takes a lot of skill to accurately sculpt a living animal, and just cause these figures are aimed at kids doesn't mean that no effort was put into making them. And I also think the natural world is so beautiful, I like the idea of having a small piece of it that I can appreciate and admire whenever I feel like.

If I had not gotten so into collecting, then I would not have met the love of my life

The Internet is an eye-opener, that is for definite

Well it's thank to you that gave me the love of collecting Dinosaurs back. even that my past was rather gruesome, just thanks mostly to you that we both have something we both love doing, but being with you is all I want, even at this hour

But where I live, I am probably the only one that has a hobby like this, oh well we have this special thing me thinks, people that collect Animal & Dinosaur toys and models alike all have something in common others don't have, they have something to share and talk about they all interest in :)

Thanks to a community like STS, we can all come together and have a big party! whoo hooo!
So far I have not met a single person here that was being mean or so, STS is a good place and that is sooooo rare on the net these days.

But Tyrantqueen is to me the most special, all along side these collections nothing can replace her for me

I just remembered that my Autism (Asperger's Syndrome) is probably the reason why I get so obsessed with particular subjects. I can't put into words why I like to collect certain things over others but I like the organisation aspect a lot.

Then there is the art related side of it too- this is especially great with dinosaurs because no-one knows the exact colour of dinosaurs, so I am free to be creative in their colour schemes.

Quote :

Well it's thank to you that gave me the love of collecting Dinosaurs back. even that my past was rather gruesome, just thanks mostly to you that we both have something we both love doing, but being with you is all I want, even at this hour

I think it is really lucky that we met in the first place...considering that you were only at DTF a brief time I agree with you though, I'm very happy we have this in common

So I guess in response to the question of this thread, I am not alone, thanks to STS and Tylosaurus

tyrantqueen wrote:

I just remembered that my Autism (Asperger's Syndrome) is probably the reason why I get so obsessed with particular subjects. I can't put into words why I like to collect certain things over others but I like the organisation aspect a lot.

Then there is the art related side of it too- this is especially great with dinosaurs because no-one knows the exact colour of dinosaurs, so I am free to be creative in their colour schemes.

Quote :

Well it's thank to you that gave me the love of collecting Dinosaurs back. even that my past was rather gruesome, just thanks mostly to you that we both have something we both love doing, but being with you is all I want, even at this hour

I think it is really lucky that we met in the first place...considering that you were only at DTF a brief time I agree with you though, I'm very happy we have this in common

So I guess in response to the question of this thread, I am not alone, thanks to STS and Tylosaurus

Thanks to you for finding this place too actually! So awesome we have a place to be at the same time, I am online now I hope to see you in a bit <3 <3 <3

SUSANNE wrote:

I never thought about that before

But now I think..well, yes, hmmm..

5 minutes later : Yes, of course they think I am crazy
But not only beacuse of my collecting...I AM crazy

Just imagine, - an old woman living alone in the middle of nowhere with cats and dogs and horses and birds...and bees..and spiders...and plastic toys ...and...
Actually I am proud of being crazy

(o)): (o)): (o)): (o)): (o)): (o)):

Kikimalou wrote:

Crazy ????? Crazy !!!!! More than me ????? Who ?

I never thought I was the only animal toys collector, I knew a few ones in France but I guess they stopped now.

It doesn't matter because you are all here and I know now something, we are better and more clever collectors together

My bank account is in danger since I knew you too

(o)): (o)): (o)): (o)): (o)): (o)):

I am a person who is the least bothered as to what others say about me , esp. when it comes to my animal collection passion .

Right from the day one of my obsessive passsion [ way back when I was hardly 5 yrs. old ] till this day , I never had any second thought or hesitations as collecting plastic animals has become my integral part of life [ like daily chores ] and it will be in FUTURE also !!!

Do we have inhibitions in doing daily chores like brushing , bathing ? Do we stop eating as others talk about us or laugh at us ? NO WAY .

Similarly , my policy is ENJOY as u wish and DON'T LIVE FOR OTHERS !!!

Of course, I have been ridiculed now and then by people around me for this collecting madness . But again , who cares ??? At least , I am never evver bothered Nothing has affected me or embarassed me .

Nowadays , but , I try not to talk about my collection to people who are not at all interested in it

Great principle, Doc

I feel the same way. I collected Breyers with my friends as a kid and they all outgrew it, but I kept collecting.
Now and again I feel I need to "grow up" and just recently had a little meltdown and dispersed almost my entire collection.
But I know that collecting is part of ME. And I guess I can't change it.

-Kristie