Oh, I so relate to this! I can't tell you how often I search eBay for the words "vintage Mexican" ... just like I need anything else either vintage or Mexican to decorate my house with! I too have been absolutely, positive consumed at one time or another by Hopi kachinas and baskets (nice little counterpart to your Cherokee pursuits?), paintings by certain artists and of specific subject matter, garden decor, Fiestaware, decorative pillows ... I could go on and on and on! And strangely enough it's like the thrill of the chase does abate after a time and I no longer feel that all-consuming need to acquire, although I still do like to peruse what's out there -- y'know, just in case there's something I simply cannot resist. ;-)

My problem is twofold, and I'm not really sure which is more compelling: (1) Lack of discretionary income, and (2) lack of room in my house. And while I don't currently have a fixation, that's not to say that I won't develop one at any particular moment. But ya know what? I think the obsession is fun. I either choose not to acknowledge that I have an "illness", or just to look at it as something of a hobby. A very focused and driven hobby, that's for sure. ;-)

Good post, OS.

Perhaps you are just loving the Bergere styling and other older types so much that you're just intrigued. You can always find a spot for one more in a bedroom and sell another if you've tired of it. But then, I'm an enabler. LOL

I'm a bit more pathological. After I've finally made a decision and a purchase, I have to look at everything else out there in fear I've made a mistake.

I forgot to mention that after seeing your beautiful chairs, I've been paying particular attention to that style myself and looking at Craigs List. That would be something I could actually carry to the car. Good thing I'm eclectic.

I have a hard time marrying my love for clean open spaces and love of shopping. I have sort of turned the yard into the pursuit of things..but even plants fill up spaces pretty fast.
Of course, all this shopping is highly selective..I really think I just like the hunt and capture.

Sometimes when I go in a store: marshals, a nursery, dept. store, ebay, whatever, I am so drawn to the colors and beauty of everything that endorphins start flowing.
But I really have to focus: what do I need, not what feels good.

auntjen: Decorative pillows--I forgot!!! :)

parma: I love enablers. :)

bumblebeez: Yeah, it's weird about the endorphins, isn't it? The only other time I feel that way is when I'm writing and lost in the "zone," or when I'm running.

I totally understand the chair thing. I love antique chairs too. I really don't have room for another chair, but I keep looking at them lustfully anyway. Organic, I think you live not far from me, and have you ever been to the Furniture Cellar (I believe that's the name) on Pearl St in Cambridge? I think he is open only weekends, and only in the "off season" (apparently in spring/summer he is off scouting for more treasures to sell in his shop). When I went there, he had about 20 fabulous different wooden chairs in the basement. I would have liked to get about 5 of them, but I only bought one. Anyway, back to the chair obsession. Once I was in a gallery and saw a small series of oil paintings of chairs. They were gorgeous (yes, a painting of a simple chair, but I loved them) but not in the budget, but ever since, I have had my eyes open for a great painting/picture of a chair!

I've done this obsession thing with all my creative pursuits. I think it has to do with acquiring knowledge about the things we are interested in. They intrigue us until there is no more mystery about them. Then we move on to something else. I consider this to be an asset: wanting more knowledge. That's my spin on it anyway. :]
Diane

Guilty!! Consuming Passion purchases last week:

Child's rocking chair. Not toddler size, but medium child size:

faux bamboo

A few months ago:

(just saw this one on a website for $500. I paid 75)

Ladies chair

My favorite child's chair:

I think most girls go through 'fits & spurts' about all sorts of things. Remember when you absolutely positively had to have Lucky jeans/a black turtleneck sweater/pink ankle-straps/Coach bag/gold hoops/Ughs/sparkly eyeshadow/white hip-huggers/espadrilles/smiley ring/black eyeliner/midi-dress/Levis 501's/Daisy Dukes/spiral perm/Farrah wing/beige lipstick/platform shoes/fake flower for your hair/Granny dress/French manicure/fishnets/string bikini/navy pea-coat or something else that made your heart go pitter patter till you got your fill of it?

We go through clothing spurts, makeup musts, hair gottas, furniture needs, and collectible-itis. It's normal. And usually, whatever the current obsession may be, once it's satisfied, we either move on to the next thing, or wonder whatever possessed us.

I had a thing for antique doilies and painted vintage beds for a while. Now I'm over it. I was addicted to craigslist for antique shield-back chairs. Bought some. They are in my garage. I went crazy trying to find the right fabric for their seats. Found some. Now, trying to get the chairs united with the fabric may take some real time. That's because I moved on.

My girl is obsessed with moving to Kentucky. I'm trying to interest her in learning to reupholster antique chair seats instead. Or maybe get a spiral perm.

Red

allison, those are beautiful chairs. At least your obsession renders you beautiful things so it's not bad. LOL

Oh, I confess to a chair obsession. I CAN NOT resist looking at chairs, no matter where I go...thrift shop, boutique, antique store, auction, retail store. You name it, I look at chairs. I have to talk myself out of putting out money...I have absolutely no room for any more chairs, yet I can't stop looking.

I like to think that my decorating journey is more in the consuming passion category. However, if I posted my purchases during my journey, most would agree that I am obsessed with a capital "O"!

Hi, I am Paintchips and I am a footstool addict.

My husband is an enabler. He takes me to antique stores and resale stores and supplies me with the internet so I can look at Ebay and Craigslist.

He is coping so far, but I know it is hard on him... First it started with just trying to find the footstool, but now it has expanded to a search for the perfect fabric for the yet-to-be-found footstool.

I just don't know if he can handle trims.

sue: Yes! I've been to that store! I should check back, because it's been awhile. :)

powermuffin: I've found this to be the case with me. I start researching everything--books, internet. Then, when I've learned what I want/need to know, the passion seems to subside, although the interest remains.

allison: Those chairs are beautiful and special. The last one, in particular--your favorite--is unique. I don't believe I've ever seen one with a seat like that. Very cool.

Red: Kentucky? Hmmm. :) Yeah, maybe it *is* a "girl thing." I was wondering about that myself.

pesky1: Exactly. :)

jynxed: Let's see some pics!

paint_chips: Fortunately, while I do have a couple of footstools, the footstool passion, at least, has passed me by!

I love hearing about everybody else's take on this. It makes me feel less weird. :)

Odd as it may seem, I love to collect mirrors. The reason I say it is odd is because I don't like to look at myself in them, I just love the light they give off. I have a very tiny house (1400 sq. ft.) and I have over 25 mirrors!!!!

Hmmm....yes, I would say slightly obsessed....but not with a particular item....welllll maybe dishes......Hurrrmmmppphh.
My obessession is with ARRANGING stuph! I make sweet little vignettes that morph into a glob of things, then I rearrange....then I start over. THEN, I move on to another table or mantle or piano top or dry sink top....and yet more sweet vignettes, that morph into ANOTHER glob of stuff....well, you get the picture :^(
Yep, I am obsessed...DH just shakes his head and mutters a lot, but if I don't DECORATE his recliner, his table or his TV, I seem to stay out of major trouble! Thanks for letting me confess.....

when the urge hits....get out of the way...iggy's coming! i would knock a 90 year old lady in a walker over at an antique store if she was touching "my" textile (i'm sure i spotted it first across the room right?)

i am currently on a hund for antique tops. sure ds won't play with them...but they're cool and stuff and would make a great display in his room right? :oP

when i was preggers with ds 1 i almost paid more in shipping for a cradle than the freaking cradle cost...because i had to find the perfect one!

ART DOES NOT SPEAK TO ME....IT SCREAMS (woops caps lock) from across lobbies sometimes....

umm no, not obsessed here....nope not at all! (this coming from a girl with the largest textile collection in ak lol) that reminds me...i might need some more fabric for umm something :oP

Yeah, I had a garage full o' chairs not too long ago! DH was not amused. Some we kept. Even the upholstery guy and his wife drooled over one or two. But, I think I am done with that.

The obsessions I never get over are travel and color. Repainting is something that doesn't require storage space, unless you consider the shelves of cans of also-rans. Or the huge collections of tester pots. But, that ain't nothin' compared the the chairs!

Travel also takes up little space. Yes, a shelf or two dedicated to guidebooks perhaps. Piles of print-outs from the 'net. But, even those can be recycled when the trip is over.

Of course, I should admit to owning enough beads to open a store.

But, I won't.

Thanks!

You'll be glad to know, I saw several wonder chairs today but did not purchase any....since they were only sold in sets of 4 and 6.