Collections Pix

Collection Pix

Collections Pix

29. "Horse." Carved by Michael & his dad some 58 years aso.

30. "Horse"On Loan from Ragdale Foundation 1896

31. "Frozen Charlottes."

32. "The Three Bears"

33. "Treasure"

Collections Pix

Italian Souvenirs

Collection Pix

Posting the rest of the collections from the "Drawers."

Bakelite Pieces

The Collection Cat

Bakelite Chips & Napkin Rings

Buttons

Marbles & Marble Ash Trays

Garden Artifacts

Ostrich Egg

"Diamonds"

Stones

  

Bone, Horn, Wood, Amber Resin, Ivory Beads

Necklaces

Playing Cards from TINY to HUGE

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Colorful Wooden Things

 Beads: Wood, Metal, Amber Resin

Collection Pix from Friends of Michael's Museum

This photograph was shared by Paula. "Beach Glass With Blue Marble."

Collections Pix

Magnuts

 Shells

Retirement Party for Louise

Gregory and Michael just arrived home from Chicago Children's Museum where the retirement of Louise Belmont Skinner was celebrated. She has been involved with exhibits at CCM for 24.5 years. As Vice President of Exhibits she was instrumental in bringing Michael's Museum to CCM.

Collection Pix from Friends of Michael's Museum

This photograph was shared by Paula. "Beach Glass."

Collection Pix from Friends of Michael's Museum

Thanks Paula. "Blue Marble with Beach Glass"

Collections Pix

Drawer Collections: "Dice"

 Drawer Collections: "Gregory in the Garden"

Collection Pix from Friends of Michael's Museum

Tea Cups by Angela.

Collection Pix from Friends of Michael's Museum

This photograph was shared by Paula. She says, "This is my Buddha table in my living room, a collection of found objects that bring me simply put, joy, much like your curious collections." 

Your Collection Featured

Approximately 500 people a month are looking at this Michael's Museum's BLOG. How would you like MM to feature a photo of one of your or your child's collections? It does not have to consist of Tiny Treasures, just a beloved collection of something. 

We can list you as "anonymous," use your initials, or your first name. Let us know your preference.

If you choose, you and/or your child can be pictured next to the collection (let us know whose collection you have photographed.)

In addition to appearing on this BLOG, we will feature your collection on MM's Facebook Page.

E-Mail your photo to info@michaelsmuseum.org (Please only one photograph per e-mail. If you want to send more e-mails, we will use them at a later date.)

(P.S. Sorry, but we will have to "jury" our photograph for appropriateness. Oh yes, and please make sure the collection photographed is "Family Friendly" :-)

Collections Pix

Collections Pix

Watch This Amazing Video

See the world's most amazing miniature model railway if not "miniature world."

Click here to visit: Miniatur Wunderland

Collections Pix

Nature's Wonders

Collections Pix

Collection #5: Game Piece Movers.

The Sixty Eight Rooms

Marianne Melone, author of "The Sixty Eight Rooms," a fictional adventure at the Art Institute's Thorn Rooms, posted this on her page on Facebook.


"A visit to see the cool tiny stuff (lots of books) at Michael's Museum in the Children's Museum of Chicago."

Thanks Marianne.

In turn I highly recommend her book "The Sixty-Eight Rooms." I loved it. (Sixth-graders Ruthie and her best friend, Jack, are on a class visit to Chicago’s Art Institute, where they see the famous Thorne Rooms. Filled with incredible miniatures, the rooms, representing different time periods, fascinate Ruthie. When she finds a key that shrinks her and allows her to get inside the rooms, Ruthie wants to return as soon as possible. Jack is a willing partner, and when a way is found to shrink him, too, the adventure really begins.)

Collections Pix

Little People Collection. This collection is currently closed for repair but soon to be reinstalled.

Mexican Independence Day

OOPS. Sorry. This post was created yesterday but for some reason did not show up. Wishing our Mexican Friends and everyone, a Happy Mexican Independence Day.

A Baby Naming at Michael's Museum

Hello, My family is a frequent visitor to the Childrens' Museum and Michael's Museum with its Tiny Treasures. So much so, that we while in the exhibit, we confirmed the name of our baby daughter. On a cold January afternoon, we tried out various name combinations with the blocks in the museum.  We solidified it by  making the attached video. Good thing we got it done, because our baby girl came 2 weeks early! Just thought we would share with you.
The Blackburn Family: Andy, Jill, Charlie and Drew

(The song in the background is Letters to Elise by the Cure.)

Collections Pix

Another Visitor Display Area, Collection #3, this time arranged with old fashioned blocks which are available in Michael's Museum for people to use, play, stack, build, spell.

Shanah Tovah

To our Jewish Friends, may you be inscribed in the Book of Life for a good year. Shanah Tovah. May your new year be sweet and abundant! Rosh Hashanah - Happy New Year. To ALL of our friends, we wish you a Sweet Year!

Fondly, Michael's Museum

Collections Pix

Mexican Art

Collections Pix

Michael will be on vacation from Michael's Museum during September and October. During that time he will be running a series of photographs of the Tiny Treasures Collections in Michael's Museum.

Happy Grandparent's Day

I have many fond memories of my Grandmas and Grandpa. By the time I was old enough to remember, Lillian's husband had died so I never knew him. You will notice that in earlier days, when people posed for photographs, they put on their "serious faces."

Michael's Mother's Mother

Grandma Lillian

Michael's Father's Mother & Father

Grandma Sarah & Grandpa Max

Michael's Museum Mailbox

INTRODUCTION

During August we began a prototype for an exciting new way to engage visitors to Michael’s Museum. The idea is to encourage visitors to tell stories about their collections, ask question’s about Michael’s Museum’s collections, or whatever.

The actual mailbox, location, format etc are not in place but we did get a lot of feedback from our visitors. Soon you will be able to look for a delivery from Michael’s Mailbox to you at this BLOG on the first Monday of each month but probably not until the end of the year. Meanwhile, come back and visit to see interesting photographs of the collections, stories, and ideas for collecting.

We received over 200 notes (many of which were scribbles from our youngest visitors) as well as 16 pictures, 15 notes about visitors collections, 28 comments, and 3 questions. 

We have included the pictures and notes here and answered the questions. Please leave a comment to let us know what you think about the Michael’s Museum Mailbox! Unfortunately, we cannot send e-mails or make phone calls but you can contact Michael by leaving your comments on the Michael’s Museum BLOG at michaelcollects.blogspot.com. Looking forward to hearing from you!

VISITOR COLLECTIONS

Fairies on Horses (Thanks Coretta,) Cars, Nativities, Angels, Play Mobil, Giraffes, Pez Dispensers (Thanks Stacy,) Marbles, Barbies, Stuffed Animals (Thanks Natasha,) Over 300 Hot Wheels (Thanks Vincent,) Rocks, and Hotel Passes (Thanks Audrey from Weston Connecticut, I do not collect Hotel Passes but that sounds interesting,) Marshmallows (Thanks Carly,) Pokemon Card, Books big, medium, and small.

VISITOR DRAWINGS

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VISITOR COMMENTS

“My name is Michael too! I like Chicago Children’s Museum.”

“Thanks for putting a smile on our faces!” (Thanks Andrew)

“I love the Michael House.”

“Hi Michael. My mom is a big fan!”

“I love the rock collection.” (Thanks Holy)

“It’s very nice and detailed.”

“This is a really fun and cool place!”

“Thank you for making this.”

“Dear Michael, My name is Giavanna. I am half Mexican and half American Italian. I am 19 months old. My mom is very good in organizing things and she is trying to teach me. We started cleaning up after play time. I hope I will grow up learning from people like you and her. Thank you for sharing your treasures with the world!” (Thanks Giavanna’s Mom)

“We love your little collections!”

“Dear Michael, My name is Sax.”

“This is wonderful!

“We love your museum. Our kids always stop and play her FIRST!”

“1 million stuff!’

“We are having a great time here at your house!” (Thanks L.K. & C.C.)

“Today was just great! Had my daughter here with me and had a blast!” (Thanks Jaime & Camryn)

“I love mom!”

VISITOR QUESTIONS FOR MICHAEL

“How old is the oldest thing here?” 

The oldest item in the collection is the black and white wooden horse (#xx.) To earn his Cub Scout badge, I carved the horse when I was 9 years old with the help of my father. That was some 58 years ago. If you are good at math you can use these numbers to figure out how old I am!

“We love your collection! Very pretty! How and why did you start collecting?” 

I have been a collector most of my life. I probably started when I was 3 or 4 or 5 years old. I always had the encouragement of my parents. The items you see in Michael’s Museum I collected as an adult over the last 30 or so years. The only toy I still have from my childhood is the wooden horse I talked about above. The “Why” I collect is a little harder to explain. I just do! I love small things. I find them magical to hold in my hand or carry in my pocket or to sit on my desk. They probably help me remember what it was like to be a child which I think helps me be a better adult. Collecting small things is fun because they take up less space. Some of the things are very expensive, some cost only a few cents, some have been gifts, some I have found, others I have made.

“How long did it take you to finish collecting so many things?” 

The collections in Michael’s Museum have been gathered over the last 30 years although I have been collecting since I can remember, since maybe 4 or 5 years old. When a person is a collector, I believe he or she never STOPS or FINISHES collecting. I still collect things for the museum and to keep in my home.

MICHAEL'S QUESTIONS FOR VISITORS

What do you collect?

Why do you collect? 

What Michael’s Museum collection is your favorite?

What else would you like to see in Michael’s Museum?

THANK YOU

Thank you for visiting Michael’s Museum BLOG and for participating in the MAILBOX Activity. Now that we have tried it out and find that many people like the idea, we will continue to look at finalizing how the MICHAEL’S MUSEUM MAILBOX will work. Keep an eye out next time you are at MM to see if the Mailbox is ready. Meanwhile, keep checking this BLOG for interesting pictures of the collections, stories, creative collecting ideas, etc.