The other day I was reading a story about swanky party thrower Colin Cowie, who has a new book out, Colin Cowie Chic. One of his tips for adding a dose of fabulousness to your everyday life is NOT saving your good china for the holidays only, but to use it all the time. I couldn’t agree more. What’s the point of owning something that you don’t ever get to enjoy? Cowie told PEOPLE magazine: “In ‘94 an earthquake broke pieces I had collected — and hardly ever used. Now I use my favorites every day.” Of course, we don’t actually own good china… but if I did, I would gladly use it all the time. The same should hold true for all precious collectibles — even the Pyrex! What about you, do you use your heirloom quality homegoods, or keep them for “display only”? — Angela M.

P.S. Shown above, Tiffany’s Audoubon place setting. The cost of one plate? Ninety bucks!

Apartment Therapy had a nice little post on what designers collect. Angela collects antlers and refrigeratorware. I’ve developed a thing for vintage Pyrex. (Somehow I’ve just noticed the amazing site Pyrex Love! Such great photos, like the one above, and such great info.) So what do you collect? Share with us in comments, and include links if you have photos online. (If no photos online, feel free to contact letters at shelterrific dot com.) We may feature some of your fine collections in a future post. –Mary T.

Gary Steinborn’s Venice Clay is perhaps best known for the Buddha Cat, but it was his small and simple Venice Clay dog sculpture that first caught my eye. Equal parts cool, modern, and adorable, Venice Clay’s dogs and cats have a matte glaze in a variety of rich colors. Combined with their small size, it makes the sculptures both pleasing to look at and inviting to touch — I find myself staring at a friend’s dog sculpture every time I’m in her kitchen. With prices from $18-$45, I’m putting these on my gift list for the dog and cat lovers in my life (myself included). –Mary T.

Last week The New York Times magazine took a peek inside chef Rick Bayless‘ Chicago home. He and his wife and daughter live in a 3,600-square-foot converted tavern that dates back to 1916. Can you imagine?! Among the collectibles you’ll find in his place — including lots of Mexican folk art to go with his spicy cuisine — is an enviable 27-piece Frankoma serving set. Frankoma is a type of ceramic that comes from Oklahoma, made from locally found red clay and glazed in greens and browns. It’s the kind of thing you can find quite easily in thrift stores, and on eBay once you know what you’re looking for. Its earthy hues and hefty weight have a rustic beauty you can enjoy every day — though certainly fans of the style hunt down and treasure its more rare pieces. Read more on collecting Frankoma at this link at about.com.

We spotted this fun entertaining idea in the new issue of Met Home and just had to investigate for ourselves. It’s Bord Bar — revamped, customized airline trollies from days gone by. Each one has traveled the globe, and tells its own story through dents and dings. You can select a pattern and design for your trolley, and then add drawers and boxes within to your liking. They’d be perfect for a groovy home office, or perhaps your own swish drinks trolly (mini bar bottles, not included). About $1400 each. Click here to see more.

I just love the deadpan expressions of the animals in British artist Kay McDonagh’s original etchings. Lambchop (above), for instance, absolutely kills me. I’d totally hang these in a spot normally reserved for more serious portraits, like the dining room or along a grand stairway, where they’d elicit a smile every time you passed.– Leah H.

See more of Leah’s great finds on her blog, More Ways to Waste Time.

I swear I’d cook more if I had kitchenware this great-looking. I mean, who could help but be inspired to start something yummy bubbling on the stove if you got to look at it in this French-made red enamel pot by Dansk? The vintage, like-new pot was part of Dansk’s classic “Kobenstyle” line and holds two quarts. Of what — well, that’s entirely up to you. Current bid: $22. — Leah H.

(P.S. Don’t miss the matching 5.5-quart red Dansk Dutch oven currently up for auction from another eBay seller.)

See more of Leah’s great finds on her blog, More Ways to Waste Time.

One of the things I like about eBay — and that not everyone realizes — is that you can find a lot more than just used and vintage items there. In fact, there are thousands of eBay sellers unloading brand-new, name-brand products, often at a fraction of the original retail prices. (Many live near outlet stores and make a living selling their finds on eBay; others seem to have some sort of inside track on company overstock.)

Take this melamine Matryoshka platter and matching dessert plates from designer Thomas Paul’s popular Folk collection. With “Buy It Now,” the platter is $15 and the plate set is $24. (Psst — the seller also has a bunch of Jonathan Adler stuff.) — Leah H.

See more of Leah’s great finds on her blog, More Ways to Waste Time.

Granted, the faded Eighties-era fabric is beyond fugly — but these classic midcentury modern chairs have potential written all over them.The bentwood clamshell chairs, which retain their original “Kodawood of Miami” tags, were designed by Danish icon Finn Juhl, whose furniture regularly fetches hundreds and even thousands of dollars at auction and from high-end dealers. With the seats and backrests recovered in a poppy graphic print, you’ll have some super-stylish — not to mention valuable — seating on your hands. Current bid: $10 for the pair — Leah H.

See more of Leah’s great finds on her blog, More Ways to Waste Time.

I really like these colorful streetscapes by Hampshire, England illustrator Nina Clough (aka Etsy seller artquirk). Clough employs a variety of mediums in her work: Pen and ink, charcoal, collage, digital coloring, watercolor, and gouache. As the artist herself says, the mood of her creations alternates between “dark and miserable and bright and childish.” One of my favorites, above: Rooftops in Prague, $25. — Leah H.

See more of Leah’s great finds on her blog, More Ways to Waste Time.