KIRSTY  I’ve always collected. I first began collecting as a young child, beginning with teddy bears, and progressing to china teacups, porcelain dolls, Polly Pockets (35) and all the Spice Girls’ memorabilia. Girl stuff. I also started serious collections at birth. Or rather, they were started for me. I received my first coin set when I was born – a 1987 British Coin set. As a preteen that interest grew. I became fascinated with how coins were made, their origins and learning about the history of money throughout the world. I now have 100+ coins and coin sets.

In my teens my parents travelled a lot and would always bring me back t-shirts and other useless items. On one trip to Aruba I said to them, “bring me back a license plate.” That launched my collection of license plates, road signs and light paraphernalia. Not to mention a terrific collection of bottle caps.

I still collect all of those things, but university and a three-week trip to Europe brought me full circle to once again collecting girl stuff – and it’s stuck. I continue to hunt online, in boutiques and high-end shops to find sequined, bejeweled and other pieces for my collection of collection of 40+ fabulous vintage, designer and sparkly tops, and accessories including jewellery, scarves, and high heels.