a home full of curiosities

by Kaylah Stroup
Shortly after I first moved into my apartment I shared some photos of my curiosity cabinets. Six months have passed since then and of course, my collection has grown. My dining room, which lacks a table but houses my collection as well as Klaus’ crate, is pretty darn awesome if you ask me. Since it’s changed quite a bit since my first photos of it I thought it would be fun to share some updated photos. (Same with my living room, I’ll be photographing that again soon since it’s evolved since first sharing photos!)

A super quick Q+A of things that always get asked:
Where do you get all those things? Here and there! Estate sales, ebay, the trash (seriously…), and sometimes folks are even nice enough to send me things that would fit in my collection perfectly. Yes, I am totally interested in any dentures, or teeth you may find!
Did you kill all those butterflies? No way. I found all of them dead on the beach a few years back. Monarch butterflies migrate and sometimes they just don’t make it. No idea what caused so many to die there that day but there were tons.
Do you clean your own skulls? I do.
What is in that jar? The jar in the second photos has Professor’s testicles. I simply asked the vet when he was neutered if I could keep them. She happily handed them to me after his surgery. I also have Klaus’.

Below is a mold of my teeth after braces. I asked the orthodontist if I could get the original mold of my crooked teeth that they took right before I got my braces put on. He said he wasn’t sure but would try. At my next appointment he excitedly told me he had the mold for me, I looked and it was of my new straight teeth. I’m still a little bummed I don’t have a mold of my super crooked teeth but I guess having any mold of my teeth, straight or not is pretty cool. I also got to keep my braces, which you can see two pictures up.

I also have a handful of strange things that could definitely fit in this room scattered around the apartment. There is a shelf full of medical models in my bedroom that I’ll tell you more about as soon as I get that room photographed for a little tour.

My apartment is pretty darn cute!
xoxo

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37 comments

Alexandra August 28, 2014 - 12:39 pm

Ah! I love all of your posts, but the photos of your enviable collections are my favorite! Every single piece is more amazing than the last. You're one cool lady.

Kaylah August 29, 2014 - 12:57 am

Thank you so much, Alexandra!! 😀

Amber Renee August 28, 2014 - 1:24 pm

If it is still in my old room at my parents house would you be interested in a collection of eyeballs I got from my dissected animals in biology class?

Kaylah August 29, 2014 - 12:57 am

Yes, ma'am!!!!

Rachel Bjork August 28, 2014 - 1:25 pm

What a bummer you didn't get a mold of your crooked teeth! My ortho gave me mine in a nice padded box. It's so cool to have, and see how crooked they were OUTSIDE of my head!

Kaylah August 29, 2014 - 12:58 am

That's so awesome! I'm definitely jealous. I barely even have any pre-braces photos (because I hate my teeth so much)

Savvy Spinster Vintage August 28, 2014 - 1:31 pm

I actually ran across a group of vintage teeth molds at a garage sale last week! I thought they were so interesting- probably thanks to your blog and great collection of curiosities- I even instagramed a picture of them! I think the people having it thought they were kind of strange, but somebody must have liked the look of them in order to keep them! 🙂
-Melissa

Kaylah August 29, 2014 - 12:58 am

Haha, that's awesome!!

Rebecca August 28, 2014 - 1:36 pm

you have the coolest collections.
x staygoldrebecca.com

Kaylah August 29, 2014 - 12:58 am

Thanks, Rebecca! 🙂

Maarja August 28, 2014 - 2:09 pm

Wow, dusting those shelves must take forever. Or how do you make sure that your items look so nice?

Kaylah August 29, 2014 - 12:59 am

None of them ever need dusted since they're behind glass! 😉

Kim Topolewski August 28, 2014 - 2:18 pm

I LOVE that map of the British Isles. I'm a map hoarder. It's a problem. 🙂

<3
kimberrleigh

Kaylah August 29, 2014 - 12:59 am

Oh girl, me too! I have more maps than I have places to hang maps and I still want more!

AVY August 28, 2014 - 2:27 pm

That's some scary shit right there.

/ Avy
http://MyMotherFuckedMickJagger.blogspot.com

Kaylah August 29, 2014 - 12:59 am

Haven't you ever heard the old saying – "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all"?
😉

Marine August 28, 2014 - 2:43 pm

Here's a question for you! How do you keep everything dust-free?! I have such a hard time keeping my various knick knacks and collections free of dust that it's been deterring me from adding on to them. Or do the cabinets do that for you? I have everything stored on open shelves, but perhaps a cabinet is worth getting if it helps the dust factor!

Kaylah August 29, 2014 - 1:00 am

They're all behind glass so they don't really get dusty. Open shelves would just be awful to dust, there is no way I'd keep up with it.

Kaitlyn Petry August 28, 2014 - 4:30 pm

I've been keeping my dogs baby teeth in a jar and the Mr. is not so enthused, I've been thinking of sending them to you!

Kaylah August 29, 2014 - 1:00 am

I would LOVE that!! 🙂

robin August 28, 2014 - 4:45 pm

It actually takes 4 generations of monarchs to make a full migration! The ones you found were probably from one generation, and the newest generation probably had already left to continue the journey!

Kaylah August 29, 2014 - 1:01 am

Hmm, I had never heard that before.

Betty2Tone August 28, 2014 - 7:04 pm

The cabinet of curiosity was the first blog of yours I ever read! Also, have you ever been to the Mutter Museum in PA?

Kaylah August 29, 2014 - 1:01 am

I have, it was a few years ago though. I'm dying to go back.

Kayla Lukawiecki August 28, 2014 - 10:34 pm

I'm really disappointed I didn't ask for my dog's testicles now, because I'm a total anatomy dork and would love that.

I'm so envious of all your medical models!

Kaylah August 29, 2014 - 1:03 am

Hahah! What a thing to be disappointed about (not that I don't totally understand, it just sounds funny!)

Kayla Lukawiecki August 29, 2014 - 10:52 am

Hahaha right!?

Mindi Wooley August 29, 2014 - 1:09 am

You have SUCH a fantastic collection! I can't wait to see the medical molds post!

Alexandra Sanda August 29, 2014 - 4:55 am

Love your collection and apartment 🙂 Although, I think I would freak out if I had that in my house. I'm weird like that.. 🙂

xabz Mukuba August 29, 2014 - 8:34 am

your cabinet is very interesting. I would have never thought of doing something like that. i am glad you did

Lostvestige August 29, 2014 - 1:05 pm

Ok I totally thought the testicles were eyeballs when I was first scrolling past. I love your collection! Especially the teeth! When I got my wisdom teeth taken out they didn't let me keep them and I'm pretty sure I cried about it when I woke up from the anesthesia.

Sarah August 29, 2014 - 10:31 pm

I love your home tour photos so much and am always inspired by all of the wonderful little details in your place. 🙂 Post more please!

ivonne August 30, 2014 - 6:14 pm

that jar of monarchs <3

amymacmahon August 31, 2014 - 9:02 am

Dear Dainty Squid – how do you have some much cool stuff, but still seem to manage an uncluttered look? I'm a collector of all sorts, but have never managed to achieve a look like this. Any tips?

hilde September 1, 2014 - 11:00 am

this is all kinds of awesome.

Maggie Shirley September 3, 2014 - 5:04 am

How fun is this! I love your little collections. I also have a feeling you'd love a store called Uncommon Objects—if you're ever in Austin.

Eva C. September 5, 2014 - 8:50 am

Seriously, I have just fallen in love with your home 🙂

Comments are closed.