A recent source of comfort on my Sunday evenings has been a program called Collector's Call, hosted by Lisa Whelchel (famous for her role on The Facts of Life). It's a show that involves Whelchel and an appraiser video-chatting with a person who has a vast collection of items. It could be G.I. Joe figures, Paddington plush dolls, vintage sports memorabilia, or something totally out there.

If nothing else, I recommend watching some of the episodes users have uploaded to YouTube.

That said, in effort to see what Iowans like collecting, I stumbled upon Hayley Moss, a woman from Hull, IA, located in Sioux County. Moss has been collecting "Fiestaware" since she was a little girl.

Photo Credit: The Farmer and The Southern Belle, YouTube (video embedded in article)
Photo Credit: The Farmer and The Southern Belle, YouTube (video embedded in article)
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For those unaware, Fiesta, commonly known as "Fiestaware," is a brand of colorful, ceramic glazed dinnerware that's been around since the mid-1930s. Made instantly recognizable thanks to its bold colors and glossy appearance, Fiestaware has gone on to be "the most collected brand of china in the United States," according to The New York Times.

Moss has amassed more than 200 pieces of Fiestaware over the course of 20 years. She has everything from plates to saucers, mugs to gravy bowls, as well as platters, strainers, salt and pepper shakers, and enough in general that she could open her own Fiesta store if she so desired.

The first piece was a turquoise colander, which she received from her mother on her 18th birthday. When Moss became a homeowner, she painted the walls in her living room to match the same shade as the colander that started her collecting odyssey.

Fiestaware became the no-brainer gift for Moss in no time. She was showered with new pieces ahead of her wedding day, and she actually takes pride in using the various items as opposed to letting them collect dust in her cabinet.

Photo Credit: The Farmer and The Southern Belle, YouTube (video embedded in article)
Photo Credit: The Farmer and The Southern Belle, YouTube (video embedded in article)
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Fiestaware comes in 51 different colors (some of which discontinued). Moss limits herself to 13 shades; she's low on space and wants to make use of what she has.

"There is no other dishware out there that offers such a gorgeous array of colors," Moss told People magazine during a 2019 feature piece. "It is meant to be enjoyed for everyday use."

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