We all collect different things. It's always interesting to find out who collects what. I collect comic books and several friends I have do the same. Others collect superhero figures, or gnome figures, flowers, stuffed animals, flowers, plants, and many other things. What do YOU collect? - Today's blog is about a woman who started off giving little yellow ducks out in the office, and then people would find unique ones and give them to her! She's amassed quite the collection.
Anita Wolcott of Hooksett showcases her 2,266-rubber-duck collection at her art and activity studio, The Creative Duckling, in Pembroke.)
NH Woman's 2,266 rubber duck collection makes a big splash
By Jason Schreiber Union Leader Correspondent
Anita Wolcott has her ducks in a row — all 2,266 of them.The Hooksett, New Hampshire woman and queen of quack has amassed an impressive collection of rubber ducks — along with some crystal ones — inside her unique art and activity studio, appropriately called The Creative Duckling.
It’s a vibrant space that not only fosters creativity through art, but showcases her quirky collection that has made quite a splash at the Pembroke studio, where kids get messy and adults stop to admire all the ducks.
The Creative Duckling is a children's art and activity studio in the heart of Pembroke, N.H., where owner Anita Wolcott showcases her extraordinary collection of 2,266 rubber ducks.
Anita shares the quirky story behind this unique collection, which grows by the hundreds every year, her journey in creating a delightful space for kids to engage in messy, creative play, and the various activities offered at the studio.
“It’s probably the largest that a lot of people have seen. It’s definitely not the largest in the world. I do not have the world record or anything like that,” Wolcott said.
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(CAPTION: In this episode of Grounded in Granite, we visit a hidden gem for families: The Creative Duckling, a children's art and activity studio in the heart of Pembroke, N.H., where owner Anita Wolcott showcases her extraordinary collection of 2,266 rubber ducks.)
Wolcott adds hundreds of new ducks to her delightful display each year, but she has no plans to try to beat the current Guinness World Record held by Seattle native Charlotte Lee, who owned 5,631 rubber ducks when the record was set in 2011.
The collection began about eight years ago when Wolcott was working as an executive assistant at a local mortgage company. During themed employee appreciation days, she would often place small rubber ducks in goodie baskets for workers.
“After you do that for six, seven years, you start getting a small collection on your desk, and then it just got to the point where people were like, ‘Here’s a duck. Oh, you don’t have this one? Here. Oh, I found this one. You can have it.’ Then it got to the point where I was saying, ‘Oh, I don’t have that one. I’m going to grab it,’” she said.
Wolcott admits that her duck collection has become a fun obsession that’s been easier to feed as rubber ducks have grown in popularity.
“I love hunting for them,” she said.
Each duck is unique. They all come in different styles, colors and sizes. Some are made in the likeness of celebrities or licensed characters. Others came from local businesses and include company names with logos on them.
While Wolcott didn’t grow up loving rubber ducks, they’ve certainly grown on her as an adult as her collection has expanded from a few to thousands. Her favorite is a Santa celebrity duck from 2001 that a friend found while antiquing and gave it to her for Christmas. The oldest duck in her collection is believed to be from 1975. Her priciest duck isn’t made of rubber — it’s Swarovski crystal.
Wolcott has three adult children, and when asked about what they think of her collection, she joked, “They’re more concerned about what’s going to happen to them when I’m gone.”
The growing duck collection has found the perfect home inside her studio, which opened about a year and a half ago and even has a wall filled with ducks and duck novelties like pens and notebooks for sale.
The studio is a place where children of all ages can explore their creativity, make a joyful mess and have fun while learning essential skills. They experiment with paint using toys, kitchen tools, bathroom, marbles, balloons and other items, spend time using a spray station and participate in other activities.
“It’s really about them getting their hands dirty and getting whatever they see in their head down onto that canvas. It’s really hard for the parents to kind of step back and let them just go at it,” Wolcott said.
She emphasizes the importance of allowing children to explore their artistic instincts without fear of judgment.
Wolcott said parents are often reminded to step back and let their children express themselves freely, which can lead to surprisingly beautiful results, even if they appear as “green blobs” to the untrained eye.
The studio, which also hosts parties, offers ceramics, sand art and a variety of other exciting creative experiences as well. She’s even had teenagers stop by.
Wolcott said she hopes her studio offers a fun experience for those who visit.
“We all need fun in our lives,” she said.
For more information on The Creative Duckling, visit https://thecreativeduckling.com/
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