Catherine "Cat" Ayala is an elementary school teacher in the Palm Springs area. She is a graduate of San Diego State University, with a Masters Degree in Speech and Language Pathology. She is married and is an enthusiastic mother of two young girls. Her other varied interests include photography, world travel, and collecting antiques. She started collecting before you might expect. Read on for more about Cat’s world of antiques.

You have a beautiful collection. Let’s start with your feelings about antiques in general. Tell us about your "philosophy."
I’m attracted to things with a history, a story behind them. Certain periods of history interest me. I’m attracted to pieces from the 19th century. I get a combination of energy and a sense of peace when I’m around these antiquities.

Were there antiques in your childhood environment?
Yes, my mother had some antique furniture when we were growing up.

How do feel about antiques as an investment?
I don’t view them that way. My family and I enjoy them as functional objects of great beauty. Ultimately, I want to pass them on.

By "functional objects," do you mean your antiques are accessible and used, even by children?
Yes.
(Indeed, this is true at Cat’s house! We saw beautiful pieces used for dining and lounging.)

When did you begin collecting?
When I was a college student.

This is a little unusual, don’t you think?
Very! I had just moved out of the dorm, into an apartment with roommates.

What did you buy?
A lady’s dressing vanity. It was American, circa 1910, made of walnut. While I was in the same apartment, I bought a mahogany entry hall table for $15 at a garage sale.

You remember them well. Do you have photos?
I still have the table and vanity. I own every piece I’ve ever purchased.

So they survived your college years. Were there any "tense moments" during parties?
I was the V.P. of the SDSU Water Ski Association, and we had parties, but there was never a problem. There may have been an occasional glass without a coaster , but everyone respected these pieces.

Were you very knowledgeable about antiques when you began collecting?
Not very. I was choosing pieces based on aesthetics and my visceral, gut feelings.

How much were you willing to pay in those days?
Not very much since I was a SDSU student and worked as a waitress!

As you continue to add to your collection, what types of pieces are you most attracted to?
I am still most interested in the aesthetics of a piece, along with the "story" that goes with it. Even though I know more about antiques than when I began collecting, I still use my "gut" feeling as a major factor in a decision to buy a piece.

When you mention "the story that goes with a piece," what exactly is that?
The story can involve people and places that tie in to the piece. The armoire in our living room is a good example. It was built in the Alsace region of France in the 1800’s and was carried by ship to San Francisco. It belonged to a Spanish family on a Northern California estate. Originally, it didn’t have shelves. It was used to display and store elegant gowns. I found it in a Palm Springs consignment store.

Do you specialize in any areas?
There are some areas that I am more interested in.

What are those?
I would say cameras, eyeglasses, furniture, china, jewelry, and hats.

That’s quite a variety. Where do you like to shop for antiques?
When I first began, garage sales and thrift stores were a good starting point, especially since I didn’t have much money as a college student and waitress. Over the years, they’ve become more "picked over" for the type of pieces that interest me. Now I shop mostly at dealers, warehouses, and antique shows. Another good source is leads I get from friends. They have a pretty good idea of my tastes.

Have you shopped for antiques in the San Diego area, and since our website is devoted to dealers in this area, can you offer specific dealer names?
Yes. I have pieces from the Grossmont Antique Mart, The Treasure Trove in La Mesa, the Jewelry Gallery in Del Mar, the Antique Wholesale Warehouse in Rancho Santa Fe, and the Antique Warehouse in Solana Beach.

Do you have a strategy for making sure you never get "burned" on a purchase?
Not really. Over years of experience, you get a good sense of value just by looking at a lot of pieces and talking to people. I don’t buy as an investment with resale in mind, and I’m not buying to complete any specific collection. This way, things tend to "happen". If a piece is worth it to me, I will buy it.

How about a tour of your collection?
(Cat allows us to take photos of the pieces we've been talking about. Click here to go to the "Collector's Gallery" to see them.)

Your collection is beautiful and has obviously been well cared for. Do you have a regular routine for caring for your antiques?
Since we live in the desert, we need to take extra care with furniture, to keep the wood moist. Every two weeks, besides dusting, the furniture is oiled with Fuller Lemon Furniture Oil.

Thanks for letting us into your world. Would you mind giving your e-mail address, in case a reader would like to write you?
It's been my pleasure.