Much Loved.

MuchLoved, a series of photographs by Mark Nixon, showcases children's toys that have been hugged, squeezed, cuddled, and kissed to pieces - literally. Each has a name and a story; for instance, "Brownie," third photo down, is over thirty years old and still shares a bed with his original owner (though he's now "old and wise enough not to care what anybody thinks of him anymore," Nixon notes).

I still remember carrying a baby blanket with me to preschool, a mangled shred of which now hangs in my dad's office, as an art piece. There's something strikingly beautiful about objects that have been loved with so much intensity. 

See more of MuchLoved at Mark Nixon's website, here. A big thank you to Laughing Squid for the introduction.