--Darlene Flynn has been Inducted into Guinness Book of World Records

By: NICOLE SACK - Staff Writer, 11/3/2006

ROMOLAND ---- It has been said that you can never have too many shoes. You can, however, have more shoes than anyone else in the world.

Darlene Flynn has been recognized as a Guinness World Record holder for the largest collection of shoe-related items. With 7,765 pieces of shoe memorabilia. Flynn, 51, has a shoe collection on steroids. She began collecting everything and anything shoe-related six years ago when she borrowed the idea from a relative.

It all started with 28 shoe figurines.



"I don't know why it had to be shoes," she said. "I just love them and it kind of got out of control."

For the most part, Flynn's life is typical. She has owned and operated a bookkeeping, payroll and tax preparation business in Temecula for 18 years. She recently acquired Mail Mart on Winchester Road in Temecula. She is a mother of one son and takes care of her 93-year-old grandmother in her home.

A Murrieta resident for nearly two decades, she recently moved to Romoland. Her single-family home appears well kept and unassuming with its manicured lawn and gray-stone exterior. A cowboy-boot birdhouse hanging from a roof eve hints at the massive collection inside.

Immediately after stepping through the front door of Flynn's home, you are greeted by shoes.

Thousands upon thousands of shoes.

Her living room is lined with display cases ---- 10 in all ---- with each inch of each shelf filled with tiny shoes.

While her collection spans the gamut of shoe-shaped furniture, shoe-themed art, shoe teapots, shoe soap and shoe-styled stationary, she also has more than 700 miniature shoe figurines.




This is an excerpt from an article which appears in the North County Times Californian Edition

to read the rest of the article please go to:
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/11/05/news/californian/21_56_1211_4_06.txt