Likewise, I have a lot of books, but I'm not sure I would call myself a collector. But, while I am not a fan of Christmas, my wife and I have one tradition I love: collecting an ornament for the tree from the places we travel to. At a point that feels not so far down the road, our travel ornaments will outnumber all the "regular" ornaments.
In any icebreaker work or social gathering, I always this question to well, break the ice. It seems to light up people immediately. I collect books but have also no particular direction. Just books in general.
I've been wanting to pick up a couple of solid workhorse typewriters for years. It's just hard to find them in working order -- and under $500. You're lucky to have the repair skills!
I developed the habit back when the first dollar stores opened, and a teacher told me I should always carry a pen and paper. After living in Japan and seeing how beautiful and practical it can be, I think I'm an addict!
Hello all. Something I find cool are National Park coffee mugs, made by Deneen Pottery. I like them because they are made in the USA. LP records and of course books.
In very unrelated news, I’m just starting Huck Finn and hoping to get that done in the next week or so before starting Moby Dick. Spent the last three months or so with Plato’s Republic and the Greek plays, so I haven’t been following along yet but will be catching up! I read Tom Sawyer in June, so I’m looking forward to Huck Finn
The Joe Mauer Hall of Fame ball is tough to beat. I was in Cooperstown to see his induction last year so that’s probably my favorite. A Harmon Killebrew HOF ball is a close second. The most meaningful are the LaTroy Hawkins and Jacque Jones balls because I’ve gotten to know them personally
I collect books illustrated by N.C. Wyeth. The wonderful Scribners Classics from the early 20th century plus many more. He was an exquisite fine artist who paid the bills by illustrating books. I confess I haven't read most of them! I sort of "fell into" collecting them after visiting the Wyeth museum in Brandywine, Pa. and seeing the gorgeous and massive paintings he did for such books as Treasure Island etc. What a talent.
Whenever I travel or go to a museum or an event, I buy a tea towel, a bookmark and/or a lapel pin. I love all the memories that are rekindled each time I use one of the towels or bookmarks. I pin the lapel pins to my book club tote bag and get to enjoy looking them every month. I just returned from a trip to France with 8 new bookmarks, 6 tea towels and 2 new lapel pins. Easy to pack, inexpensive and don’t add clutter!
When I travel with my wife, we usually buy a few items that are our collection/memorabilia from those places. T shirts and kitchen magnets are the two we almost always get assuming we find one we like. As an engineer, I try to find the USGS marker magnets whenever I can. The T shirts are great because 1 - they're fun and 2 - we get a lot of use of out them.
I also collect lapel pins from my travels. I have them on a cork board in my library (actually just a small room in our house with most of my books). I also collect bookmarks on my travels and I try to match the bookmark to the book I'm reading. For example, I am using a Homer bookmark I bought in Athens to mark my place in The Odyssey; a bookmark with a picture of the Berlin Wall when I read WW2 or Cold War spy novels. Both the bookmarks and lapel pins make me remember parts of the trips when I bought them.
Oh, I collect books of all sorts. Books on writing. Books on death. Books on witchcraft and cemeteries. Novels and nonfiction. If I see a copy of "84 Charing Cross Road" by Helene Hanff, I always buy it (because I will inevitably thrust it into some unsuspecting reader's hands). This is my fav. gargoyle - https://jadewalker.com/1gargoyle.jpg
I love books and have many, but, like you, i don't collect anything specific in books. Otherwise, I have small collections of fountain pens and pocket knives.
Likewise, I have a lot of books, but I'm not sure I would call myself a collector. But, while I am not a fan of Christmas, my wife and I have one tradition I love: collecting an ornament for the tree from the places we travel to. At a point that feels not so far down the road, our travel ornaments will outnumber all the "regular" ornaments.
Love it! We do that too, but not very consistently.
Field Notes pocket notebooks. Have hundreds, some used, some never to be used
Ah Field Notes. The best!
In any icebreaker work or social gathering, I always this question to well, break the ice. It seems to light up people immediately. I collect books but have also no particular direction. Just books in general.
Love it!
Typewriters. I collect and repair them and every day I type at least one page of text. I also collect the typed pages in binders.
I’ve been reading your pages, Kent! I’m just across the harbor in Duluth. 😀
I've been wanting to pick up a couple of solid workhorse typewriters for years. It's just hard to find them in working order -- and under $500. You're lucky to have the repair skills!
Stationery.
I developed the habit back when the first dollar stores opened, and a teacher told me I should always carry a pen and paper. After living in Japan and seeing how beautiful and practical it can be, I think I'm an addict!
Can be so practical too!
Hello all. Something I find cool are National Park coffee mugs, made by Deneen Pottery. I like them because they are made in the USA. LP records and of course books.
Oh how fun, what a great idea.
Ornaments and bookmarks from places I visit and autographed baseballs
In very unrelated news, I’m just starting Huck Finn and hoping to get that done in the next week or so before starting Moby Dick. Spent the last three months or so with Plato’s Republic and the Greek plays, so I haven’t been following along yet but will be catching up! I read Tom Sawyer in June, so I’m looking forward to Huck Finn
The Joe Mauer Hall of Fame ball is tough to beat. I was in Cooperstown to see his induction last year so that’s probably my favorite. A Harmon Killebrew HOF ball is a close second. The most meaningful are the LaTroy Hawkins and Jacque Jones balls because I’ve gotten to know them personally
Oh awesome! Torii Hunter was my favorite Twin growing up. :)
Do you have a favorite baseball in your collection?
I collect books illustrated by N.C. Wyeth. The wonderful Scribners Classics from the early 20th century plus many more. He was an exquisite fine artist who paid the bills by illustrating books. I confess I haven't read most of them! I sort of "fell into" collecting them after visiting the Wyeth museum in Brandywine, Pa. and seeing the gorgeous and massive paintings he did for such books as Treasure Island etc. What a talent.
Oh how lovely, thanks for sharing.
Whenever I travel or go to a museum or an event, I buy a tea towel, a bookmark and/or a lapel pin. I love all the memories that are rekindled each time I use one of the towels or bookmarks. I pin the lapel pins to my book club tote bag and get to enjoy looking them every month. I just returned from a trip to France with 8 new bookmarks, 6 tea towels and 2 new lapel pins. Easy to pack, inexpensive and don’t add clutter!
Small stuff is great, for sure! Love the mix of things.
Almost nothing, since it trying to declutter. But I have a small collection of Shakespearean LPs.
Declutterring and collecting certainly do not go hand in hand haha.
Books, most definitely. But also LEGO sets, FUNKO pop vinyl figures, and I guess e-readers 🤣
LEGO sets are next level these days! The selection is incredible compared to when we were growing up.
When I travel with my wife, we usually buy a few items that are our collection/memorabilia from those places. T shirts and kitchen magnets are the two we almost always get assuming we find one we like. As an engineer, I try to find the USGS marker magnets whenever I can. The T shirts are great because 1 - they're fun and 2 - we get a lot of use of out them.
Vacation t-shirt is a classic for a reason.
I also collect lapel pins from my travels. I have them on a cork board in my library (actually just a small room in our house with most of my books). I also collect bookmarks on my travels and I try to match the bookmark to the book I'm reading. For example, I am using a Homer bookmark I bought in Athens to mark my place in The Odyssey; a bookmark with a picture of the Berlin Wall when I read WW2 or Cold War spy novels. Both the bookmarks and lapel pins make me remember parts of the trips when I bought them.
I keep my lapel pins on a corkboard as well. Love having it displayed. And what a great idea with your bookmarks!
I collect books and gargoyles.
Do you have a favorite of either?
Oh, I collect books of all sorts. Books on writing. Books on death. Books on witchcraft and cemeteries. Novels and nonfiction. If I see a copy of "84 Charing Cross Road" by Helene Hanff, I always buy it (because I will inevitably thrust it into some unsuspecting reader's hands). This is my fav. gargoyle - https://jadewalker.com/1gargoyle.jpg
Ooo I love it — thanks for sharing the pic!
The cardboard sleeves that come on to-go coffee cups.
Oh fun! Never heard that one before.
I love books and have many, but, like you, i don't collect anything specific in books. Otherwise, I have small collections of fountain pens and pocket knives.