Monday, February 09, 2009

Musing Mondays: Bookmarks

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS topic is bookmarks:

What do you use to mark your place while reading? Do you have a definite preference? Do you use bookmarks, paper, or (gasp) turn down the pages? If you use bookmarks, do you have a favourite one?

Wow, I probably shouldn't even get started on this. I've been meaning to go through my bookmark collection and sort things out, but somehow I just never get around to it. I always thought I'd do a blog post about bookmarks with a lot of photos, but that takes a lot more planning than I'm usually up for. So now's my chance, right?

I really do prefer to use bookmarks to mark my place when I'm reading – definitely don't like to turn down the corners of the pages; although I have been known to do that once in a while (something I hate to admit). I use Post-it notes a lot, to mark interesting quotes or plot developments, but I still prefer a bookmark to keep track of my place.

Though I'll use most anything as a bookmark in a pinch (ticket stubs, greeting cards, folded up paper towels, lengths of dental floss), I love "real" bookmarks and I've collected them for a long time. Some I've actually purchased for myself, but most were either gifts, or promotional markers from booksellers and publishers, libraries, museums, art galleries, restaurants – you name it.

Not many of my bookmarks are antiques, but I do have a few fairly old ones. Some were actually meant to be bookmarks and some were just advertising, like these early 20th Century trade cards.

Lately, I've taken to collecting those little matchbook-style ads you find in hotel lobbies – for restaurants and local attractions. After I flatten them out and laminate them, they make very nice bookmarks, and also remind me of the places we've visited.

Some of my bookmarks belonged to my mom, who also accumulated them at an alarming rate. Although, like me, she was just as apt to use makeshift markers, like these pieces of Celestial Seasonings tea packages.

And I especially love finding handmade bookmarks – like these I've found in some of the used books I've bought at one time or another.
See a few more bookmarks on my Joysweb Blue Monday post.

6 comments:

  1. I love your collection. Thanks for sharing.

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  2. Hi!
    Great collection of bookmarks! I really like the ones you made out of match books. That's a great idea! Thanks for stopping by my place. Have a great evening!

    Sherrie

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  3. Like you, I LOVE bookmarks (and you have some really great ones) but I usually use a receipt.

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  4. Oh, I absolutely love your collection! :-)

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  5. What a great collection!

    Do you mind if I ask how you store them? At the moment, mine are just in a tin, but I'm thinking of making a change.

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