Souvenir Collecting – A Tale of Two World Travelers

Souvenirs

At my house we have The Tale of Two Travelers. One of us (Alex) LOVES gift shops and collects everything. One of us (me) is a more specific souvenir collector and could generally pass on the gift shop.

Because of our differences I have some thoughts on souvenir collecting, specifically how much is too much. 

Alex’s Souvenir Collection

Alex is an Eagle Scout and as homage to his Boy Scout days he buys pins and patches everywhere we go.

Pins

In his office he has hundreds of pins from places all over the world that are sitting in a jar near his desk. To help him display his massive pin collection, my plan is to pop these pins through some dark-colored velvet, place it on a big coffee table and protect it with glass. I’m hoping this display will be tasteful, artistic and memorable.

Patches

Alex also has hundreds of patches from places all over the world. I have no idea what to do with this collection.

I’ve considered making an enormous patch quilt. I worry though that the quilt be too heavy and unusable if it’s weighed down by hundreds of patches.

I’ve considered buying multiple banners and attaching the patches to the banners. However, I’m not sure what to do with a bunch of banners full of patches. It seems like it would be weird to drape them from the ceiling.

To be honest, I’m not sure what the solution is.

Awesome Replicas

Alex also has also bought dozens of small replicas of places that we’ve visited and statues we’ve seen. These replicas and statues are awesome, but they take up a lot of room. There are so many replicas it’s difficult to know HOW to best display them so they each stand out.

Emmys and Awards

Near the statues sit the Emmys and dozens of other awards Alex has earned throughout his career. (If it were me the Emmys would be front and center!)

Rocks from Around the World . . . and Other Stuff

Alex also has collected rocks from every country he’s been to. They are labeled in black marker and sit near the statues and are surrounded by the many liquor minis and Coke bottles he’s collected from all over the world.

Nearby is his collection of tickets from planes and train rides and admission to events and museums. 

Casino Chips

On one shelf are stacks of chips from casinos Alex has been to. He says he has to make at least one bet in order to get a chip… he just can’t buy one. This is absolutely a guy thing.

Throughout the room is memorabilia he’s collected from covering multiple Olympics.  

National Parks, Baseball Collection and Local Artists

Scattered around the room and between his National Park and baseball collection is a cute art collection, small pictures he’s bought from various artists around the world. These talented artists paint their local tourist sites and sell their art from a chair on the sidewalk.

And the Pictures!!!

In digital storage Alex has about 30,000 vacation photos that are backed up in three different locations.

Here’s something crazy about the photos. In 2020 I went through 25,000 of our vacation photos to start my Instagram. Only about 2,000 of the photos were usable . . . and keep in mind Alex is a professional photographer.

That means we’re holding onto 23,000 vacation pictures just in case the police need help tracking down a serial killer!

Is the Souvenir Collection Too Much?

While fun, does Alex’s travel collection sound like a lot?

Even Alex is starting to think it’s way too much.

A lot of the “treasures” he’s bought along the way are still wrapped up in their original paper bags and stored in various drawers throughout the house.

While recently remodeling his office Alex started to unraveled his travel collection. He ultimately decided it was “kind of overwhelming”. 

I’m wondering if this would make for a good episode of Hoarders.

Kylie’s Souvenir Collection

I also love souvenirs, but what I collect is a bit more specific. 

Christmas Ornaments

Christmas tree ornaments are my favorite souvenirs! I get one from each place we visit.

Every November, right before Thanksgiving, Alex and I put the Christmas Tree up together and we enjoy a yearly wander down Travel Memory Lane. It’s one of my favorite traditions. 

Meaningful Statues and Trinkets

I’ve collected a few small to medium-sized statues or trinkets of places that I visited . . .  Day of the Dead pieces from Mexico, a one-of-a-kind handmade porcelain heart from Austria, some water and sand from the Jordan River in Israel, a rustic Chichen Itza pyramid. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of my favorites.

The items I choose to display are from places that spoke to me, and I love wandering near my bookshelves and reliving memories of the places the treasures came from.

Jewelry is My Favorite Souvenir!

My favorite thing to collect when I travel?

Jewelry!

I buy earrings, necklaces and bracelets everywhere I go, and I try to support local artists when I can. I find costume jewelry to be a good souvenir “investment” because I can wear it every day and it reminds me of the amazing experiences I’ve had.

The earrings I’m wearing today came from Budapest, my wrist full of bracelets came from a glassmaker in Venice and my necklace I found in Amsterdam at a half-off sale.

The only problem with jewelry (especially with my job) is that sometimes it breaks and occasionally something will fall behind a bed or table at a hotel and get left behind (one of my favorite bracelets from Istanbul fell under a bed in Fort Wayne, Indiana and I never got it back, BOO!).

I try not to get too attached, but I lost one of my very favorite earrings in an unfortunate bee-sting incident in 2019 that I’m still upset about. However I’m constantly updating my collection so the broken or lost pieces don’t hurt quite so bad. 

What Interests You?

Before you jump in and start buying patches, pins, jewelry, rocks or Christmas ornaments, I recommend you do a little research online to see what people buy and how they display it.

If you have an empty wall you’d love to fill up with pictures from all over the world, it would be helpful to see how other people have tastefully accomplished this and copy their ideas.

Perhaps you like our Christmas Tree idea. It’s a lot of fun and I’d recommend it.

Maybe you’ll want to collect larger stand-out statement pieces.

Or you might be like Alex, you love the idea of starting a collection of rocks, patches, pins, mini-liquor and Coke bottles.

It’s okay to collect whatever calls to you, but make a plan on how to display your treasures before it becomes overwhelming. 

Spend Your Money Wisely

I love to buy, and I try really hard to spend my money on things I’ll use.

Our house is decorated with framed old world maps and watercolor paintings I’ve collected from print shops across Europe, some of which were difficult to bring home without causing permanent damage to the paper.

I have a set of four votive glass candle holders from Prague, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest and whenever I light them up I remember the fun memories I made in each city.

I have a couple of ceramic ladle holders from Toulon, France that I keep by my stove. Whenever I’m making a sauce and dirty the ladle holder that made the journey across the Atlantic with me, I happily remember our fun experiences in the south of France. 

What Will Make You Smile?

Take some time to consider what will bring you joy.

People collect spoons, bottle openers, thimbles, plates and art work.

Be Cautious of Antiques . . .

Antique collecting is also popular, but be careful what you buy and attempt to bring home. In some countries it’s illegal and considered smuggling to take antique pieces out of the country.

Souvenirs Should Enhance Your Life

I’m not suggesting you go open season on souvenir buying. Take some time and thoughtfully consider what types of items will both enhance your trip and bring you the most joy in your everyday life.

If you decide to create a collection of small items, do a Google search and see how others tastefully display their collections.

For those into photography, four big photos framed nicely tell a better story than a hundred pictures taped or pinned to a wall.

If you love to cook or spend a lot of time in the kitchen, a fun collection of kitchen gadgets from around the world might bring you joy.

Or be like me and wear your travels on your person and become a walking conversation piece. 

I encourage you to make your souvenir collection show-stopping and uncluttered. Do a little research, make a plan and be sure your travel collection enhances your life without bogging you down.

Thanks So Much for Stopping By!

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I’d love to hear your travel experiences, good and bad. We’ll all be better travelers if we learn from one another. 

The Art of Travel (TAOT) ~ Written by Kylie, a huge thanks to Alex for the awesome photos.