Patricia Harrelson

I love bookmarks! I pick them up all over the place: bookstores, libraries, conferences, craft fairs, gift shops and novelty shops. I have four containers that hold bookmarks–one each by my desk, bed, reading chair and the kitchen counter. Here are some of my favorites: (click on the picture for a clear view of all the bookmarks)

Most of my favorites were made for me or given to me as gifts.  In the top row: 1) a bookmark made by the niece of a dear friend who died of cancer. 2) A yin/yang bookmark given to me by my partner (We each have a yin/yang symbol tattooed on our ankle) 3)an owl bookmark I got on a trip to Alaska (my partner collects owls and this is my one concession to her collection) 4)  A bookmark gift from a granddaughter made by laminating leaves, pressed flowers and glitter.

In the second row: 1) A bookmark given to retirees at a district retirement party 2) a needlepoint kitty book mark my partner bought for me at a craft fair 3) A bookmark my daughter made for me at silkscreen demonstration 4) a photo bookmark, picturing 2 grandkids and given to me on my 50th birthday 5)  My favorite poem, written by Mary Rose O’Reilly, shaped into a bookmark by a friend as a favor for my retirement party.

Sometimes I lose bookmarks for weeks, months, and even a year or more when I leave them wedged in a book, especially poetry books and reference books, to mark a special place. Finding one of these feels like getting a gift.

Are you a bookmark person? Or do you use scraps of paper or turn down the corner of a page in your book?