 Collecting with CarebyLaine Farley
One of the great things about collecting bookmarks is that there are so many angles for defining a collection emphasis. There are collectors who specialize in a type of material such as silver or celluloid, and those who focus mainly on the subject matter such as the manufacturer or the types of images, a particular time period or even the type of page clip. Buffy Jameson, the collector featured in this interview, has yet another focus for her collection. Buffy contacted me to see if I might know of a source for a bookmark with a quote from Erasmus that she was seeking. As we corresponded, I learned she is a collector who began with bookmarks from bookstores. This interview reveals how her collection is integrated with her life and reflects her changing interests and values. * * * Laine Farley: Tell us about yourself—what kind of work you do and what is your training? Buffy Jameson: I am the Quality Improvement Manager at New Foundations Home for Children, Inc., a home for children with emotional disabilities. I also work as an in-home therapist and a baby-sitter when I am not working at my full-time job. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services and Resources from Anderson University (formerly Anderson College) and a Master’s degree in Counselor Education from Clemson University. I live in the beautiful Upstate of South Carolina with my parents and two dogs, Boomer and Bitsy. Laine: How did you get started on collecting bookmarks? Buffy: I started collecting bookmarks when I was in high school and as an undergrad in college. I had always been an avid reader since I was in elementary school but never was able to purchase my own books and book accessories. When I started baby-sitting in high school and then went to college, I finally had the freedom to spend my time and money on the things I loved—books and bookmarks! Laine: Do you collect a particular type? If so, what is it that appeals to you in particular? Buffy: I used to collect bookmarks that you could find in any bookstore—the plastic kind with a cute picture or clever saying, adorned with a tassel. Even though I still find myself collecting the tasseled bookmarks, I am also drawn to bookmarks with advertisements and also handmade bookmarks from Etsy.com. I especially enjoy handmade bookmarks because they are one-of-a-kind and can’t be found in a bookstore.
Laine: Tell us more about some of the handmade bookmarks you have. What materials or styles do you favor? Buffy: Most of the handmade bookmarks that I have are graphic prints and quotes that the artists designed and printed on their computers or pictures and designs that the artists painted by hand. I really enjoy both art mediums because it allows room for so much creativity. Most of the hand-painted bookmarks that I own are of nature such as flowers, fish, and birds. A lot of the graphic prints that I own are of whimsical designs, cartoons, and clever sayings. I have included two tasseled/handmade bookmarks. The lovely abstract watercolor bookmark I love because of the way that the artist blends the colors to make the flowers look whimsical and also three dimensional. The picture doesn't quite capture the way that the flowers stand up off the paper. The other bookmark is a Koi Watercolor bookmark that I acquired this year. What can I say? The handpainting is fabulous! The colors really pop, and I love just how beautiful Koi fish are in real life and in pictures. I have also included two art bookmarks, one on canvas and one on a cardboard material. The long bookmark is a hand-painted reproduction of one of Monet's “Waterlilies” paintings. Barnes and Noble printed these paintings on canvas and sold these art reproduction bookmarks as part of their bookmark line. Monet is hands-down one of my all-time favorite painters. His use of color variation and blending watercolors is soothing to my eyes, and I am comforted by the sight of his peaceful waterlilies floating on the water. The second house-shaped bookmark is a cute little Blue Cottage. I bought this bookmark because of its uniqueness. I have never found another one like it, and the little house makes me want to go inside and curl up with a good book!
Laine: What kinds of advertising bookmarks do you like? For example, I like those from bookstores and libraries but am attracted to others that have interesting graphics or that are part of series. What are some of your preferences? Buffy: My interest in advertising bookmarks varies. I especially love bookmarks advertising my favorite places on earth, bookstores, but I also enjoy advertisement bookmarks that have colorful graphics, a clever phrase, or a cartoonish flare to them. Most of my advertising bookmarks are acquired from the “freebie” bin at independent bookstores or online from eBay when a seller is auctioning off a lot of bookmarks. I have included two advertising bookmarks. The “Red Dress Ink” frog bookmark was acquired at The Open Book, an independent bookseller in Greenville, SC. This bookmark was in the “freebie” bin and advertises a book from one of my favorite lines of chick-lit books, the Red Dress Ink line. I especially like this one because the crowned frog is so cute! The Mini Manikin bookmark was acquired at a Michael’s store in Anderson, SC. The advertisement is actually not a bookmark, but an insert from my mini art manikin package. I saw it and thought that it would make an awesome bookmark because I needed one at the time. That mini manikin can really bust a move, and he makes a great addition to my collection!
Laine: What is the most unusual or rare example in your collection? Buffy: I am an art lover, so I am always thrilled to find bookmarks that are mini pieces of art. I have several unusual bookmarks that were painted on canvas. I also like bookmarks with clever and funny quotes. One of the funniest bookmarks I’ve purchased says “Save the napkins, use a bookmark!” Laine: You are an art lover but I wonder, given the types of bookmarks you like, whether you also make art yourself? If so, do you have any formal training or are you self-taught? Buffy: I am an amateur artist, and my artwork is a relaxing hobby for me. I did take some introductory art classes in high school and in during my undergraduate degree in college. I enjoy sketching with paper and colored pencils, as well as using oil and chalk pastels. I love the way that the oil and chalk feel on my fingers!
Laine: What is your favorite bookmark and why? Buffy: My favorite bookmark would have to be the Cherie Blum rabbit bookmark that I got when I was in high school. It was one of the first bookmarks that I ever bought and brings back wonderful memories of the times I spent in B. Dalton, which has since closed in my hometown. Laine: Where do you usually acquire your bookmarks? Have you had any unusual experiences in acquiring them? Buffy: I usually purchase my bookmarks at bookstores and on eBay and Etsy.com. I will also pick up “freebie” bookmarks when they are offered in various places. While I have never had any unusual experiences in acquiring my bookmarks, I have had the pleasure of getting some bookmarks from sellers in other countries. Laine: Is there an example that you desire but have not been able to acquire? Buffy: I would love to find some of the complimentary bookmarks that Borders, Waldenbooks, and B. Dalton Bookseller gave away in the years before they closed down. These bookstores all hold a special place in my heart because I grew up visiting these stores just to look at all of their wonderful books. They were a home away from home for me. Having some of their bookmarks would only make my memories fonder. Laine: Were there independent bookstores in your town or were these chain stores the main sources of books? Buffy: My town does have one independent bookstore that specializes in used books, McDowell's Emporium, but I didn’t even know it existed until a few months ago. We have a Books-a-Million and a Lifeway Christian Bookstore in Anderson. B Dalton Bookseller closed eight years ago. There was another independent bookstore, The Book Warehouse, that was open when I was a child and teenager. I have fond memories of that bookstore because they had a lot of new, used, and hard-to-find books. Nowadays, I try to go to the independent bookstores in Greenville and Seneca to find unique books and bookmarks. Booksmith is in Seneca and Fiction Addiction is in Greenville. The Anderson area has more commercial stores because it is situated right outside of Greenville, which is one of the bigger cities in South Carolina. There definitely seemed to be more “mom and pop” stores when I was growing up because Anderson was a smaller town then. Laine: Do you do research on any aspect of your collection? Buffy: I do enjoy finding out more information about the creators of the handmade bookmarks on Etsy.com. I have met a lot of great people and I am so grateful for their talents. Most everyone I've met is trying to market things that they love to make, and it is obvious by the great care and imagination that they put into their creations. I have encountered a graphic artist who makes bookmarks, posters, and cards to help sponsor a child from an impoverished nation in Africa. There is a young girl who makes handmade bookmarks in order to save up money for college, and I’ve met several people like Erin Johnson, who love to share their love of all things books with everyone. The stories are all different, but one thing’s for sure—they all share amazing creativity and talent. Laine: How do you store and display your collection? Buffy: Right now, I store my collection altogether in several purple boxes. I hope to find some albums soon to be able to display them properly. Laine: Why purple boxes? Any special significance? Buffy: Purple is my favorite color, and my mother gave me the boxes for Christmas two years ago. They became the perfect place to store my collection. Laine: Do you categorize them in any way? Buffy: I do not categorize them at this time. I do have a great working memory of what I have and do not have. A lot of my favorite bookmarks and newer bookmarks are used to mark my place in the many books that I am reading. I try to use all of my bookmarks to mark my places in books. I used to be fanatical about using only tasseled bookmarks to find the last page I read, but I’ve found that you can pick up and start wherever you left off and just as easy with a tassel-less bookmark. Laine: What kinds of books are your favorites? Do you try to match your bookmark to the subject matter? Buffy: I enjoy reading Southern fiction, mysteries, romance novels, chick-lit fiction, and humorous essays. I used to match my bookmarks to the type of book that I was reading, but it became too complicated as I acquired more bookmarks and began reading more than one book at a time. I couldn’t choose just one for each book! Now I tend to use the bookmarks that I have most recently bought, but I still use some of my all-time favorites, too. Laine: About how many bookmarks do you have now? Buffy: At the last count, I had over two hundred and fifty bookmarks in my collection. Laine: What do you think bookmarks tell us about history or ourselves? What would you say is the significance of your collection? In other words, what does it tell us as a collection rather than what an individual bookmark conveys? Buffy: I think that bookmarks convey the personality of the reader and collector over time. They show us just how varied our interests may be and how our interests change over time as life changes and we find new interests and new ways in which to express them. I think that my initial collection expresses a time of comfort for me, when I was trying to cope with the changes of going to college, while hanging on to the things that were familiar to me, such as books and tasseled bookmarks from B. Dalton. Since then, my collection has evolved to reflect the embracing of all things new and changing in my life—the completion of grad school, a new career, and changes in my family—and the ability to find uniqueness in people and things. That’s why you will definitely find me perusing handmade bookmarks online, even though I am still known to check out the bookmarks display at the local bookstore. Laine: Anything else you would like to mention? Buffy: I have found immense joy in sharing bookmarks with other people. I give bookmarks to all of my family, friends, and co-workers, children that I baby-sit for and teach, and to people who purchase my books that I resell. It is not only a great way to encourage reading, but also a wonderful way to express care and appreciation! * * * It is evident that Buffy’s collection reflects not only her interests but is also a means of bringing positive energy through images of beauty and humor, and reminders of the joy and comfort of bookstores and reading. As someone who is in the profession of caring for others, she also extends these feelings by patronizing artists who sell bookmarks for a good cause and by generously giving bookmarks to those in her personal network. She builds her collection by interweaving it with what she cares about and demonstrates her care for those around her by sharing her love of bookmarks. Bookmark specifications: [Abstract watercolor] Bookmark specifications: Koi Watercolor bookmark Bookmark specifications: Waterlillies Bookmark specifications: Blue House Bookmark specifications: “Red Dress Ink” frog Bookmark specifications: Mini Manikin Bookmark specifications: Save the Napkins Bookmark specifications: On the Farm
Laine Farley is a digital librarian who misses being around the look, feel and smell of real books. Her collection of over 3,000 bookmarks began with a serendipitous find while reviewing books donated to the library. Fortunately, her complementary collection of articles and books about bookmarks provides an excuse for her to get back to libraries and try her hand at writing about bookmarks. Contact Laine.
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