Atlas Insider
Put a Pin on It
Hello again from me, Hannah, in the MDK Art Department. Welcome to my channel. I’m here to talk about pins, patches, pamphlets, maps, and all things that say MDK.
And before I lose you to the concept of UNNECESSARY STUFF—hear me out, I’m being sentimental.
As an avid tchotchke hunter and gatherer, I fundamentally believe in the candy-like curated collections of tiny cute things that bring me joy. I am convinced this must be genetic, as I reflect on the nooks and crannies in the corners of my Gran’s old house—shelves of trinkets for looking, not touching (especially you, Hannah), bowling trophies, badges, pins, newspaper clippings, and charms in small boxes in envelopes in bins.
Realistically, these were sentiments she collected over her lifetime but I am almost certain they were set up for me to discover.
I’ve made attempts to keep daily journals and sketchbooks. I have at least 3 unfinished MDK Bujos (don’t tell Kay) and plenty of pristine markers and pencils that need to be whittled down.
But when I’m out and about, traveling or, perhaps, just visiting somewhere I’ve never been, one thing I will always do is pick up a pin, sticker, postcard, or trinket to add to my collection—something easy to toss in my bag for the journey home.
Went on a retreat in Bali, only left with this pin.
Ate 17 baguettes in Paris, bought things for myself, forgot about you, remembered you, then got you this keychain at Charles de Gaulle.
Sent you this postcard from Amsterdam. Actually mailed it from Amsterdam!
The start of my new tchotchke shelf at home (needs! more! tchotchkes!); Ashley and Hannah’s after-MDK antique store finds.
Being in the MDK Art Department means that I get to take stock and think hard about what we collect—and make what we love for MDK.
We have quite the MDK Tchotchke Trail here, from Shakerag pouches and pins, to Tidbits letters and NYF bulletins, to several years of scout-esque patches for completing an MDK Summer Camp. We’ve got hats, bags, buttons and name tags … all small items that in the grand scheme of things tell one heck of a tale.
The sentiment of tchotchkes, flair, trinkets, souvenirs—tiny stuff we can’t seem to let go of—is what I love the most. It’s storytelling with an object that in the eyes of many is meaningless but adds a sense of community to what we do. They can start a conversation or help us remember a time when we tried something new, a place we gathered, or, perhaps, an achievement, big or small, that merited a badge.
I am fairly tender-hearted with the items I’ve collected over time—I assume most of us feel this way with our own mementos we have gathered or inherited. Some are full of meaning, others simply exist to remind us of a time we felt compelled to hold onto a memory or feeling.
I don’t know the full story of Gran winning first place in her elite bowling league, nor do I know the color of her uniform, how many strikes she bowled, or the amount of money I assume she bet on winning the tournament—but I have a pin to prove it.
Here’s a true relic to behold: Ann Shayne’s SHAKERAG POUCH O’ FLAIR. A lofty achievement and pure inspo for flair collectors across the globe.
Tell us your most treasured tchotchke, piece of flair, or tiny memento in the comments below.
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The 25+ year old little silver and abalone pig pin currently traveling on my day pack in Copenhagen comes to mind… but so does the 41 year old set of copper cookware bought for nearly nothing when the dollar was worth 7 francs. Go big or go home! My husband saw my pre marriage cookware, heard the story of shlepping all 150 pounds home and I am now restricted to trinkets. The egg cups gifted by the bike guides are currently in my carry on and awaiting transport home…
I am a firm believer in bringing home silver jewelry from my travels. It’s a bit more expensive than your tiny things but it gets worn often, and the memories are always there. This ring I bought in the Faeroe Islands, egged on by a lovely group of enabling knitters,That necklace came from a museum in Greece, this pair of earrings I bought for myself in Montreal, that pendant was made by a woman artist living in Mt. St. Michel…….none of them very expensive, but all of them beautiful and treasured. Quite a few of these memory pieces have gone to my six granddaughters….one special silver bead from Vancouver has been given away, replaced only to be given away and replaced and given away again! Next time I’m in Vancouver I plan to buy 4 more: one each for the three other granddaughters, and one for me to keep, finally! I love my souvenir jewelry, and I love to see them wearing it……I hope they will remember me every time they wear it.
I have a denim jacket covered with pins: from National Parks, from cities I’ve visited here and abroad, from special places (such as Ste Chapelle), from events (including competitions where my children competed), and about me pins (band mom, knitter…). It’s almost getting too heavy to wear!
I started collecting pins from our travels by motorcycle. I put them on my denim bike jacket and have filled it up! Now I’m on to a second jacket with new pins since we quit motorcycling a few years ago. I collect yarn related pins too and have them scattered on many knitting bags and totes. It seems like every gift shop has pins of some kind. Small but hold big memories! I’m glad to know others share my pin mania!
Give me a patch or a pin and I’m there!
Recently my apartment complex replaced my kitchen appliances. To make way for the new refrigerator, I had to remove all the magnets I had collected over the years from places I’ve visited. Wonderful memories! It’s been about a week, and while the new fridge looks clean and shiny, I suspect it won’t be long before the magnets return to remind me of all my adventures.
I have collected patches that are then sewn into a canvas backpack–some are specific to a place visited and some are tied to fandom, or both! Patches are like little pieces of art. In the last few years, I also collect the cheap shopping totes from grocery stores–my favorites are specific to a particular city, like one from Pittsburgh that has a drawn map of the city, so cool and useful!
Refrigerator magnets and Christmas tree ornaments!
I’ve discarded many tiny mementos over the years in the name of Kondo-izing but will hold onto forever a tiny Eiffel Tower fake silver charm that I bought on top of the Arc de Triomphe when my husband and I took our daughter to Paris when she was a teenager. The memory stays vivid because of this cheap little souvenir which I threaded onto an equally inexpensive little chain necklace which dresses up a standard old sweatshirt pretty nicely.
My husband and I have been lucky enough to have seen a great deal of Europe and the US and my favorite item to remember each place is a ring. I have quite a collection in every color to go with any outfit. I also have a hat that has pins also from places we visited and I receive many interesting comments from people who see me wearing it. Small pieces but very precious memories when I look at them.
I treasure a small pin of the Queen Elizabeth ocean liner (the original) that we traveled to the US on when emigrating here in 1963.
It’s pretty specific, but my sister and I are collecting pins from all the yarn stores we visit.
We live on our boat so stickers seem to be collected. I put them on a recipe notebook and it makes a nifty, colorful cover.
I like to look for small colorful old enamel pins at flea markets when we travel. Today in Den Haag I saw a cute blue and white one with wees klaar (be ready) printed on it. Mysterious!
I have a straw hat filled with pins acquired on trips to Blues festivals. But my favorite tiny collection came from my grandmother – she loved to collect tiny pitchers and kept them in a shadow box on the wall. I inherited them and love to think of all the places and people they came from.
In 2010 and for the following three years, my daughter-in-law and I completed the Susan G. Komen 3-Day, 60-Mile Walk for the Cure. I have a cap that is covered in pins for all the years. It is important to me because I completed a difficult physical challenge and raised money for an important cause.
Another pin lover here! I always like to bring home a little something to remember a trip…local art, jewelry, pins, local cookbooks, etc. My mom usually did too…it wasn’t tiny, but the family souvenir that stands out as our wildest was a used whiskey barrel. We visited the Jack Daniels Distillery in TN on one of the epic family car trips and Mom wanted to make herb planters out of the barrel. Dad graciously made room for it in the station wagon and we had to drive home 2 days with the windows down because the whiskey aroma was so strong. It’s been over 50 years and the barrel planters we made eventually fell apart, but my sister and I still laugh about it…and try to keep our souvenirs to a more manageable size.
I have old magnetic name tags from the time when I wore them to Chamber of Commerce lunches and handed out business cards. One even has my maiden name on it. My daughter’s summer job is winding down and I’m eyeing her Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp nametag.
When we were married in 1963, we camped across Europe for 10 weeks. (Europe on $5 a day was possible then.) I collected patches for each place we stayed/visited and sewed them onto the flap of the tent. The tent is long gone, but the marriage and tent flap – with patches – are in good condition!