Lapel Pins

There are many things I have collected over the years that I let go of over the years, unicorns and cows are two that took up so much space in my life.  One thing that remained are pins, specifically lapel pins.  I don’t even know when I started collecting them but it may have started in the 80’s when my denim jacket was covered with button and lapel pins.  Sometime in the 90’s I started picking up the state shape pins that were sold in rest stops when I traveled.  After losing the majority of my pin collection in the house fire, I reevaluated did I want to restart this collection? I like to find mementos of my travels and pins don’t take up that much room.  I decided to restart this collection.  I created a pin board from a cork board and a picture frame, then I started looking for my state pins.  Unfortunately, lapel pins don’t seem to be as popular and my local rest stop no longer carried the state shaped pin.  In today’s world Amazon seems to be the answer for every shopping need and sure enough there are vendors for all types of pins.  I was able to obtain all of the state pins I had lost and now order the new ones for my more recent state visits.  My collection is not limited to state pins, I will pick them up at any place I visit that has them.  I have pins from different countries, zoos, national parks, and even Broadway plays. A few years back my oldest showed me an ITA bag.  For those that are not familiar with this type of bag, it is like a purse or small backpack that has a spot to display your pins.  This promptly went on my Christmas wish list and now I have my very own bag.  This is my favorite bag to use in the summer. 

I will add just one or 2 pins that I like at the start of summer, as I travel during the summer I add the pins I collect.  This year I was able to find pins at almost every place we stopped but I get frustrated when places do not have pins.  This is the public service announcement part of my post: If you have a gift shop, please stock pins for your venue.  ITA bags are very popular with multiple generations and you are missing an opportunity to cash in on the trend and help me grow my collection.  Is there something you collect from your travels?  I would love to hear what it is and how you display the items.