We try to buy a watercolour painting from each place we visit and, if available, a blue pottery jug or plate. After 30 years of travelling, the paintings now cover the walls of our home and each time I walk by one I'm reminded of a special memory. The blue pottery decorates my bedroom walls and bookshelves.

We have a small collection of 11 miniature replicas of roof bosses and other carvings from English Cathedrals. My favorite is from Exeter Cathedral of the beheading of Thomas a Becket.

http://www.finestoneminiatures.com/c...catalog_30.htm

My wife's favorite is a bagpiper from Winchester Cathedral. What would you expect from a Scot?

http://www.finestoneminiatures.com/c...catalog_10.htm

There is also a whimsical one we purchased from a shop facing the cathedral in Chartres of a man peering over a piece of wood he is holding shaped like an oxens yoke with one hand below and the other on top. It is supposedly a self portrait of one of the carvers of the decorations of a church (cathedral) in the south of France. An identification of the original would be appreciated.

We collect magnets, too! We keep them on the side of the fridge, though- I have a thing about keeping the front of the fridge clear.

It is fairly full now... we have to shift things when we get new ones.

My fave is one I got from a pizza delivery in Costa Rica- it isn't obvious that its not a local pizza place, and has a San Jose phone # listed... my friend from NYC once came in late for a visit, and looked at the fridge and said, "why don't we just order a pizza from Pizza Express?" :)

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my grandfather used to collect sand from every beach he ever visited. there were so many colors - pink, white, black, yellow. They were beautiful and he had a special set of shelves made.

I have visited places before I started collecting things (Vietnam and Thailand are the 2 that come to mind) and I wish I had had the foresight to start collections back then.

Aprons! I love to cook even when on a vacation so I buy an apron from the place we are visiting. My favorite is from Portofino. It has beautiful blue hydrangeas on it. So, back at home, every time I use one from the place we visited, I remember the trip!

JennyP -- me too on the magnets but don't call them tacky -- some are quite exquisite! (- not to mention affordable and easy to transport)--miniature pieces of art.

Besides Chritmas ornaments, I collect float pens which are the pens that you tip back and forth and an object floats. My first was from Pisa and howed the leaning tower and Baptistry in the background with a family of tourists as the floater.

We sometimes collect photos of objects such as all the different boats on the canals in Venice and all the brightly painted taxis in London.

"Roof boss." That's a new one to me. Learn something new every day! I have magnets all over the front of my fridge since the salt air here rusts appliances so it helps cover the brown spots. :)

kwren, To hold down your collectibles you need either museum wax, gel or putty. It depends on the item and surface you are sticking them to. http://safetystore.com/Quakehold.asp

key chains and cats! :)

These are my weaknesses.

i buy a magnet whenever i visit a new country and sometime city. my husband collects shot glasses. my MIL - spoons, my mother - bells and my niece - angels (her name is angela). i try to buy a spoon, bell and angel for them when i travel, so look forward to checking them out in london and paris next month.

i like the idea of getting an eiffel tower collectible. where do you suggest i look? are they available all over? i dont want to spend too much - maybe $20. i imagine i'll find some at the tower itself...? thx

Snow globes (cheesier the better) and school badges.

Statues of the Hindu god Ganesha. They come in various sizes and poses, but I look for those under 3", so they're easy to transport and display. It's amazing where you find them: My favorite came from a tiny antiques shop in Montreal. I could buy them online (there are dozens available), but that isn't nearly as much fun as finding them on my travels.

table linens!! can be easily packed and brings back wonderful memories each time you use it. Not to mention the story value when guests want to know where it cane from. And best of all - you don't have to dust them!!

xplors, eiffel tower collectibles will be everywhere. on all the souvenirs mentioned here and more. you'll probably see more than one that you like!

have fun-

My soon to be 8 year old collects Pinnochios...ever since his fascination with my parent's antique pinnochio. He has about 10 so far.

I've started collecting prints in each country/city we've visited. After we get home, I have them framed. There's a collection growing for each child.

We also collect travel posters. I have had many of them dry mounted to black-edged foamcore or wood with a black painted beveled edge. The framer builds a wooden "box" for the backing, which makes it stand about 3/4 inches out from the wall. These are incredibly colorful and attractive, and the new wing of our house has a long hallway that is lined with them.

Visitors invariably want to know where we got them, how they've been mounted, etc. Some were as inexpensive as $4.95 each from the United Airlines online shop!

my collection is of photos of X-ing signs.. moose crossing, deer crossing, duck, wind, truck, tank, low flying plane, golf cart, many many more.. just love them, and have a beautiful photo album full. hoping to get to Australia next summer and find a kangaroo!

I collect owls -- here in the states and in Europe. I have (at last count) 150. Some are a little pricey, but my favorite is a very primative, hand-carved wooden owl which I bought at a garage sale for 25 cents.

we collect christmas ornaments which we love to look at on the tree every year.
love the magnets too.

A friend collects menus, and has had some framed! I like that idea too. I assume he asks before he walks out with it.