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Quaker Connections's avatar

I have kept a commonplace book of quotations in a rather desultory fashion since 1966 when I was 18. At the front of the first book (of three) I copied out a verse that I then believed was by Lord Byron but subsequently found was by John Byrom, written in 1773.

In reading authors, when you find

Bright passages, that strike the mind,

An which, perhaps, you may have reason

To think of at another season,

Be not contented with the sight,

But take them down in black and white;

Such a respect is wisely shown,

As makes another's sense one's own.

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Nancy E. Holroyd, RN's avatar

I have oodles of file folders on my iMac and my Macbook that serve the same purpose as a "Magpie" book. Writing goodies are in their own file within the main writing file, knitting gems are found in their own file under the main Knitting file. I have them in every main categorical file on my computer.

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Louise Tilbrook ✨'s avatar

That sounds fabulous. I bet there's tons of inspiration in there

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Nancy E. Holroyd, RN's avatar

There is!

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Sheryl Means's avatar

I so love the idea of a Commonplace book. I bought a notebook just for that purpose, but thus far have not been successful in remembering to use it. Lovely post!

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Louise Tilbrook ✨'s avatar

I know what you mean. I'm guilty of buying notebooks and then not using them - in the eternal search for the perfect one.

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Sonja's avatar

I am in a similar space after reading Elizabeth Smithers Commonplace Book - several notebooks usually bought in January… in more practical terms my saved Instagram snippets are probably as close as it gets

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Kate's avatar

you are not alone

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Cameron Toney's avatar

I've just started a commonplace book this year! I am using it to store poems I love, quotes that inspire, and stickers that I can't part with. And some knitting wit and wisdom!

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Louise Tilbrook ✨'s avatar

That sounds perfect. Very similar to my own aims as well

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Fi Reyes's avatar

Love the idea of letting myself "magpie it" instead of calling it commonplacing

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Louise Tilbrook ✨'s avatar

It sounds much more playful doesn't it

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Gail Doggett's avatar

I am definitely borrowing that name, love it

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Christine Knowler's avatar

I use Ravelry for knitting/crochet things plus Pinterest although I haven't used the latter for sometime. I did start a little note book for quotes and snippets that took my interest but haven't used that for many months. Maybe I should revisit the note book.

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Claire Amritavani Brown's avatar

I have a common place book but mostly it all goes into my phone first then i have to remember to write it in. I really like the name Magpie book. Lovely idea.

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Louise Tilbrook ✨'s avatar

I remember my son being very taken with the idea of magpie-ing something 🤣

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Jane Carr's avatar

Pinterest is my knitting "commonplace book". I get so many ideas that I can manipulate and culminate to create my own knitwear!

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Cori Bren's avatar

I use the note app on my phone as a commonplace book of sorts. Several 100 ideas captured there. I go through spurts of inspiration having added half a dozen ideas in the last week

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