For Keeps: Rachel Schwartzmann

a tour of keepsakes, trinkets, memories, and more

images provided by Schwartzmann, collage by keepsake

I love the voyeuristic tradition of the home tour, but where are the keepsake tours? The intimate looks at a souvenir collection? The deep dive into someone’s jewelry box? In this new series called For Keeps I’m asking cool and creative people to share their keepsakes with the world, and by the transitive property also share their hearts.

Our first keepsake tour is with author Rachel Schwartzmann as she lets us into her world of mood boarding, beribboned hats, and creative curiosity.

Schwartzmann with her book, Slowing, at a local bookstore.

PAPER EPHEMERA

Despite being digitally savvy, I’ll always have an enduring appreciation for what’s tangible—letters, postcards, textured paper, bookmarks, and, of course, my personal library. There’s nothing like winding down with a good (physical!) book or warming up my creative muscles by making a monthly mood board. (I even wrote about my mood boarding practice in my book Slowing.) More than anything, these papery delights reaffirm that beauty is most often found in the ordinary details.

ACCENT OBJECTS

Cultivating an environment that’s warm, inspiring, and personal is an ongoing process. As I hone my interior style, I’ve found that I’m consistently drawn to fun accent pieces: Virginia Sin’s ceramic knots and bookends, Gohar World’s dessert candles, Workaday’s perfectly imperfect coffee mugs. Objects that marry form and function—and are made with heart.

MY GRANDMOTHER’S ART

Speaking of art with heart, I’m fortunate to have a creative connection with my grandmother, Sharon. She is an extraordinary artist, and we have quite a few of her paintings hanging in our apartment. I don’t see her as often as I would like, so it’s almost like having a small part of her with us.

STATEMENT ACCESSORIES

Ironically, my personal style has become much more simplified over the last year or so, at least concerning palettes and silhouettes. But I can’t help but gravitate toward a statement accessory, particularly of the millinery variety. Whether it's a beribboned hat, a wool beanie, or a simple baseball cap, I always feel the most like myself with these pieces.

CHILDHOOD JOURNALS

There’s something so cathartic about turning to the physical page, especially in this day and age. Whenever I’m feeling creative doubt or uncertainty, I revisit the journals from my childhood and adolescence, which are filled with incredibly expressive writings, art, and collages. I’m fortunate to have followed my creative curiosities so early in life—and I owe it to that young girl to keep going (slowly and intentionally, of course).

SLOWING

Can my book count as a keepsake? Years of care and attention went into bringing Slowing to life, and when I glimpse a copy on my mantle or shelf, I’m encouraged to slow down and honor this chapter of my slow story. (You can read more about the book and the process of bringing it to life here.)

Here’s a little keepsake from me to you: There’s so much pressure to produce, but I hope the art you love or make inspires room for a little bit of stillness—and a lot of joy.

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Rachel Schwartzmann is the author of Slowing (Chronicle Books, 2024) and the writer of Slow Stories, a multimedia project that explores time, creativity, and pace. She also writes about books, creativity, design, and fashion, and her essays and interviews have appeared in BOMB, Coveteur, Literary Hub, TOAST Magazine, and elsewhere. Rachel has been featured in esteemed outlets, including ELLE, Vogue, Condé Nast Traveler, The Creative Independent, and more. She currently writes, consults, and creates content for various publications and brands and is working on a novel.

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IKYMI I also featured on Rachel’s newsletter SLOW STORIES. Read my stories here.

xo, Julianna