E-book reader gizmos--are they the end of civilization as we know it? Are they the sad demise of libraries, bookstores, and paperbacks? Or are they a fantastic alternative mode of delivering stories and information to the masses? An amazing way to carry around an entire library of reading material in your back pocket? An exciting new way to promote literacy?Make your opinion known and you'll be eligible for a 365 Cat Ladies and Friends giveaway! Read on for details...
Personally, I could not live in a world without the intoxicating smell of paper that greets me when I walk into a bookstore or a library. It all started in kindergarten, where I was introduced to the mesmerizing scent of Manila paper, which at the time was an organic sort of thing made from a plant called Manila hemp. I loved its smell, its texture, and the welcoming way it soaked up the brilliant colors of my cigar-sized kindergarten crayons. My love affair with paper was only just beginning.
So now, in a bold move to proclaim my confidence in the survival of the paper-based book, I am introducing a new product in my Etsy online shop: Personalized Bookplates featuring art from my Library Cat Series:
The bookplates are 3-1/3" x 4" self-adhesive labels and come in a set of six. Currently there are 12 designs to choose from:
If you have commissioned a custom portrait from me in the past, I can substitute that artwork at no extra charge...Also, if there are any of my other images that you'd like to see on bookplates, I'm happy to give them a try (the artwork must be adaptable to a square format).
And now for the giveaway details!
Make your opinion known by voting in the poll in the right-hand column (you may check as many boxes as you'd like), then let me know you voted in the Comments section of this post. Voting will end on Sunday, Jan. 9, at midnight, at which time I'll select THREE names at random from the comments section to each win a set of personalized bookplates of their choice.Please make sure that I have a way to contact you in case you are the lucky winner, such as a link to your blog or e-mail address included in your comment.
Also, if you encounter trouble with the Comments feature, please contact me by e-mail --you'll find a link under my Profile.
Thanks for participating!
18 comments:
Buzzin' in from the Hive and I've voted. I love a real book.
woodthrush@hotmail.com
I voted that it's a cool way to carry an entire library. I have a Kindle and I love it; I am now saved forever from boring waiting rooms with nothing to read. Most waiting room magazines are stupid.
That said, there is still room in my life for paper books. Some books have lots of nice color pictures that don't translate well to the Kindle. I still buy real cookbooks, for example. If I won the bookplates, I'd use them in my cookbooks.
I, too, love paper. Even if I don't read as much as I could or should. I still love to touch it.... feel the texture... see the print...
Gizmoes and gadgets are not really my thing...but, then... I'm not a kid anymore...and they are growing up in a world where I do think, sadly, that books are becoming a thing of the past. Along with reading.
Even Kindles or other gimics won't get kids to read it seems... they have no interest in stories...they want instant fixes... silver bullets...at the speed of light if you please ... just like the commercials that have geared their little brains to that for years already. It's pretty sad.
And...may I just say that I think your little paintings are lovely. Hopefully they do well with the group that still demands the real thing...something we can feel and hold.... something we hope will be around for a long time yet.
I vote for the real book any time, hands down! I also, however, voted that I like anything that encourages people to read.
jennifer at jlynnpro dot com is how I can be reached if I win.
Of course I vote for the physical paper book. When I was in grammar school, I used to love keeping track of how far I had read, with a small paperclip at the tops of the "start" pages and the "end" pages for the day.Now, I still enjoy using a plain paper clip for my marker. I love the pace, the feel, and the smell of a book in my hands!
I'm torn...I'm old fashioned and love being surrounded by books. That said I have tons of books and need to work on cleaning up my collection. I'm not a techy at all - but there is something intriguing about an e-reader helping streamline the clutter, or should I say "storage issues" associated with books. I'll sit this one out till they make the perfect color e-reader and I catch up with the times. Just too trendy for me at the moment.As for portability - I just carry a REAL book - always have. LOL - I just purchased a Penguin classic (material bound hardcover) of my fave book Pride and Prejudice - justthe other day. My paperback is worn out. I guess it was my reaction to e-readers :) Bookplates are nice :)
I have a Kindle mainly because I have 2 bookshelves overflowing with books and I hate to throw books away but nobody wants them.
Now I will still buy books with pictures, like cat books, mol. So I do still buy books but I do love my Kindle too.
catbyte6 {a} yahoo.com
I need to open the cover, feel the paper, and flip pages. I can't ever imagine those electronic books replacing the real thing. (Like hand dryers replacing paper towels. Pffft, whatever.)
blog: http://jc-parsons.blogspot.com/
(I think my email is in my profile)
Thanks for the opportunity to win your artwork! :)
I voted for a real book.
zemeks at sbcglobal dot net
I voted and like you, I love the smell of books and there is nothing like the feel of a book in hand. At the same time, I bought my grand daughter a Kindle for Christmas and she loves it - it's just not for me.
And just a comment to all - for anyone that has books they are ready to let go of - consider PaperbackSwap.com - I've been a member there for a few years now and it's a GREAT way to recycle books!
I voted. I have a Kindle and I love it. I also have so many books that I'm running out of room. Starting a virtual library is a good solution to my problem!
I can't remember my google password but here is my email addy.
pk_bone@yahoo.com
As much as the environmentalist in me wants to jump ship to this electronic revolution, I cannot... I have a Kindle and an iPad. On vacation where you want to pack light, an e-reader is great. But it cannot replace the love I have for the feel and smell of books, new and old, turning pages... There is something about the tactile sense of it all.
Take care,
Mary.
I just got a Kindle and I'm loving it- it's so portable and easy to read. Having said that, I will NEVER give up my real books, I love the tactile pleasure of a beautiful book.
I voted for anything that encourages people to read.
I voted... real books for me!
I did get an E-reader type gizmo so I could get E-mails, FaceBook and take books on vacation. But I have TONS of books! I think the stickers are great and I bet you can't guess which one is my favorite ...#12.
Terri
I voted and I love my Kindle, but if it is a very good book I will buy the hardcover.
buzzin' in from the hive...a portrait??? what fun...would love a bookplate except i would have to order thousands more ;}}
Soemtimes reading on a backlit screen is OK. Sometimes not. I like lying when I read. Bathtub, bed, and a book is better. A booklight on a book does not wake my sweetie. And dropping a book in a bathtub is not as expensive as dropping in a tablet...
Barb
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