Bookplates
The only books I've ever put my name in are the ones I keep in my classroom and share with my students. My oldest daughter, who is a graphic designer, made me adorable bookplates a few years ago. The bookplates are very helpful in a school setting. Whenever someone finds one of my books somewhere else on campus (or on the bus), they are quick to return it to my classroom library.
Oddly enough, though, I never thought to put bookplates in the books I have at home. In fact, I've seldom ever written my name in them. I've never had a reason to because the friends who borrow my books always return them. I don't worry about losing them. Recently, though, I have looked at the designs of all types of bookplates and wanted to make my own for my library, you know,...for fun!
If you'd like to make some self-adhesive bookplates for your own books, I'd like to suggest a great DIY I learned about online. Buy Avery labels, they come in almost every size and shape you could want, and make your own. The great thing about Avery labels (which I've always used for stuff in my classroom) is you can go online, create a free account, see different templates and designs, and make your own. Once you've made your own, you just put a sheet of labels in your printer and "TAADAA" - bookplates!
I've made several different ones, but I love them all. I think it's a nice touch, and I like that I made them myself. It's an easy way to put your style, and your information, inside your personal collection of books.
Mind Travel
I recently finished Named of the Dragon by Susanna Kearsley, and I really enjoyed it. Kearsley never disappoints me with her wonderful historical fiction novels. Her stories feed my wanderlust, and I revel in the places she takes me. I was in Wales for Named of the Dragon, a place I've always wanted to visit, and there was no shortage of strange occurrences going on. And, as always, the author included a good bit of history that I knew nothing about (and, of course, I just had to research it afterwards).
I've read a couple of smaller novels between Kearsley's Named of the Dragon and her The Splendour Falls, but I'll talk about those on another day. I just started The Splendour Falls today, and I already love the setting of Chinon, France, and the premise of the story. I mean, who doesn't love old castles, royal rebellions, haunted towers, beautiful landscapes, and lush vineyards? It makes for a wonderful mixture for a bit of a gothic tale, don't you think?
With every Kearsley novel I read, she rises in my ranking of pleasure reads. You know, there are plenty of times I read for information, for research, for work, and for higher purposes. When I read Kearsley's novels, though, it's to take a mental vacation to go traveling in my mind, while learning something about world history along the way.
I guess you could say her novels are my kind of adventure novels, but I know they probably aren't put in that genre at the public library or the bookstore. In my library, though? That's exactly where they belong...with a homemade bookplate on the inside cover, of course.;)
Happy reading!
The only books I've ever put my name in are the ones I keep in my classroom and share with my students. My oldest daughter, who is a graphic designer, made me adorable bookplates a few years ago. The bookplates are very helpful in a school setting. Whenever someone finds one of my books somewhere else on campus (or on the bus), they are quick to return it to my classroom library.
Oddly enough, though, I never thought to put bookplates in the books I have at home. In fact, I've seldom ever written my name in them. I've never had a reason to because the friends who borrow my books always return them. I don't worry about losing them. Recently, though, I have looked at the designs of all types of bookplates and wanted to make my own for my library, you know,...for fun!
If you'd like to make some self-adhesive bookplates for your own books, I'd like to suggest a great DIY I learned about online. Buy Avery labels, they come in almost every size and shape you could want, and make your own. The great thing about Avery labels (which I've always used for stuff in my classroom) is you can go online, create a free account, see different templates and designs, and make your own. Once you've made your own, you just put a sheet of labels in your printer and "TAADAA" - bookplates!
I've made several different ones, but I love them all. I think it's a nice touch, and I like that I made them myself. It's an easy way to put your style, and your information, inside your personal collection of books.
Mind Travel
I've read a couple of smaller novels between Kearsley's Named of the Dragon and her The Splendour Falls, but I'll talk about those on another day. I just started The Splendour Falls today, and I already love the setting of Chinon, France, and the premise of the story. I mean, who doesn't love old castles, royal rebellions, haunted towers, beautiful landscapes, and lush vineyards? It makes for a wonderful mixture for a bit of a gothic tale, don't you think?
With every Kearsley novel I read, she rises in my ranking of pleasure reads. You know, there are plenty of times I read for information, for research, for work, and for higher purposes. When I read Kearsley's novels, though, it's to take a mental vacation to go traveling in my mind, while learning something about world history along the way. I guess you could say her novels are my kind of adventure novels, but I know they probably aren't put in that genre at the public library or the bookstore. In my library, though? That's exactly where they belong...with a homemade bookplate on the inside cover, of course.;)
Happy reading!
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