Potholders

Tuesday, July 26, 2022

Bookmarks

Inspired by Kym and Vera, I'm sharing some of my bookmarks today. I had remembered mine as being made by Ryan and Justin, but once I actually dug them out, they were all from Justin. 


I'm guessing these are from about 4th grade. I remember that Justin insisted that I get the school picture package that included these. They were meant to attach to your keychain but with some ribbon added, they make fine bookmarks.


Before he had all the joy of art sucked out of him by a mean and nasty middle-school art teacher, Justin drew a lot. These are from that period. He made bookmarks for almost everyone on his Christmas list and we all loved them and made good use of them.


Here are a few more from Justin's artistic period. I think the downy woodpecker was originally meant for my Mother-in-law, but it made its way back to me after she passed away. 

This one is a bit of a puzzlement. I think the blue circular part was originally the base of a haiku Pokemon figure, but I vaguely remember that the boys were fighting over it and it got destroyed. I think Justin may have upcycled it into a "Love Bond" bookmark. 


These are slightly more recent, and Justin was still upcycling. When he worked on the deer ranch in NY state two years ago he had to go through several old buildings on the property before they were scheduled to be knocked down. I like old keys, so he saved these along with the lock plates (or whatever they're called) and fashioned them into some original bookmarks for me. I use these a lot, but I'm always careful not to use them in library books. It's a bit silly because they're heavy, but I have a real fear of forgetting them and returning books with the special bookmarks still inside. These extraordinary bookmarks are some of the reasons I will always still read real books!

So how do you keep your place in books? Special bookmarks, scraps of paper, bits of yarn, or something else? I hope you also have some special bookmarks!

14 comments:

  1. Those are great and really creative bookmarks! There's a special place in hell for those types of art teachers, I had one, too.

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  2. I agree with Carole -- teachers who ruin art for kids have no business being in a school! I love that you have these treasures, and I can see why you'd be worried about forgetting to take one of those key-and-lock bookmarks out of a book. They look perfectly suited for a heavy hard-back book.

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  3. It makes my heart sad to read about a discouraging art teacher. I was so fortunate to have art teachers who inspired and offered constructive advice. But I am glad to see all those gorgeous bookmarks!

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  4. What treasures Bonny! Too bad Justin's love of art was ruined by a nasty teacher - he was (and I bet still is) very talented. I am always careful to remove any bookmark before returning a book to the library - I have that same fear of losing one of omy treasures.

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  5. Personalized bookmarks are treasures and yours are very precious! They would be so nice to use.

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  6. What cool bookmarks - I especially love the birds! I often save cool postcards or business cards (like of artists) to use as bookmarks.

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  7. I love your bookmark collection! What a shame a teacher crushed Justin's enjoyment of art, teachers like that are in the wrong profession!

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    1. Justin is fairly creative, and he was even more so before he ran into that awful art teacher! Thankfully she has retired and can't inflict her criticism on any more students.

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  8. I am embarrassed to say that I have an entire drawer full of bookmarks. Several of them are not practical at all, but I am somewhat sentimental about all of them. I think once people know you are a reader, a bookmark makes the perfect gift for them to give you. I love your "so personal" bookmarks from Justin. Those are definitely treasures. I always check my books for anything I have left in them before returning. I'm OCD about that, I guess.

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  9. Love all your bookmarks! Over 30 years ago I had a co-worker who brought a bunch of co-workers a souvenir bookmark from the country she traveled to, I will have to see if I can find it but I probably lost it or put it away for safekeeping. I remember it being very pretty, like a pastel.

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    1. If you're anything like me, once you put things away for safekeeping they may not be seen again for quite a while. I hope you can find it (and use it)!

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  10. I am enjoying the posts about bookmarks. Yours are all lovely but the ones drawn by Justin are the best. Boo to the nasty art teacher. I hope he finds his way back to drawing someday.

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  11. I got behind on my blog-reading this week, Bonny (I blame the lack of WiFi), but I wanted to pop in and let you know how much I love seeing your bookmarks. I love seeing all of Justin's handiwork and creativity, and I just boil inside when I think of the harm too many of our art teachers inflicted.

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  12. I had a discouraging art teacher - what a downer. Your hand made bookmarks from the boys are TREASURES!

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