I do most of my reading online these days, but I still love the physical feel of a real book in my hands. (With book artists, that’s probably a given.)
I really like bookmarks – the civilized answer to turning down pages. I’ve made them from silver sheet, carved bone, and antique ivory piano keys, and from embroidered and beaded fabric.
Two decades ago, when I was still regularly attending SFF conventions, I’d make fiber bookmarks to give to the author guests of honor who inspired me. I even sold a few through a local store, albeit for far less than my time and materials. I stopped making them for commercial sales or charity because they were a hell of a lot of work…and I got virtually no notice for doing them.
This piece, ‘Ruby Guardian’, is left over from the last of those efforts in 1994 or so. It’s silk and cotton thread on petit-point canvas, finished with beadwork and a beaded red linen tassel. I like the vivid contrasts in color, and how well I did at translating the reflection/refraction of gems into silk stitches.
And red/gold/blue has always been a key color combo for me.
These days, my very big bookmark collection spills out of an antique Chinese bronze bowl at the heart of the household library. Along with letter openers, magnifying glasses, booklights, and other slightly outmoded props, they’re around to celebrate the sheer love of reading – in any media. 