Saturday, May 9, 2009

Weekly Geeks: Mark It Down

I haven't taken part in Weekly Geeks in ages, but my schedule is finally easing off for the summer. This week's topic is bookmarks:
Do you use bookmarks or just grab whatever is handy to mark your page? Do you collect lots of different bookmarks or do you have a favorite one that you use exclusively? If you're not someone who uses bookmarks on a regular basis, have you ever used anything odd to mark your place?
My very favorite bookmarks are the ones that my kids make for me. My 11-year-old daughter is an especially prolific bookmark-maker. Lately she's been making glittery polka-dot ones, and those are awesome. Next, I often use handmade cards for bookmarks. My kids often make me sweet "I love you" cards and leave them by my bedside, so they are very handy bookmarks for my night-time reading. And finally, I mark my books with whatever is around: scraps of paper, important receipts, pencils, hairbands, drawings. I rarely use "real" bookmarks, although my kids do pick up a few freebies each time we go to the library. They seem to disappear as soon as we walk in the house, however.

I will say that I am attracted to store-bought bookmarks. I often finger them, enjoying the verses and/or artwork. But then I think, "Why would I spend $3.25 on a bookmark when I have kids and construction paper?"

12 comments:

Rikki said...

True, I wouldn't buy bookmarks for myself either. I suppose once my kids are old enough to actually make bookmarks for me they are probably old enough to leave them alone. That might change my habit of applying dog-ears.

Adele said...

I only buy bookmarks for other people and essentially as decorative book related items, which is what all but the simplest ones are for me.

bekahcubed said...

I cut the corners off of envelopes before I stick them in the recycle bin--they make fantastic book corners that I don't mind losing. I keep a little tin of corners by my bookshelf--and another little tin in my bag. They suit me pretty well.

claire said...

That's so sweet. I never buy bookmarks, too, and some of my favourites are made by my kids.

Staci said...

My favorite bookmark is the one my youngest son made for me when he was in Kindergarten. I love the homemade ones the best too!! But my current bookmark is one that a student gave me..Twilight!!!

Marbel said...

I am the same way with bookmarks - whatever comes to hand, though I prefer my daughter's handmade creations. They do tend to get lost or wrecked too often. A friend once gave me a beautiful beaded bookmark but it ended up mangled.

One summer we started leaving pretty handmade bookmarks in library books, hoping to delight some unsuspecting library patron. I think I'll get my girl started on that again.

crochet lady said...

As a librarian who handles books alot, I am constantly amazed at what people will use to mark their books, and it's rarely a book mark. I find - pictures, letters, money, library cards, CD's, pressed plants, lists, receipts, and oh, my least favorite - toilet paper, don't want to know where that book has been.

Maree said...

Aw, that's cute. Why buy indeed, when you obviously have such creative kids?
Happy Weekly Geeks :)

susan said...

I can get a book for $3. Spend that on a bookmark? No. I'll buy the book. Make the bookmark. :-)

Overeducated Twit said...

I tend most of the time to grab whatever piece of paper is nearby. However, as of late, I have been a mad bookmark-crocheting machine, so I have no shortage of bookmarks to grab (indeed, only a shortage of people to give bookmarks to...).

Kerrie said...

I ahve been known to buy bookmarks particularly to give to visitors, but I usually ahve to far too many free things available.

gautami tripathy said...

My mom is making onr for right now. She has not shown me doing it though. She says she is crocheting one for me. And I have asked for more than one!

Mark it down