Giveaway: Shelley Kommer’s Bookplates
31st August, 2009 35 Comments
Lately, friends and family have been borrowing a lot of books from the Stacked library. Every so often someone borrows a book and then takes awhile before getting around to reading it. Eventually they forget who they borrowed it from (i.e., ME!). This got me thinking about the bookplates I had as a kid–unicorns and terrible handwriting as I tried to make my name and address legible on them. Searching on Etsyto reinstate the practice with adult designs, I stumbled upon Shelley Kommer’s absolutely stunning bookplates, which I’ve now ordered as gifts because everyone should have their own set. My personal favorites are Mr. Fancy Fox and the Mermaids.
Shelley is a California artist and her bookplate designs come from vintage children’s book illustrations–how appropriate! She agreed immediately to donate a set for one of our lucky readers to win. Besides the bookplates, Shelley does commission work and has customized prints that match the bookplates available in her Etsy Shop. As a former art student myself, I just had to ask her about her work and as a current book blogger, about her favorite books as well!
How long have you been working as an artist?
Pretty much since I could hold a crayon. I was very into drawing and painting growing up, majored in advertising design in art school, moved into graphic design and illustration, and now I’m loving mixed media collage.What media do you gravitate towards?
I haven’t learned it yet, but encaustic painting is calling my name. I think the milky layers of wax are so incredibly beautiful. I keep trying to find a class to take, but that’s been eluding me.Where does your inspiration come from?
My daydreams, my past, nature, things my little daughter will say, bits of string left on the floor after the laundry is folded.How did the idea to create bookplates come about?
I had made several sets for a friend’s little girl, and they were such a hit with her and her mom and everyone at the party. It made me think, “Hmmm…I think people might buy these.” I opened up my Etsy shop about five months later and had my first sale in the first 24 hours. I was like, “It worked!”My designs come from my personal collection of vintage books from the 1920’s, most of which belonged to my grandparents, some of which I’ve found along the way in thrift shops or antique stores. Creating each design can be a lot of work: the original illustration (which is often torn, scratched, or discolored) is scanned, cleaned up, and sometimes completely redesigned to fit a bookplate format. The end product is what you see in my shop.
What is your favorite childhood book or book to read with your daughter?
My favorite book as a child was a beautifully illustrated version of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit. I still have it, it’s crusty with old masking tape that keeps it held together. My favorite book to read with my daughter is Mr. Brown Can Moo, by Dr. Seuss. Hands down.What is your favorite book now?
The Gashlycrumb Tinies by Edward Gorey.
You can see more of Shelley’s work on her website at www.shelleykommers.com. She is also available for commissioned works. Prints and bookplates are available for sale in her Etsy shops at http://oiseaux.etsy.com and http://oiseauxnoir.etsy.com.
WHAT ARE THE DETAILS?
- PRIZE: One set* of Shelley Kommer’s bookplates of your choice (blank or customized)
- TO ENTER: Visit Shelley’s Etsy Shop (link will open in a new window) and pick out your favorite design. Leave a comment on this post letting us know which set you would like should you win.
- CONTEST CLOSES: Friday, September 4th at 11:59 pm EST
- NUMBER OF WINNERS: One
- FINE PRINT: One entry per email address is permitted. The winners will be selected using random.org and announced on Monday, September 7th–think of it as a Labor Day present!
For those of you who’d like to post a link to this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or your own blog, Stacked would love the press, but it won’t help your chances of winning. We want all our readers to have an equal opportunity and not everyone uses other social media. Please feel free to let your friends and family know about the contest and you’ll have our undying gratitude at getting the word out.
* Each set includes 24 bookplates
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35 Comments
Giveaway: Shelley Kommer’s Bookplates Match Web
August 31st, 2009 at 10:52 am
[...] Read more from the original source: Giveaway: Shelley Kommer’s Bookplates [...]
Cousin Margie
August 31st, 2009 at 8:45 pm
I absolutely love the bookplates! I cannot wait for grandchildren just so I can go out and buy them books. The bookplates will be the perfect touch to begin a tradition and love for books and a remembrance of who introduced them to those books. I will be broke buying my grandchildren books and it will be worth it. I suppose I need to be a little more patient since my son is only getting married at the end of the month! For myself personally, I like the “Daydreamer” bookplate. It reminds me of why I always read as a child. A way to escape to another world.
Christine
August 31st, 2009 at 9:41 pm
The bookplates are beautiful and it’s hard to choose just one design I love but I really like the vintage bluebird design.
Thanks for letting me know about these. I now have a gift idea for some booklovers I know!
.-= Christine´s last blog ..The Noguchi Museum (among other things…) =-.
Holly
August 31st, 2009 at 10:13 pm
Such a lovely lovely collection! They are all so whimsical and entertaining. I have to say the fairy inspired plates are my favorites. They remind me of a book I loved when I was younger, Water Babies. The images in the book were so beautiful, just as the images on the plates are now.
@mattstratton
September 1st, 2009 at 9:36 am
I don’t know if I can “legally” enter, being part (sorta) of the Stacked team…but I am entering on behalf of my unborn twin sons. They told me they like the Mr. Fancy Fox ones, btw.
.-= @mattstratton´s last blog ..iPhone – Apps Ahoy! (Part 2) =-.
Karel
September 1st, 2009 at 4:53 pm
These are charming and lovely! I think they would make beautiful prints to frame. If I HAD to chose one… I’d go with the Vintage Bird.
Alexis
September 1st, 2009 at 5:14 pm
I’ve been looking for something like this because I’m always having trouble locating books I lend out. I really like the Vintage Blue Bird bookplates.
Eva
September 1st, 2009 at 9:03 pm
These are gorgeous!!! And what a fascinating interview. :D I’d love to be entered (astripedarmchairATgmailDOTcom).
.-= Eva´s last blog ..A Graphic Novel/Memoir Extravaganza! =-.
Margie the 1st
September 1st, 2009 at 9:24 pm
I am reminded of all the happy days I spent on the beach at Coney Island, as a child, when I look at the Vintage Beach Child.
pigletliver
September 2nd, 2009 at 11:04 am
I love those mermaids!! Super beautiful artwork…she is so talented!
Aunt Janet
September 2nd, 2009 at 11:10 am
These are adorable!! I am especially fond of “Sophie” since we have a Sophie arriving at the end of September.
Thanks for sending the link. I think I will order some of these, very unique and beautiful.
Jessica Pr
September 2nd, 2009 at 11:20 am
What a great idea and what beautiful bookplates! If I had to pick one it would be the Moon Bookplates. Thanks!
.-= Jessica Pr´s last blog ..On The Road To Find Out =-.
Kate
September 2nd, 2009 at 11:29 am
They’re all beautiful! I guess I’d like the boys assortment best. If that’s not ok, then Under the Sea.
Bookmarking the site for future reference…
.-= Kate´s last blog ..Look at me! I want to show you something! Watch me do something! =-.
Hedda
September 2nd, 2009 at 12:00 pm
These are so delightful. Lovely, lovely. Should I be so lucky to win, I would totally flip for the mermaids. Though I erally loved Blue Birds, Owl and Pussycat, the Fairies and Elves and the Vintage Lillies. May have to do some shopping on Etsy!
Reagan
September 2nd, 2009 at 12:13 pm
I like the vintage beach child, such a great idea.
Hannah
September 2nd, 2009 at 1:21 pm
What a great giveaway! All the designs are beautiful, but I think my favorite is the Vintage Day Dreamer.
Chris@bookarama
September 2nd, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Hi I just found you on Twitter. I love Etsy! My favorite bookplates are the Fairies & Flowers.
.-= Chris@bookarama´s last blog ..Wordless: Library of Parliament =-.
Aunt Mary
September 2nd, 2009 at 9:31 pm
I love vintage things. These are adorable! My favorite is the assorted vintage little girls. If I win I’m keeping them for myself :)
Linda Trzeciak
September 3rd, 2009 at 1:45 am
What a wonderful giveaway. All the art is so gorgeous I couldn’t choose any for myself, but decided in the end that the “Assorted Vintage Little Girls” would be a wonderful gift for my granddaughters.
Dawn
September 3rd, 2009 at 11:49 am
How darling! I would like the Owl & Pussycat design, but made to Meredith – my daughter. The Owl and the Pussycat was my favorite bedtimestory and when she she gets a little older (5mo right now) I hope it willbe her favorite too.
Christina
September 3rd, 2009 at 3:24 pm
I’m so thrilled to find you all like the bookplates! You’ll all have to suffer over the weekend waiting to hear who the winner is. Finding Shelley’s work has made me plow through my Christmas shopping – definitely have plenty of time to spare this year!
Samara
September 3rd, 2009 at 4:28 pm
I’m being far from original here, but I, too, am taken with the Vintage Blue Bird bookplates. There’s something magical about blue and white together. This pattern is oh so elegant. Call me a joiner. In this case, I’m glad to be!
.-= Samara´s last blog ..I Interrupt my Self-Assigned Hiatus . . . =-.
Erin
September 3rd, 2009 at 5:52 pm
I’m so glad you’re doing this giveaway…because I’m not sure I would have found your site otherwise. And I love this. I have many bookloving friends who NEED some of these. :) If I happen to win the giveaway I’d like the Vintage Blue Bird bookplates.
Lydia Hirt
September 3rd, 2009 at 5:56 pm
I wish I could convey how long I just took to decide on the Personalized Vintage Blue Bird Bookplates (without realizing this design was so popular here)for my entry! These are absolutely beautiful.
My goal will be to annotate the bookplate with the date of finishing it and a few initial thoughts – so next time I pick the book up I’ll remember.
Thanks for sharing.
.-= Lydia Hirt´s last blog ..You don’t want to be THE CHOSEN ONE =-.
Care
September 3rd, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Very beautiful! I like the Vintage Swing.
.-= Care´s last blog ..My Sweet Charlie =-.
Aunt Liz
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:54 pm
I love the vintage blue birds! All the book plates are really pretty though. I would consider the prints, as well!
Teeni
September 3rd, 2009 at 11:04 pm
They are all so beautiful it was hard to decide which I would like to receive if I won, but I decided that the seaside set would be the ones for me because growing up on the East coast meant many wonderful ocean memories growing up. The bookplates evoke so many happy times and I think they would make a lovely gift for my favorite fellow ocean and book loving friend.
.-= Teeni´s last blog ..Too Asinine for Words Really =-.
elke glendenning
September 4th, 2009 at 1:37 am
oh i love miss shelley’s work..
i would definitely choose the personalized vintage bluebirds!
elke
Mollie
September 4th, 2009 at 9:52 am
I LOVE the Etsy website. I’ve ordered several birthday/Christmas gifts from there for this year. I really like that everything is handmade. It makes for some really unique gift ideas! I really like the Vintage Bluebirds as well!
sarah broadhurst
September 4th, 2009 at 11:02 am
i love these bookplates and there are lots of gorgeous designs.
i would choose the owl and the pussycat design as it reminds me of my old english teacher in high school who would recite this poem whenever it was his turn to take the assembly
thank you for promoting such a gorgeous shop
sarah
Karen
September 4th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Wow, such beautiful illustrations! I especially love vintage…and it’s so hard to choose just one favorite but I’ll go with my first instinct, “Vintage Girl in the Garden”.
rikomatic
September 5th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Awesome. I’m feeling the “Fairy and Elves” one. Very art noveau and fun!
.-= rikomatic´s last blog ..Top Notch team routine from ILHC: Swinging to Dave Brubeck’s "Take Five"! (video) =-.
Danita
September 8th, 2009 at 11:38 am
It’s hard to choose but I think this one is my favorite!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=30552637
Rebecca
September 8th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
I’m all late but I wanted to say these were nice. Thank you for sharing!
.-= Rebecca´s last blog ..20 Questions Featuring Bobbie of Book Reviews by Bobbie =-.
Mailbox Monday 09/28/09 « Care's Online Book Club
September 28th, 2009 at 4:40 am
[...] for a blogger that I consider a super dooper friend. I had seen a lovely contest over at Christina’s Stacked Blog and sent out an email to friends to hurry and enter. Teeni did just that and [...]
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