Packaging isn't really boring...

When I started out, the bookplates came in a hard plastic wrap - it's how we at Antioch Publishing always packaged our bookplates.  Hard clear plastic that you could see through to examine the bookplates. It kept them from being damaged or getting dirty as they hung on displays in stores.

Of course, they weren't environmentally correct.  I'm surprised we weren't ahead of the crowd on eco-packaging given the founder, Ernest Morgan's, beliefs but he was long gone.  Not ..gone.. just retired.  In any case, last year I got rid of the plastic packaging and replaced it with  my own version.  Plain brown paper, twine, a label I designed on the back and a bookplate on the front.

So far no complaints and in fact some compliments from you all.  The downside is time as the bookplates are wrapped by hand, the old fashioned way.   Nope, I don't have the luxury of employing someone to package so these are done by hand with each order by yours truly.  I try to do it with patience and tenderness - but it does take a long time.

Hope you all like the look.    (and by the way, if you dig around in here, you'll find the 15% off coupon good til December 10th)....

What is a bookplate for?

My daughter in law gave bookplates as gifts this Christmas and reported back that most of the recipients loved them! They thanked her and told her how they had been looking for something to mark their pages in their books.

Err and ummm.

That made me realize, it is really time to add something to my packaging that explains to people who are getting bookplates what these nice little things are. So I've designed these litle labels (shown above) which I'll attach to the packaging, hoping people will read it and find it helpful!

And speaking of packaging, over Christmas, I was finally able to get rid of plastic packaging and now use recyclable paper, tied with twine. A bookplate is on the outside. It has a nice look to it. The sticker above will be added to the back, in hopes that people will have an "aha" moment!

For those who still are not certain (because that's a tiny little label and the print is pretty small), I've also got some explanations they can read on-line and pass on to friends.

What is a bookplate and why would I want one?

and

Affixing Bookplates