OK .... so I've decided to start making my own custom book covers for sale (probably on eBay).

Also planning to sell custom bookplates for the Kindle -- with a four color gray scale 800x600 image of a nice bookplate customized (of course) with the purchaser's information (name, address and phone number).

I'm thinking of selling the two as a set, with the bookplates in several styles and fonts on a CD (so you can transfer it onto your Kindle), and the book covers in several colors.

The style will be very different from those made by FrankN ... something more along the line of what I think should have been done in neoprene (a book cover rather than a sleeve or case). And, by "what I think should have been done" please note that I am not talking about Frank's covers, which I think are WONDERFUL, I'm talking about what I think should have been done with the few neoprene cases that are out there.

Any thoughts on the idea?? Worth doing, or should I just make one for myself and shut up until someone suggests I make some more??

The image is a reduced sized version of one of the styles of bookplate I'm considering. I thought maybe a modern one, something art deco, heraldic, and spooky .... or maybe a big DON'T PANIC with the Hitchhiker on it.

http://www.geocities.com/ricky1750/Graphics/example.gif

if you make one that says "DON'T PANIC" you're going to have a LOT of interest.

I'm thinking something like this .... maybe different text and definitely refine the graphic ...

http://www.geocities.com/ricky1750/Graphics/dpbookplateex.gif

You have to make it "in large friendly letters".

Hmmm .... how large and how friendly??

Well, all-righty then! I would definitely be interested n something other than what was sent with the kindle.....I don't even use it.....would love to see some samples of what you do.......and not to sound too ignorant.......where would the bookplate go? The back of the kindle is so embossed, how would it attach? Keep us posted on your progress.......

Well, all-righty then! I would definitely be interested n something other than what was sent with the kindle.....I don't even use it.....would love to see some samples of what you do.......and not to sound too ignorant.......where would the bookplate go? The back of the kindle is so embossed, how would it attach? Keep us posted on your progress.......

The bookplate(s) would be screensavers that you could modify with your owner information. So, if you and your Kindle became separated, it would have your owner information on it.

I ordered the materials I will need to make my cover today. They should arrive in about two weeks. I've ordered enough to make (I think) about 9 covers ... black to start, but I should be able to make them in any one of about 16 colors if people like them and buy them.

The design I'm planning will have easy access to all buttons and ports (including the on/off and wireless on/off), won't block the menus or any keys, will hold the book quite securely without the need for any velcro attachments, will protect the screen when closed, but will not cause buttons to be pushed by the front cover, and will have a small storage pocket for additional SD cards. It will be made out of neoprene, so it will provide some limited water protection, and the seams will be sealed and sewn for double strength. The cover will be flexible enough to flip back for one handed reading, and will have a stiff insert (which can be left in or removed) to allow the reader to clip on a book light. I think the insert will be plexyglass. The book cover will close with a polypro webbing strap that will run from the back to the front with a velcro closure. I'm going to see if I can rig that so it also serves to hold the front cover back when the reader wishes to keep it in that position. I am debating as to whether or not I should add a penholder to one side.

Now that I have my Kindle (DID I REMEMBER TO MENTION THAT MY KINDLE CAME TODAY????), I'm going to start working on my pattern.

I want this cover to have everything I want in a cover for my own Kindle. I want it to protect the Kindle, but not prevent me from using it as I would like. I don't want to have to take it off or mess with it to turn it on and off. I don't want it to stain my Kindle. I want it to look good and feel good in my hands (the grip factor).

I've got the design fairly well set in my brain. I just need my materials so I can get started. These are the colors I will be able to make covers ...

http://www.geocities.com/ricky1750/Graphics/neoprene2.jpg

Reserve a red one for me....one thing I saw on another cover, was a slot in the empty side to hold a small notepad? Or how about multiple slots to hold credit cards/id's? Just thinking out loud here..

Save time, money, and hassle -- make it electronic delivery rather than CD. If they want the CD it is an extra charge beyond the bookplate/screen saver price.

Be careful with the graphic for "don't Panic" -- you need to stay away from copyright problems

Edit: I have "The Pouch" for my Sony and it is made from Forest Green neoprene and ripstop nylon. It has protected the Reader for over a year and still looks great.

Save time, money, and hassle -- make it electronic delivery rather than CD. If they want the CD it is an extra charge beyond the bookplate/screen saver price.

Be careful with the graphic for "don't Panic" -- you need to stay away from copyright problems

Edit: I have "The Pouch" for my Sony and it is made from Forest Green neoprene and ripstop nylon. It has protected the Reader for over a year and still looks great.

I thought about that too. I'll have to draw a character who looks less like the one in the media.

Eh .... a CD is cheap, and I thought I would just throw in a collection with the book covers. Something like that. Rather than try to sell them separately. Especially since there are so many nice free ones available ...

Reserve a red one for me....one thing I saw on another cover, was a slot in the empty side to hold a small notepad? Or how about multiple slots to hold credit cards/id's? Just thinking out loud here..

I was thinking of that ... and possibly on some models, a reading glasses sleve for the front cover ... not facing the screen, of course, but on the front of the front cover.

I don't want to make the thing too complex, because then it becomes more of a purse than a book cover. However, I am certain to try several things as I experiment.

I'm sure to make at least one red one for me, so without a doubt, I'll be purchasing some red materials.

I do hope this goes well. I've done a lot of sewing, but I've never worked with neoprene before.

@RWood .... you know what else I was thinking?? Rather than bother with the character, or even a bookplate, I might just get my silkscreen kit out and silk screen "DON'T PANIC" in nice large and friendly letters on the covers (for a dollar extra or something).

See that silkscreen Idea sounds great!

See that silkscreen Idea sounds great!

And, white silkscreen would look really good on most of the neoprene colors. Although, a blue DON'T PANIC on black would match my DON'T PANIC ballcap (which is black with blue lettering ... and which I used to wear when I did search and rescue).

If you could make a neoprene cover with a see through front to make the Kindle water resistant (not waterproof), I'd be all over it. The buttons would still have to be click-able.

If you could make a neoprene cover with a see through front to make the Kindle water resistant (not waterproof), I'd be all over it. The buttons would still have to be click-able.

I'd have to find a material that was flexible, but still see through, that could be bonded to the neoprene. It's a good thought ... that's for certain.

Found a clear vinyl fabric that might work. My only concern would be that it might degrade the viewing and typing experience.

Also, water resistance is going to be somewhat diminished simply because of the cutouts for ports.

Then again, there would be some limited water resistance even without a vinyl overlay simply by closing the cover (so the neoprene is over the screen) .... but ... if you are talking about reading in the bathtub sort of water resistance .... I'm not sure I could pull that off, and still have port and switch access, and not have it cost one arm and two legs.