Accessories Hand made Kindle case designed to look like a book

artsci · 12-16-2007, 08:20 PM

I've updated this post with a link to my other post on the new version of this cover I created for my Kindle 2. Here's s link to that thread:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40384

I've also created a new thread with a series on instructions on how the make the Leonardo leather cover for the Kindle 2. Here's s link to that thread:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43083

While I love my new Kindle, I found the case very disappointing. A search of the Web revealed no third-party cases of any kind, so I decided to make my own. Since I know a bit about book making techniques, I decided to make a case that looked like a fine book that when opened revealed the Kindle -- a kind of old world, new world idea. I started with a lovely leather book cover hand made in Florence for a calendar, cut out the calendar, added some marbleized paper for the end papers, and used gold leaf to create the illusion of gllded pages when the book is closed. The Kindle slides into a felt-lined holder which secures it tightly in place. Some photos are provided below.

Now that I've made one, I've learned a few tricks that will make improvements possible on the next one, which I'm starting in a few days.

Some photos are provided below. I love the illusion of an old book masking the Kindle, and I've already fooled some friends with it. If anyone is interested in how this was done, let me know and I'll post detailed instructions.

Here are several shots of the case closed.

Surprise, there's a Kindle what appears to be classic book.

lubberts · 12-17-2007, 12:04 AM

Holy freaking cow!! That is BEAUTIFUL!! I love my kindle so far, my only qualm is the case. I came on the forum tonight to see if anyone had found a third party solution to the included case, and this is far and beyond my expectations! My girlfriend, self, and dad got one for christmas, and now I know what I'm going to make them to go with it! I would LOVE more information on how you constructed the case, and if you could take pictures while you make the next one you'd be my hero! Now I've just got to find the perfect books to start with...
I had something similar in mind in terms of using an old book, but my design involved cutting squares out of each page, and left ALOT to be desired.
Thanks for the brilliant Idea!!

RWood · 12-17-2007, 12:06 AM

Looks great. Nice contrast between the case and the Kindle.

Ervserver · 12-17-2007, 12:26 AM

Beautiful, great work!

Alisa · 12-17-2007, 01:40 AM

Gorgeous!

cfw123 · 12-17-2007, 01:50 AM

I love it. What a great idea. Can't some entrepreneual person out there make a business of making them. For a reasonable price of course.

Charles Wilkes, San Joses, CA

Sparrow · 12-17-2007, 03:02 AM

It looks fabulous, congratulations.

I think similar commercial items would be sold as 'book safes' (Amazon seem to stock a few).

artsci · 12-18-2007, 02:39 PM

I've been communicating with Jenni Bick, the owner of Jenni Bick bookbinding (www.jennibick.com). She's the importer of the Leonardo leather book cover I used to hand make my case. Jenni said that after the holidays she will contact her production sources in Florence about making a case for the Kindle like the one I created. Knowing the capabilities of Italian leather craftsmen, I'm sure they will come up with a superb product.

I'll post updates here as I get news from Jenni about progress. In the meantime, I'll be helping her work out a number of details relating to the functionality of any case she develops.

It looks like we may be on our way to a marvelous case that will be available to all.

marcymckenzie · 12-18-2007, 09:51 PM

I would love detailed directions for making this cover. What a great idea. Beautiful. marcy

pbennett · 12-19-2007, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by artsci

It looks like we may be on our way to a marvelous case that will be available to all.

Just please make sure it's usable while reading! It looks like your case (while absolutely gorgeous!) wouldn't be very useful while reading. Did you design yours purely as a carrying case and nothing more?

artsci · 12-19-2007, 08:05 AM

Actually, it's quite useful while reading. I've used it to read on planes, trains, at the kitchen table, and in bed. The cover lies totally flat when open, and it's easy to prop up -- much more convenient for reading, actually, than a paper book.

peitsao · 12-19-2007, 08:13 AM

Awesome! I would buy one!

RobertGloverJr · 12-19-2007, 09:03 AM

I insist the Kindle community take note of my situation... that of a train and subway commuter who reads his Kindle standing up in rush hour traffic on trains and subways.

It is impossible for me to read the Kindle on trains and subways, standing up, unless I fold the Kindle holder backwards upon itself. That allows me to hold the Kindle with one hand.

I would not even *think* of buying a replacement holder for the Kindle unless it could fold back on itself. The idea of reading the Kindle while it is lying flat on a table with the cover open is ridiculous to me and hundreds of thousands of other train commuters.

The Kindle holder that came with my Kindle folds back upon itself perfectly. I am amazed more people do not realize that.

NatCh · 12-19-2007, 11:26 AM

Welcome to MobileRead, RobertGloverJr!

Your situation is hereby duly noted.

For what it's worth, I mostly use my PRS500 with the cover folded all the way back too. I find it handier that way for most of my reading situations.

Clearly, your usage requirements mean that this particular holder/cover is probably not what you need. However, it seems to be precisely what others need. So now that this need seems to be well in hand (so to speak), it's time to look into covers that will fit other needs, such as your own.

Has anyone contacted MEdge yet to see if they're working on a cover for the Kindle? they've done them for everyone else, I expect that Kindle would be on their list, and their covers are well suited for one-handed use.

NatCh · 12-19-2007, 11:29 AM

Ah, just checked M Edge's site, and they have a comment that they expect a Kindle case sometime next month:
http://www.buymedge.com/p_kindleoptions.html

Quote:

Coming mid-January 2008! Executive and Leisure style jackets in a variety of colors!

12-16-2007, 08:20 PM	#1
artsci artsci Posts: 50 Karma: 338 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Kindle and Kindle 2	Hand made Kindle case designed to look like a book I've updated this post with a link to my other post on the new version of this cover I created for my Kindle 2. Here's s link to that thread: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40384 I've also created a new thread with a series on instructions on how the make the Leonardo leather cover for the Kindle 2. Here's s link to that thread: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43083 While I love my new Kindle, I found the case very disappointing. A search of the Web revealed no third-party cases of any kind, so I decided to make my own. Since I know a bit about book making techniques, I decided to make a case that looked like a fine book that when opened revealed the Kindle -- a kind of old world, new world idea. I started with a lovely leather book cover hand made in Florence for a calendar, cut out the calendar, added some marbleized paper for the end papers, and used gold leaf to create the illusion of gllded pages when the book is closed. The Kindle slides into a felt-lined holder which secures it tightly in place. Some photos are provided below. Now that I've made one, I've learned a few tricks that will make improvements possible on the next one, which I'm starting in a few days. Some photos are provided below. I love the illusion of an old book masking the Kindle, and I've already fooled some friends with it. If anyone is interested in how this was done, let me know and I'll post detailed instructions. Here are several shots of the case closed. Surprise, there's a Kindle what appears to be classic book. Last edited by artsci; 03-26-2009 at 09:04 PM.

12-18-2007, 09:51 PM	#9
marcymckenzie Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Kindle	Great cover! I would love detailed directions for making this cover. What a great idea. Beautiful. marcy

12-19-2007, 09:03 AM	#13
RobertGloverJr Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Kindle	It needs to fold backwards I insist the Kindle community take note of my situation... that of a train and subway commuter who reads his Kindle standing up in rush hour traffic on trains and subways. It is impossible for me to read the Kindle on trains and subways, standing up, unless I fold the Kindle holder backwards upon itself. That allows me to hold the Kindle with one hand. I would not even think of buying a replacement holder for the Kindle unless it could fold back on itself. The idea of reading the Kindle while it is lying flat on a table with the cover open is ridiculous to me and hundreds of thousands of other train commuters. The Kindle holder that came with my Kindle folds back upon itself perfectly. I am amazed more people do not realize that.

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12-17-2007, 12:04 AM	#2
lubberts Member Posts: 22 Karma: 54 Join Date: Nov 2007 Device: Sony Reader 505, soon to be Kindle user!	Holy freaking cow!! That is BEAUTIFUL!! I love my kindle so far, my only qualm is the case. I came on the forum tonight to see if anyone had found a third party solution to the included case, and this is far and beyond my expectations! My girlfriend, self, and dad got one for christmas, and now I know what I'm going to make them to go with it! I would LOVE more information on how you constructed the case, and if you could take pictures while you make the next one you'd be my hero! Now I've just got to find the perfect books to start with... I had something similar in mind in terms of using an old book, but my design involved cutting squares out of each page, and left ALOT to be desired. Thanks for the brilliant Idea!!

12-17-2007, 12:06 AM	#3
RWood Technogeezer Posts: 7,233 Karma: 1601464 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Device: Sony PRS-500	Looks great. Nice contrast between the case and the Kindle.

12-17-2007, 12:26 AM	#4
Ervserver Wizard Posts: 2,624 Karma: 1008294 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Iowa, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch	Beautiful, great work!

12-17-2007, 01:40 AM	#5
Alisa Gadget Geek Posts: 2,324 Karma: 22221 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Paperwhite, Kindle 3 (retired), Skindle 1.2 (retired)	Gorgeous!

12-17-2007, 01:50 AM	#6
cfw123 Enthusiast Posts: 41 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: San Jose, Calif., USA Device: Kindle	I love it. What a great idea. Can't some entrepreneual person out there make a business of making them. For a reasonable price of course. Charles Wilkes, San Joses, CA

12-17-2007, 03:02 AM	#7
Sparrow Wizard Posts: 4,395 Karma: 1358132 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: UK Device: Palm TX, CyBook Gen3	It looks fabulous, congratulations. I think similar commercial items would be sold as 'book safes' (Amazon seem to stock a few).

12-18-2007, 02:39 PM	#8
artsci artsci Posts: 50 Karma: 338 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Kindle and Kindle 2	I've been communicating with Jenni Bick, the owner of Jenni Bick bookbinding (www.jennibick.com). She's the importer of the Leonardo leather book cover I used to hand make my case. Jenni said that after the holidays she will contact her production sources in Florence about making a case for the Kindle like the one I created. Knowing the capabilities of Italian leather craftsmen, I'm sure they will come up with a superb product. I'll post updates here as I get news from Jenni about progress. In the meantime, I'll be helping her work out a number of details relating to the functionality of any case she develops. It looks like we may be on our way to a marvelous case that will be available to all.

12-19-2007, 08:05 AM	#11
artsci artsci Posts: 50 Karma: 338 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Kindle and Kindle 2	Actually, it's quite useful while reading. I've used it to read on planes, trains, at the kitchen table, and in bed. The cover lies totally flat when open, and it's easy to prop up -- much more convenient for reading, actually, than a paper book.

12-19-2007, 08:13 AM	#12
peitsao Addict Posts: 211 Karma: 32760 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Allegheny Mountains Device: Kobo mini, PW3,NookST	Awesome! I would buy one!

12-19-2007, 11:26 AM	#14
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Welcome to MobileRead, RobertGloverJr! Your situation is hereby duly noted. For what it's worth, I mostly use my PRS500 with the cover folded all the way back too. I find it handier that way for most of my reading situations. Clearly, your usage requirements mean that this particular holder/cover is probably not what you need. However, it seems to be precisely what others need. So now that this need seems to be well in hand (so to speak), it's time to look into covers that will fit other needs, such as your own. Has anyone contacted MEdge yet to see if they're working on a cover for the Kindle? they've done them for everyone else, I expect that Kindle would be on their list, and their covers are well suited for one-handed use.

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