The Pyrenees---Southern France

The Pyrenees---Southern France

Friday, November 22, 2013

The Stand(s)

        Yesterday I participated in an event in another country city. A library graciously hosted an evening with local authors. Since I had eight books I was bringing to sell, I wanted to make some bookstands.  

         My idea: take three pieces of dowel rod, put a "spot" of hot glue at the top to hold them together at the top, tipi-style, and put another spot of glue on two of the legs and attach a horizontal piece of wood, to act as a "ledge" to hold the book in place. It was going to be so easy, and would result in an extremely functional product. Or so I thought...

         I had to modify my design, because my tipi bookstands needed a fourth leg to keep them stable. I got that. I had vacillated between 3 and 4 legs at the hardware store, but decided on 3 for frugal reasons. So...modifications made.

         The three "spots" of glue didn't really cut it, either. I needed at least eighty-four several hot glue sticks for each stand. I would squirt blobs onto the top, and when it was more or less set, I'd turn it upside-down and squirt out another fifteen gluesticks' worth of glue glue stick into the inside of the pointy top part. They held together, and worked, and because of all the hot glue I had to use, they only cost approximately $63 apiece.

        While I was working late one evening this week, my husband took my visually-interesting bookstands as a challenge. He made stands with screws and nuts and bolts. (I think that's what those things are called.) The legs were adjustable, they were more stable than my stands, but each one looked like the others. Their uniformity was boring. I appeased him, and took his bookstands to the event. But deep inside my heart, I knew my stands would have attracted more crowds...When the clamoring hordes of book buyers would have caught sight of my stands, their mouths would have gaped open. I just knew it.  

          Here is a picture of the two stands having a stand-off. You be the judge.



     My husband's plain-Jane-all-the-same stand is on the left. Mine is on the right. What the camera could not capture is the enormous and numerous globs of glue glistening on and hanging from the rods. But don't let the camera's limitations sway you--you will have to use your imagination.

      And how was the event? It was fun. I chatted with several writing/publishing friends, including Marcia Gaye, Jack Zerr, Mary Horner and Robin Tidwell. 

       My next post--Marcia Gaye's "best" writing, and a book giveaway...And if you're a child of the 60's or 70's, you'll want to check it out.

28 comments:

  1. Okay, why didn't you tell us about this event the other evening? Dur. You're so quiet about flaunting your events. Come one be a big mouth, will you? Even though your husband's book stand is quite nice, I like yours. But together they really look cool because they are different heights. I'd use both next time! And tell us when that is, okay? Or did you tell me and I just don't have a brain?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lynn--Sometimes I toot (my horn) and sometimes it just doesn't seem like the right thing to do. I thought I sent an email about the event to the WWWPs, but it was a while ago. (I thought some of you might have been interested.)

      Delete
  2. Your design and effort deserve a gold star. However...I must admit that I prefer the one on the left. Much like me, it is wide-bottomed, low to the ground, and takes up maximum space. Yours towers too high for my acrophobia. It is like a regal giraffe, overlooking subordinates, demanding attention. A fine book stand in its own right, just not my cup of tea.

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    Replies
    1. Val--A gold star? The most I was hoping for was the rusty dumpster...

      Delete
  3. It's all about creativity not the amount of hot glue you use. I like your design.

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    Replies
    1. Linda--And hopefully, the "hideous" factor counts for something...

      Delete
  4. I had every intention of attending this event but ended up working late. By the time I got home, the cold rain kept me there. Glad you had a great time!

    Pat
    Critter Alley

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat--I think the rain kept a lot of people home. I heard that--compared to when they had it last year--the numbers were small...

      Delete
  5. Ah, they both WORK that is the important thing. So glad you had a good time and had some easel to work with for your books. Is there anything more artful than your own book on a stand?!?!

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    Replies
    1. Claudia--Yes, being utilitarian IS important, but being useful and hideous...not the best combination. ;)

      Delete
  6. "and because of all the hot glue I had to use, they only cost approximately $63 apiece."

    That cracked me up!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I like yours better! And it was great to talk to you Thursday night, love this event, even though the weather kept a lot of people at home.

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  8. Mary--Thanks. That comment earns you a hot glue-covered book stand. ;)

    I, too, loved the event. We need more events like this one.

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  9. I think you should have had that actor you like stand there and hold the signs!

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    Replies
    1. Viggo WOULD have drawn the crowds, for sure. I'll have to keep that in mind for the next event, Shay.

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  10. Is there NOTHING you can't do? Oh, I know. Tell us about these things beforehand! I like yours, too. And I sure enjoyed the description of their production.

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    Replies
    1. Tammy--Like Mary, that compliment gets you a hideous, glue-covered pseudo-stand. Expect it in the mail soon...

      Delete
  11. Hey, never underestimate the power of hot glue. Hot glue put the finishing border on my kitchen curtains and puts my Berber carpet back together when the cat pulls it up for fun. I love hot glue. That stuff is duct tape's baby brother. :)

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    Replies
    1. Lisa--I love it too, but when it is in suspended animation--hanging in big globs and mounded up in huge mountains--it's not super attractive.

      Duct tape is the bomb, baby! ;)

      Delete
  12. Dennis or Viggo or whatever your husband's name is did a fine job, very functional and uniform. Yours is bizarre and creative, and very expensive. I say alternate them all. Your table did look good with all those books standing in a row. Well done.
    If you do get Viggo (not Dennis) to hold your poster next time, I will buy two copies of each if he poses for pictures with me and touches and/or licks each one. Each BOOK. Book, Sioux.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marcia--You had my mind whirling for a minute, and it was headed straight to the gutter.

      Thanks for clarifying. However, you could have put an ellipsis in there, instead of a period, to prolong my fantasy.

      Delete
  13. Good idea to place the book on the stand...

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    Replies
    1. Weekend-Windup--Thanks. You have to get things noticed sometimes...

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  14. Hahahaa! I applaud your ingenuity, Sioux. (I pick up stands at second-hand stores. I think I paid about fifty cents for a couple of 'em. Took me about...oh, two minutes, give or take a minute.) :-)

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    1. Cathy--I haven't seen any at the thrift stores I frequent. But then, I'm not ever looking for book stands when I go to a resale shop.

      (And you're what we call a Smart A** here in Missouri. ;) "...two minutes, give or take minute"? That would mean the stands YOU find would not be worth $63.)

      Delete
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