Thursday, December 29, 2011

Bookish: Upcycled & Repurposed Books and Pages

I have always loved books, and have to admit I am a "book collector!" I don't just love to read books though - I love the feel of a book in my hands - it's heft, the texture of it's pages, the gilt of the artwork and lettering on an antique pressed cover...and of course, since learning to read in childhood, the thought of what wonderful secrets could be hidden inside. 
I love books.

But what about altering and repurposing books? 
Years ago the thought would never have entered my mind because my books - they were sacred to me. But after years of going to used book sales and increasing my collection to the point of ridiculousness - I mean, I had books that I bought for $1 whose pages were loose and falling out but they had fabulous antique Art Nouveau covers -  it was at this point I realized, there was no actual monetary value in this damaged book - the only value it had was sentimental value to me, due to its cover art. To most anyone else, it would have been considered trash.  This is the perfect example of a book worthy of recycling into something completely new. Check out these examples of recycled, repurposed and upcycled books and book pages and I think you'll agree that art can indeed be created from an old, damaged book.


[DIY] Start Repurposing / Stacked-Books Table Lamp


The perfect spring frock! To die for. via 2 @Penguin Books







shelves of books


Image
Clock  


Book page mobile



Book bench



Book cover headboard

Storage bin made from book spines by Roadsidephotographs via Etsy


Book Birdhouse made with Vintage Books
Pretty vintage book birdhouse by booklooks via Etsy



Utensil holder made from an old cook book


floorDSCF0034
rug



sheet music rose


Vintage Wedding Guest Books Made to Order Using Old French Books SAMPLE LISTING

Custom Wedding Guestbook ETSY WEDDING EVENT Made to Order






“Conceal” Invisible Book Shelf (Small)









Hollow Book Safe (1903 VICAR OF WAKEFIELD)


Double Book Birdie (Original Sculpture)


Incarnate
(Three Degrees of Certainty II)


book light fixture


Image






i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
                                                      i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)
   
e e cummings 


Vintage Book Shoulder Purse, Whittier's Poems, circa 1888













mobiles


Book carvings (above and below) by Hokey Stokes



how to age paper: DIY instructions



book page wreath




Lamp base books opened, closed, standing or lying down and drilled.



paper mache birds


book tub.



book safe


Playhouse in the children’s room of the Iowa City Public Library.
Playhouse made from books Iowa City Public Library






poinsettia book page wreath how to











nails (how to)



What do you think?