Bookshelves bookshelves bookshelves

Show and tell time.

These are my family's new bookshelves:

Ahhhhhhh.

I LOVE them. 

Please note all the picture book shelves. And the face-out picture book rack on the wall to the left of the shelves. I am a proud picture book hoarder. I feel that this is a very fine thing. I have a five-year-old afterall (or maybe, yes, that 's just an excuse...).

Also! These awesome bookshelves do not stand alone.

How about some bookshelves just for all our handmade journals and photo albums?

Are two shelves too many? How about three? How about one for the wall? Face out!

Or maybe four?

Aren't these shelves AWESOME?

They are like half-tables stacked on top of one another.

 Dreamy!

Now, how about some handmade shelves by yours truly (and my crafty sister):

Patchwork bookshelves for the nook at the top of my stairs.

 Because every crafty lady should try DECOUPAGE at some point.

 Here's the shelves right after I hung them, before I filled them up. My son helped me. He loves helping mommy with projects.

 As long as said projects don't involve trips to the craft store.

Is it embarrassing to realize that this little list does not include the bookshelves in my studio? Or my bedroom? or the one downstairs for cookbooks? I mean, is that too many? Too many bookshelves?

NO SUCH THING!

In fact, how about I just add pictures of those shelves too. Why not?

Studio shelves, complete with flying pig light

Cookbooks under the T.V. Wouldn't we rather be reading anyway?

This one houses journals I'm still filling.

BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS!

"I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves."
-Anna Quindlen (from an article in the NYT)

Alright. Enough already. Go read a book.

Handmade Book of the Week(s) Feb 7 - Mar 1, 2009

I call this design "Tree Of Life."
I thought I'd put it up because I'm leaving for a big adventure in Spain soon. And adventure gives me life, so why not the Tree Of Life book.

I guess technically I could have had posts scheduled for the weeks I'll be gone. But that's not very much like vacation. I'm taking vacation. So this book will be book of the "week" for several weeks.

I might put up a few posts from Spain though if I feel inspired to share something cool and crafty or awesome and arty that I find. We'll see.

To see more photos or to buy the book go here.

Happy trails!

Handmade Book of the Week Jan 24 - Jan 30, 2009

I'll Fly Away...
(One of my favorite Songs)

My Fly-Away Journal is this week's book of the week in honor of the cool idea that Creative Kismet put on her blog. Many artists all over the internet partook in the "Birds Of Change Giveaway," including my friend, Kim who made an awesome bird with map wings. I was late in learning about it but maybe at a future date I'll give away one of my new Book Birds (click here for a picture of one in an old post).

Anyway, happy hope everybody!



For more pictures of the Fly-Away Journal, or to buy the book, click here.

Handmade Book of the week Nov 22 - 28, 2008

Draw on!
In honor of my drawing frenzy this month (that looks like it's going to stretch into next month too) I hereby make my pencil journal this week's book of the week.

No kidding, I had planned on making this book my book of the week this week because of the drawing frenzy. But I sold it a few days ago to one of my most favorite repeat customers. I've made her a couple of custom books -- a hamburger book and a hippo book, both for very specific and very cool purposes. I hope I get to see them filled someday. I'm super excited that this book is going to the woman that it is going to. Yay!

I decided to post it even though it's already sold. It's a cool book and it fits with my mood. But sorry folks if you want a pencil journal yourself, you'll have to order one special or check out the scissors and pencil journal I have in stock.

P.S. Isn't this shape of journal fun?

Handmade Book of the week Nov 15 - 21, 2008

Be Bold!
I've had this book in my Etsy shop for awhile. But I'm posting it for this week's book of the week because I love it. For some reason I haven't sold this type of book via my website much, even though they are hugely popular at craft shows. I think it's the kind of book that's best held and looked through if you want to appreciate it's value.

Anyway, I make this my book of the week because I'm thinking of keeping it. If no one buys in in the next few weeks, it'll be mine. It's a book I made for writers, it has a writer theme. I love the way "Bold" refers to both a kind of being and a kind of typeface. I love all the goofy little writing references inside. So, I'm making it as my book of the week to give people one last chance. This book is going to be mine if it doesn't sell soon.

Anyway, all that aside this is an upcycled/reclaimed book. I've torn out the pages on a very-out-of-date freebie book that I took from the free shelf at the library and now have given a new life. There's fun colorful pages inside, interesting visual surprises throughout and It's a darn cool journal.

To see more photos or to buy the book (which would be okay too -- it is still for sale and it makes me happy to sell my favorite books because then I can make more that are similar), click here.


Handmade Book of the week Nov 8 - 14, 2008

Cheers!
This week's handmade book of the week is a dos-a-dos wine journal, meaning it’s two books in one. A dos-a-dos book includes two books that both share the same back cover – so they are sewn together into one. One side for red wine notes, one side for white wine notes. This is the perfect journal for a wine lover or someone who loves to go wine tasting.

Click here to see more photos or to buy the book.

Handmade Books of the week Oct 10 - 17, 2008

Yay! I'm reinstating my Handmade Book of The Week segment on my blog. I'll at least keep it going from now until Christmas.
This week I'm featuring 15 ticket stub journals, pictured above. I thought since I've taken a few months off from this segment, I'd highlight enough books to make up for lost time.
A ticket stub journal is a small book, slightly larger than your average ticket stub, with empty pages meant to be filled with -- you guessed it -- stubs. In it you can store ticket stubs from sporting events, movies, fairs, plays, museums, concerts, tours or whatever else you can think of.
The ticket stub journal pictured here is an example journal that I've filled so you can see how the ticket stubs look inside my ticket stub journals. The ones I sell are, of course, blank inside.

I suggest mounting tickets by using a glue stick, double stick tape or photo mounting squares (found at craft stores). It's also a good idea to make a note on the page about who went with you to whatever you went to -- It will make your journal even more special.
I'll be putting up at least one of these books every week in my etsy shop from now through Christmas (along with up-coming books of the week). To buy a ticket stub journal or for more photos check out my etsy shop.

New Journals Preview

I've finally got a big stack of journals and photo albums ready for the holiday season. Here's some preview pictures (taken with my VERY messy studio floor in the background).
I'll be re-starting my journal of the week feature here by the end of next week and continuing at least through Christmas.
I 'm especially excited about my new scissors design and the wine journals.

I rarely have sales of any kind but I've also decided to clean out my old inventory and sell stuff off so look out for some great deals on my Etsy site in the next few months.

New Blog!


Welcome to my new blog!

I'm hoping to post news, updates and little snippets of my work now and then.

Mostly I'll just post what I've been working on.

This week:
I sent out a few orders including the custom order photo album pictured here!

Mostly I've been working on some new sample illustrations based on a story I've written. Hopefully I'll have photos to post before too long.