Books, books, books

I love books. I love reading nearly as much but I adore books. I love the feel of the pages, the smell of an old book and the excitement of settling into a new good read. It's more than the stories that are contained on the pages, it is the books themselves that I love. It is no surprise therefore that I own a lot of books. Here's the top of my stairs to prove my point:

Floor to ceiling full of books, glorious books. It will probably come as no surprise to you then that I hate it when a book is ruined by being used for something else. When a lovely golden page is ripped out and used to decorate a card or to decopatch a bowl. I nearly disowned a friend after he had cut out the centre of a beautiful and old hardback book to house his stupid kindle. don't even get me started on kindles and ereaders. Just sacrilege. 

But as an avid crafter this poses somewhat of a problem because as much as I hate the torture books endure they do make cards and bowls look all the more gorgeous. It still feels wrong though - it's book murder. I'm probably going to have to get over this hurdle with years of counselling but for now it's book killing with intent.

I approach book murder with seriousness and have a few rules:

1. The book has to be a modern publication.

My dad is as eccentric as they come and a collector- cutting into an old book is just wrong, painful even, just plain wrong.

2. The book has to have served its purpose at least once.

Cutting into a book before it has been read is like killing a tree before it has chance to grow.

3. A book can be cut up if there are lots of versions of it

Wordsworth classics and penguins are available a plenty unless they are the orange kind. Then you're not allowed to cut them up.

But anyway back to craft.

As I see lots of book inspired crafts I tread with caution but I've found one recently that is brilliant. Page folding. Now after reading a semi good book I don't know what to do with them as I don't want to recommend a semi good book but I can't bring myself to throw them, see previous blogs on how much of a horder I am, so what to do. Well turn them into something pretty without ripping the pages out. Point in question: 

Now although I'm adverse to cutting books up I don't mind bent pages - I think they are nice as it shows the book has been loved and done its duty. Yes I personify my books. So this craft is brilliant because you could still technically read the book should you want to but it is also something new and pretty.

I'm tempted to decopatch the sleeves but think I may need that counselling first.

The art of quilling

Well hello all, have you missed me?

Today I am turning my attention to the very therapeutic art of quilling. This tale starts not so long ago and in a fairly nearby location with two extraordinarily beautiful women who had decided to get together to do some craft. Being one of those women I'm happy to share with you what was made. 

Our theme was 'rainbow' anything could be made but by the end of it rainbow had to have been incorporated. While on a trip to a seaside resort I frequented a charity shop. Those of you that know me already know that I'm a bit advocate of the charity shop especially for craft items and this trip was no less successful than the many other trips I have made. I found my base. A thin cylinder that I imagine could be used for drinking out of, holding flowers or just storing your dreams. I then got all my quilling papers together and toddled off to the other beautiful lady of this story's house.

With our supplies at the ready: 

We made a start. The day was spent chatting and drinking tea- perfection and pretty soon things started to happen with the receptical: 

More tea and chatting and more than likely at least one wee break lead to: 

But before I knew it the world was put to rights and time had evaporated so my bag of papers and I returned home. Now I'm always at risk of not finishing projects - mostly because I lose motivation but the other beautiful lady of this story wanted results so I pressed on. 

And before I knew it, my project was completed.

Many of you will know that I make things to sell at www.facebook.com/fattycraftertales (shameless plug) but with this I could never sell it. Although the paper and the jar were quite cheap the time it took was phenomenal. 

I'm usually one for perfect lines and symmetry which in this project went straight put of the window so by the end of it I embraces the merging of the colours. I think it looks better for it. What do you think?