book review: the repurposed library
There is something sacred about a hardcover book. Therefore, I must confess my initial recoil at the cover images of The Repurposed Library: 33 Craft Projects that Give Old Books New Life. Thankfully, author Lisa Occhipinti details her lifelong devotion to the craft of book making as a precursor to their deconstruction and “transformation.”
“I feel a deep connection to the weight of a book, the tooth of its paper, and the smell of its ink (or mustiness),” she writes. “I wonder where books have been…have they been on vacation, and if so, where did they go?”
Chapter One details, “Understanding the Value of Books” and “Which Books are Best to Repurpose?” Occhipinti targets the “orphaned” books: “with cracked spines or obsolete information” and the “unwanted, dusty volumes…at garage sales.” Ah, now I get it! I’m back on board and ready for further instruction.
She offers many delightful projects. I especially like the decoupage switch plate cover, the Pagework Quilt and the Lettered Wreath made of rosettes from book pages. However, the most clever is the Kindle Keeper. A classic hardcover that opens to reveal an electronic device is my kind of style and subtle commentary.
— Shelley Cline for Mint
