Category Archives: crafts

August 21, 2012   Brenna   art, Brenna, buzz, celebrity, children's books, crafts, creativity, debate, feuds  
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Books as Art

The outrage surrounding MTV reality starlet and YA author Lauren Conrad’s destroying some of Lemony Snicket’s books on her DIY craft show to make them into storage containers has reignited the debate over books being used as non-reading materials. Rebecca Joines Schinsky of Book Riot posted about this and makes some really great points worth considering if you find yourself appalled by Conrad’s actions. For one, Schinsky notes that people love books for the stories, not the medium in which they’re delivered—most evident nowadays in the success of digital publishing. On top of that, she quotes Rachel Fershleiser—author, former bookseller and publicist, who has the publishing experience and no-nonsense attitude required to set the record straight—that books that don’t sell are often recycled. So, why shouldn’t creative people use them as they see fit?

Now, there are a couple of things that certainly don’t help Conrad’s case. The books she destroyed were Lemony Snicket’s. Lemony Snicket, people. The girl writes YA and doesn’t appreciate a modern classic children’s author? And storage containers? Really? Not the most original or useful endeavor. If, however, you don’t see the problem with that, check out The Repurposed Library by Lisa Occhipinti or Playing with Books by Jason Thompson for some truly great ideas.

And if you’re as fascinated by a celebrity feud as I am, take a look at Lemony Snicket’s amusing response here.

April 17, 2012   Brenna   Brenna, crafts, guilty pleasures, trends  
3

Pinterested

Lately, my life has been a wild ride of work and planning. Planning what, you might ask? In the next four months, I’ll be moving into a new apartment and getting married (yep, I haven’t even sent the invitations yet). I mention this, because I have been hopelessly obsessed with Pinterest, an alarmingly fast growing social media site that I’m pretty sure was made for the bride-to-be. Nothing makes an hour+ commute go by like discovering all the cool stuff you can do with…well, anything. A sponge. An egg. A newspaper. Then, one day, I discovered Random House’s site. Jane Austen nerds rejoice–there’s a whole “board” full of neat Austen related ideas! There’s really no sense in me listing every last board (Literary tattoos! Amazing places to read!), because let’s face it, if you don’t see for yourself, you’ll seriously regret it. My two personal favorites are Literary Wedding (for obvious reasons) and Bookshelf Envy. What are yours? Do you know of another literary inspired board I should follow?

July 13, 2010   DGLM   Chasya, crafts, fun  
2

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

by Chasya

Thanks, Galleycat, for this link to super creative ways artists are using old library cards in their work.

With the advent of digital card catalogues, artists are recycling those little paper boards into the coolest of creations. So, you crazy bibliophiles, want to carry a bit of the library everywhere you go?

Fancy a necklace made out of library cards?  Why your wish is Etsy’s command.

My personal favorite is the paperweight.

What about you?

November 25, 2009   DGLM   crafts, fun, Stacey, Thanksgiving  
0

A Crafty Thanksgiving

by Stacey

To keep it light before the holiday, I thought it would be fun to share a craft project using some of the many cans you’re bound to be using for Thanksgiving (who doesn’t love the jiggly cranberry sauce that retains its shape when removed from the can?). This one comes from my client and friend, Susan Beal. Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving!