Preliminary Whimsy Blue branding

I have so far sold a couple items in my etsy shop. If you have not checked it out yet, we just added some vintage housewares and will be adding more very soon! Especially after yesterdays adventure.

Anyways, back to the topic of the day. (I am an artist, so I get a little bit scattered at times...my mind is like a merry go round of ideas, the solution for this is to always have a sketchbook, pad of paper, napkin or journal)

Upon making my first sale, I had an idea of what to do with the remains of my vintage books that I used for the journals. This was all experimental as well. I really had no idea if this would work. So I took six pages from the journals original binding and sewed them together with some fun blue thread.

I then was deciding to wrap the book, and cut the edges so that the book provided a little peekaboo at the end. I found some stamps to create the words in what other then blue ink. (Soon we will have our own logo stamp!!!! So exciting!)) I then grabbed the dainty, blue ribbon that we have, and had my sister tie the ribbon because for whatever reason I have no idea how to do so!!

Here are some of the end result photos, I hope you all like. Maybe I will put a little DIY post documenting how I did it all for you!!! Let me know what you think!

Thrift me a deal!

(I love cheesy titles to my blogs that is all I have to say. Who wants a blog, that when dealing with the topic, it is just named the Subject, boring. I am not writing an essay, this is real life and not so formal)

Okay....so I got on a bit of a tangent.

Earlier this week my sister and I, decided that it would be a good time to go thrifting. Just woke up to the amazing sunshine outside, decided that this was our day to find a find. I think the best way to go thrifting, is to walk in without any expectations of finding something. The reason I say this...in my experience, (and I would say I would be rated platinum member, on the thrifting status.) it is a treasure hunt, so walking in with an open mind and editing eye. (Editing eye- go through all your potential purchases and ask yourself, are you buying this cus it's cheap? Or are you really going to use/wear it?)

Well I walked into the local Value Village, and look what I found!!!!

Only the most amazing pants ever. They were in the women's section of course, the reason being is that I always find more fun things on the women's side.

Think golf shoes, newsie cap with pom pom, sweater vest and polo.

The beauty is that I also found some tapestries and a couple of wonderful fabrics that will be used for future projects.

I think my favorite thing that I found this weekend though, was a, 1950's Light Pink Hostess Ice Crusher. My sister and I stared at the object at first and were confused as to what it was. We thought to ourselves this has to be wonderful relic from the past, so we snatched that up and went on our merry way.

Here are some pics of the ice cruser, hope you like them.

I love thrifting. I wish I could tell you the reasons. The biggest reason is that things are affordable, and the merchandise is always changing so you never get board of the same thing. As a creative person, I can look at something that appears lifeless and see what can be done or improved upon it to create something beautiful.

Finished ten more journals today, here is a sneak peek at one of my faves.


What I love about it is the inside.


You will be able to find this and more on my etsy shop.

Birthday Gift.

What to do you give someone as a birthday present when you have no money to spend? So first of all, I am going to be honest I am really terrible about giving people gifts for their birthdays. Even writing a card is something that is hard for me to do. So my New Year's Resolution was to be a better gift giver for people's birthdays.

My sister-in-law, Kelly, was the first birthday this year. I was racking my brain and finally realized that since I am already on a kick of bookbinding. Then why don't I create a book for her. (I personally love gifts that are handmade, I especially love cards from people when they write something meaningful inside...hmmpphh...my birthday is in two months...hint, hint)

As I was stating earlier, I wanted to create a book for Kelly that would be special and meaningful, I decided that maybe a little violin sheet music bound in a book could be a wonderful gift idea. So I ran with that idea and found some wonderful new ideas along the way. My favorite being thread sketching. I found this wonderful idea on another fellow bloggers, site. The concept behind it is you use a sewing machine to create a sketch, and the end result looks wonderful.

I ended up doing a small amount of thread sketching on the cover, binding the book violin sheet music and lining the inside with some of my own block print which I created. I loved the end result and just wanted to share with you.

Hope you like!

Children's books turned into journals/sketchbooks!!!

So as you all know the other day I received a box of 51 books that I am going to make into journals.

I took the guts of the book out, and the inside cover of each of the journals has an image on the front and back cover of the original book. Don't worry I am using the insides of the books for another project here at the end of the month.

I completed a full five which I am very proud of. I almost want to keep them because I love them so much!!! There are are about 15 more that are ready to be bound. These should be done by Saturday.

Anyways here are some of the example of my work so far let me know what you think!

Here is the front of The Peacock Lane Journal.

The first cover page, using some of the original pages in the book.


The inside of the journal. The journal is combined with a few poems from the original book.


The end of the journal also uses some original images from the book. This is by far my favorite journal that I have created.

Book Binding

I have been trying to post at least every couple days on here, showing all of you what it is that I am currently doing. I have an obsession with books, no not reading books but using books to be reused in a way that gives them new life. Let's face it book reading is an art form that is losing ground quickly and being replaced by everything digital.

What inspired me to have these thoughts. Well I was searching on a magical website called Ebay. I hope you are all familiar. ;) I found a lot of 51 children's books for a reasonal price. I watched it and watched it and finally, I called my sister and we agreed that it would be a great idea to purchase these books and see what we can do.

So today I come home and find the box, I have been waiting for it all week!!! Thinking. Brainstorming. What do I do with all these vintage children's books with beautiful covers. Well how about I learn a new technique called Bookbinding and create some journals or sketchbooks.

I decided that all books I create must have blank paper only!!!! As a creative person it is hard for me to be linear and if you know me, I definitely have never stayed on the straight and narrow.

Well here is my first journal that I created. The pics are a bit blurry but you get the idea of what I am doing at least there will be more to come soon!



How much would you spend on an upcycled journal that you knew was handmade???

Let me know your thoughts I am coming up with price points for the 50 books that I have to do. Leave it in the comments segment below!!! Look forward to your feedback!!!