Brian Dettmer's Altered Books on CBS

Remember when I featured Book Sculptor Brian Dettmer? Well, he was recently featured on CBS Evening News in anticipation of his New York show which opens this Thursday - Click here for more info.
You can also view it by clicking HERE.
Needless to say, I've become a fan.

Su Blackwell's fabulous book sculptures

This takes reading to a whole new level! Su Blackwell creates the most amazing scenes out of books, even hand-written diaries. It's no wonder her work is so popular with top jewelers and advertisers. She's even made some of her sculptures life size. Oh, to live in a book. You gotta go see: SuBlackwell.com!

Thanks to Fuse #8 for the link via Jane Curley.

Brian Dettmer's Altered Books

I recently saw one of Brian Dettmer's pieces in person at the MOCA gallery's "Movers and Shakers" show while there to see work by my friend Marc Brotherton. As irony would have it, Brian's work came up for discussion on my Picture Book Artists Association board the other day. It's a sign - I have to share.
     Brian takes old books and reworks them into amazing sculptures. You can visit his website here, but also check out photos of his work on flickr - especially the images of his studio and works in progress.
     Even seeing images of how he works doesn't begin to explain the mystery of these highly detailed, breathtaking pieces. Here are some examples (shared with permission - turns out he's a nice guy too!).

More Cool Book Art!

Offbeat Earth has a great collection of book creations (like the ones I've included here) called "Don't like reading? Read on..." And they have lots more you've got to go see. They're all very different and very, very cool.
Thanks to PW's "More Amazing Stuff Made of Books" for the heads up.

Book Vases by Laura Cahill

These vases, tables and lamps are made out of unwanted books by Laura Cahill - and they're beautiful! I love the creative things people do with books. Cool, eh?

Thanks to PW's Craig Morgan Teicher, via dezeen(design magazine) for the heads up!

Tree of Books

At the University of San Francisco, they've turned books back into a tree - fantastic! At Magers & Quinn Booksellers Blog they call it De-Recycling. I first heard about it through Shelf Awareness. Thanks guys!

Book Tower

How's this for a cool idea? It's a literal tower of books! It was featured at Elle Decor and I learned about it through one of Alison Morris' last posts at Shelf Talker. (She's moving on to big things and I wish her tons of luck!)

Library Information Desk

As a literal book desk! What a great idea for all those books that end up too old, abused or out of date for circulation. See more shots at Recyclart.
Thanks to Shelf Awareness for the heads up!

A Book Chair

How's this for new? It's a chair, that's actually a book. It's called the Darwin Chair. You can flip to the page that matches your decor, or mix it up, changing it out with your moods (there are 200 designs available). Very groovy.
Thanks to Betsy Bird at Fuse #8 for the link.

Pimp My Bookcart

Have you been following the comic strip Unshelved? It's all about the crazy adventures experienced by librarians. Well, the creators are hosting a contest to see who can PIMP MY BOOKCART the best. There are great prizes, and various age group categories (for kids too). The deadline is NOvember 15th - so get creative!
Thanks to Shelf Awareness for the heads up.

Merit Badges for Writers

From the blog, Merit Badger... you can claim a badge for your site like the one on the right which symbolizes "My Bookshelves Overfloweth." Or maybe you've earned the proper query letter badge - represented by a heart on a mailing envelope? Funny Stuff!!!
Thanks to Nathan Bransford for the link.

Book Jacket

You know I love the quirky things people use books for. How about fashion? Check out these ideas at Booktagger - including this awesome book jacket. (Knowing there's a sweater in there all you librarians will be jonesin' for!)
(Thanks to Rasco at RIF for the link!)

Books as decor

Here's a new twist on a wall of books. It's at a hotel in Germany featured at the blog, Design Crisis. Most of the decor centers around books - lampshades, side tables, walls, you name it. I wouldn't want to have to dust the place, but it still looks pretty cool. Click the image to see more...
Thanks to Rasco From RIF for the link.

New Office Furniture - Yellow Danish Stools

I've shown you my office before, but here's the latest addition. I found these fantastic Danish stools at Kudzu Antiques and had to have them. (Wish I knew more about them.) Sure, they were bright yellow and looked pretty obnoxious in the store. But I just knew...
Look how awesome they go with my orange bookshelf (right at picture book grabbing level) and lime green file cabinet!

And how well they go with the other color that rounds out my palette - the aqua chair where my childhood teddy sits - Winne the Pooh (yeah, I know he's purple). This is behind me when I work (and what people see when I do virtual visits).

Oh, and there's this guy... He hangs out on the wall next to my desk and makes me smile.