Books - not for reading.

Today my student's told me that I was the ANTI-teacher, 

which I took as a compliment. 

We were working on a sculpture from an old book. 

My instructions were:

 DON'T READ IT and FOLD THE PAGES.

They loved it. 

One girl said that it was her dream to rip a page out of a book, 

well smallSHOP makes dreams come true and so I said,

"go ahead and rip ONE."

We spent the hour folding old hardbound books 

that I picked up at Goodwill .

One little lady had a book (an Italian Dictionary) 

with 1200 pages and she got to page 502. 

We will be adding some layers to these, 

perhaps stitching, another book, some color, 

we are letting it evolve. 

An easy and fun project.

Cleanest project ever!

We are loving it. 

Give it a try. 

Always, 

Sage and smallSHOP

smallSHOP go ahead... make a book.

I love Artist’s Books!

There’s nothing like holding a handmade book and gently flipping through its pages.  Artist’s books are both intimate and completely accessible.  Making a book is a great way to record your creative thought process.  I find the assembling, measuring and constructing steps keep the left brain busy giving the creative juices in the right brain a chance to spark (did you ever notice how great ideas pop up while you’re “mindlessly” brushing your teeth or driving?)

Books can be used to sketch ideas - recording an artist’s thought process, experimentation and final refinement of an idea - or for collages or collections - the possibilities are endless!

I especially love books made by kids!  I’ve recently rediscovered a book I made back in kindergarden, I’m so glad I was encouraged to record this silly story!

Check out these other inventive handmade books that Sage found,

they are amazing!

1. Stamped Book.

2. Christina's Book from Kindergarten.

3.Example of a simple accordion book.

4.Christina's Books.

5. Mixed Paper Journal & Accordion Book

6. Fabric Book.

7. Hand-Stitched Book

8. Natalie As Is