Synopses & Reviews
We all love to read and learn from books, but
The Repurposed Library takes our passion even further, presenting us with 33 projects to make--quite literally--out of books. For these projects, Lisa Occhipinti rescues and repurposes orphaned and outdated books from flea markets and library sales and turns them into new art objects and practical items for the home. Her creations range from artfully constructed mobiles, wreaths, and vases, to functional items like shelves, storage boxes, and even a Kindle "keeper" for those who want to replicate the sensation of holding a "real" book while reading from an e-reader. Projects utilize every imaginable part of a book--from hardback cover to individual pages--and are a DIY celebration of a new way to view a book's potential.
Praise for The Repurposed Library:
"In an age when the bound book is an endangered species, [Occhipinti's] artwork is nicely topical. She now has a book of her own, The Repurposed Library, out this week from Stewart, Tabori & Chang. In it, she offers readers a how-to guide to making household objects from, well, books, like a mirror, a lamp and a fire screen, as well as the winsome mobile shown on the cover."
- The New York Times
"Book hoarders rejoice: all those random children's books, encyclopedias, and unread paperbacks are about to find their purpose . . . Furnished with cheery photographs and numerous hand-drawn diagrams, this endearing book will appeal to veteran crafters and literati alike."
-BUST magazine
“The book is really well-made, fittingly. The photography by Thayer Allyson Gowdy is wonderful and really shows off the projects—and everything in the background is as tastefully arranged as a Crate & Barrel catalog. . . . if you love books as objects, The Repurposed Library is a fun collection of project ideas.”
—Wired.com
“We love how everyday objects like a colorful collection of vintage books can double as décor. . . . Th[e] cute wall-hung book ledge is easy to make and provides a perfect perch for treasured keepsakes. —Natural Home & Garden
Review
"On the list of things that I love most, books take a very close second to crafting. So, if you too are just as likely to be found in a library reading room as you are in your local yarn and fabric store, BiblioCraft: A Modern Crafter’s Guide to Using Library Resources to Jumpstart Creative Projects, a new book from STC Craft, written by New York Public Library rare book librarian Jessica Pigza, will definitely be right up your alley!"
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"When I discovered that it is no ordinary craft book…but one that encourages creative projects inspired by vintage or long forgotten books from the library (or even your own bookshelf), I was captivated!"
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"Rarely does a decorating or DIY book make my heart flutter, but Jessica Pigza really knows how to charm a bibliophile whose passion is crafting and decorating."
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“Crafty library lovers must check out BiblioCraft . . . If you consider yourself a bookworm and enjoy time spent in the stacks, treat yourself to this book.”
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“Making beautiful things from books.”
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“Jessica Pigza’s BiblioCraft is beautifully designed and full of both doable and aspirational projects by some of the hugest names in the craft world . . . I’m positively drooling.”
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“Pigza showcases an array of designs by master craftspeople and artists that were all inspired by the holdings at the New York library—referencing the originals, of course—and includes instructions so you can make your own.”
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“Libraries are full of inspiration and resources and there’s a new book that tells exactly how to mine them.”
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“A Top Read.”
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“Moms looking to get crafty need look no further.”
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“Combining books and crafts? Sign me up.”
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“What we all liked about this book is that it had what I call ‘meat’ or maybe you might call substance. In the beginning of Bibliocraft, [Pigza] explains things about libraries that I didn’t know existed. From the library system (branch, research, special collections), to how to find the right library for you (mindblowing info here), to how to plan a library visit (yes—there is a proper way), to how to search. Bibliocraft explains things that I think only librarians know and she does it in a way normal people can understand.”
Synopsis
Voted a Best Book of 2014 by Library Journal There is untold wealth in library collections, and, like every good librarian, Jessica Pigza loves to share. In BiblioCraft, Pigza hones her literary hunting-and-gathering skills to help creatives of all types, from DIY hobbyists to fine artists, develop projects based on library resources. In Part I, she explains how to take advantage of the riches libraries have to offer—both in person and online. In Part II, she presents 20+ projects inspired by library resources from a stellar designer cast, including STC Craft authors Natalie Chanin, Heather Ross, Liesl Gibson, and Gretchen Hirsch, and Design*Sponge founder Grace Bonney. Whatever the quest—historic watermarks transformed into pillows, Japanese family crests turned into coasters, or historic millinery instructions worked into floral fascinators—anyone can utilize library resources to bring their creative visions to life.
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About the Author
Lisa Occhipinti is a former faculty member at the New Hampshire Institute of Art and Currier Museum of Art Center. Her work has been featured in the Boston Globe and on multiple websites and blogs, including Apartment Therapy, Publishers Weekly, and the New Yorker. She lives in Venice Beach, California.