What can you do with books? I've written about decorating with books, using books for crafts, and reading books (of course!). I've written about people who write books - some of them are Plymouth members. But you can also make books.

A few weeks ago, the Library Committee got together for a retreat. You can see us holding two books. Our chairperson, Melony Joyce, made each of us an elegant cardboard book with our initials stamped in gold. We used it to write our thoughts about the library, what it means to us. Then we each made a little book by folding a sheet of watercolor paper, and re-folding, and cutting. You'll have to ask Melony how to do it*, but we ended up with very nifty little books that we decorated with some wonderful watercolor paints.

Many years ago, my son and I took a workshop on bookmaking using ordinary materials that you would have at home. One of mine had decorated cardboard covers and it could be closed with a rubber band loop that slipped over a bead I had made of polymer clay. Books can be any sort of shape. They can be painted or drawn on or covered with a collage. They can even be deconstructed with the words cut out and put in a jar. You can use the books as journals, address books, or you can write a story in them. They can be as prosaic or fanciful as you want.

Look at the examples that I photographed at an exhibit of book art a number of years ago. Are you inspired to have even more fun with books?

*You can also check out a new title from Plymouth Library, I was their American dream: A graphic memoir by Malaka Gharib. On page 78, she explains, step by step, with diagrams, how to make this mini book!