how to make a book from a book!

about five years ago, i taught myself the art of bookbinding, and it's become one of my favorite things to make for friends. i picked up this raggedy children's book at a thrift store, but the edges were pretty worn. so i sliced it up and recreated a smaller book from one that was at the end of its rope. this is how it all came to be: my new pocketsized jotbook.

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Step 1: Find

this is the original cover in all its glam. the little plane was close enough to the binding, which wasn't torn or broken there, so that's why i bought it in the first place. the incredible pics inside will become parts of other books i'll make. i opened the cover and drew my knife down the fold, carefully to salvage the insides and the spine, then flipped to the end and did the same.

omicronomicron says: Apr 3, 2013. 7:54 PM

i also really like the way the original plane seems to be 'behind' the surrounding paper... this has made me go immediately to my 'day book' (where I do one page per day, sticking anythingeverythingfoundnonusablebutchronicallymyday, then scribble 'diary poems/notes/words etc on them) and create the same effect on a few of the main images... INSTANTLY enhanced. brilliant I'ble.

omicronomicron says: Apr 3, 2013. 7:48 PM

i am excited by this... sat up till silly o'clock going through my stashes of books and papers etc... inserting pockets and edge-folds or corner-flaps could hold notes etc... carry one of these pretty and slim books and a stck of glue and as I find tickets, labels, make diary notes etc, straight in they can go. using half the number of pages and folding them to make flaps to tuck things into or concertina outwards... oh wow. U hve really inspired me. Thank you...

cornato says: Aug 24, 2012. 11:36 AM

Holy Shi Shi! I have that book! I grew up reading that as a kid dreaming about flight. Small world....

aliasaint (author) says: Aug 16, 2012. 10:36 AM

thanks! since you mentioned it, it would actually be a cool little project for a kid - you could use a plastic needle for the sewing portion - the rest is pretty safe :)