The Saddest Book

A young friend of mine passed away in her sleep a couple of weeks ago. There was no warning, she had no known health problems and had not been ill. Her husband went to wake her one morning, and she was gone, leaving him and three young children to face a new world without her.

Everyone that experiences this kind of sudden, unexpected loss is faced with a stark reminder of his own mortality. There are no guarantees. Eternity awaits each of us. I don't fear death because I am reconciled to the One who waits there through the blood of His only Son, Jesus Christ. My friend is with Him now, and I'll see her again, and my sister, and my mother. But here on earth until then, I'm reminded to live in a way that will matter at the end, to leave an eternal legacy in the lives of the people around me. God, help me to remember.

I made this book with many tears to serve as a book of remembrance for guests to write in at her memorial. I hope the family will treasure the memories of friends who gathered to honor her.

While I was making this book, I received an email from a customer who had purchased a journal from my shop. She is going to use it as a guest book at her wedding for people to write their best wishes and advice. What a striking juxtaposition of the place that books can have in our lives.

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Blue Jeans and Tiaras

Blue Jeans Patented - May 20, 1873


Thank you , Levi Strauss, for single-handedly clothing the world. Made from recycled jeans, this very groovy retro-book is from VeronicaArts. Levi could never have imagined.

International Tiara Day - May 23

International Tiara Day celebrates women everywhere who have struggled to find their own path to success and have made it. The motto on the official website is "Real Leaders Wear Tiaras." This stunning book by newfry would be welcome by the most successful of women.

Arthur Conan Doyle's Birthday - May 22I hope that you both see and observe this interesting little book celebrating the legendary Sherlock Holmes created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle from GreenChairPress. Perfect to toss in your bag to keep track of the details of life.

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The Merry Month of May

NATIONAL BIKE MONTH

From A Fain books, a small journal fits perfectly into this vintage cigar tin, embellished with a bicycle image. Annie Fain Liden is an extraordinary book artist who taught my first class in bookbinding. There is not an ordinary book among her works. Don't miss a visit to her shop.


This very unique book is made from the bike inner tubes, which the artist promises have been cleaned well. What a unique way to recycle! And US buyers will only pay $10 to have this shipped all the way from Denmark. There are a number of these to choose from by PalePink.


ROOT CANAL APPRECIATION DAY - May 13

Hard to believe, but true. This date must have been visited upon us by the Sadistic Dentist Association, no doubted headed by Orin Scrivello. (If you're singing "Son Be a Dentist" right now, you watch too many movies.) No surprise that there are no books on Etsy glorifying the root canal, but I did find this very interesting book covered with advertisement from a 1922 orthodontics journal. From BrooklynBookbinder.


The last book for this week is in honor of L. Frank Baum, author of the children's classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, whose birthday is May 15. Actually, this book does double duty, because this week is also Children's Book Week. This cute little journal is in such happy spring greens. Perfect for both occasions. From Ragnazidnar.

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