Useful Books is now Free Range Bookbinding

After almost eight years and over 1800 sales on Etsy, Useful Books is getting a do-over.  It's a little scary to make a change after such a long time and good success, but my new business name reflects the character of my work so much better.

So without further ado, please allow me to proudly introduce . . .

Like so many makers, I started my little Etsy shop on a lark, never imagining that it would become a full time job and such a huge part of my life.  When I began, "Useful Books for Putting Things In" had meaning for me.  The name was inspired by Winnie-the-Pooh's Useful Pot for Putting Things In.  (Pooh and I go way back.)  I love pockets and envelopes and planned to include them in every book.  Yeah, I'm still digging pockets and envelopes, which you know if you've followed me at all.

I started with a very Pooh-ish bunny . . .

And moved on to a slightly more sophisticated bunny . . .

The more my work evolved, I realized that my dear bunny and I needed to part ways.  (It's not you, it's me.)  I had a dear friend create a new logo . . .

Now in 2015, I'm making a whole new start, and embracing a new critter . . .

Here's the definition of free range: adj. (1) permitted to forage rather than being confined to a small enclosure; (2) produced in natural non-intensive conditions.  What I like best of all is finding cool things, old and new, and using them in books in unexpected ways. Why stop with book board, cloth and paper when there's a million other flat things in the world that can be a book or part of one?  Coupled with creating in my sunny home studio in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains and my lighthearted approach to the whole thing (restore your precious family Bible? no thanks), the definition fits me perfectly.

Come visit my new home on the web at FreeRangeBookbinding.com.    I'll be posting in both places for a while, but will be transitioning over there by the end of the year.  

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