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Sunday, February 1, 2009

Organizing the books...

Metamorphosis Monday is hosted by one of my favorite decorating bloggers, Susan at Between Naps on the Porch... If you'd like to see more of Metamorphosis Monday participants, link here to visit Between Naps on the Porch... I'm working tomorrow morning, so I thought I'd get an early start...


In the beginning, my books were crammed into this little flimsy bookcase and one other similar in my office... the books also resided on the floor, stacked in piles around the room, in the closet... well, you get the idea... though they were loved, they were certainly not cared for...

So, the first step... get the books to the dining room table and sort them... first by subject matter and then by size... and here they stayed for a couple of weeks...
until Ricky put my two large bookcases together... purchased at Target on sale for $80 each... a good buy considering the alternatives... Then I put the books on the bookcase in similar order as they were on the dining table... awaiting their next transformation...
I found a lovely idea in one of the many decorating and organizing magazines I consume each month. For the life of me I can't find the original inspiration; but when I do I will certainly give them credit here... In the meantime, just know that I was inspired by someone else's work...

I have found that in decorating, like the rest of my life, I'm very eclectic. In the bedroom, I like the serenity of Traditional; but in my pink bedroom, I like Shabby French...
In my office, I tend to lean more toward Traditional with a little French flair, lots of clean lines and organization... and so...

The book project.

You're going to need one of those craft cutting sheets made for a rotary cutter, a rotary cutter, a long straight edge... mine is a metal yardstick... and vellum by the roll. Oh, and of course, some books... lots and lots of books...
I found it easiest to measure the book's dust jacket, and then stick with the same size book when cutting the vellum...
be careful cutting... those rotary cutters are sharp!
I managed to get a little less than half of the books covered before I ran out of the two rolls of vellum. This is going to be a little more expensive than I had originally thought... but look!
Pretty books, all covered in vellum... I can still read most of the titles, but the books... they look so pretty and organized... I like this... I really really like this!
Hobby Lobby is closed on Sunday... good thing.. that means I don't feel compelled to run into town and buy more rolls of vellum! It can wait a few days... There is much more to be done in getting my office redecorate/declutter project finished... down here in French Lique!

ps.. if you missed the completion of the door morph... read on to the next post...
and a P.S.S.....
Precious just dropped by to see what all the goings on were... she must have noticed the camera flash.. and she hates it when Roxy gets posted on the blog and she doesn't...

With all the organizing and decorating going on in my office this weekend, my little Roxy has had to stay out. Tonight, I looked down and there she was... laid out on the Flokati rug with her head on her little toile pillow... What a life! I think she missed her mommy.

25 comments:

Shirley said...

Interesting idea for the books. I see by your stack of books that we have similar tastes in authors.

Katie said...

What a brilliant idea! I cannot thank you enough for sharing this idea! I have tons of books that cannot be given away, but oh how icky they look! THIS IS FABULOUS! The cost is surely a factor, so I'm thinking what about using a somewhat see thru fabric, one that gives the same ability to read the titles. Oh this is wonderful THANK YOU!

Dixie said...

Katie... I thought about trying wax paper and then butcher's paper... both much less expensive... but neither gave the same subtle effect the vellum does. Vellum.. about $10 a roll, but I think... worth the expense. For less than $50 it will look terrific!

The Raggedy Girl said...

What a wonderful project and it really looks nice. I am wrestling with books right now too. One big box was shown the door and now they are more manageable.
Roberta Anne

Anonymous said...

Great idea.They do look so nice.I'm going to tell you since I'm already here.Tomorrow stop by my blog.It isn't posted yet,but I have a little surprise for you.ok?...Ann

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Hi Dixie...What a good idea! I would never have thought of it and it looks wonderful! I hope you had a great weekend!...Debbie

Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer said...

Great idea... I may have to try that!

I think I have all the Patricia Cornwell books too!

Anonymous said...

Love the new bookcases and the how you arranged the shelves! We were out looking for a bookshelf today!

Candy said...

What a neat look. Clean and crisp. Hope your finger heals quickly.
Happy Monday, Candy

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Precious and Roxy are adorable!!I love your bookshelves all decked out.. you do have quite a project ahead of you..but one that definetly is going to pay off. I hope to be able to show mine "soon". Thanks for swinging by.. right now Mss Scooter is out slaying the dragons as I call it.. There must be a deer, possum or something outside..and she barks and barks. lol.. hugs ~lynne~

Kathy said...

An incredible job, Dixie! The books look beautiful.

xinex said...

The books in the bookshelf look so neat now. Great idea! Thanks for sharing, Dixie!...Christine

Anonymous said...

BEAUTIFUL DIXIE
YOU HAVE PUT IN SOME HARD WORK THAT WILL CERTAINLY BE WORTH IT...I HOPE YOUR FINGER IS OKAY...I LOVE PRINCESS ROXY LYING ON HER LITTLE TOILE PILLOW...SHE IS A DOLL
HUGS
debbie

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

Hi Dixie,
That looks great, I love hobby lobby. We used to have a poodle, your's is so cute1 Cindy

Lisa (aka) French said...

Loving the new book case what a great idea for book covers;) French

Unknown said...

I love the book covers, that's something I would never have thought of! Your bookcase looks fab.

~CC Catherine said...

Dixie, you sweet thing...be on the look out on my blog tomorrow...you'll see your name! I LOVE THIS M.Monday makeover girl! Very cool...time consuming...but WORTH it! I love the vellum covered books! I would think that's really going to protect the covers as well over time. I have many antique books that I might try this with. SUPER job! ~CC Catherine

Linda Q said...

Unique and pretty idea for books. Had not heard of this one!
Linda Q

Cami @ Creating Myself said...

LOVE this idea! Happy Met Monday!

Kat said...

What a great idea for covering the books. We apparently have similar tastes in reading material from what I can see. I just got done purging alot of books and re-arranging them among all the other bookcases in our house. I wish I had seen this first, because now I'm thinking about covering them like this . . How much is vellum a roll ? lol. Kathy

Beth at Aunties said...

Great idea and everything looks so clean and tidy. I really like this! Thanks for sharing:)

DesignTies said...

Not only do the books look great with the velum covers, I really like the way you've displayed everything on the shelves... not too cluttered with books... interspersed with loved objects!
Great job!
Victoria (one half of DesignTies)

Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...

Dixie...I love books, too...can't ever seem to part with any of mine. That is such an great idea...covering them. Thanks for sharing it! I bet you love being able to find your books easily now. Thanks for another great Met Monday post! Susan

Linda (Nina's Nest) said...

I really like the look of the books with the vellum. Never have done that but I think I will. I saw a room in a magazine where they had turned all books with the page side out, so you got the effect of a lot of white, but your look is classier. Linda

Kathleen Ellis said...

What a fabulous idea! It looks so nice and clean and crisp....very chic! I like the door project, too...nice!