Gemstone Book Printables

What is it that makes as so attracted to gemstones? Someone please find out and let me know.

I've had this amethyst painting by Carly Waito as my desktop wallpaper on and off for a handful of years now. I'm thinking the paintings deserve a Book Cover Potential post...

Well clearly my adoration for gemstones isn't a rarity these days. Over on one of my favorite blogs, Design*Sponge, they recently shared two wonderful gemstone printables that show a lot of literary love as well.

First, these gem bookplates with a wonderfully simple vintage vibe:

And these fun, illustrated gemstone bookmarks:

Both make great touches for your summer reads.

You can find the downloadable files for both over on Design*Sponge: bookplates // bookmarks

+

The first selfie... belongs on a book cover

Do you guys follow Domesticated Desk? I love these side tables she shared...

STILL obsessing over these amazing bookshelves

BiblioCraft: A book for DIYers + readers

So, maybe because it is spring, or maybe because I"m moving soon and thinking about a new apartment, but I am in the mood to DIY.

In the past, I've been pretty anti-DIY. Like, let the pros do what they're good at and I'll pay them for something I know is great, instead of making a terrible Pinterest-fail type version.

But I found this Make Your Own Bitters Kit and after being inspired by this Brad Thomas Parsons book, I think I'm going to need to make a purchase.

Clearly, this DIY fever bleeds into my love for lit as well, making Jessica Pigza's BiblioCraft book a must for me to at least borrow from the library.

Here's a peak at the inside from Abrams Books:

A little FYI to go with this DIY, Pigza is a rare book librarian at the New York Public Library, which basically sounds like the most magical job of all time.

(found via Creature Comforts)

P.S. Remember that time the internet went NUTS when Lauren Conrad "assassinated" books to make a craft a billion other Pinteresters have created?

Apparently, they took the video down. Whatever. I'll always love you, LC.

+ 

maybe the greatest line from The Hills, ever. Since we're on the topic.

headed back home to Michigan in May. Can't wait to stop into City Bird to grab some of these notebooks.

I Dare You!

the DUMBEST DIY Real Simple has ever posted (old book smell forever!)

Three non-traditional wooden bookshelves

Since I moved across the country with literally zero furniture, I've been stalking craigslist for bookshelves I could possibly fall in love with.

This morning I saw two on my Feedly though that have me thinking of taking a different route.

I love this collapsible bookshelf from Stephanie Hornig's Set collection. As someone who doesn't seem to stay in one space for too long, the functionality is pretty appealing. Plus, it looks awesome. (Found via Core77)

Since I'm renting, I probably wouldn't take this DIY route that requires putting a lot of holes in the wall... but it looks nice! Maybe there's some way I could meet this concept in the middle. (Found via Creature Comforts, DIY shelving tutorial from Almost Makes Perfect)

And since I'm finally going to be buying a bike soon, I've been thinking often about this Mikili Bike Rack. I probably wouldn't actually use it for my bike (dirt, etc.) but it is too perfect not to consider.

Basically I'm trying to avoid buying, once again, a bookshelf from the IKEA Expedit collection. They are perfect for records but not so much for books AND are incredibly heavy/not worth moving anywhere.

Help? Where did you find the perfect bookshelf for your home?

Plus
+ These super-fun bookshape shelves
+ Built-in, back-lit shelves I would die to have in a home I owned

Past & Present by Amy Azzarito

One of my absolute favorite blogs is Design*Sponge and over the years I've loved seeing the different contributors that have come and gone from the blog. Amy Azzarito is currently the managing editor for Design*Sponge and I always love her contributions to the site.

This spring, Amy published her first book, "Past & Present: 24 Favorite Moments in Decorative Arts History, and 24 Modern DIY Projects Inspired by Them". It obviously has a beautiful cover.

The cover was illustrated, as well as the rest of the book, by the wonderful Julia Rothman and the book design is by ALSO. Lately a pop of pink (a color I've never really loved) has been so appealing to me so obviously I'm crushing pretty hard on this cover.

In a post about the book on Design*Sponge, Amy shared this little piece of insight on her love for art history, which I really enjoyed:

While researching all of the moments in decorative arts history for this book, I was continually reminded of my own personal design history memories. I remember stumbling across a book called "Life in a Medieval Castle" on my mom’s bookshelf. I was surprised to discover that rather than stories of fairy princesses and knights in shining armor, it was a book about how people actually lived in castles – what they ate, what they wore, what their furniture was like. It was the first moment that I discovered design history.  

I also loved learning that Amy was previously a digital producer at the New York Public Library, which wasn't on my list of dream jobs before but it might be now.

"Past & Present" is available on Amazon.

More of my posts about Design*Sponge
and great book cover design to swoon over.

Bookends DIY

Remember those beautiful Anthropologie bookends I posted last week? No, I'm not about to try to teach you how to make them, but somebody else made them for me! A friend from work made a set for me and a set for our friend Meg and it was such a nice surprise to see them on my desk when I returned from Mexico.

They don't have any of the moss or trees, but I love how clean and natural they are. They actually go really well with my furniture and the general aesthetic in my bedroom. (Please ignore the unsightly lines my camera has been making. I've been meaning to get it fixed.)

I currently have them separated. One on my windowsill next to my super colorful Wallpaper* City Guides, and one between the Updikes and notebooks on my vanity. 

I'm thinking of maybe adding some colored paint to them eventually, but for now they'll stay as they are. 

Thanks, Graham! 

Plus, more pretty tree things on Pinterest.