Book Purses by ExLibrisPurses
16 Sep 2010
Book Purse • News

Final Purse of the Summer

Just finished the last of the purses I wanted to complete this summer. It’s State Fair time here in Minnesota, almost Labor Day weekend and school starts on Tuesday….but I squeaked this one out in time to still say I met my goal (not that anyone cares but me!).

The book is “Nancy Drew and the Secret of the Old Clock” – a title that I have used many times but the FIRST time that I used this particular cover. I love the Bill Gillies 1950’s cover that I usually use, but is was fun working with this 1960’s cover designed by Rudy Nappi. His cover (with Nancy in a green dress) is the one that most of us probably grew up with. One reason (other than nostalgia) that I wanted to use the Rudy Nappi cover is that I found what felt like the perfect lining for it – a fun reto-esque cotton print with circles that hint at the ‘clock’ imagery, and a great green background that picks up the green in Nancy’s dress.

Now on to my fall and winter goals…..a lineup of each of Jane Austen’s novels. I can’t wait!

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11 Aug 2010
Book Purse

Musings on Nancy Drew

I had several Nancy Drew books I wanted to transform in to book purses this summer.  OK I admit it…I have BOXES of Nancy Drew books I want to turn into purses … but there are some covers that I feel really lend themselves to purses for fun summer-time use. In particular I love the sky-blue in the ‘Ringmaster’s Secret’ and the apple green in the ‘Bungalow Mystery’ – they both make for a perky summer purse (and I find those covers to be hilarious).
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I also wanted to post a ‘Haunted Show Boat’ that I had wonderful lining fabric for – it has a great cover as well with Nancy and her 2 chums depicted.
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And finally I wanted to get “The Classic” Nancy Drew book purse ready to go…’Secret of the Old Clock’ of course! I am personally fond of the 1950s cover by Bill Gillies – Nancy, mouth open in surprise, under a starlit sky. But I know other people prefer the more recent cover by Ruddy Nappi with Nancy, screwdriver in hand, in a bright green dress.  So I decided I’d do one of each this summer!

So, how’s my progress? I got all of the above made except for the Ruddy Nappi ‘Old Clock’ which I am ready to start on now! I have the book cover and the PERFECT fabric.

I like to use the matte editions for my Nancy Drew purses instead of the glossy editions – I think they have a classier look – but I may have to try a few “glossies” in the future, as the mattes are had to come by in good condition (after all, they are really nothing more than cardboard with an illustration inked on top!).

Now I’ll have to pick out covers that will work well with a Fall palette and woolly warm sweaters!

admin | One comment
19 Jun 2010
Book Purse

Bobbsey Twins Book Purse Finished!

Hard to believe that the Bobbsey Twins have been around since 1904!  I love the older vintage cloth covered books with the pictorial plate on the front.  But, I also really like the covers from the 1950′s.  The Bobbsey Twins on a Houseboat is such a great cover.

The purple, orange and yellow make for a bright and fun purse – especially with the addition of some retro orange plaid fabric I found.

Let the summer fun begin!!

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