Etsy's Handmade Blog
This Is Not a Blog Post
Story by mtraub
Published on September 11, 2009 in This Handmade Life 		Photo by

This Is Not a Book

I have always been fanatical about narratives, but I hadn't really contemplated the possibilities of the book as an object until working at Special Collections in college. From 19th century miniatures to hand-printed Yolla Bolly aquatint etchings, books came to be portable sculptures, records, decor, specimens, shrines. As any fellow library-lover knows, the marginalia is often far more engaging than the original text.

In the spirit of reinventing our relationship with these ubiquitous artifacts, this post shares a few pages from Keri Smith's This Is Not a Book. With projects for personal contemplation and public experimentation, Keri's creation is meant to be vandalized with inspiration.

Keri provides some context for this unusual book with these encouraging words:

"As with all of my books, I wanted to create something that was a direct experience (as opposed to a passive one). You cannot sit and do nothing with it or it means nothing. I am interested in what is called an "open work," a work that is created by me but the final output is a result of the reader/user's experience of the world. Every person who comes to This Is Not a Book will have a different response to it. This is what I find beautiful about social mediums, seeing what other people come up with that I would never have thought of. I am also interested in pushing the imagination to a place it's never been before. Adults especially are not encouraged to use the imagination for fear of being thought of as crazy. I aim to change this the world over. The world would be a much better place if we could all dream more and challenge ourselves to be ridiculous."

How do you transform your everyday objects? Share in the comments below, and I'll pick a commenter at random to win a free copy of the book from Penguin Publishing. Or you can pick up a copy for yourself here.

Have you checked out Etsy's Books and Zines category lately?
You can find handmade publishing for style, satire, and poetry.

 

Breathers no. 0

By justmadbooks, $2.

View Item | View Shop

Flying to the dream tiny book

By behappynow, $15.99.

View Item | View Shop

Poetry Book

By theinkling, $6.

View Item | View Shop

Intricate Dwellings

By thejuzzard, $4.50.

View Item | View Shop

 

 

 

 

 

For many, Etsy serves not just as a marketplace of goods, but also as a marketplace of ideas. To find sellers working with each other producing craft-hybrids like the ones below, try searching "collaboration."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SALE Bracelet Etsy Collaboration

By TheBrokenPlate and pinkkiss, $40.

View Item | View Shop

Lifecycle - Collaborative Giclee Print

By JenMcCleary and alisonalison, $40.

View Item | View Shop

moss terrarium No. 152

By madebymavis and mudpuppy, $36.

View Item | View Shop

3 collaborative coloring books

By yaelfran and over 60 Etsy artists, $33.

View Item | View Shop

 

 

 

 

 

 

Objects that take on a life of their own rely on the elusive medium of motion. These Etsy items capture movement in time and space. Inject some flux into your home with handmade mobiles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

BW print - 'Untitled'

By zseike, $25.

View Item | View Shop

Mobile nite frond earrings

By MiniCyn, $39.

View Item | View Shop

Spoon Clock With Pendulum

By MetalMedia, $75.

View Item | View Shop

Orange Mobile - Stained Glass

By TheGlassCrafter, $115.

View Item | View Shop

 

 

 

 

 

 

The creations in the Sculpture category cannot be contained by two dimensions. These eruptions of material make me feel sorry for any bare surface in sight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The singing lady ceramic sculpture

By peanutbutterandyelly, $15.

View Item | View Shop

The Gift, light sculpture

By illuminarysculpture, $600.

View Item | View Shop

Pencil Dress

By tompkikr, $900.

View Item | View Shop

Explosion - Wood with String Ball

By makalewakan, $380.

View Item | View Shop


How do you transform your everyday objects? Share in the comments below, and I'll pick a commenter at random to get a free copy of the book from Penguin Publishing!

More This Handmade Life Posts | DIY Made Simple Gift Guide | Art Category

Tags art, authors, books, Books and Zines, collaboration, comics, creativity, giveaway, inspiration, Keri Smith, lifestyle, mobiles, motion, movement, sculpture, This Handmade Life, THIS HANDMADE LIFE, This Is Not a Book, zines
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101 comments     Login to add your own!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 12:29 p.m. blackbirdtees

Inspired vandalism. Very nice indeed.

Sept. 11, 2009 at 12:31 p.m. lovelygifts

Some interesting book covers!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 12:32 p.m. spacejam

interesting article!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 12:32 p.m. lilworkerb

Never heard of the "collaboration" feature. Great idea!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 12:33 p.m. moop

Keri is so so great! Read her blog!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 12:34 p.m. girlwithbighair

I like how her work encourages you to look at everything in life differently. I can see the potential for things I had not before! Great ideas...

Sept. 11, 2009 at 12:35 p.m. 4TheSparrowsNest

I appreciate the focus on books and 'zines...it's often an overlooked artform. Nice article about challenging the way we view and define art.

Sept. 11, 2009 at 12:37 p.m. workingforpeanuts

Michelle! Thanks for sending my imagination beyond rainy Brooklyn and my messy studio. Awesome variety!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 12:39 p.m. 2ndcoming

very cool!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 12:39 p.m. moonovermaize

I love the collaborative pieces! So much creativity and beauty here on Etsy.

Sept. 11, 2009 at 12:39 p.m. workingforpeanuts

And Keri, too, of course!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 12:40 p.m. foamywader

Fantastic picks!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 12:47 p.m. worksandfinds

Wow. Amazing.

Sept. 11, 2009 at 12:51 p.m. beachhouseblues

This is a great post... lots of inspiration!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 12:52 p.m. ElenaMary

Wonderful..love that books are featured! make sure to check out the "books with content" area where all the unique OOAK artists books are:

http://www.etsy.com/category/books_an...

Sept. 11, 2009 at 12:56 p.m. SmallEarthVintage

I *definitely* need to spend more time in the Etsy books and zines category--thanks for the reminder! I loved zines when I was a teenager/young adult 20 odd years ago.

Sept. 11, 2009 at 1:02 p.m. EJPcreations

Oh my god the pencil dress!!!! It's so amazing!!!!!I love it!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 1:04 p.m. OffTheHooks

I like the idea of making cozies for everyday objects. for everything.

Sept. 11, 2009 at 1:07 p.m. thebestvintage

I LOVE little artist's books...
so precious!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 1:08 p.m. theeye

what an interesting read. kudos.

p.s. that spoon clock kicks ass!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 1:08 p.m. BeadinBabe

Interesting! I love it!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 1:10 p.m. Fairyfolk

Stunning picks!
Blessings and magic.

Sept. 11, 2009 at 1:12 p.m. SusanFaye

Transforming everyday objects is how a creative, restless mind deals with monotony and repetition--thanks for sharing all of these transformational ideas and artists!!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 1:15 p.m. undertheroot

thank you for shining a spotlight on what i consider genius.

Sept. 11, 2009 at 1:22 p.m. zaperoco

Love it...

Sept. 11, 2009 at 1:22 p.m. nightowlcraftworks

awesome! great article!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 1:27 p.m. louloudo

BRILLIANT. I love books! In fact, I love you, for this post x

Sept. 11, 2009 at 1:29 p.m. hannasusj

I think of my fridge door as a clean slate to be curated. How could anyone ever want this wide-open surface to stay free of...stuff? I love that things accumulate over time, become not so relevant, or sidle up against more recent, significant pieces of ephemera--a dr's appt card shares space with a sauce-splattered picture of me and my mom, circa 1998...Etc etc. It's always changing! I'm not saying it's always, um, lovely...but I figure it's at least interesting, and no doubt a curious hint of the lives me & my family of 3 lead. Would love to see Keri's book and perhaps share it with my students!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 1:37 p.m. ByTheBy

We definitely need people to remind us to stop and rethink what we are looking at, how can it be used differently, what can we do to make it our own, how can we incorporate a part of this idea into what we do. Great inspiration!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 1:42 p.m. pandawithcookie

I thought it might be a pipe instead.
Nice article.

Sept. 11, 2009 at 1:42 p.m. VixVintage

Very interesting, thanks. I love the Mobile.

Sept. 11, 2009 at 1:45 p.m. 1AEON

love it!! let them think free!!!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 1:48 p.m. HoneysuckleLane

Great article! Thanks!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 1:49 p.m. emilyhickman

Very interesting.

Sept. 11, 2009 at 1:55 p.m. Tattedlace

As if books didn't offer enough wonder already, the prospect of an author taking ones hand only to show you what imaginative gems you poses in your own mind is truly remarkable.

Sept. 11, 2009 at 2:08 p.m. demcdonough

How do I repurpose? PAINT! and right now, I'm contemplating boxes from old books. Figuring out the dynamics of doing this is taking a little time. I'm one of those people who visualize every step first, even thought most projects seem to take a turn...lol...

Sept. 11, 2009 at 2:11 p.m. theLostEarring

I agree wholeheartedly about adults using the imagination less. It's unfortunate and oh so true. I wonder if the imagination atrophies after all that time and must be exercised to get back in to shape so-to-speak, or if it simply lies dormant waiting to be awakened as it was during childhood. Either way, this sounds like a wonderful book! Thanks for sharing :)

Sept. 11, 2009 at 2:17 p.m. ooty

BBBBBrilliant!!!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 2:29 p.m. sean11

This is my kind of blog post.

Sept. 11, 2009 at 2:31 p.m. TheCottageCheese

What a cool book! When I'm the designated driver and need something to do with my hands (versus holding a beer), I tear napkins to make paper dolls.

That pencil dress is amazing! The "collaborations" are so cool.

Sept. 11, 2009 at 2:36 p.m. mullishmuse

lovely indeed. i make mini-windsocks for my garden out of empty toliet papter rolls.

Sept. 11, 2009 at 2:40 p.m. curlyfrysc

This is me not posting.

Sept. 11, 2009 at 2:43 p.m. yaelfran

Michelle!!! gREAT article, thanks so much for featuring the collaborative books!!!!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 2:55 p.m. prendasbyenid

Super interesting post. I'm a reader lover!!!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 2:59 p.m. MelissaSue

interesting! Justin Madison / Breathers / justmadbooks is fantastic, i'm a fan.

Sept. 11, 2009 at 3:02 p.m. Morado

I want me a zine! :o)

http://twitter.com/MoradoShop
http://www.facebook.com/MoradoShop

Sept. 11, 2009 at 3:03 p.m. cbeatty23

This so reminds me of Demetri Martin (this is a sketch...yes it is). Although I'm probably the only one who has ever seen his show. I work in corrugated, so everyday I'm mentally thinking about how to use the material to make something cool or unexpected. Awesome post!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 3:22 p.m. SunsetSurf

love love love her. i am thinking of taking some old scrap paper and junk mail, painting it, wadding it up, and some how making a tree out of it. we'll see!lol. at least it will be fun!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 3:23 p.m. RageoftheAge

I have had to take a step back from blogs due to systems overload...and now find myself journaling (via cursive written word!) and searching yard sales for the kind of brain food you hold in your hands and sit under a shady tree with...so I'm loving this!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 4:09 p.m. MyMoms

These look magnificent! great picks!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 4:19 p.m. frenchtown

Just 2 days ago I accidentally discovered Keri's blog. Now here she is on Etsy. I'm going to get her book one way or another!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 4:20 p.m. StudioCherie

I can hardly look at a chair, footstool, or sofa without planning to transform it by either upholstering or slip covering. Also every scrap of paper that gets within 3 feet of me gets doodled on. My daughter and I do team doodling.

Excellent article!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 4:27 p.m. modhuman

Great article!! Love the pics.

Sept. 11, 2009 at 4:35 p.m. imadeyouabeard

I love Keri Smith's books! Can't wait to get this one :)

Sept. 11, 2009 at 5:25 p.m. sudsbysarah

Wow, your diagram up there with the factory photo reminds me of the days I used to work for a printer. We did mock-ups of small books and yearbooks exactly the same way and then translated those into press plates for printing. I bet this is an interesting book! :)

Sept. 11, 2009 at 5:47 p.m. madetogether

i *love* the idea of a book that teaches you how to use your imagination! let the creative juices flow!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 5:52 p.m. wristielove

this is not a comment! i need to have mannequin carmella!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 6:02 p.m. theaconda

absolutely love that pencil dress and the spoon clock. amazing.

Sept. 11, 2009 at 6:46 p.m. cassidycay

I love the tiny books!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 7:21 p.m. thewhimsytrove

My favorite transformation of everyday items comes when I take discarded pages from the manuscript I'm writing and turn them into papier mache. Seeing it torn up and randomly appearing all over three dimensions, utterly out of context, seems to help me with my writing somehow. And not in a Wm. S. Burroughs kinda way.

Sept. 11, 2009 at 7:38 p.m. girltuesdayjewelry

This sounds like such a cool book! I have to check it out next time I'm at Barnes which is every weekend because I'm nerdy.

Sept. 11, 2009 at 7:42 p.m. FrillyButts

Very interesting article. I like to puff paint everything. My dresser has a mural on each drawer.

Sept. 11, 2009 at 9:35 p.m. mellie

hurray for zines

Sept. 11, 2009 at 9:42 p.m. Furiousdreams

Interesting post and love the light sculpture. Great that you promoted some of the more esoteric objets d'art here.

Sept. 11, 2009 at 10:27 p.m. ColeAndJosephine

I would love to deface this book!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 10:30 p.m. bhangtiez

cool earrings & funky creative sculpture...

Sept. 11, 2009 at 10:39 p.m. pinkytoeclothing

Wow! It is always so inspiring to see the amount of creativity here!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 11:02 p.m. revelry

This is an amazingly eclectic selection. Very unique. Great finds!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 11:15 p.m. samsstuff

Ever since childhood (collages, montages...), I have liked, no loved, to take disparate elements, lost, found, old & new & give them a new & different life together. I've taken a rock, naturally heart shaped, & made it into a bracelet. I've taken a slightly squashed cross, found in a parking lot & made it into a necklace. I've made a 'cross knife,' found on the ground & made it into a necklace. I've taken a part of a hubcap & made it into a pin. I could continue, but I'll just say this is my favorite thing to do!
Thanks for the interesting post & awesome finds!

Sept. 11, 2009 at 11:54 p.m. MiniatureRhino

this post made my heart beat a little faster. so well written and thought out- thanks for sharing some greatness. i love, love, love books- as objects and art....

Sept. 12, 2009 at 12:13 a.m. CassiasKitchen

oh my gosh. i was on future girl craft
blog last night and commented to win this.

i don't usually do this but could not resist.

Sept. 12, 2009 at 1:46 a.m. mullishmuse

i wrote a book today because of this here non-blog :) thanks for the inspiration.

Sept. 12, 2009 at 9:52 a.m. OneClayBead

"How do you transform your everyday objects? Share in the comments below,"

First of all, I loves this article! Functional pottery (my media) is all about everyday objects. The Industrial Revolution degraded our ceramic tableware into purely utilitarian, insipidly bland, matchy- matchy objects. My purpose as a potter is to offer an older, more enriching experience of using sacred objects in serving food and home decor. By sacred objects I mean pieces that are alive with individuality, infused with the same aesthetics as the natural world.

Sept. 12, 2009 at 10:09 a.m. ZenAgainYoga

I love book art, especially old embossed leather bindings! I must confess that I enjoy dismantling my old Reader's Digest hardcovers to use as fabric-covered purses!

Sept. 12, 2009 at 11:49 a.m. fastsoftpress

great thoughts on book art and collaboration. Am involved in several collaborations now-for the first time since grad school and am loving it!

Sept. 12, 2009 at 1:03 p.m. RevolutionIsSexy

Has anyone read/experienced the book "Learning to Love You More" by Miranda July? This reminds me of that project! When I first opened it and looked through it, I cried it was so beautiful and inspiring! There's also a website for those of you who can't get a copy of the book!

Sept. 12, 2009 at 9:07 p.m. UglyBaby

I transform everyday objects by adding stories to them to increase their value. The project I run is called bARTer Sauce and I trade for art and odd objects. Whatever I get, I trade for something else and everyone who trades with me has to tell me a story. I document it all on http://www.bartersauce.com. I've found throughout the years that even some of the items I never thought anyone would trade for - went quickly if they had a great story attached to them.

Sept. 12, 2009 at 9:46 p.m. norakaren

very interesting article...love NYC too,and I still remember

Sept. 12, 2009 at 10:28 p.m. patspottery

Can't anyone get rid of this spam from jinall??

Sept. 13, 2009 at 6:58 a.m. RedBracelet

XOXO very nice

Sept. 13, 2009 at 10:09 a.m. airdrome

Absolutely loved this article! I can't wait to get this book!

Sept. 13, 2009 at 11:28 a.m. snappingtwig

fantastic....been loving keri smith for some time now..... she truly has opened my eyes
with new ways to get moving in my creative thinking and the
collaborative movement here on etsy is so inspiring.
great article.

Sept. 13, 2009 at 11:29 a.m. FoodForHands

I've always wanted that book

Sept. 13, 2009 at 12:51 p.m. thebeadedlily

I add beads and vintage lace to clothing, cover my walls with taped up inspirational notes and pictures and read with pen in hand so I can underline and make notes. Looks like a great book!

Sept. 13, 2009 at 2:23 p.m. poppyswickedgarden

What a rediculously fabulous Not blog;)

Sept. 13, 2009 at 4:22 p.m. deetsy

What a fantastic post!, and thanks for including my "red" sculpture. I have been falling in love with my weekly trips to reuse stores and garage sales in search of all sorts of bits and "junk" to inspire and incorporate into new figures. I will remind myself more often that this is not a sculpture.

Sept. 13, 2009 at 4:31 p.m. DalkullanJewelry

The pencil dress is very unique, actually made of pencils! What an interesting concept, I'll never think of my pencil skirts the same again.

Sept. 13, 2009 at 4:36 p.m. Love2BInspired

Great article and items.

Sept. 13, 2009 at 5:12 p.m. AmongTheZinnias

I love Keri Smith...I have her "Wreck The Journal" book and I looove it!

Sept. 14, 2009 at 11:52 a.m. BibbysRocket

I love this post!

Sept. 14, 2009 at 6:19 p.m. OwlandMouse

I too am fanatical about narratives :)

Sept. 14, 2009 at 10:43 p.m. saintesmariesjewelry

This is a very artsy article! I love it.

Sept. 15, 2009 at 11:01 a.m. mrYen

I love books, altered books and kerri smith's work. The perfect read!

Sept. 15, 2009 at 4:04 p.m. thinkoflaura

Sept. 17, 2009 at 12:52 a.m. smilingbluedog

What a concept!
Awesome! I love the ideas.
I like to transform a lifeless, colorless, lump of grey "dirt" into colorful, fun figurines.

Sept. 18, 2009 at 2 p.m. theninestories

Great post. This also fits into your narrative: Our new handmade secret hiding place in an old unassuming hardcover book. This is not a book: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?...

Sept. 22, 2009 at 1:43 a.m. kmcgiveron

Yeah Ceramic art!!

Sept. 26, 2009 at 9:02 p.m. BlueCanvasDesigns

check out tompkikr' bubble wrap from the past... wish I thought of that one...

Great article that has my wheels turning. Thanks!

Sept. 29, 2009 at 3:43 p.m. mtraub

Comments from UglyBaby and samsstuff were randomly selected; copies of This is Not a Book are off in the mail to these lucky recipients!

Keep up the comments, everyone. I love reading what you have to contribute!

Oct. 20, 2009 at 11:36 a.m. MarchiMadeIt

I am looking forward to seeing the book and playing with it. great feature!!

Jan. 10, 2010 at 1:41 p.m. quiltwork

I like the sentiment that Etsy is a market place of ideas - it is really true!

Quiltworks

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