Rebound Designs

Are the Book Bags made from actual books?

Yes, these purses are all made from real old hardback books, the pages are removed and the cover is left intact. The spine becomes the bottom of the purse, so the longer the book, the wider the purse.

Don't you feel bad cutting up all those books?

Not really. Most of these books were damaged or being thrown away to begin with, I don't cut up valuable books or books in fantastic condition. I take great care to find books that are already falling apart or are unwanted, like out of date textbooks.

What do you do with all the pages?

Right now most of the pages are in my attic, I'm loath to throw anything away. If you purchase a purse, I would be happy to mail you the pages at no extra cost but for the shipping. I am looking for a literacy program to donate the pages to, and I also give some of the textbooks with interesting illustrations to other artists who do collage work. If you are interested in taking any of the books without covers, please contact me at caitlin@rebound-designs.com

Do you make these all yourself?

I sure do! Each purse is handcrafted from start to finish by yours truly. It takes anywhere from 8-10 hours to make each purse, not including the time spending finding the books and fabric. I select each fabric for each individual book, so in most cases, I only ever use the same fabric once.

How did you come up with this idea?

You've probably seen cigar box purses, or purses made from other recycled items like juice boxes or duct tape. Recycled crafts are my passion, and I'm a huge bookworm, so it was a natural progression. My favorite thing about these purses is that instead of promoting smoking or junk food, I'm promoting literacy!

Aren't you clever?

Yes, yes I am.

Can I bring you a book?

Absolutely! If you have a favorite book from your childhood, or just a neat book you have lying around, I'd be happy to turn it into a one of a kind book purse for you. Keep in mind, if you are looking through your library, the wider the spine the better, and the spine needs to be in good shape. Send me an email at caitlin@rebound-designs.com to discuss custom information.

I want a particular title that I don't see in your list. Can I request a book?

Of course. I can't guarantee that I'll be able to find the book for you immediately, but if you tell me what it is, I will put it on my search list and let you know as soon as I find it. Email me at caitlin@rebound-designs.com for more custom order information.

How do I care for my purse?

You want to care for your purse like you would care for any valuable book. Don't leave it in the sun for extended periods of time, and don't get it wet. A little sprinkle of water won't ruin it, but washing it is a big no no.

Oh, and of course, don't feed it after midnight.

There's a funny spot on my purse, is this a defect?

All of my purses are made from actual used books, so water spots, torn and bent cover edges, and stray markings are all par for the course. I do my best to remove any really unsightly marks, but mostly I leave them on, it adds character. These books were all well loved before being turned into a purse you'll love even more, so think of them as love marks instead of scars.

How durable are these purses?

I won't use a book that's in such bad shape that it will fall apart upon use. I also do extra reinforcements on the spine, since that's the new bottom of your purse. These aren't designed for super heavy duty use, but they are all more durable now than the original books they came from.

I'm a guy, and I wish it were socially acceptable to carry a purse. Do you have anything for me?

Well, I say screw society and wear what you want, but I also have the pins, which are great for men as well as women, and coming soon I will have very manly clocks made from old books. Keep coming back, and in the meantime, buy a purse for your favorite girl.

(click here to email caitlin)

Where are you located?

I live in Washington DC, you can see my purses on the weekends at the historic Eastern Market. Go to www.easternmarket.net for directions and times.