Rebound Designs is celebrating 10 years in business!
Lots of exciting new changes are coming, and the biggest one is the opening of Bookland,
my new studio/retail space in Washington DC.
Come visit the shop, and sign up for my mailing list to get updates on new shows and events.
OUR STORY
The Book Purse: A Novel Accessory
Each Book Purse is made from an actual book cover, but bibliophiles should not fret-no first editions were harmed! All of the books are rescued from library discards, yard sales, thrift shops, grandmothers’ attics, and the occasional dumpster. Great care is taken to find books that are unwanted, obsolete, or damaged.
The entire cover becomes the frame for the purse, with the spine as the bottom, so the longer the book, the wider the purse. Every purse is fully lined with a complementary 100% cotton fabric, and the handles are hand beaded to match as well. Each purse also has a small pocket, perfect for a slim cell phone or wallet.
The Book Purses are entirely functional handbags, and every book cover has been reinforced for strength and durability. Due to the nature of old books, some have “love marks” from previous owners, but this only adds to the character and uniqueness of each purse. While the Book Purses are meant to be used, they should be treated with care, like you would treat any special old book you treasured.
Rebound Designs is happy to create a custom purse for you out of your library, or you can select from the thousands of titles waiting for a new home.
Bookland is the studio home of Rebound Designs, founded by artist Caitlin Phillips.
Best known for her instantly recognizable Book Purses, Caitlin has dedicated herself to the rescue and transformation of all unwanted literature. Each purse begins with a hardback book, which can be anything from a well-loved children’s classic to an out-of-date scientific textbook. After a careful selection of unique fabric and handles, the book is reborn as a beautiful one of a kind handbag, combining fashion with an appreciation for the literary. With the surge in digital books and devices like the Kindle and iPad, Caitlin has expanded the Rebound Designs collection to include the Biblio Tech Covers. Like the purses, these gadget covers are made from old books, providing both protection for the device, and the reassuring feel of an actual book in your hands. Bibliophiles, don’t fret! No first editions were harmed. Most of the books that come her way are otherwise unwanted, gleaned from library sales, thrift stores and trash bins, but Caitlin is also happy to create custom pieces from clients’ personal selections.