When I started making notebook covers, I wanted to make reusable covers for basic, cheap notebooks. But then a stash of blank hardcover books (at cost price!) fell into my lap, and I used those. I bought as many as I could, thinking that at the worst I'd have a lifetime supply of notebooks. And then the supply dried up.I've spent the last few weeks fretting and phoning and scouring the internet, looking for a local supplier in vain. I can get basic hardcover notebooks, but something about them isn't right. They're too solid to be disposable, and not nice enough not to be disposable. And I was completely set on the idea of hardcover books. Fabric-covered books, rather than fabric covers for books.
Yesterday something finally came unstuck in my head; I looked at a spiralbound book. Why not? If you've tried putting a cover on a spiralbound book, you'll know that they don't easily look neat. The cover pulls back, the pages stick out. But if you put a cardboard sleeve, scored to curve around the wire binding, inside the cover first - well, we have a winner!
A washable, reusable cover for cheap notebooks. If the cardboard cover wears out, you can grab the nearest empty cereal box and cut another one. If you need a thicker cover, you can cut 2 extra pieces of card and slip them in. And best of all, in terms of shipping, these books weigh under 100g. The hardcover books come in at between 120g and 160g.Does anyone else do this? Have an idea and go all the way around all the possible distractions before coming back to the original idea? I'm going to blame it on the wind; it's been howling and my hayfever has been spectacular.
I'll have books in my shop later this week, and they'll also be available at The Book Lounge.
wonderful idea! and yes, i do it as well: come up with an idea, then pursue many other options, only to come back to my original thought. it's a bit frustrating! one must learn to listen to one's gut.
ReplyDeleteVery clever! And very cute - love this pattern. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm glad I'm not the only one who has to go through all the possibilities before settling on the original one. Thank goodness for blogs! And your notebook cover idea is a fabulous one - as always, wish I'd thought of it! Problem is, I don't sew..........
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! And it is interesting to see how creative logic works - in myself as well - I find though that once I am past a certain point and have invested a considerable amount of effort and energy to explore different routes, it is sometimes difficult to accept that I should go back to the original idea!
ReplyDeleteSometimes this happens. Doesn't it drive you crazy?! I love this idea, too!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea to use the scored cardboard underneath.
ReplyDeleteyou are so, so clever!
ReplyDeletehey, I so know what you mean! the other morning I had a similar thing: woke at 5.30 wondering how to put a little envelope in my rebound books and started googling like crazy, only to come up with a very simple solution!! oh well, those ideas are never wasted :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea - more so because it is soooo simple. Well done!I'm going awol until after christmas - so here's wishing you a very happy festive season and I will catch-up in the new year.
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