Stacks of Books

 

One of my readers, Louise, asked for the story of this stack of books.  It just happens to be one of my favorite things in the house, so I'm happy to tell about it.  I have a 'thing' about books...and love having them all over the house.  When I moved in, it was a challenge to find places for all the books.  I gave bags and bags of them away and still had probably what most would call 'too many' to deal with.  And, yet, I still wanted to keep them.  What to do?  There was little spot there....on the way into the kitchen...a blank space...oh my...can't have that, so I thought about it a while and decided a stack of books would look just great right there.  I immediately loved it and in fact, began another stack right next to it.  One with smaller books.   The fact that I haven't moved these books yet could mean that I may not ever...unusual for me. 

 

 Here you can see the stools I used for the stacks.  In addition to many, many books, I also have quite a few stools and foot stools.  They can be used in so many ways,  I find them indispensable and quite handy for all kinds of uses. 

  

 The top book here is covered in a tapestry fabric...very threadbare.  It's a very small, but thick,  a World Atlas, dated 1907.  And, the stack is a perfect perch for this little iron bird.

 

 This is another of my favorite books from the 'stack.'  As you know, I love basket embroideries, so the name of this one really caught my eye....dated 1892...and it had that sweet basket motif right there in the center.

  

 One of my favorite stacks in the house is this small one on the table by the sofa.   Smaller books, all vintage.

  

Here you can see them along with some other of my favorite things.  Two little birds, a flower pot filled with flowers made from book pages which was a gift made by my friend, Micah,  who left us last year, way too soon ♥.  Then, that tiny embroidered landscape I made a long time ago.  One of my favorite things I ever made.

 

Here's those little books with two tiny doilies on top.  Tied with a pretty ribbon and embellished with a cord bookmark with two really pretty glass beads, one on each end.

 

Here is a little red kid's chair.  At one point, I had about six of these.  I have shared with friends, so only have this one left.  It makes a great place to stack some books.  Then, there is that little vase...holding vintage cardboard fans.  The fans are there as I couldn't figure out where else to put them.   

That happens around here.

 

Not stacked, but rather shelved in a little child's hutch, is a collection of what I call my "tiny" books.

I look for them everywhere I go.  And, I had this little hutch...they seemed to be perfect for each other.  The bird clock, a gift from my friend, Patsy.  The little red wagon, a gift from the old navy man.  The cat bank, iron, is a reproduction.  All this sitting on yet another stool.

 

 

Here is one of the tiny books in the hutch.  I've placed a pair of embroidery scissors there so you could get some idea of the size of the book....the red, has a title you can read yourself and was printed in 1907.  The dark book is a Vest Pocket Webster Dictionary from 1960.  

 

 Again, not stacks, but since these shelves are way too crowded, I think the word stacks works.

One of these days,  I plan on going through all this 'stuff' and removing, then reorganizing it.  Keywords  - "one of these days."

  

 And, of course, there is a kid's chair with a stack of books!  They are everywhere! 

  

 These books are on my coffee table.  Yes, I DO need to do this differently.  But, for now, well - this is just the way they are.  I'm into them all the time, so they often are scattered around the table, and

because I'm OCD...I'm thinking these particular books will be finding a new home here....maybe in another old chair? 

 

 

These are some of my favorite books.  Some that have helped me accept my crazy housekeeping and "decorating" habits...pretty much convincing me that in my home...."my way" is THE way to go.

Others, assuring me that being creative in my home and also my 'studio' is important to my well-being.  I believe that my Bird Nest Cottage is my sanctuary.  It should reflect me.  And, I guess it does. 

So, there you are Louise...."that book stack" and then some.  Hope you enjoyed it.

from

Bird Nest Cottage

 until next time

 ♥♥♥