It’s been a long few months, but here at last I’m happy to announce the opening of Re:Paper Studios North!  That’s right, I’ve arrived in Chicago safe and sound, with dog and husband in tow.  What’s more I’ve finally unpacked enough of my studio to get some work done, so send those custom order requests my way- whether you’re looking for a new journal, wedding album, photo album, address book or any other kind of custom-bound custom-made book, I can help!  More news to come as I continue to settle in.  Welcome to the new studio!

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Perhaps you saw them in the Green Upgrader Handmade Gift Guide written by the lovely Becky of Glue and Glitter , or maybe you caught them on Nerd Approved. Either way, there’s no denying- beer box books are the must have journal for eco-conscious beer aficionados with a writing habit. The demand caught me by surprise and the initial batch of books sold fast, but rest assured I’m working as fast as my fingers will go to whip up and new round for you all.

So what do you do if you’ve just got to have a beer box book? There are a few options. If you want a book and are not too picky about the box used for the cover drop me a message either using the contact me link to the left or the contact RePaper link on my Etsy site and I’ll send you a note when the new set of books has been listed in my Etsy store. If you have a request for a specific brand, drop me a line at either contact and let me know what you’re in the market for- I’ll keep any eye out when I hit the neighborhood bars (or rather, their recycle bins), but I may not be able to fill every request. If you have a must-have brand that I cannot find locally you can send me a box (contact me for shipping instructions) and I’ll create a custom listing for you in my store when it’s ready.

Please keep in mind that Christmas will very soon be upon us, I’ll do my best to fill orders by then but if you can wait until after the holidays let me know, you will win my eternal gratitude and save a little bit of cash. All must have by Christmas special orders carry a rush charge and will cost $12, special orders that can wait until after Christmas delivery are still only $8. And, if you can catch them, the ready made books I’ll be listing in the shop will also sell for $8 and will make it to you by Christmas if purchased by December 20^th (US delivery only, sorry). How do you know when there are more books ready in the shop? Keep an eye or the Etsy widget to the right there for images, or contact me to be sent an update.

Happy Holidays, and remember- once you do have a beer book in hand, write responsibly.

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The BEST Holiday Book Event is being held Nov 27th - Dec 5th.

If you purchase books from participating shops during this time (including Re:Paper), you have a chance to win prizes from BEST team members and gift certificates to participating shops!

A drawing will be held with the winners announced December 7th on the BEST Team Blog.

For every $10 you spend in participating shops, between Nov 27th - Dec 5th your name will be added to the drawing. For example, if you purchase something for $50 your name goes in 5 times! If you put “BEST Holiday” in the note to seller box then you can have an extra ticket in the drawing!

Here is a list of the participating shops:

ParksideHarmony

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Thanks everyone who voted in the BEST Zombie Award over at the BEST blog- it was a tough fight with so many awesome entries, but I managed to retain my title!  Check out the BEST Blog here for a wonderful write-up on my Vampire Diary.  Best of all, I get to share the “horrors” (ahem, pardon the pun) or rather honors this year with Rhonda on MyHandBoundBooks and her super cool (and super creepy) “Trapped Inside a Haunted House” tunnel book!

You may well ask, Sara Hindmarch, you just won the BEST Zombie Award two years running- what are you going to do next?  Well, here’s a hint.  And here’s another one!  Keep your eyes here for more info soon!

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As you may recall, I am the reigning champion of the 2008 B.E.S.T Zombie Award- bookbinding Zombie queen supreme if you will.  And here it is nearly Halloween again, meaning I’ve got precious little time left to brag and use my coveted award graphic, eeek!  It also means that the 2009 B.E.S.T. Zombie challenge is just around the next spooky corner.  I’ve been working hard and have completed my book for your consideration again this year, a ghoulish and bloody little Vampire diary* perfect for chronicling any undead angst- whether you’ve been dead 100 years or just since home room.

Voting will open soon on the Bookbinding Etsy Street Team website, in the meantime be sure to check out all of the submissions already listed at Esty by simply searching for “ZombieAward2009″.   Who knows, you might find the perfect little tome for recording your search for the great pumpkin this year.  Happy haunting!

*Not to get too technical, but I can tell you that the book is created with the Secret Belgian binding,  adapted to create “fangs” on the cover. Each long fang is tipped wth a red eyelet (smaller fangs are tipped with white).  The cover is made with black satin, with red satin endpapers to invoke a vampire cape. The ext block features blank ivory and red pages with random pages printed with text from “Dracula” for extra inspiration.
UPDATE: Polls are now open, get out there and vote!

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Dear me, can it be that time already?  2010 is swiftly upon us, and if you’re like me you already have some dates to put into the calendar!  So while I’m reticent to start talking about the new year until I can comfortably wear a scarf and boots outdoors, I suppose it is after all time to start talking about 2010 planners.  I’ll be making up a few to put in the Etsy shop in this weekend, so keep your eyes pealed for a ready-made planner to snag.  Or, to really start the new year in style, why not commission your very own custom planner for 2010?  Tell me the paper/ colors/ theme you want for the cover, the binding style (coptic or secret Belgian), even the specific holidays you want noted!  There’s a listing for both a standard custom planner and a custom cover Scrabble planner up in my store right now with all of the details.  Or, drop me a line here to discuss possibilities.  Happy New Year!

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It’s time to hit the books!  Fantastic, unique, well made books from the BEST bookbinders around!  September 1st - 7th score some sweet deals in the Bookbinding Etsy Street Team’s Back to School Sale.  Check out the BEST blog for a list of participating shops and deals on offer.  Over in the Re:Paper shop I’ll be offering free worldwide shipping on all orders.  Be the envy of your peers as you tote a clever journal to track your reading assignments, plot a semester abroad in new travel journal, or slide into your seat wearing some adorable book earrings.  Now imagine your disappointment if they score these goodies first- BEST get shopping!

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Head on over to the BEST (Bookbinding Etsy Street Team) blog and check out the “R” members of the abeedarian, including me!  A big part of being an “R” for me is using recycling in my books: whether it be upcycling thrift shop finds, yard sale goodies and graphically interesting materials normally headed to the trash, or incorporating recycled paper pages and tree free/ eco friendly papers into lovely traditional journals.

And while you’re browsing the lovely bookbinding Etsy “R”s keep in mind that BEST is haveing a Back to School Sale next week, September 1 - 7th.  I’ll be offereing free shipping on domestic U.S. orders and 10% off international orders during the sale- keep your eyes here and on the BEST blog for more details soon!

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Hands down, my favorite thing about being in the “craft scene” is getting to meet and talk shop with other creative folks; even when a show is slow there’s always something to learn by talking to the talented folks all around you.  That’s why I was thrilled back in May to spend some time chatting with Jacquelyn of 3pieceonline at the VaHi Mommy and Me event.  Jacquelyn had a wealth of great tips on marketing your craft business that I’ve (still) been to lazy to try out, including the importance of regular blogging, and photographing (or even filming) yourself and your booth at each show you do.  But I do have an excuse- beyond her super smart advice there was something distracting me, pulling my attention. . . something heavenly and delicious smelling, impossible to ignore. . . her fantastic candles!  I was so excited to hear from Jacquelyn the other day with a special order request for a basketball journal for her son, Boy Wonder.  I was even more excited that I’d be able to enact what is perhaps my second favorite thing about being a crafter, invoking the “swap” of creative goods!  It was a ton of fun making the custom basketball journal, I even found some fantastic basketball textured paper for the endpapers.  And it was a difficult decision to figure out which of the wonderful scents offered by Jacquelyn I wanted to get in exchange, but somehow I did it (and was surprised with an extra candle when swap time came!).  Of course while I came to the swap merely with the book to trade off Jacquelyn came prepared with a camera, check out her coverage of the swap on her fun (and consistantly updated) blog.  And remember to keep up with Jacquelyn via her blog as the holiday season nears to see where she and her fantastic candles can be found- I know I will!

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Ah.  Seems I have been very negligent whereas this blog is concerned.  I’m sorry blog.  But you see, I’ve been wrapped up in wedded bliss.  Sure, the boy and I are doing just great, but I mean the wedded bliss of others: a veritable blizzard of custom wedding book orders!  Each of these lovely books could get their own full blog post- and some indeed shall.  But to tide you over until then I’ll give you a few little peeks into the studio!  First up is this lovely clover sunprint book for JulieBelle.  I adore the fresh, modern natural vibe of her chosen colors, and the play of the clover paper cut over the white.  A classic book for a lovely summer wedding!  Next up, my first ever large format Scrabble guest book.  Always when making Scrabble books I feel like I’m fighting against the fold in the board, making books shorter and longer than I’d like just to compensate.  But when this order came in the bride was game to try something different, and work the board fold into the cover.  The result: a neat double hinged cover that I’ll be sure to try again!  Last but certainly not least, a trio of eco-friendly albums that you’re sure to hear about more here later.  With covers made from sustainable tree-free Lokta fiber paper and 100% recycled/ acid-free interior pages these books are a beautiful blend of eco-friendly and archival.  Good for the future, no matter how you choose to look at it!  I’ve a few more books to finish up, and I’ll talk more here about them soon (promise!).  In the meantime if you’re headed towards wedded bliss and want your very own custom book within which to capture the day drop me a line and together we’ll get started on your perfect book!

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