Free Your Old Books

I was bred a Book Worshipper. I adored them, but never had enough. The few that I was lucky enough to own were precious commodities, treated with far more reverence than toys or clothing.

So when I went to work at the University library, and was asked to take part in the merciless killing of hundreds of dusty old tomes, (of course!) it was my sworn duty to save as many as possible from the heathens and their back-alley trashbin. Only two have survived the years and and a dozen moves - a history of Wisconsin (still not read), and a giant collection of Audubon's bird illustrations (c1937). It's frayed and falling apart at the binding, but the plates are so large and compelling, I've never had the heart to let it go. And I've wanted to frame a few favorites - but getting over the "cutting a book is sacrilege" hurdle has held me back for nearly a decade.

Until now. Being a children's librarian has effectively cured me of the idea that books are little more than paper, board, and glue. I guess it's kind of like working in a slaughterhouse, for books. Watching them mauled and gutted on a daily basis gives you some objectivity.

Your used bookstore is probably chock full of books with beautiful old illustrations. They've probably been there for years, unappreciated. Why not set them free?

I was lucky enough that the frames were here in our house already, too, in the closet for three years. So this project was one of total reuse.

And, bonus - if we ever tire of robins and wood ducks and purple martins, we have 350 other plates to choose from. Like a rotating art gallery in our living room.

If you're going to hang your pictures in a row, do yourself a favor and get some blue painter's tape and a cheap level. I don't know how I ever hung multiple pictures without them.