17 March 2007

very important literature



Twin loves to read. She gobbles up novels at an incredible rate. She reads all sorts of books, but mostly romance novels. Because sometimes you need a happy ending, if only in your reading. We always laugh, though, at some of the heinously ugly covers that come on romance novels. Fabio man-titty and wind-swept heroines bulging out of their corsets and all that. No matter how much you love reading romance, there are some covers that are just a little embarrassing to whip out on the subway. Thus the "very important literature" on her book cover.



Bright and cheerful lining. I actually do love this cover for The Windflower. Classic, huh?

This was really easy to make. I just made a simple panel lined with a heavy canvas, then stitched the two flaps in toward the center. I'd sewn up a bookmark in fabric to match the lining, but then forgot to sew it in. Oopsy. i blindstitched it on later. Jennie's going to test-drive this and see what other features it needs. I think she needs a set of bookcovers to choose from.

And oh, lookie, lookie. I had clipped this jacket out of the anthro catalogue and jennie must have seen me sighing and gazing wistfully at it one too many times, because she brought it home for me last night. She's been doing a lot of freelance work and since I generally cook for her when she's buried in paperwork, she gave it to me as a thank you. How nice was that?! Maude is going to wear the jacket until warmer weather arrives and I can wear it. That way I can gaze at it anytime I like.



Might be waiting a little while for that warm weather, though. At least March snow melts very quickly. Slushy and drippy. mmmm, fun.

38 comments:

Anonymous said...

that book cover is brilliant, and adorable! And I was *just* touching that very jacket at anthro this week - it's beautiful! Lucky you!h

Robyn said...

Love the cover and the anthro jacket is really wonderful!. You have a wonderful sister.

Anonymous said...

The book cover is really adorable. And I'm completely envious of the super cute jacket! Really enjoying your blog.

Anonymous said...

the book cover is genius! and that jacket - swoon! you have a very nice and generous sister.

shari said...

the book cover is so cute. i love it! such a great idea. enjoy your anthro jacket. very spring!

Anonymous said...

Yes, yes - super as always - and that makes so much sense. I'll have to "bookmark" the idea so if my life ever calls for leaving the house with a book again I'll be ready.

kayla said...

Very cute jacket, and book jacket! I thought it was interesting in Japan that when you buy a book, they put a paper cover on it for you. Because of that, you can't see what anybody's reading on the subway. But if I saw someone with your 'very important literature' cover, I would be quite intrigued as to what's inside!

Anonymous said...

That's a fabulous idea and it turned out so well! I might have to try that.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous, gorgeous, book cover. Prepare to be imitated.

Nettie said...

I love this idea. But like Amy who knows when I'll have a chance to read in public again. I just had twins, hopefully they will treat each other as well as you guys do.

Nadia said...

That is *so* cute!

Stephanie said...

adorable book cover. i love that it's "hiding" something!! ;)

i heart that jacket!

here's to a fleeting winter for you!

Shelly (Nicole) said...

That jacket makes me ridiculously happy and at the same time, insanely jealous of you, lucky girl of awesome you!

And as for the book cover...I am so borrowing this idea because my text books for my MFA classes are so annoyingly pretensious looking...that and I'm reading a book about bioterrorism for fun and it gets me weird looks at the coffee shops.

You are just fantastic, Julie!

Anonymous said...

me too! me too! i love that jacket and folded down the page in the catalog. i really need to do some shopping.

Anonymous said...

that book cover is brilliant! i need one of those for my agatha christie old-fashioned murder mysteries that i have ashamedly become addicted to. it's really cute--good work. that jacket is gorgeous! i just saw it in person at the store today. aren't sisters the best?

Anonymous said...

Ooh, I love the book cover! I occasionally appreciate a romance novel myself, but they are embarrassing to read on the bus--and sometimes even in my own house.

And I'm bummed I missed the lunch totes! I really need a lunch tote, and haven't quite gotten around to making one for myself yet. Ah well...

Anonymous said...

Love the book cover. And the funny Fabio comment. I almost freaked out because I thought you made the Anthro jacket...although I bet you could make something very similar. What a sweet gift from Twin.

Anonymous said...

Your twin has beautiful hands :)
And a beautiful book cover, of course!

amisha said...

i love the book cover. so funny with the romance inside... perfect!
and that jacket... swoon... what a lovely sister you have!!

sulu-design said...

I never tire of your sense of humor - the embroidery on the book cover is fabulous! How lucky are you to have Miss Gift-Giving Jennie as a sister? (I guess about as lucky as she is to have Miss I-Cook-Dinners-and-Make-You-Bookcovers Julie as hers.) And I love the colors and symmetry of your snowy NY shot. Your post has me all warm and smiling!

Connie said...

hey, that snow looks like my street too!

and you are one lucky duck with that super cute Anthropologie jacket! let's hope the weather brightens up soon so you can wear it

Rebecca said...

Oh wow that jacket is wonderful - waht a lovely twin you have!

Amanda Jean said...

the book cover is such a lovely idea...and what a cute design!

Anonymous said...

That book cover is positively adorable. I love the book it's covering, and the serious nature...everything is awesome.

African Kelli said...

You two make me wish I had sisters. I love how you support each other's creativity.
That book cover is just fantastic. As is the gift!

Christine said...

that embroidery on the book cover is so great!

Toni said...

your book cover is absolutely adorabel :)

hannah said...

what a great idea! that linen is serving you well. tell twin to check out hannah's half-breed. very good.
hope that snow clears out soon so that jacket can make its debut around town!

Alison said...

I love the book cover. Who wouldn't take embroidery over Fabio?

Anonymous said...

i just bought some fabric for a project I have in mind that will look just like that! i must have seen it at anthro. man, I always think I'm far more brilliant than I actually am... ;)

molly | mommycoddle.com said...

I got your cards in the mail this week! yay. I love them. I quickly snatched one out of the stack and framed it.
Thanks, Julie. They're fantastic!

(and I love the book cover. I'm seeing a new etsy shop item....)

Rebecca said...

lovely idea for a book cover. and love what maude's wearing just now, too!

Nanya said...

I love the book cover so much! My mother in law actually reads those trashylovenovels so I will definitely make her one, thanks for the idea!

Anonymous said...

genius! i hate when i am reading a silly fantasy/sci-fi book and i catch people looking at me like im crazy. the covers on those things are crazy bad cartoon drawing kida thingys. i definitely need one of those gorgeous covers. do you think that you will make some for your shop??

donna said...

Love your bookcover! It's so cute!

Anonymous said...

Thank you sew much for this truely inspirational post!

I just love the book cover!

Best Wishes from Germany,

Ina

lulubird6 said...

I just found your blog and your twin's reading habits sound like mine. As a matter of fact, in your Olive movie, I was like, "Oh! I read that one! And that one! And that one, although it was not as good as her other ones..." but I love, love, love this idea for I am embarrassed to be reading my smutty romance novels, only because of covers. I have small children around the house and I caught my first-grader eyeing one of the man-titty ones. Now I read in my room after they go to bed. But no longer! I shall make myself a book cover and read smut with pride!

Unknown said...

ooo i so need that book cover for my romance novels. sometimes the titles are enough to draw wary lookers from passers by.