"Essentials of Medical-Surgical Nursing"

[Nelly]

So I picked up this old 80's textbook for 50cents at a thrift store with thoughts of making one of those book purses. I'm going to school to become a nurse so I was pretty excited. Well it sat under my bed for months and after looking at it various times I wasn't sure it would match my style very well so I let it be.
So fast forward a bit...My Aunt's birthday is approaching and my mom wants to get her something really nice and thoughtful because my aunt always gives such nice gifts. My aunt just happens to be a Nurse Practitioner  and has taught nursing at a college. hehe . So It's the night before her party and my mom is freaked cause she hasn't found anything. Idea lightbulb goes on and the process began. I went to walmart and got all my supplies and went to work on it at about midnight. I finished about about 3 am ish I think... I just basically figured out how to make it as I went along. She loved it!






What do you think?

-Nelly

[McJulie-O]

Looks wonderful! You did a great job!
I'm assuming you used velcro for your closure?

And, How sweet of you to sacrifice your book for your aunt......
I've got news for you....you can find lots and LOTS of similar books at used book stores and library book sales, you just have to keep your eyes open...maybe not quite as cheap as 50 cents, but maybe cheaper (our Friends of the Library offers the bargain of $2.50 for all you can fit into a grocery bag in the last 2 hours of their sale)

[xveganettex]

ive always wanted to try and make a book purse  buti can never seem to bring myself to cutting up a book 

[roxybadoxy]

great job! it looks beautiful.

[Nelly]

I did use velcro. Those book sales are really good. I've boughten a couple books with craftying it up in mind, but most of them I feel bad cutting up and the others I have decided are ugly and would take too much work.
When I bought this I was planning to read through it a bit and then decide if I wanted to just keep it or make a purse out of it. After I looked through it a bit I realised how old and dated it really was. Medicine has changed a LOT since this book was published so I didn't really feel as bad about taking the pages out.  I'd have to re learn anting I would have read in there.

[CrazeeMoi]

That is totally awesome!!!  What a wonderful gift for your Aunt  (bet she bout sniff sniff  when she got it)

[miss_katonic]

That is a great idea! I'm starting school this fall for my nursing pre-req's and was thinking of making a bag for my books, this project is inspirational!

[lady4feet]

It looks great! You got my wheels turning too! I have 4 nurses in my family (my Mom being one of them). I made a book purse for my niece last year and my Mom thought it was really cool. Now I'll have to be on the look out for nursing  books.

[dirtythghts4]

if you don't mind me asking, how did you attach the inside fabric to the book? glue?

yay for you, it looks really nice.

[Nelly]

Yep, Tacky glue and staples (where it wouldn;t be showinging). The only sewing I did was for the gussets and I seriously could not explain how I did those.  I was soooo out of it I'm suprised I even remember using a sewing machine!

[McJulie-O]

if you don't mind me asking, how did you attach the inside fabric to the book? glue?

yay for you, it looks really nice.

Interestingly enough, Leah's book of craftster crafts has an unusual approach to atttaching the lining. She uses iron on webbing for all but the edges which she hot glues. I don't think I could do it that way (have promised myself very little exposure to hot glue techniques), and you may need a stronger bond as the book gets bigger, and presumably, heavier.

[KiwiDragons]

What a great idea! Too bad our libraray had our booksale in June and I didn't buy any books big enough to turn into a purse...guess there are still garage sales and flea markets I can look into! This is just so neat...I hope I can try it out soon.

[KatJones]

OH... that's so pretty.  Now I have more inspiration to get through my day.

[wifeofbath]

Nelly, thanks for the idea. My sister is a nurse and I often see nursing books at one of the thrift stores I visit--in fact, I think I've seen the very one you used--so I might do something like this one day.

[secondstar]

I remember this book always being around the house when I was little. There's even the current copy on my book case! You've totally inspired me to make a "thinking of you" gift for my mom!(she's only been a nurse for FO-EVA)

thank you for being inspiring

[bluesaranwrap]

you did really well on it. i LOVE the fabric inside. I just made a book purse myself and it didn't turn out half as good.