BeeZ by Scranton



BeeZ by Scranton

About The Artist

Kathleen Scranton • Coventry, CT
Mixed Media • CUSTOM COMMISSIONS

Repurposed vintage books fashioned into one-of-a-kind shoulder and hand held purses, eReader, laptop and tablet holders, journals, sketch books, clutches, memory boxes, wallets and mobile phone holders. Your vintage book purse comes complete with the original book pages rebound as a paperback. By saving the original pages, I am not only saving memories, important printing techniques such as photogravure, lithography, engravings and more.



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Q&A with the Artist

Tell us how your work is made.

After I separate and rebind the original pages, the book spines are triple reinforced and padded for longevity with archival linen hinge tape. Leather has been waterproofed; fabric has been treated with Scotchgard® and paper paste downs have been triple coated to prevent water damage. The 100% cotton purse lining is matched to the cover. All linings have been reinforced with fusible interfacing. Shoulder straps, purse handles and vintage buttons were chosen to compliment the lining and graphic qualities of the book cover. When completed, a final coat of waterproofing is applied and left to dry for several days.


What makes you passionate about the medium you work with?

Books leave a resounding imprint on our psyche, about our innermost feelings, about history and politics and love. Its always amazing to see people have such varying and strong opinions about the very same book. “The Giving Tree” sparks arguments in my booth every show, and yet is one of my best sellers. When I changed careers during the 2008 crash, my youngest son Christian was extremely worried. He is in the Spectrum and lost his right eye to a self-inflicted accident. He travels with me and inspires me to be my best human. Along the way, he has grown and is socially cognizant of his surrounding, of friendships, of perseverance, which is a breakthrough for any Autistic person. He now "works" for dozens of artists at the shows, booth sitting, selling, errands and all around comfort.

What is something unique about you or your practice?

I actually expect customers to wear my creations, as no one can help save a book by displaying them on the wall as art. They are wearable art and I am very passionate about saving these works of art, these books, so future generations can learn, appreciate and development their own thoughts by investing in the time it takes to read and comprehend the vary book purse they just adopted. I offer solutions for display that incorporate usage as well. Take them down when you want to wear the, and hand them back up when you return. I used to tease customers and say they owed me a book report.