Inspired in January: Books

What's better in the dead of winter than curling up with a good book? How about decorating with them.

Books are good for so much more than the obvious. Stacked artfully, they are both furniture and accessory.

Books are big in fashion as well with the rise of the book clutch - there's Kate Spade, Olympia Le Tan's needlepoint version, Greyhound's leather version and Rebound Designs version (the only one actually made from a book) - all of which will set you back $150 to $325 - if you can even find one.

I hope to have a very simple book clutch DIY for you in the near future.

In the meantime, check out this video for making a DIY book clutch with fabric sides and wood handles.

Below, some stylish stacking and clutchable clutches.

Do you stack your books or shelve them? (Why is it when I stack my books on the floor, they just look discarded?) Would you cut up a book to make a clutch?

What's inspiring you in January? Link up your projects or inspirations below.

Images: Via We Heart It via Plush Palate; via This is Glamorous; Elle Decor; the Selby via Sanity Fair; the Selby via Sanity Fair; Real Simple; Skona Hem; Solid Frog via Fondly Seen; A Pair and a Spare; Kate Spade; Rebound Designs; Olympia Le Tan; Greyhound.

What inspired in November and December

My inspiration for November and (by lack of rigorous blogging) December was knots - macrame knots, crochet knots, rope necklaces, macrame pendants, and so forth.

I made one macrame rope necklace and am working on another.

Here is a little of what you were up to in November and December.

A DIY cameo plate at The Feminist Housewife.

An Anthropologie inspired ruffled scarf at Sew Homegrown.

A Nina Ricci inspired flower sash at Ruby Mines.

A no-knit scarf at Honestly.

A rugged leather journal cover at Craft Stylish.

A DIY acrylic clutch at Honestly.

Bargain Ballard knock-off mirrors at Green Street.

A creative necklace display at Cup of Te.

A DIY spikey Jonathan Adler-ish paper ball at How About Orange.

A simple white apartment (maybe too simple) at Dwellers without Decorators.

A fireplace makeover at Chic Modern Vintage.

A new Inspired blog party/roundup will be posted shortly, so get ready to share your projects and inspiration.

From the Stash: Dirk Denison

Something light, bright and green to contrast with the dirty snow all around.

Sometimes a clean-lined space like this one can come across as stark and chilly. This one, however, looks soothing and comfortable to me.

Note to self - get some houseplants.

DIY trays

Rebecca Robertson, decorating editor for Martha Stewart, made these trays from baking sheets sprayed with adhesive and covered in fabric. Wallpaper or vinyl might work, too.

Get the complete how to at Martha Stewart. From Strictly Simple Style via Green Street.

Snow

Lindsey Bond - OCD like me

Awhile back I posted about Lindsey Bond's tidy cottage. Somehow I missed the fact that photos of her whole place were available at House Beautiful. Posting them means I can now give away my October issue of House Beautiful and keep my place white-y and tidy, too.

My DIY: Rope necklace at Dollar Store Crafts

For those of you following along with my month-and-a-half long obsession with ropes and knots here and here, finally there is a DIY project.

Learn how to make this rope necklace with my tutorial at Dollar Store Crafts. (The necklace is made from Dollar Store jump ropes.)

More stuff coming soon.

DIY LBD

At last count I owned five Little Black Dresses and two Big Black Dresses, all of which I had sidelined for the winter. But this feature in More magazine made me reconsider.

Celeb stylist Phillip Bloch put together these looks, which tells me I need a LPB for my LBD. (Also makes me want big hair but that's delusional.) For the warm weather equivalent, check out Elizabeth Heart's Dress Diaries where she works a very L LBD into 30 different looks.

Dare I ask how many LBDs you have?

More knot inspiration

November was all about knots but I'm still finding them. Will be posting some projects soon.

Images: Lela Rose, Lizzi Fortunato, Mega, VPL

Shopping bag art

Tell my I'm not the only one who has a hard time throwing out a pretty shopping bag. Even when I dug it out of someone else's trash.

Via Design Darling via Full House.

Campion Platt

Smooth. Lots of gray. Touches of color. Modern but warm.