Sack Religious

When eighteenth-century Shakespeare scholar, Edmund Malone, scissored-out portions of invaluable Elizabethan documents “to retain as keepsakes" before they were returned to their owners, he marred these books forever and created a storm of resentment.* 200 years later, the craftswoman who created Sack Religious, mutilated the Bible, removing every single page, to create something…beautiful.

Sack Religious features a surprising assortment of items made from book components, including messenger bags, clutches, purses, wallets, frames, decorative boxes and shadow boxes. Each piece is made entirely by hand, with an eye to craftsmanship and a wink of good humor.

No part of a book is safe from this innovative, creative-reuse artist: text pages, book covers, illustrations and even sheet music are all crafted into something new and utilitarian.

“To some, it may seem a little savage to mutilate books,” says the owner of this Etsy shop, “A little sacrilegious, if you will. Others, however, know that a great book is much, much more than a great read. I'm no bibliocidal maniac because these books aren't dead, they're reborn.”

To find out more about Sack Religious or purchase an item from this shop, please visit: http://www.sackreligious.etsy.com. Sack Religious items are also featured on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sack-Religious-Handbags/70478852736?ref=share) and MySpace (http://www.MySpace.com/SackReligiousHandbags).

(Photos (from top): Orange Vintage Reader’s Digest Handbag, Alice in Wonderland Book Illustrations Vinyl Bag, Shakespeare Lovers Photo Frame. All Photos courtesy of Sack Religious.)

*From: Shakespeare: World as Stage by Bill Bryson