Transforming Books

Normally, I am not trendy gal. I leave that to my teenage daughters. Accessories? What are those? But I have found an accessory I absolutely am salivating over! A book purse. A purse made out of an old book. For all you authors out there trying to spread the word about your new book–wouldn’t a book purse featuring your book lead to some great conversations? Unless, of course, you’re a man and then it just may just lead to some great eyebrow raising!

I got in touch with Michelle Pulis of Phoenix, Arizona to find out how this 26 year old graduate of Johnson and Wales University became the book purse lady.

Jodi: How did your company, Spoonful of Chocolate, start?

Michelle: I wanted to start a business to help my parents out. They are going through a tough time right now because they co-signed a loan for my uncle’s business that eventually went under. My parents are about to face losing their fully paid off house that my father built with his own hands. I have always been a “crafty” person. Every year for Christmas and Birthdays I would go out of my way to make extravagant and personalized gifts for everyone. I would say that the real “start date” of my business was on December 30th 2008.

Jodi: How did you get from chocolate to books?

Michelle: Funny story actually… initially I started my business selling “Chocolate Spoons” meant to stir in your coffee, great for when you have people over! Well, eventually that back-fired on me when I discovered that if I would even take one step outside into the 120 degree Arizona heat they would instantly melt into a puddle of chocolate syrup. So, I had to start thinking of new ideas. A few months later I saw a tutorial on how to make a clutch out of a book. I decided to add some handles, pockets and buttons and change the production process a little to make the handbags sturdier and started selling these online.

Jodi: Where do you get the books?

Michelle: I usually go to local book stores. Sometimes I have luck at garage sales, thrift stores and flea markets. There is supposed to be a huge book sale at our local fairgrounds next month. I’m quite excited about it!

Jodi: Do you ever use new books? That is, if an author wanted to have a purse made out of a book they had written(fun way to advertise their book), would you do that?

Michelle: I don’t usually do new books just because of how expensive they can get. However, I do have many people send me books that they have found. I usually tell everyone to make sure the book is a hardcover book (preferably with no dust-jacket), and the thicker the book the better because it can hold more!

Jodi: The purse doesn’t include the actual pages with the book’s story. What happens to those pages?

Michelle: The buyer has the option of paying more to have the pages re-bound with the matching fabric from the book handbag to make a gift set.
Otherwise, I just take the pages that are still fully intact and donate them to the International Rescue Committee(IRC) in Phoenix.

Jodi: How did you find out about IRC?

Michelle: My mother immigrated from Czechoslovakia and actually was a refugee at one point. It was when she was younger and they were fleeing the Russians in 1968. So the idea of relocating refugees had always appealed to me. I started volunteering for this organization about 2 years ago. I “adopted” a family from Burma who have spent over 25 years in refugee camps! When they first came to America I helped show them around. I showed them how to use the oven, where the post office is, signed them up for ESL classes, took them roller skating for the first time, etc. I absolutely love them. They are like a part of my family now!

When I donate the books they are able to give them directly to the refugees. It’s a great way to learn/practice English. I usually sit down with my refugees with a highlighter and a dictionary and read the book page by page.

Jodi: I’m guessing Spoonful of Chocolate is a side business. What do you do for a day job?

Michelle: I actually work full time as a Study Abroad advisor. I help organize American college students’ study in different countries for short periods of time.

Jodi: Wow, you have quite the international theme running through your life. Any new developments on the book crafting front? New products?

Michelle: I have been making passport holders/wallets out of smaller books. It’s meant to keep the pick-pocketers away while traveling! I also have just recently starting making book shelves from old books. I also plan on making a lamp out of books and maybe even a table one day!

Jodi: I can’t wait to see the lamp! You obviously love to use books creatively. But what types of books do you like to read?

Michelle: I usually like books that are based in an international setting. For example I loved The Historian  and The Shadow of the Winds.  I have also just recently read Three Cups of Tea  which I felt was very inspiring. I would honestly say my favorite books right now are the Twilight series. I was pretty skeptical about reading them- but immediately caught on to the addiction. I didn’t even talk to my boyfriend for 3 weeks when reading them.

Jodi: Well, thanks for your time Michelle. Hope I didn’t take you away from a life of reading and repurposing book!