Right now I'm going through an interesting phase of my life, which means I have a good few creative ideas in my mind, but still can't figure it out what to do, how and why. All I know is that one way or another, I'm going to create something interesting and fun. This idea and plan is not new, it's just that now trading is taking up most of my time and attention, but there's a platform that still keeps me motivated to start something.
Vinted has an algo, as any other platform these days and the more you click on certain items, the more the algo fills your feed with items of such kind.
Recently I came across of some very nice scrapbook "ingredients", so to speak. Scrapbooking is an activity I've never tried out, but has been on my list for ages. Which list? The "Maybe On Day" list, which is why I don't even know how it's done, but I have some other creative ideas that I'd like to use for creating something that needs old paper.
Most likely I'm not the only one using old paper for creative purposes, which is why some people thought it's a good opportunity to make some money. I've seen packs of paper listed for sale, titled as material for scrapbooking.
Now obviously we all have different possibilities and options, but in a world where printed books are almost worthless (unfortunately), even old ones, selling a few pages of yellowish, stained paper is a fooking genius idea, if you ask me. The economist in me sees a huge opportunity in this regard, but no way I'm going to pay for it. I'm smarter than that. (Oh God, I'm going to be punished for this as I was raised to never praise myself, always be humble and it feels terrible to say I'm smart.)
Knowing I have several old, damaged books at home, obviously my first reaction was to go to my study and look around to see my options. To understand how things stand, these books have not been damaged by me or my family. Partly it is due to time as paperback does not last forever, and partly it is because back in the day books were printed on the worst quality paper possible and definitely not designed to last. Hard cover was almost non existent, thus, unfortunately, quite a few are damaged.
So I took out the most damaged one and when I saw the end is missing, I said this is it, this is the one I'm going to use it, as the quality and color of the paper was what I'd want. Then I checked what it is, and ... and knew right away I'm not going to use it.
The book is basically a world encyclopedia issued in 1926! This book, or what's left of it anyway, makes 100 years this year, or it's a century old, if you like this expression better.
Was trying to remember what I could about the book, but I think I brought it home from somewhere, maybe from my grandmother's place, after I saw what it is, so it wasn't in my care, when it got in this condition.
Age is not the only factor I'm considering when I say I'm not going to use it. After seeing what it is, I started browsing through the pages and reading bits and pieces of it and it made me smile. It's an encyclopedia, so obviously has a lot of information, spread through every possible area of life, information that must have worth a fortune back in those days, but today, in 2026, most of it is outdated, or incomplete as since then, life has changed a lot, evolution has never stopped and so many theories have been proven wrong.
This is not new, I've said previously that I have a strong love for paper and try to use it the best way possible, which includes protecting paper the best way I can, repurposing, reusing it as well. (This is why I have sold the egg holders 😂)
Deciding not to use this book for my creative project was a bitter sweet decision, but the right one. However, another plan popped in my head right away. There are quite a few places in the city, where you can pick up and/or drop off books that you don't need anymore, so I thought I'd go and have a look there, to see if I can find something usable. It's a good idea, but in the same time, I've seen this movie before. There was an occasion, when I went to a book shop selling second hand or pre-loved books, to pick up one with yellow, old pages. I got a very good one, but when I got home and started to brows it knew I'm not going to have the heart to tear it apart.
Knowing this, there's a huge chance I'm not going to be able to use the book I'm picking up from these collection points.
Look at these drawings. I love these drawings in old books.
Back in those days there were no photographs in books, just drawings.
There are a few colored drawings/paintings as well, but only a few.
How do you feel about this? Could you destroy a book in acceptable conditions just to use it for your creative project? What do you think about the matter?
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