If you love books, you'll need to see this mom's amazing DIY

[aurora]

...art project.

(there are a couple of additional pictures at the link)


www.upworthy.com/if-you-love-books-youll-need-to-see-this-moms-amazing-diy-art-project?c=pop

Picture this:

You're a kid and you just moved into a new house. Your mom is frantically trying to make the new house safe, and it's right around the time when you're learning how to read, too.

But here's the thing: You don't have just any mom. You have a crafty mom. A smart mom. A creative mom. Your mom is Pippa Branham.
She manages to create a safe, durable, nonslip staircase for you that doubles as classical bookshelf, effectively winning parent of the year.



OK, that isn't a real award. But if it were, Branham would definitely be in the running for creating such a safe masterpiece for her daughter.

Branham and her husband, both residents of Liverpool, England, moved to their first home last year. With kids in the mix, they knew they had to create a childproof home. Her initial plan was solid — a simple carpeting project to keep her children from falling down the stairs — but a quick DIY search on Pinterest got the wheels turning in Branham's head.

Using a list of her favorite books, like Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," Stephen King's "Wolves of the Calla," and Ernest Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea," Brenham found original copies and painted the covers on her staircase.
The price tag for creating this beautiful literary staircase was also 180 pounds — about $238 — less than her original idea.

Reading is easily one of the best ways to learn about the world as a kid. Introducing children to some of our world’s best classics through a staircase is a pretty adorable and creative way to get your child into one of life’s most joyous activities.

New homeowners with and without kids, take note: You can add the joy of reading literally anywhere.

[Nonny]

I have a few thoughts... LOL!

1. This is cool.
2. Wait a minute... the "book" spines are stacked all haphazardly and that is bugging the shit out of me.
3. The choice of books makes it clear this is for the mom not the daughter.
4. Really? Wolves of the Calla, arguably the worst of the Dark Tower series, is your favorite Stephen King book?

[aurora]

Jul 25, 2016 13:08:25 GMT -5 Nonny said:

I have a few thoughts... LOL!

1. This is cool.
2. Wait a minute... the "book" spines are stacked all haphazardly and that is bugging the shit out of me.
3. The choice of books makes it clear this is for the mom not the daughter.
4. Really? Wolves of the Calla, arguably the worst of the Dark Tower series, is your favorite Stephen King book?

Maybe controversy will get the board moving faster!

I agree it's for the mom and not the daughter, but Wolves of the Calla is the best of the Dark Tower series. (Still not my favorite SK book, though.)

[charlatti]

A family at my daughter's school did something very similar. Their titles aren't as elaborately painted but it's still really cool.

ETA: I still haven't read The Dark Tower. Is that controversial on its own?

[Nonny]

Jul 25, 2016 13:21:12 GMT -5 aurora said:

Jul 25, 2016 13:08:25 GMT -5 Nonny said:

I have a few thoughts... LOL!

1. This is cool.
2. Wait a minute... the "book" spines are stacked all haphazardly and that is bugging the shit out of me.
3. The choice of books makes it clear this is for the mom not the daughter.
4. Really? Wolves of the Calla, arguably the worst of the Dark Tower series, is your favorite Stephen King book?

Maybe controversy will get the board moving faster!

I agree it's for the mom and not the daughter, but Wolves of the Calla is the best of the Dark Tower series. (Still not my favorite SK book, though.)

What? No?  It's an exhausting recap of 'Salem's Lot, and I thought it was never going to end when I was reading it. LOL!  I think my favorite in the series is Drawing of the Three, but I wouldn't put any of the DT books in my list of King favorites. 

That goes to The Eyes of the Dragon, which I suppose is tangentially a DT book, because of Flagg and Thomas and Dennis make a cameo in the series at some point...  I don't know, his books are all too related sometimes. 

[aurora]

Jul 25, 2016 13:39:51 GMT -5 Nonny said:

Jul 25, 2016 13:21:12 GMT -5 aurora said:

Maybe controversy will get the board moving faster!

I agree it's for the mom and not the daughter, but Wolves of the Calla is the best of the Dark Tower series. (Still not my favorite SK book, though.)

What? No?  It's an exhausting recap of 'Salem's Lot, and I thought it was never going to end when I was reading it. LOL!  I think my favorite in the series is Drawing of the Three, but I wouldn't put any of the DT books in my list of King favorites. 

That goes to The Eyes of the Dragon, which I suppose is tangentially a DT book, because of Flagg and Thomas and Dennis make a cameo in the series at some point...  I don't know, his books are all too related sometimes. 

Oh, wait, I actually meant Wizard and Glass but wasn't really paying attention to what I was typing! I'd actually rate Wolves of the Calla second best, though. I haven't read Salem's Lot.

The Eyes of the Dragon is amazing, but I also really love the Bill Hodges books Mr. Mercedes and Finders Keepers. And Christine. I can't decide!

[aurora]

Jul 25, 2016 13:39:11 GMT -5 charlatti said:

A family at my daughter's school did something very similar. Their titles aren't as elaborately painted but it's still really cool.

ETA: I still haven't read The Dark Tower. Is that controversial on its own?

I don't think of The Dark Tower as a controversial series. I mean, there's lots of heavy stuff in it. I think the biggest controversy was over whether SK would ever actually finish it. Well, that and whether you love or hate the ending.

[Nonny]

Jul 25, 2016 14:07:21 GMT -5 aurora said:

Jul 25, 2016 13:39:51 GMT -5 Nonny said:

What? No?  It's an exhausting recap of 'Salem's Lot, and I thought it was never going to end when I was reading it. LOL!  I think my favorite in the series is Drawing of the Three, but I wouldn't put any of the DT books in my list of King favorites. 

That goes to The Eyes of the Dragon, which I suppose is tangentially a DT book, because of Flagg and Thomas and Dennis make a cameo in the series at some point...  I don't know, his books are all too related sometimes. 

Oh, wait, I actually meant Wizard and Glass but wasn't really paying attention to what I was typing! I'd actually rate Wolves of the Calla second best, though. I haven't read Salem's Lot.

The Eyes of the Dragon is amazing, but I also really love the Bill Hodges books Mr. Mercedes and Finders Keepers. And Christine. I can't decide!

LOL!  I think a lot of people hate Wizard and Glass because of the Wizard of Oz stuff in it, but that didn't bother me, I found it whimsical.  I also liked the tie-ins to The Stand in that book.  It's not my favorite in the series, but it didn't enrage me like it did some people.

I haven't read any of the Mr. Mercedes stuff yet, I haven't gotten around to it.  My H loves Christine, but it's one I tried to read as a kid and stopped - I'm just not into books about cars, even if they are possessed and trying to murder people.

[aurora]

Jul 25, 2016 14:20:24 GMT -5 Nonny said:

Jul 25, 2016 14:07:21 GMT -5 aurora said:

Oh, wait, I actually meant Wizard and Glass but wasn't really paying attention to what I was typing! I'd actually rate Wolves of the Calla second best, though. I haven't read Salem's Lot.

The Eyes of the Dragon is amazing, but I also really love the Bill Hodges books Mr. Mercedes and Finders Keepers. And Christine. I can't decide!

LOL!  I think a lot of people hate Wizard and Glass because of the Wizard of Oz stuff in it, but that didn't bother me, I found it whimsical.  I also liked the tie-ins to The Stand in that book.  It's not my favorite in the series, but it didn't enrage me like it did some people.

I haven't read any of the Mr. Mercedes stuff yet, I haven't gotten around to it.  My H loves Christine, but it's one I tried to read as a kid and stopped - I'm just not into books about cars, even if they are possessed and trying to murder people.

I listened to Christine when I was first getting into audiobooks and the narration was great, so that probably helped. I'm also not into cars but there is some great character development.

[charlatti]

Jul 25, 2016 14:08:18 GMT -5 aurora said:

Jul 25, 2016 13:39:11 GMT -5 charlatti said:

A family at my daughter's school did something very similar. Their titles aren't as elaborately painted but it's still really cool.

ETA: I still haven't read The Dark Tower. Is that controversial on its own?

I don't think of The Dark Tower as a controversial series. I mean, there's lots of heavy stuff in it. I think the biggest controversy was over whether SK would ever actually finish it. Well, that and whether you love or hate the ending.

No, I meant to (jokingly, obvs) ask if my lack of reading such a well-known series was controversial. As in, OMG you slacker! You call yourself a reader?!

[10nille]

I do think if it were for the family or a child there would be different book titles. I'm curious if by adding the non stick top on the stairs she actually rendered them more unsafe. There are laws in my state on how stairs can be installed. There are standards for the pitch and the depth of the stairs.

[GilliC]

FYI - If you don't have the time/patience/skill to paint them, you can order custom-made vinyl stickers to do it instead:
www.etsy.com/listing/160408135/two-or-more-diy-book-stairs-lettering

[aurora]

Jul 25, 2016 15:03:25 GMT -5 charlatti said:

Jul 25, 2016 14:08:18 GMT -5 aurora said:

I don't think of The Dark Tower as a controversial series. I mean, there's lots of heavy stuff in it. I think the biggest controversy was over whether SK would ever actually finish it. Well, that and whether you love or hate the ending.

No, I meant to (jokingly, obvs) ask if my lack of reading such a well-known series was controversial. As in, OMG you slacker! You call yourself a reader?!

So, not only is my ability to write poor when I'm distracted, but also my reading comprehension.

[labbie]

LOVE!

[labbie]

Jul 25, 2016 15:31:46 GMT -5 GilliC said:

FYI - If you don't have the time/patience/skill to paint them, you can order custom-made vinyl stickers to do it instead:
www.etsy.com/listing/160408135/two-or-more-diy-book-stairs-lettering

This is perfect- I've been holding back because of my lack of artistic ability.

[snshne322]

Jul 25, 2016 15:31:46 GMT -5 GilliC said:

FYI - If you don't have the time/patience/skill to paint them, you can order custom-made vinyl stickers to do it instead:
www.etsy.com/listing/160408135/two-or-more-diy-book-stairs-lettering

I was thinking as I was scrolling that I thought there were vinyl ones.  I like to think I have artistic talent, but I really, really don't.