Just like the mannequins and display items that Nancy Bramson played with as a child at her father’s stores, the books she creates are memorable and intriguing.
“I was always trying to figure out how to put props together as a kid,” explained the self-taught artist. So moving into handmade decorative accessories was “a natural progression for me.” She turned to boxes, frames and books. “I cherish memories,” she says, “so I wanted to make things that would preserve keep-sakes from the past.”
Bound in square or oblong slats of stained wood, the volumes are filled with recycled paper and embellished with Bramson’s imaginative and colorful drawings.
Priced from $30 to $60, the books are available in three sizes: small (5 by 6 inches), medium (6 by 9 inch- es) and large (9 by 11 inches). All are one-of-a-kind and feature brass hinges.
Her work is sold at Sugar Magnolia, 34 E. Oak St.; Babette’s Practical Art Gallery, 2229 N. Clybourn Ave.; and Pieces, 644 Central Ave., Highland Park. For special orders, contact Bramson at 312-563-0627.