I’m so pleased to be here at Design*Sponge this week (thanks, Grace)! I’m a reference librarian at The New York Public Library’s Humanities and Social Sciences Library, and when I’m not helping readers or teaching classes, I spend as much time as possible looking through the Library’s collections in search of interesting information on handmade design, DIY culture, and the history of craft. I blog about what I discover here. And this week, I plan to share with you some books, images, and other library resources that I discovered in my search for inspiring materials for our Design by the Book artists. The Library’s resources have inspired DIY projects of my own, and I hope that some might do the same for you as well.

Today’s images are from a handful of pages from a 1911 book of patterns entitled Décoration Egyptienne by Gustave Jéquier.

Both the colors and the designs keep me turning the pages to see more. You’ll find more images from this book in the Library’s Digital Gallery. And if you like these, I’d also recommend Egyptian Ornament. I’m picturing these patterns on stenciled floor mats, screen printed papers, or large scale wall paintings. Where do you imagine them?

I’ll be back tomorrow with more to share!