Penbooks

How did Penbooks get started?

I've always been a creative person and I have many hobbies that reflect that, from sewing & crafting, to writing & drawing!

I started hand making Christmas presents for my family each year which were always well received. Though I continue to dabble with various crafting hobbies, doing Pen Illustrations has remained my favourite.

It all started when I decided to illustrate some bookmarks for myself, combining my love of books with my love of drawing. Just like that Penbooks was born! While I opened my shop to primarily sell illustrated bookmarks, I've started creating other artworks too.

A bit about where your lovely purchases are coming from

Most of my pieces are created from my corner seat on the sofa. I live in a fairly small apartment, so the sofa is as good a place as any to get drawing. One day I hope to have an office room with a drawing table that won't destroy my back while I work 😂

And what about the crafting talent behind these great products

The first stage of creating any of my items is the preparation. I measure and cut my card to size, then flatten the ridges created by the guillotine. Once cut and prepped, I mark out any borders I want.

Depending on the design, I'll first create a rough sketch with pencil, then go over the sketch with pen. I use a variety of pen sizes to achieve the desired effect.

The time to complete a piece varies based on the design. Some bookmarks may only take me half an hour, while my most complicated A4 artwork takes four hours to complete.

Once finished I leave each piece to dry thoroughly before sealing in a cellophane bag and finished with a Penbooks sticker.

Each product is shipped in a cardboard backed envelope and I often include a few freebies.

Anything else? This is our sellers chance to tell you a bit about themselves

Hi! I'm Lucy and I love books! I started illustrating my own bookmarks during the first UK lockdown and fell in love with it! Now I'm looking to pass my joy of books and art on to you guys by offering hand-illustrated bookmarks and illustrations. Don't be afraid to get in contact if you'd like to make a request!

We're happy to do commissions, so if there's anything you'd like to ask please get in touch!