Because I know you've been searching for something to spend your tax refund check on, I present to you Rebound Designs' book bags.

I will admit, this is one of those book products that make me feel simultaneously happy and uncomfortable. After all, in order to make one of these stylish hand bags, you have to cut open a beautiful book.

While I love the bookworm fashion statement, there's something about gutting a book to use as arm candy that doesn't quite sit right with me.

But then I heard the artist interviewed on All Things Considered last week, and felt slightly better.

Caitlin Phillips, who sells her book bags at Eastern Market in D.C., as well as from her Web site, picks her bags carefully. She chooses unwanted and slightly damaged books, and makes them into gorgeous bags that everyone can enjoy. (Well, everyone who wants to lay down $150 a pop for the little beauties.)

Have a special request? She'll keep an eye out for the book you want. Even better, you can give her your own well-loved book that may be past its prime, and she'll give it new life.

Phillips even offers all those pages she cuts out to fellow artists or the customer who buys the bag they came from. And if you know of a group who could use them, she's on the look out to donate the pages, as well.

Turning old friends into accessories feels somehow wrong -- after all, what's more taboo to a booklover than cutting up a special tome? But I have to admit: There are worse things that can happen to unwanted books.

 (Photo courtesy of rebound-designs.com)