New Journal!
I’ve kept a journal for over 11 years. For ten years, I’ve made my own journals. I decided that if I was going to commit time to writing, I wanted to write in a journal that I liked and reflected a bit of who I am. Store-bought journals seem to lack whimsy. So, I picked up a book on book making (about journals as opposed to bets) and taught myself how to bind, stitch, cover, etc. I’ve made some pretty nifty journals and a few bizarre numbers that shouldn’t have seen the light of day.
My usual practice is to finish an entire journal before starting a new one. However, I just got so tired of the one I’d been using for the past year, that I quit writing. The journal design and cover was uninspiring and boring. I figured that if my journal design was so grim that it resulted in me no longer writing, it was a time to make a new one.
Over the years, I’ve accumulated a ton of books on book and journal making. I’m always on the hunt for different designs. I’ve become really interested in binding stitching - there are some pretty fabulous and showy stitches out there. My latest acquisition is, Book Arts by Mary Kaye Seckler. Tons of fabulous bindings and covers. I ended up adapting the Raven’s Foot binding. I also have a thing for geometric shapes, color, and layers on the cover. With all that in mind, here’s a pic of the journal. I think it’s one of my all time favorites.
Hello. I am 
Way cool, Steph!
That is really lovely. The cork and grommets are especially nifty.
Is it of the durability to pack with you, or is this more of a leave-on-the-bedside-table type of journal?
The binding is very cool!!
Oooh - thanks for the compliments! In regards to durability, my journals go everywhere with me. They usually ride around in my backpack to work, hiking, traveling, etc. For the most part, they’ve held up very well. I’ve had a few issues if I use paper accents on the journal surface - the paper tends to get torn. However, This model should do just fine. The one thing that might be a bit tricky is the paint. Hopefully it won’t get too chipped. If so, I think I can touch it up.
The other key to success is to not leave the journal out in the rain. Bad things happen. Glue and paper tend to just dissolve away…
That is really beautiful!
Whoa! How cool is that? LOVE the binding. You are getting so good!