Now to something completely different…
Many of you know me as a knifemaker. I’ve shared with you my leatherwork for knives, small wallets, and even custom sheaths for lighters. But my passion for craftsmanship doesn’t stop there—I love exploring new projects and materials. My latest passion? Creating handmade journaling notebooks through traditional bookbinding.
The Inspiration Behind Making Custom Journaling Notebooks
It all started when I stumbled upon a captivating YouTube video featuring one of Germany’s last traditional bookbinders. The craftsman spoke poetically about the smell of glue and demonstrated the mesmerizing ASMR of folding paper sheets and carefully stitching pages by hand onto sturdy ribbons. Watching him craft a beautiful leather-bound family chronicle deeply inspired me. I knew I had to try it myself.
Starting My Journaling Notebook Journey
Initially, I thought I had all the supplies I needed. Grabbing some A4 paper, I carefully cut the sheets down to A5 and dove right into it. For my first journaling notebook, I repurposed sturdy cardboard from an old drawing pad as a base, covering it with a charming red-and-white checkered cloth. Without access to specialized bookbinding glue, I left the spine unglued, learning only afterward that the glue I needed was essentially PVA glue.
Why Journaling Notebooks?
While I greatly respect the art of traditional bookbinding, my personal focus isn’t creating books strictly for reading. My passion lies in creating journaling notebooks, a love sparked by a small orange notebook I used as a diary during my Air Force days. Since then, I’ve sought the perfect notebook—buying various popular brands and copies—but never quite finding the ideal match. So, as always, I decided to create my own.
Creating Custom Journaling Notebooks
I’ve now built an efficient system to design unique, thematic journaling notebooks. I start by crafting graphics and clipart, then prepare each design meticulously. Using SVG files, I automatically generate PDF pages, carefully reorder them, and assemble each journaling notebook in sets of four-sheet signatures ready for stitching.
Each notebook I create is not only functional but deeply personal, reflecting the spirit of open journaling: free-form, creative, and highly individual.
Handmade Journaling Notebooks Available on Etsy
If you’re intrigued by handmade craftsmanship or simply seeking your own unique journaling notebook, a small selection of my handcrafted notebooks is now available on my Etsy store. Each notebook embodies my commitment to quality, creativity, and craftsmanship.
Explore my handmade journaling notebooks and start your own Open Journaling journey today!
A small selection of the journaling notebooks are available on Etsy