Book 336 - Leather Journal with Turquoise - Long Stitch Binding

Time for another pretty leather journal. This is a really nice piece of leather, like a good quality purse would be made out of. It's a pale beige with a smooth finish, enhanced, I think, by a couple of natural markings in the leather.

For the pages, I used a rich, heavy cream-colored paper with a very subtle multi-colored fleck in it. The paper has just a slight tooth that makes it nice both for writing and drawing. A leaf-print paper in tones of green and gray makes the end papers.

The eight signatures are bound to the cover with light green waxed thread in a long stitch binding. I staggered the holes to give the binding an attractive pattern, and added beads. The top and bottom rows of stitches have small turquoise glass beads. In the center of the spine is a large turquoise nugget. It makes for a fairly dramatic spine.

This is really a luscious journal I'd be pleased to write in myself.

Book 320 - Green Leather Fat Journal with Silver Clasp - Long stitch binding-1

Another leather book today, a fat journal. I like fat journals, myself, so I find it hard to make them skinny--though, of course, they would be faster and cheaper to make when making them for resale. This is fatter than some, partly because the paper is a nice thick artist's paper, like printmaking paper. There are 80 pages (160 counting both sides) of this rich paper perfect for writing or sketching with pen, pencil, charcoal, or colored markers.

The leather is a rich dark green with a lightly pebbled surface. The journal/blank book is bound with a long stitch binding with pale green waxed linen thread with a diamond stitch pattern showing on the spine.

The clasp is silver-colored metal and works by turning the flat center bar, then lifting the left ring off the clasp. I think it gives the book a very classy look.

A standard, but I love making these leather journals. I'll never stop.

Book 288 - Pink Leather Fat Journal w/ Glass Dangle - Long Stitch Binding

I like really fat journals. And this one is fat. and I love the pink with black details... reminds me of the '50s, when pink and black were IT. This long stitch  bound journal -- also called the Medieval limp binding--is smallish, just 4" x 5" by almost 1 1/2" thick. It has 8 signatures of heavy artist paper, 96 pages worth (192 pages front and back).

The end papers are a yummy bright red Asian paper with gold brushstrokes. The long stitch binding is done with black waxed linen thread and the book closes with a black leather thong.

The dangle on the end of the thong is really beautiful fused dichroic glass (and a thank you to my friend Shannon for the gift). Not only does it close the journal, but it can also act as a nice place marker.

A simple, pretty and really nice little fat journal/blank book.

Book 278 - Hair on Cowhide Journal - Long Stitch Binding

Here's one of my great stand-by books - a long-stitch bound leather journal. And not just leather, but hair-on leather. This is from a full cowhide I bought and cut up, in a wonderful brindle color.

I probably shouldn't tell you (though if you've been following me awhile, you've surely dropped to this already) but these leather journals/blank books are my fall back position. When I just can't seem to be very creative, don't have a single idea what to make, am too tired to think much, am sick, distracted or just plain being lazy, I can always make a leather journal and fulfill my commitment to make a book that day. I've made so many of these that they are almost automatic. The only real creativity is in picking the leather, the thread and the end papers.

For this journal, I picked a soft-focus camo design end paper. I wanted to make it more masculine, since so many of my books appeal more to women. The long-stitch binding is sewn with black waxed Irish linen thread. The pages are 70 lb Neenah Sundance paper in ivory with a felt finish. Very nice paper.

Book 259 - Gray Leather Journal with Yellow Belt Closure-Long Stitch Binding

Yet another leather journal today...  This one was inspired by the cool retro-style yellow elastic belt I found in a thrift shop. I knew right off it would make a great closure. Then I just had to find a piece of leather in my stash that was in a good color to go with it.

I came up with this piece of warm gray cowhide and I love the combination. The journal is a standard long-stitch binding journal, also called the medieval limp binding. I used yellow waxed linen thread for the stitching to compliment the yellow belt, with a pair of sewing stations near the center of the book to hold the belt in place.

The pages are 24 lb classic laid paper in cream, 112 pages in eight signatures. For the end paper, I used a gray plaid print paper that seemed a good match for the gray leather.

I think I'm going to be looking for more of these elastic belts on my next thrift shop run...

Book 258 - Red Cowhide Leather Journal-Long Stitch Binding

Found another scrap of nifty dark red leather from the scrap bin for today. This is almost certainly cowhide, embossed and dyed. The scrap had a nicely angled cut on one edge, so I used that for the wrap-around at the fore edge.

This little journal has eight signatures of 24 lb parchment-like cream paper. There are 104 pages (208 both sides). For the end paper, I used a leaf print paper in a gray/maroon color. I wanted something pretty but not so feminine that a man would not want to use this blank book.

The long stitch binding or medieval limp binding is done with black waxed linen thread and the journal closes in front with a circle of industrial weight Velcro.

A decent example of an everyday journal...

Book 240-Smooth Green Leather Journal w/ Buckle Closure - Long Stitch Binding

Well, you see what happens when I get to go to the leather store? Oregon Leather, in Portland--one of my favorite spots on earth. And you get to see another classic leather journal--this time a beautiful smooth, almost polished dark green.

I've made this as a wrap-around with the back flap coming over the front and closing with a strap and a brass buckle. Since I wanted to maintain the clean look of this, I didn't want to stitch the straps to the book with visible stitches. So I used some silver colored rivets to attach the two straps, one at the spine and the other at the fore edge. In addition to the rivets, I added a drop of epoxy to make sure they are very firm.

This is really a sumptuous journal with thick creamy pages and end papers of pale green with the slightest bit of glimmer in it. It is sewn with a long stitch binding with black waxed linen thread.

And yes, I have a bag full of leather pieces I now have to pack in a suitcase to get home. So you'll be seeing even more leather books in the near future.

Book 228 - Brown Leather Blank Journal w/ Obsidian

Here's another of my long stitch binding leather journals. (This binding is also called the medieval limp binding.) I found this nice piece of leather in my sister's stash. Then I found a box of polished chunks of mahogany obsidian that I knew would look great with the heavy pebbled brown leather.

I used the natural shape of the leather skin for most of the right side wrap-over and cut the cover fore edge clean. For the stitching, I used a light moss green waxed hemp thread. I wanted to try a new pattern. I planned to leave all the exposed stitching straight, but when it was done, the very long stitches worried me. It seemed inevitable that they would catch on something and pull--or even break. So I added a center stitch that brought all four rows together and created the sort of elongated starburst design. And I decided I really liked it.

After I cut a long thong to tie the book shut, I covered the top of the roughly teardrop-shaped chunk of beautiful mahogany obsidian with epoxy, then wrapped the end of the thong around it and tied a knot. Then I added a bit more epoxy. This baby is not coming off.

The paper is a really nice 70 lb. felt finish cream paper. A very nice journal, definitely good for a man.

Book 193 - A Nifty Little Leather Journal with Brand... and a Coyote!

This whole leather mini-journal came into my mind when I saw the carved bone howling coyote in a bead store. Well, hey, I live in Arizona. Coyotes "R" Us. I saw a pair of them just a couple days ago as I was tootling down the Chloride Road. So naturally, this one called to me.

I knew he was going onto a leather journal. But the brand (or scar) in a circle that just happens to look like the moon rising huge behind him was just a happy accident. Really!

Whenever I am pawing through leather scrap bins, I always keep an eye cocked for scraps with ranch brands or scars. I think they give the leather so much more character. I'm not sure what the rough circle scar on this piece was, but I like it.

This little mini-journal has ten signatures of 7 sheets each for a total of 140 pages (280 both sides). It is sewn with a longstitch binding with natural hemp cord. I find I am drawn to these "fat" journals much more than the skinnier ones. (Probably because I always have too much to say... as you might have noticed).

OK, I'm done. Enjoy this book!

Book 188 - Hair-On Hide Leather Journal - Longstitch Binding

Here's another of my standard longstitch binding journals made from hair-on hide. This part of the hide is mostly off-white but with a sprinkle of brown in the upper right corner. I put that on the front.

The stitching is done with dark purple/brown waxed Irish linen thread. The pages are a pretty mottled beige/cream paper, hand-torn at the fore edge. Ten signatures of six sheets each for a total of 120 pages (240 both sides). The end papers are heavy paper in a textured cream print.

A nice utilitarian journal that feels good.

Book 171 - An Elegant Smooth Leather Journal with Turquoise

This is a really elegant journal covered in smooth beige leather, another medieval limp binding. The exposed long stitch binding on the spine is threaded with small round turquoise beads. They really look nice.

The leather is split cowhide so smooth it has a slight sheen. The inside is suede. I've used a patterned turquoise paper for an end paper. The pages are very heavy ivory colored art paper, 48 pages (96 counting both sides). It's a good size, 8" x 5 3/4".

This is a beautiful journal I'm proud of.

Book 141 - Hair=on Hide Blank Journal - BRindle Cowhide

Backsliding again. It just felt like there was not a creative bone in my body tonight. I'm tired and not up to thinking up great stuff. So I'm falling back onto my old faithful hairy leather journal. Something I can do pretty much without thinking, few surprises. At this point they almost always come out fine.

This hand-made journal is cut from a nice brindle cowhide. The book measures about 5" x 9" x 1" at the spine. It's another longstitch binding blank journal with honey-colored pages and stitched with mahogany linen thread. The end papers are a pretty green decorative paper. The spine is decorated with two square beads of black bone. The book closes with a leather thong. Nothing wondrous or earth-shaking or terribly original, but a nice utilitarian leather journal.

(I'll try harder tomorrow.)