Day 11-Hairy Little Journal

I love to make these hairy little leather journals. I've done many of them--both because I like them and because... well, they sell, always an incentive.

This fat little journal is made with hair-on cowhide. The pages are hand-torn Arches Text Wove art paper. The book is stitched with waxed linen thread using the long stitch, which attaches the signatures directly through the leather of the spine. This kind of binding is great for a journal because the book opens flat, making it easy to write in.


The irregular raw edge of the leather skin was left intact for the front flap. It is closed with a piece of leather lace that wraps around a deer antler button. That keeps it securly closed and adds to the rustic look. The book measures approx. 4" x 5" and is 1" thick with 60 pages (120 counting both sides).

Since I'm in Tucson for the annual Gem/Mineral/Bead shows, this was a good book to make. I was able to bring everything with me in a small baggie--a piece of leather, pre-torn pages, x-acto knife, leather punch, needle and waxed linen thread. I bought the antler button and leather lace at the show today.

Perhaps tomorrow I'll do something quite different and more show related.