Habemus new notebook!

Starting new notebook with new year, more or less, which is a coincidence since I just start a new one with the old one is completed.

This time I wanted to go one step further and use as archival quality materials as possible. That means changing inks, paper and maybe leather cover.

I found new waterproof (and other magic properties) inks keeping the same colors and I show them in another post.

I tested quite a few high quality papers from a specialist shop. All laid papers in cream color and I fell in love with one of them called Burga because its texture and feeling. However it can't resist the eraser without breaking the external layer of papel so easily. A huge shock after I already bought quite a lot quantity. Conclusion: I continue using my trust Galgo paper 100g/m2 again.

The thickness is much more moderated than the former one, which became quite fat. Actually it's not "pocket" anymore so I decided to make something more portable. There is also a more important reason: Last notebook took me 2 years and I felt some risk when carrying it in my bag during some travels specially in dangerous areas. It could be a big lost if something happened to it. Shortening the time of use also reduce that risk.

I also used the same black leather. The cardboard now is stronger.

New adventures ahead for this baby.

My atelier is the real world

My current notebook together with the last one.

One of the great points of keeping a notebook is the portability. I don't need a wardrobe full of writing tools, big easel or a studio. I can write in a terrace, in a mountain, in the bed and in the train. But nor under the rain.

My atelier is the real world.

New notebook. Back to black

Just one year ago I start to write in my full handmade notebook. I created a post about it here.

It took me one year to finish it. Still some pages to be filled. So it’s time for a new one. I think creating your own notebook is the only way to have it as you want. I use the same verge paper (120g/m2) cream color which gives me great result. It not only can deal with all kind of fountain pen inks but also has an amazing feeling when writing (and touching!).

However, I’ve done a couple of steps forward in this new version:

     1. More number of pager. Up to 50% more pages than the previous notebook. This thickness creates a powerful and magnificent looking. 288 pages (plus one for the first and final paper undercover), that’s 144 spreads, a good number which I can fix into a 12 x 12 box in order to see all pages together and maybe discover other secret information which can’t be seen in other way.

     2. Black leather. I had to buy the whole piece of leather, which is risky and expensive for a test. Anyways I’m so happy with the result and now I have enough leather for a few more notebooks. No need to mention the touch is superb and I enjoy the notebook also with my eyes and hands.

Used materials

I expect the thickness will increase about 40% once it’s filled because some things like stamps will be glued. Even when I’ve balanced a little bit that future thickness in advance, a stylish curve will appear with time. I love curves in fat and used notebooks.

It’s a direct way to create a strong link between the notebook and you, a real one. At the end it’s all about feelings.

The address book

This was my very first full handmade notebook. It includes leather cover.

It's a point of no return. I will never go back to a no handmade notebook, otherwise the strong link with it will be lost, same as a link between father and baby.

I used it for one of the most fascinating project I did last year: The address book. Highly recommended idea where the unique characteristics of the address book are shown and felt, all of them good ones. There are many names inside the pages and there is only a connection between all: Me. It also helps to bring memories since every name keeps a lot of information and brains knows it.
Names are written with ink, that means it's final, bla, bla.