We’re now 516 members! A warm welcome to all of you :)
The idea with this Weekly Thread is to encourage people to participate more by sharing a theme. See that as an invitation, nothing more and you’re more than welcome to comment about anything else related to journaling, or to start your own thread while ignoring this one.
This week theme: Where do you journal?
Do you like to write your journal at home, comfortably installed on your desk or maybe on a couch or in the bed? Or do you journal everywhere you go? And how? Do you do it on your phone, or in your journal (that you carry everywhere you go?) or maybe in smaller notebook?
I never journal, but I like to do it when I'm on a trip alone. Even though, I like to think that I'm never truly alone, whether it's because I rent a room in a private home, at an hostel, or taking part in an excursion. I always meet people.
I do it to keep a record of my trip and also because I have a lot more time to myself. Usually, I journal in the evening, in bed, to reflect on my day and keep a memory of my trip. I use a small notebook someone gave me or one that I bought and kept in my notebook box. A few years back, I started bookbinding, so I also make my own notebooks.
It's been a while though. I should consider taking a new solo trip !
Little tip: For those who like Midori Traveler's Notebook-style, it's super easy and way cheaper to make them. There is a bunch of tutorials on YouTube, like this one. I made a few ones with scraps of saddlery leather someone gave me. Well...someone gave it to someone who gave it to someone who gave it to me ;)
Sorry for the late reply, you may have noticed my last message announcing I won't be available a lot for the time being.
That's a great suggestion!
I would add that a DIY journal also makes one's journal feel incredibly more personal. At least, that's how it felt to me every time I made my own. Like you suggests, no need to learn anything special or expensive and even using scraps it will feel unique. I would encourage anyone to give it a chance.
My last handmade journal, dating back a couple years ago, was exactly that: a few stapled sheets of paper with a nice cover made out of recycled cardboard (from a sturdy pasta package :p). The paper I used for the pages was a few sheets of mix-media smooth A4 paper from Clairefontaine I folded in two (being smooth making it great for writing with a fountain pen, and fine for my watercolor sketches) :p
No problem at all, personal time and health first !
Ahah, it's great ! Since I started bookbinding, I keep everything that may be useful (cardboards from promotional calendar, marbled paper scraps, etc.).
Have you covered your journal with nice paper ? What kind of sewing did you use ? The coptic binding method is quite easy (well it takes a little bit of patience on the first try), you can sew different signatures together and the notebook lays flat. The Japanese method is much easier and quite decorative, but I don't really like it for writing because the notebooks don't open properly.
Best method, imho ;)
I seldom do that. And nowadays I seldom make any nice notebook myself (I will do quick & dirty ones for specific needs) but back then I used to a few types. I leanred traditional bookbinding and loved to to do that so... ;) Coptic is both easy and gives great results. Plus it looks cool.