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What Others are Saying

Gsry D.

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Great quality, quality hand stitching, property tanned leather and great paper. What more could you want? Keep these journals out of the rain and they will last a lifetime!

Julie L. B.

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I got the large size in hopes my MacBook would fit inside with a couple pens, a file folder and my daily planner. It works and I am so pleased!

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The Basic Writers Notebook

133 Reviews

$34.97

Description
Options
Product Video
Our Materials
Personalization

This Notebook is a Modular Cover and is created around the regular size Midori/Traveler's Notebook brand refill which measures 4.3x8.3 inches or 11x21cm.
It will hold 2 individually removable refills.

Refills are NOT included, but available as an option. More on that below.
Additionally, we do include a matching leather bookmark with each cover.

Watch the Product Video above for a full description and comparison of all 3 styles.

This cover is entirely hand-crafted and superior in every way to the Midori/Traveler's Notebook brand.
The leather and Solomon's Knot construction are a huge upgrade from the Midori/Traveler's Notebook brand and our covers will hold 2 individually removable refills instead of just one utilizing the Solomon's Knot construction vs an elastic band that will stretch out over time.

Refills:
You may already use the Midori/Traveler's Notebook refills so we do not include those with this cover.
However, you can purchase our in-house refills as an option with this cover. They are made in our studio with Arches Text Wove paper, a multi use European fine art and writing paper made in France.

Solomon's Knot:
This hand tied knot is what makes this journal modular.
There is no elastic to wear out or metal parts to bend. It is simple, elegant and beautiful and emanates a truly hand-crafted quality.
Click the Product Video link tab to see how it works. This is also shown in the Product Video shown above.

The Leather:
Our leathers are full grain, Italian Leathers which come from a 6th Generation tannery in the Italian Alps.
Our Rustic Brown and Black leathers are about 2.2mm thick and incredibly soft.
They also develop an amazing patina over time.
The American Bison is tanned on the East Coast, full grain and in limited supply because of the tannery being closed. It's also about 2.2mm thick, with a firmer temper but still soft. It is our most rustic leather and has incredible color depth when you bend it.

Guarantee:

All our products are Guaranteed for Life, Even if your Dog Eats it. The beads are not guaranteed against breakage. You can read more about our Guarantee below.

Our Unique Solomon's Knot Construction:

The hand-tied Solomon's Knot makes this modular/refillable journal possible.
There are up to 24 knots using 2 different thread colors to match the Antique African Trade bead.

The Solomon's Knot has been used across a number of cultures and historical eras and can be given a range of symbolic interpretations.
It represents immortality and eternity and, in Buddhism, the Endless Knot.
Because of the 2 entwined knots, it is sometimes interpreted as a Lover's Knot.
Because of religious connections, the knot is sometimes designated the all-faith symbol of faith, but, at the same time, it appears in many places as a valued secular symbol of prestige, importance and beauty.

The Solomon's Knot is cool, organic, Earthy and speaks to your soul more than something metal or elastic could ever do.

Here's the other thing about our unique Solomon's Knot construction...
It doesn't wear out like elastic.
It won't bend or break like metal clips.
It's not magnetic which might mess up your electronics.

Watch the Product Video to see how to remove and replace your refills.

See the Options tab above for more details.
When ordering you can choose:

COLOR: Rustic Brown, Bison or Black

REFILLS: NOT included but available as an option
Our refills use Arches Text Wove paper and have 40 pages each.
When you select the refill option it will include 2 - 40 page refills.
Each refill is sewn onto a tissue back linen cover.

PERSONALIZATION: from 3 initials to 3 full lines
(see Personalization tab to learn about our full range of personalization styles)
How to Remove and Replace your Refills:
This journal is modular and has 2 individually removable refills.
This video will show you how to remove and replace them.
Shipping:
Our items are shipped with $9.95 flat rate shipping via USPS 1st class or Priority mail. Transit times are usually 2-3 days, counting Saturday but not Sunday.

Returns:
All of our items come with a 30-day hassle-free return policy.

Read our full policy here.

*Personalized and Custom items are not refundable.

GUARANTEED FOR LIFE, EVEN IF YOUR DOG EATS IT

Read more about our guarantee here.
While we are your Makers and you know exactly where your leather goods come from, it’s also important to know the source of the materials we use in making them for you. If you would like more info about our products and sources then let’s connect to discuss.

Italian Leather: Our Primary Ingredient

We are soft leather experts and have developed proprietary techniques for working with softer Chrome tanned Italian leathers.

Unlike the stiffer, belt like, Vegetable tanned leathers, our leathers are soft right out of the box. Like the blue jeans you wear that only get softer and more comfortable with age, our leathers will immediately conform to your lifestyle and develop a great patina over time, making your life’s adventures more memorable and meaningful.

Unbranded English Cow –Chrome/Oil tanned - Full Grain – Struck thru (dyed all the way thru the hide) Tanned in Italy – Unavailable anywhere else in the world.We worked with a 6th Generation tannery in Italy for 2 years to develop our proprietary leather.
View our Processes and Proprietary soft leather-working techniques

Hand-torn European Fine Art & Writing papers

We offer you a choice of 3 European, hand-torn papers: Arches Text Wove, Frankfurt White, and Frankfurt Creme.

Whether you write, draw or do both... using anything from a fountain pen to watercolor brushes, you will have the perfect paper.

Our Standard paper is Arches Text Wove. The Frankfurt papers are our premium papers and while made more for fountain pens, work very well for water coloring too.

Our papers are all 120gsm in weight which give them the body you will love.
They will not feather or bleed with a fountain pen and are acid free. You can also watercolor on our papers. They take light and heavy washes well and will dry completely flat.

And because you can write on both sides with any pen or pencil, it's like having twice the amount of usable pages you would have in a book with thinner paper.

We also hand tear all of our papers from larger parent sheets to give you the rough, authentic and artisanal look and feel.

Solid Brass Hardware

Our hardware is all low lead solid brass

Low Lead means harder and stronger hardware.

Unlike much less expensive Zinc, Solid brass is not only strong and patinas well but the low lead content complies with California safety standards.

We have 2 finishes, Antique Brass and Nickel Matte and because we believe in building things the way you want them, we offer you the choice of hardware finish on all of our products. If you don’t see that choice then just ask us.

We want your tools in life to match your individuality without compromise and inspire your life’s adventures.

Threads and Cords

All kinds and all colors

Waxed Linen, Polyester and Nylon thread and cords are used to hand-sew our permanently bound journals and for creating the Solomon’s Knot on our Modular Journals.

We have all kinds of proprietary techniques for making our journals and you can learn them all with our DIY kits.

Ancient and Hand-carved Beads

The beads we use are anything but common.

Some of our beads are over 300 years old. Others are individually hand carved. Some are and rustic and tribal in nature while others are more elegant.

We use ancient African trade beads, Jade, Lapis, unpolished Tiger Eye, Jasper, Opal, solid bronze and Sterling Silver and are always adding to and changing out line.

See our Machine Demos
Personalize Any Item

If there’s one thing that really gets us off it’s making your item look totally cool and unique.

And, when it comes to Personalizing your item, nothing gets more personal and unique.
That’s why we offer so much more than just initials, a name or a short line of text.

While it’s impossible to list all the creative and different ways we can personalize your book, bag or cover, we tried grouping them into the categories below. Any and all of these can be combined so if you need something special then contact us.

Also, keep in mind that while we usually have standard placement for personalization, we can put it just about anywhere on your item at your request. There is no additional charge for that but you do need to tell us.

See our Personalization Gallery for Ideas

3 Initial, Full or Multi-line Personalization

included in the ordering options for most journals and covers

3 Initial Personalization... the simplest and most popular choice.

If you get a cover or a journal with 3 Initial Personalization, at our discretion we will usually include a matching leather bookmark and will personalize it with the same 3 initials.

Full or Multi-line Personalization includes up to 15 spaces, counting the spaces in between the words or name.

But just in case you are really close, we let you fudge 20% more by letting you add up to 18 spaces. When entering your desired pesonalization please remember that what you enter is CaSE sEnseTIve.

We can put more letters on a single line but if it goes over the space limit then it will need to be entered as an additional line and will be charged accordingly.

Symbols

We have a Unique & Growing collection of Symbols which we can put on your item.

To see the full collection just click on the BUTTON below.
When ordering a Symbol we give you the choice of adding up to 3 initials directly below it.

Symbols can also be combined with a Patch but must be ordered separately.

See Symbols Collection

Patches

Leather Patches are one of the most Unique forms of personalization we know of and nobody that we know of does it.

This is where we create a leather patch, put whatever you want on it… a Symbol, up to 3 full lines of type…. basically, whatever you would like, and sew the patch onto your item. Because setup on these can take a long time, we typically make at least 2 just in case we make a mistake. But we usually don’t so in that case we will either just give you the second one or sew it onto your bookmark (if it's included) and if it fits.

Combinations & Variations:
We can combine patches, Symbols, Single or Multi-line Personalization in whatever way/s you would like.

There are near unlimited variations and we do our best to make your patch look as cool as possible.
But if you have certain placement needs or desires then you can just let us know.

See our Personalization Gallery for Ideas

Custom Logos and Graphics

If you have a logo or graphic you would like debossed into your item or on a patch then we can do that too.
The max size is 5x2 inches. We send out to have a special metal die made which can be used over and over again.

Custom Metal Casting

beads, logos, findings and more...

We have partnered with G&S Jewelry Mfg. in Albuquerque to vacuum cast your wildest dreams in just about any metal you would like.

We can make just 1 or many pieces for you.
This is great if you want to create a journal and use your own custom bead design for your own Unique series of modular journals.
It can be a corporate logo or a family crest, a meaningful symbol between you and your loved one... almost anything you would like.

Creativity is your only limit.
So let your imagination run wild and contact us with your idea.
You can watch our on location video to learn more and give you an introduction to the process. Just click the button below.
Watch our Custom Casting Video

Shipping Details

Our products are individually hand-crafted to order and shipped directly to you.
There’s never unsold inventory, no middlemen and no high markups.
All of these savings are passed on to you so you get
the best in style, materials and craftsmanship
at a fraction of traditional retail prices. Win-win.