This kit will teach you how to make our 2 section journals in either one of 4 sizes.It has twice the thickness of our other DIY 101 kit for Slim Leather Journals and uses a stitch that is based off of that journal...

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Product Video
Our Materials
Personalization

This kit will teach you how to make our 2 section journals in either one of 4 sizes.
It has twice the thickness of our other DIY 101 kit for Slim Leather Journals and uses a stitch that is based off of that journal.

These books are easy to assemble and learning this stitch is fundamental to being able to sew larger and thicker books with more pages.

A video lesson will accompany this and be emailed to you before you receive your kit.
In addition to that we are creating other videos which will enhance the look of the journal you make and teach you how to make custom sizes as well. This will be an ongoing process and you will automatically receive training updates in video format as well as a complete list of the suppliers we use to make virtually everything we make, including our bags.

This is the first stitch I learned over 20 years ago and the one we use to make our 11x14x4 inch Book of Shadows.

Learning to make your own Personalized Italian Leather journal will
- teach you a new skill, QUICKLY
- give you a great sense of accomplishment and
- memories that will last your entire life.
- put you on a path to making more meaningful gifts for your friends.
Scroll down to the video to get all the details.

HERE ARE YOUR KIT CHOICES:
- 4 single ESSENTIAL size kits are available or
- get a single ELITE Kit with all 4 sizes and save a little
- Each kit comes 2 different ways, with or without templates
- Available in our Rustic Brown leather ONLY.
- You choice of a FREE Symbol ($24.95) or 3 initial Personalization ($14.95) debossed onto your cover thru the INTRO period this weekend.
  NOTE: Initials are NOT included with the Symbol.
EACH KIT CONTAINS:
1. A pre-punched leather cover (Rustic Brown only)
2. TWO pre-punched 40 page text block of hand torn Arches Text Wove paper.
  Paper upgrades are available for an additional cost.
3. TWO needles for sewing your book
4. Enough threads to sew 3 books. (Black, Sage, Blue... no substitutions)
5. IF you order a kit WITH templates you will also get a .079" grey binders board template for the cover and
  a paper punching template to punch the text block so it lines up with the holes in the cover.
  This is for kits WITH TEMPLATES ONLY.
Kits with templates allow you to create as many journals as you want without having to buy additional kits.

WHEN ORDERING:
1. Choose which size kit you would like and
2. If you would like your kit without or with Templates
  Each larger size costs a little more. Select the size you would like to see the additional cost.
3. Select your paper. Frankfurt papers are an upgrade and cost a bit more.
4. Choose the Symbol you would like debossed on your cover. If you have any Special Instructions or would rather have 3 Initial Personalization on your cover then just leave us a note in the Comments Box when you checkout. You can have different symbols and different initials for each cover you order.
An email with a link to an instructional video will be sent to you before your kit arrives.
You can watch it online or download it to your device.

ADDITIONAL TRAINING:
Additional videos will also be sent to help you expand what you do with the kit.

Read below for a more detailed description and pictures, sizes and a video description of the journal as well as how to remove and insert the refills.
see the Options Tab for more details.
When ordering you can choose:

BODY COLOR: 7 leather colors
CONTRASTING FLAP COLOR: 8 Leather colors
HARDWARE: Solid Brass in 2 finishes, Antique Brass & Nickel Matte

see the Materials Tab for more info on our leather and hardware
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

See all DIY items