My notebook journey so far.

My small, but growing, handmade notebook collection to date.

Oct 17, 2024

Seek to Make is an exploration of creativity and making. Each month, I share a monthly theme around making, showcase inspiring makers, share tips, tools and encouragement. Together let's get curious and immerse ourselves in the art of making!

OCTOBER: NOTEBOOKS

Hello makers,

This month’s Seek to Make… a notebook, was largely inspired by a craft workshop I was lucky enough to join in 2023 while I was working for Rekindle, a resourceful craft-based organisation. The wonderfully talented Meg Harte (check her out on @meg_arte_ful) taught us bookbinding using the traditional coptic stitch method. In that workshop, I made this little beauty of a notebook from scrap paper, paper bags, maps and some really cool sun printed (cyanotype) cardstock (which I didn’t make but I love).

coptic stitch bound handmade notebook — My little coptic stitch bound handmade book filled with my favourite quotes and phrases.

This got me hooked and so, as I was searching for inspirational notebooks to share with you, I kept thinking “ooh I want to try that, and that, and that, ooh and that!” But, like many of us, I have other life admin to attend to every day (kids, work and all the rest), so I needed to be realistic about what I can actually achieve in my spare time. I decided to squeeze down my notebook desires into one or two more manageable ideas.

Idea #1: Explore using watercolour and thread!

I borrowed Rachel Hazell’s book “Bound” from my local library and so immediately inspired. Her notebooks are so beautifully minimalist and delicious that I knew I had to try something similar. I pulled out my very old watercolours, grabbed some scrap paper and let my curiosity roll with the watery ink.

At the same time, I love using thread and I love colour! So I decided to add a few simple stitches to each inked up cover. My aim was to add a touch of texture and a pop of colour to my notebooks.

Here is what I’ve made so far:

Four watercolour painted handmade notebooks with stitched details. — My watercolour painted handmade notebooks with stitched details.

Idea #2: Japanese Stab Binding.

I have dabbled in embroidery since I was 5 years old and still love finding ways of hand stitching with thread. So this seemed like a great method to try. I happened to have some chunky homemade paper I made a while ago that I had used to do a little daily cross stitch pattern on (an attempt at #the100dayproject).

So, I decided to rip up some printer paper into little squares, smoodge it in between a set of matching cross stitched covers, and got stabbing!

Here is what I’ve made so far: