Midori Style Traveler's Notebook

"We cannot become what we want by remaining what we are".
                                                       - Max Depree-


I have an old messenger style leather purse that I loved dearly. Unfortunately, I loved it so much I wore it out. So what do I do with it? I'm still emotionally attached to it and can't throw it away, but I don't want to put it in the closet and have another thing cluttering up the house. Solution...take it apart and recycle the leather into something usable.

I've always admired and wanted a Midori Traveler's Notebook but I could not justify the cost of the leather notebook and the inserts. However...I now have the leather to make my own beautiful handmade traveler's notebook and I have all the papers I enjoy using to make the booklets. I also love the idea of repurposing something "old" into something "new" that I can use every day.

Follow along as I show you step-by-step how I used the leather from my old favorite purse to make a Midori style traveler's notebook. I break it down into easy steps and give you all the measurements to create not only the leather notebook but also the booklets to insert into the notebook.

Of course, if you don't have an old leather purse to use, you can purchase new leather from the craft store or fabric store. Then you can make the booklets from your favorite choice of papers.

Try making one for yourself, I know you'll love it as much as I love mine.

How To Make Your Perfect Sketchbook

"I have learned that what I have not drawn, I have never really seen."
                                                 - Frederick Franck


The most important thing for an artist is their sketchbook. It's where we work out ideas and get our practice, but most importantly it's where we express ourselves. Every artist has their particular preference about the size of the sketchbook and what kind of paper is inside.

We go into the art stores searching for our ideal sketchbook. Many times we either come up short and can't find it or worse yet we find several sketchbooks with different types of paper that meets our needs. We can't haul around all these sketchbooks so we end up restricting ourselves to the sketchbook we have on hand.

What if you could have one perfect sketchbook with all the different types of paper in it that you enjoy using? Would you choose sketch paper for working out that intricate design? Perhaps toned tan or gray for your portraits? How about watercolor for that spontaneous landscape?

Now you have that option. You can create that perfect sketchbook in the size you want with all the different kinds of paper you adore using. Best of all you can carry this sketchbook with you where ever you go and have the option of using any of these papers whenever you want.

It gets even better... you can remove the pages of this sketchbook and draw or paint with whatever medium you choose and then photograph it or place it in a scanner and then put it back in the sketchbook. Yes...you can remove the pages, move them around and put them back into the sketchbook in any order that soothes your mind.

It's not a fantasy, that perfect sketchbook does exist and I'll show you how to make it.