Journey Notebooks
Rothko Notebook
About
The Journey Notebooks are cut from full-grain vacchetta leather produced by the Badalassi Carlo tannery in Tuscany, Italy. Badalassi Carlo maintains a membership to the Pelle Vegetale Consortium, certifying their adherence to traditional leather tanning practices. The Journey Notebook’s unmistakable warmth and softness is owed to the high fat content of the vacchetta, meaning it will deepen it’s sheen and develop a gorgeous patina over time. Each piece of leather varies slightly, that variation is all part of the charm.
Every notebook is constructed by hand in my workshop. The edges of the notebook are polished in beeswax to a near-glass finish. The edges take on an almost sculptural look while the covers retain their natural grain. Metal grommets reinforce the stress points so the leather is resistant to stretches or tears, & the elastic bands are finished with metal caps for longevity. The A6 format carries two notebooks by default & comfortably holds up to four. The A5 format carries four notebooks by default & comfortably holds up to 6.
The Journey Notebooks are meant to be lived with. Not stored, not protected, but used. It’s built for the cook who scribbles measurements with dirty hands, the researcher making notes between flights, the hiker noting trail distances at camp. Over years, the leather settles into the curve of your palm until it feels less like an object & more like something familiar; a part of you.
Details
Size
A6
Hardware
Silver
Color
Ochre
Elastic
Blue
Inspiration
Yellow & Blue by Mark Rothko
The Notebook
The Rothko Notebook is built in Ochre vacchetta leather, a tone that’s reminiscent of fresh marigolds. It has a vibrancy that feels luminous in person; warm, saturated, and electric, softened with the natural grain of the vacchetta hide. Ochre is one of this leather’s most expressive colors, developing depth & glowing undertones as it ages.
To counterbalance that warmth, the notebook is bound with a vibrant lapis blue elastic, giving the notebook a tension, & a distinctive character.
Silver grommets & metal-capped elastics reinforce the structure while adding a subtle glint at the edges. Ensuring these notebooks can last for decades, through many hands & countless notebooks.
By Request
If you’d like to order this notebook or commission a piece made specifically for you, I welcome you to reach out. Every notebook is crafted by hand in my studio, & I’m happy to tailor colors, sizing, hardware, or details to fit the way you work & live.