Journey Notebooks
Hokusai 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
Denim
Elastic
Light Blue
Inspiration
Kanagawa oki nami ura (Under the Wave off Kanagawa) by Katsushika Hokusai
The Notebook
The Hokusai Notebook is built in Denim vacchetta leather, a deep blue tone with the richness of indigo. In person, the color feels grounded & composed. Dark & stately, with a vibrancy that appears when light moves across the grain. Denim is a shade that softens and darkens as it ages.
To complement that depth, the notebook is bound with a light blue elastic. The contrast is gentle but unmistakable, giving the notebook a lasting sense of balance.
Silver grommets and metal-capped elastics reinforce the structure while adding a glint at the edges. Details that ensure this notebook endures for decades.
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.