Artist's Sketchbook - Leather Binding - Deckled Paper

made from 100% recyled and renewable materials

I introduced this size of sketchbook in response to the many requests I receive from customers who want a compact book with a page format that is suitably proportioned for sketching. As many of my customers are artists or art students I have also developed a new handmade paper* that is suitable for an unusually wide variety of media.

Please note that the attached photos show both TAN BROWN and BLACK versions of this book. It is the TAN BROWN version offered in this listing. If you wish to choose a BLACKversion instead please send a note at payment.

Size: 7.5 x 5.5 inches (actual page size)

Contains 120 sheets/240 pages (in 5 stitched signatures)

Weight: 400 grams (approximately 1lb)

Paper: The paper is a new ‘rags, rice, and okra’ paper.This is a plain handmade paper produced from recycled rags, and rice pulp. These materials give the paper an interesting texture ('tooth') that is wonderful to draw and sketch on. The third ingredient - juice from okra or ‘lady’s finger’ – seals the paper; which means that it can also be used for wet media such as water colour, without the paint penetrating to the next page. This paper will NOT yellow with age!

*‘Deckled’ describes the edges of pages that have been removed from the pressing frame without trimming. A ‘deckled’ edge is frayed and irregular, and is a feature much prized by many artists and art students. If you do not appreciate paper of this kind please do NOT purchase this journal. I make a wide range of sketchbooks and journals/diaries with regularly cut pages, which would suit your needs much better.

Binding: is 100% genuine water-buffalo hide, stained with a natural dye. The leather is of a heavy quality, and is thick but supple. The edge of the binding is stitched with leather thong. The binding will NOT crack, tear, or disintegrate (as glued bindings do!). The book will lie flat and remain open at any page you select.

With this style of binding it is also a relatively simple matter to remove the paper when the journal is full, and to re-fill it with new paper (which can be supplied to order).

Fastening: is a durable leather tie-strap that doubles as a bookmark. There is a protective inner flap of leather to prevent crushing of the edges of pages.

I decided to make these sketchbooks because I could not find the kind of book I wanted to use - which needs to be beautiful, practical, and durable.

I am committed to produce books with 100% recycled or renewable materials.

I have similar journals in a wide range of sizes and colours in my eBay store, and I am always open to new designs and ideas.

All my journals are entirely handmade, and each piece is unique.

I calculate postage costs with reference to UK Royal Mail prices, which you can check online via the following link: http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm

To Royal mail prices I add a small amount to cover packing.

2nd class within mainland UK £2.95 - Europe £3.95 - Rest of World (incl USA) £6.50

It is my policy to produce books from natural and renewable materials that will have a minimum impact on the environment.

I use exclusively water-buffalo hides, cow hides, and goatskins from mature animals that have come to the end of their working life. No animals are bred and slaughtered solely for the purpose of producing leather for my books.

To tan leather I use a natural tannin wash as an alternative to the highly toxic chromium salts commonly used in tanning. This natural tannin dye occasionally leaves a small residue on the surface of the leather, and some dye may appear on your hands on first handling of a new book. This is entirely harmless, and will cease altogether on further handling when the dye stabilizes. I hope you will agree with me that this is a small price to pay for a method of production that avoids poisoning our environment.

My handmade paper is produced without the use of bleaches and other toxic chemicals commonly associated with paper production.

It is my aim to produce books that meet the needs and wishes of the artists, art students, travelers and writers and poets who commonly purchase my books. For that reason I am always interested to hear your comments, and any suggestions you have for improvements or for new products.