Journals and Papers

Here at Journals and Papers, we often wonder that if children were allowed to write outside the lines in school what kind of creative adults would every child become. Most people prefer a lined journal. We’ve heard comments that if they had a blank journal, their writing would be messy, all over the place, they can’t write straight. We wonder at this logic and the creativity that it squashes. We can be creative individuals if we aren’t constrained to boxed, lined, circular, or rectangular drawn out spaces, which suggest we write inside of and not to go outside of the lines already drawn for us.

Is it the intimidation of a blank page, staring at us, clean and pristine that somehow gives us a sacrilegious notion that we shouldn’t muck it up with plain old meanderings. There is a solution to that. Buy a blank journal, and on the first page, write a title page, such as, “This Journal Belongs To…”, or “Property of …”. And also add a date. Now that the first page tainted with ink, it should be easy to turn to the second page and place some form of graphic upon it. Is it still hard to write on the blank page staring at you? On the second page then, use a photograph, or cut-out a picture, quote or text from a favourite magazine. Place that on the second page. Then on the third facing page, turn the journal on an angle and add some text that goes from the bottom left corner (which if angled is on top now) across to the right corner. There are no lines to constrain your creative efforts on this blank-paged journal.

You can write across the page, down the page, corner to corner, around the outside edges, ending in the middle, or from the middle out, from bottom to top, top to bottom, or side to side. The creativity is limitless, and you would be surprised the type of thoughts that you could be unleashing by not staying to what we grew up with - staying within the lines, and writing neat and tidy-like.

This post is not intended to be tongue-in-cheek, but rather a light-hearted look at other ways to journal creatively within the pages of a blank journal.

Journals and Papers, the Canadian online site for quality leather journals and fine papers for the creative mind, is pleased to be the first online store in Canada offering fine Italian stationery, journals, notepads, and artist drawing paper from ROSSI 1931, a company producing fine Italian stationery since 1931. “The secret of ROSSI’s great success is their mixture of love for the Italian tradition and attention to quality and technological innovations.” For information on the company’s history visit ROSSI’s website.

Journals and Papers, one of Canada’s online purchasing sites for leather journals recently updated their product line with stock from ROSSI 1931. Leather-spine journals from the “Alfabet” and “Scrittura” collection of notebooks and gift items are skillfully crafted following the famous tradition of the Florentine handicraft of papermaking. ROSSI’s most popular decorated papers are used in the production of these handmade journals and writing paper notepads (featured on the site under Fine Writing and Artist Papers).

For those journal writers looking for blank writing journals, the new decorative paper notebooks with a leather spine and elastic closure are popular. Journals and Papers is pleased to offer a free ruled template that can be used in these blank journals for writers who simply must have a lined guide for writing.

Journals and Papers also wish to meet the needs of the digital printing client who requires digital stationery by offering ROSSI’s self program kits. Medioevalis Digital Stationery for inkjet or laser printing is a combination of old and new world technologies. Put this elegant printable stationery through your printer, and after printing simply fold the paper slightly on the line and carefully tear off the border, thus creating a soft deckle edge.

Patricia Atchison, owner of Journals and Papers, is excited to bring in – “for now, a sampling” of items from the ROSSI line and explains, “I am excited to feature ROSSI’s products, and can see adding many more new products to the store in the future. ROSSI has some exciting and elegant materials for journal writers, creative artists and those who love to write on fine stationery.”

Visit: journalsandpapers to see the items for sale from ROSSI 1931 and other great writing products, including Cavallini & Co., Ted Gilmer handmade leather journals, and Compendium inspirational gift journals.

Well, I’ve purchased an iPad. And is it cool! The apps are as varied as the number of flowers in a flowerbed. Whatever you’d like can be downloaded to do many things. As a fiction and journal writer, nothing would do but to search out applications applicable to journal writing and publishing.

I found a couple: virtual notebooks and day timers that I downloaded. One is like an online scribbler, entries are flagged by dates. I found it easy to switch on the iPad, open the app and start writing. I can even email a copy to myself. It was fun, but it reminded me of something - and that was work.

I work on a computer all day, typing. The iPad is fun because it can be held on my lap and I can look up games, things to do on the internet, and read a book. But to keep a journal, to me is not quite right. It is great to jot notes, but I miss the personal feeling that comes with holding a pen and writing my inner most thoughts in a beautiful hard cover leather journal.

I feel electronic devices with journal writing applications have their purpose and are fun to use, but they can’t replace the real thing – like reading a book, or writing in a book. I hope that with the influx of new electronic devices that writers over time don’t forget the joy of pulling out a favourite, dog-eared journal, chewing on the end of a pen, and writing from the heart.

I’ve been pondering lately, whether a person can have too many journals, especially last night when I went looking for a journal I had used to write some personal thoughts and goals. I couldn’t remember where I had put the journal, but even worse than that, I couldn’t remember which journal I had even used. I wonder if I am the only person in this position, or if others have had the same problem?

Over the years I’ve managed to accumulate more than a fair share of journals. I have leather ones, and spiral ones, some inspirational types and some I received as gifts. The hardest time of the year for me is staying out of the stationery stores in August and September around the new school year. It’s amazing just how many new styles of journals and writing notebooks they come out with each year. Invariably I pick up a couple. I’ve even resorted recently to sneaking journals into the house.

Now I do keep all my unused journals in one spot. The problem arises when I grab a journal for a specific purpose - such as writing goals, or notes about some emotions I am dealing with. I journal in different areas of the house, or I may take journals with me and store them in a favorite bag or on a shelf for later use. It seems every writing subject requires a new journal, and herein lies the problem - I’ve got too many on the go.

I also don’t believe in ripping pages out of a journal I’ve started and attaching them to another journal, or rewriting the entries into other journals. To me, the writing style and it’s messiness or neatness goes along with the subject matter and the date the entry was written. I’ve come to realize though I may have to gather all my journals I’ve touched with entries into a box and label it “Journal Storage”. At least then I could flip through them all and find what I am looking for.

As for a solution to my problem, for me there isn’t one. I shall continue purchasing the cute, odd, beautiful-gift-type-of journals, writing specific subjects unique to the style of journal, even if it is only a few entries, and trying not to misplace them. I do believe a central spot of storage though would solve part of the problem.

If you like a different journal for every specific subject on your list, then check out my store at Journals and Papers. Perhaps I should sell storage boxes too!

Spring has arrived and so have two new product lines for www.journalsandpapers.com. Each journal line is Canadian made and has something truly unique to offer clients.

Re-cover Journals are hand-made in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The company offers a ‘novel’ concept (excuse the pun), with the journals covers bound from old book covers. “Re-cover Journals specialize in transforming used hardcover books into delightful and innovative journals“, explains this small, socially-conscious company that loves recycling. Each journal is unique and one-of-a-kind. Old books, destined for demise, are picked up at garage sales and flea markets, and the covers are used to make a hard cover journal, filled with 70 pages of 100 percent recycled blank paper. The journals are coil bound and have durability and strength, not to mention a quirky cover depending on the book choice. A great gift idea for someone wanting a unique journal.

Pebblestone Papery Journals are handmade in Calgary, Alberta Canada. These beautiful hand bound journals are covered in hand-screened, Japanese Chiyogami cover with a coordinating silk Japanese book cloth binding. “At Pebblestone Papery, we proudly create beautiful and unique stationery, combining lush, handmade papers with modern design.” says Veronica Stewart-Cameron, company founder. The smooth 120 (240 sides) lined ivory interior pages are ideal for ink or pencil. Available in a writing journal, there is also a blank page sketchbook or larger journal size. Both sizes are of archival quality and are acid free. These journals are sturdy and stand up to the elements, such as humidity and different environments, making them also a great travel journal.

Discover these new journals today at Journals And Papers, featuring quality journals and fine papers for the creative mind.

My dad loves to write anything under the sun.  He can go on the whole day just writing about anything that comes to mind, he finds a sense of fulfillment knowing that he didn’t miss any thoughts he had in mind and kept it in a journal.

That is why I was thrilled to find a nice assortment of fine leather journals at this online store. Since father’s day is just around the corner, I couldn’t think of a better gift than this to give to my dad who has a great passion for writing.

I like keeping something to write with on me, but I usually lose those tiny notebooks from drug stores and all my thoughts or notes to myself are lost forever.  Someone recommended that I try keeping writing journals on my person, so as not to lose them so easily.  I found this great journal with the phrase, “She decided to start living the life she’d imagined” emblazoned on its cover.  It’s a really cool book that I can fit into my back pocket or in my bag.  It’s memorable enough that I don’t think I’ll leave it at a store while I’m trying to write down a scarf that I may want to buy later. 

These days, I’m finding that it’s extremely helpful to keep track of my thoughts and goals in a journal.  It harkens back to my days as a young adult and while it may come off as juvenile, keeping a personal journal allows me to maintain my day-to-day life with great ease.

Eventually I came across the Achieve Every Day Journal, a simple, yet beautifully bound notebook.  I seldom have found hardcover journals that I like, either due to poor stitching or ugly cover designs, but Achieve has such an understated look that I’m not ashamed of taking my book out in public with me. 

When you go shopping for a pair of shoes, it takes time to find the right ones, with a comfortable fit, something that will last, and hold up considering wear and tear. Selecting a journal to write in can be the same depending on your needs.

You may wish to determine the type of journal you want, prior to purchasing one, or you might just fall in love with a journal the minute you pick it up. This is great if you are in a store and can touch the journal and look inside. Not all stores carry a vast selection of journals. You might prefer shopping online for that one special journal. If you do, then you may want to think about the type of journal you are looking for.

Here are a few questions to get you thinking about what the right journal might be for you:

• Are you looking for a simple notebook to jot ideas?
• Do you want a bound book that will travel with you for miles and miles, jostling in a backpack?
• Do you need something to write in when out in nasty weather (e.g. field notes)?
• What about a leather journal, small and compact, for your motorcycle tour?
• Perhaps you like your journal and want it to be refillable to add to it.
• Do you want to sketch in addition to writing your thoughts?
• Is your writing neater if contained on lined pages, or is scribbling on a blank page your style?
• Is the journal a gift? What type of journal would suit the recipient?
• Does size matter?

Another aspect of keeping a journal is to figure out if it will be archived - saved for years so that the grand children and great-grandchildren can enjoy your thoughts. A sturdy acid free journal would be beneficial in this case.

One consideration too is the cost. When purchasing a journal as a gift, you might be tempted to spend a little more money. If it’s for yourself, you might spend a little less. You might not care.

A journal doesn’t have to be anything more than a binder with some 3 hole punched sheets inside. Just as a pair of shoes need not be more that a pair of flip flops. But, there are those occasions where you want something a little nicer, a little sturdier, something which fits your style, thus enabling you to write with flare. If you are stepping out with style in a new pair of shoes, why not try stepping out with a new journal?