… and I'm not exactly sure how it turned out.
My perspective is gone. I wrestled those items that could possibly be made into a travel journal, however eccentrically conceived, into a form that may or may not be worthy to be called a travel journal, and I now lack the ability to assess the outcome.
Feel free to mock me in the comments!
I do love making little notebooks. The appeal of paper cannot be denied.
In the course of pinning inspiration to my Pinterest board, I realized that a conventional journal represents too much of a demand on me. I can't face up to all those blank pages and that uniform structure. I can't commit to being able to fill so many pages and no more, or to sure that all my thoughts and memories would live up to the imposition of a certain form.
But something flexible like what I started seeing around the ‘nets (and once again I will credit other people's real ingenuity for sparking my possibly lame interpretation) got me crafting.
Thus it came about that for Natasha this Christmas, I fell into the grip of an obsession to make a travel journal.
I can't explain these creative urges — they come over me all of a sudden, and the recipient just has to deal with the result. (A few years ago I decided that Sukie and Bridget had to have Mammy dolls. I don't even know if those are even politically correct (nor can I explain why those two had to have them, but not necessarily the others), but I had to make two. I spent hours — literally hours, possibly even days — looking for vintage rag doll patterns online. I cut. I sewed. I embroidered. They came out really adorable. Not sure if the girls really wanted them.)
Using the accumulated paper stash of a lifetime (also of my mother's lifetime; also of my father-in-law's lifetime if you count the stamps, which clearly you should), I put together something that hopefully won't feel constricting, although it might feel… random.
I also tried to incorporate some elements from Natasha herself — like her name from one of her cards, for which the lace didn't add exactly the embellishment I had hoped, after mod-podging it onto the plastic cover. And the yellow ribbon and monogram circle had wrapped her wedding favors (adorable greeting cards, naturally) after the reception.
The covers (which are sturdy plastic) and the printed pages are from an old planner/calendar (a kind I really liked and now don't see. The paper was of excellent quality and I made many notebooks out of its pages.)
And of course, there's always a place for vintage trim, monkey clips (Natasha loves monkeys! I think.),and whatever is handy.
Some of the maps I used were from the days when we had a National Geographic subscription. Do they still send out those unusual maps? I know that Germany is one country Natasha would like to revisit, so I included this tourist map, and of course, everyone needs to be street smart in New York. I chose not to bother with 16th century Spanish exploration or 18th century east-coast American development.
I used a lot of office supplies like binder rings, big paper clips, manila envelopes, glassine envelopes, cut-up file folders, and ledger paper. Things I just have lying around! Although: More glassine envelopes, STAT!
A hole punch and a paper cutter are essential (oh, I wish I had snagged Grandpa's old-school heavy-duty paper cutter! But where would I have put it?).
And can we just admit that the concept of a travel journal that includes such embellishments as possibly outdated hotel information, time zones, and business vocabulary — in this age of Apps and instant Googling — just might be superfluous?
However, Natasha, although well provided with the proper electronic equipment, really does appreciate paper. Hopefully this gift was something she could use — either on a future trip, or to document a past one. Anyway, she can get endless amusement out of how wacky my ideas are!
Emily says
I think the journal is a thing of beauty! I would love to receive such a gift. I love your creative use of things that you had around the house already. I am trying my hardest to adopt a similar crafting policy– use what I have!
Katherine says
It's beautiful!
Sarah says
Very fun! I collect both maps and more notebooks than I can possibly fill. Hmmm….
monica says
Your interpretation of a travel journal is simply delightful! I have saved a lifetime of similar items with the idea that one of these days I will make those over the top Creative Memories scrapbooks for my kids! Oh, how this weighs on me! The pressure is too much for me to bear! But I can see how my scattered tendencies, the momentos we have, and my vision will work with this idea of yours. Thank you so much for sharing this travel journal. I have so far avoided Pinterest (and Facebook). Looks like I must check out Pinterest. It's just that I spend too much time online as it is! Yikes!
Jamie says
Love it….but… I would REALLY like a shot of the mammy dolls!
That just might be too politically incorrect –it's one thing to make them but another to photograph them. Anyway, they are probably adorable!
Marilynn Elizabeth Arnold says
I have been collecting them for over 20 years. I just bought 2 in Cuba the first week of April.
Helene says
Hey that is a perfectly dandy travel journal and an extremely thoughtful gift….don't knock it!
Lori @ IMK,IML says
I really like it — I want to touch! Is she planning an actual trip soon, or is this just total mom-had-a-brain-wave?
_Leila says
Lori, if you visit Natasha's blog you will realize that she is always on the go! She probably needs a box of travel journals!
Sent from my iPhone
Lisa G. says
Yes, National Geographic still includes those maps! We have tons of them at the library, and I intend to hang onto them! Your idea is very nice, I think.
transcend423 says
Completely unrelated, but I have been reading through your lenten posts in preparation for this year and I have a question. My oldest is three (4 in May)… is she old enough to observe the fast days? By this, I mean can her body handle only hot cross buns and cheese all day? And I suppose it won't harm my milk supply for nursing the 7 month old? My husband and I are newcomers to all of this!
_Leila says
Read about what the Church requires regarding fasting and abstinence here:
http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/activities/view.cfm?id13
For young children the idea is to just learn to do without cookies and candy and otherwise to tame the desires. But of course, one can't harm a growing body, and nursing moms have plenty to give up without jeopardizing their milk with fasting.
transcend423 says
that is a very helpful source! Thank you. I love learning so much from you and your daughters. I am so excited for us to begin our “collective memory”.
Margo says
Leila, seriously, you have an iPhone?? I don't know why I'm shocked.
I love how you explain your creative urges 🙂 I always try to trace mine – why? why? I want to just leap in and scratch the itch the way you do. I loved this post. It made me laugh – and it made me want to get out my papers and stamps and play too. I adore stamps.
justamouse says
NOTHING beats paper. It's magical. I am lost when I start thumbing through my grandparent's travel journals. No google apps will ever take the place of seeing my nana's and papa's handwriting on those pages.
sarah says
Lovely idea!
Donna Jannuzzi says
You have no idea how happy it makes me to see you paper crafting! Love this travel journal, I think it is perfect. =)
gian says
very creative 🙂
Susan says
I am a travel journal fiend, love them – gotta always have one with me – and I love this creation of yours. The fact that it features my home state of Alaska on the cover is just icing on the cake!!! well done, you.
Kathleen Jaeger says
I love this travel journal! I, too, love paper. Would love to be traveling and also have a fascination for maps. Thanks for sharing! One day someone I know may receive a similar item when I am overcome with the creative urge.
Mave says
Beautiful journal! The diary pages you used are from a teNeues spiral bound – I love them too. You can get them from Amazon in all manner of themes. I get the Nat Geog one every year for the beautiful pictures as well as the perfect diary layout and lovely thick paper.
Jennifer says
I love this!! I love to travel and hope to inspire adventure in my little people. This seems like a great way! Thanks for some wonderful inspiration.
mamabearjd says
I think it turned out great! The Mammy doll story is cute. I like how you say things you do are possibly lame (even though they aren't).
Betsy M says
The journal is beautiful Leila. You have given me inspiration for a gift for my sister. I just love how you incorporated all of the papers and stamps. Just beautiful. My Mom always used to say that you should follow through with the internal urges (cleaning, crafting or baking or such) because you never know when they will come again and you get more done when you WANT to do it. I also would LOVE to see pictures of those dolls. My older girls want to make a rag doll (currently reading Little House on the Prairie again) for their younger sister's birthday.
Oh say, do you have any ideas on organizing paper items such as you used there? Do you have a file or such? I am currently trying to organize my house and paper craft items are flustering me.
Mrs. Fordyce says
I think your travel journal is lovely, and if you were ever to offer them for sale, I would buy one. My travel journal from my pilgrimage four years ago is a Moleskin, so stuffed to the brim it will not stay closed. The metal rings on the one you made make it possible for her to cram it full of mementos and pictures.
CarlynB says
I love the journal, especially the maps. I remember playing with National Geographic maps when I was a little girl. I'd spread the map out on top of my bed and “travel” all over the world.
I've just gotten interested in Pinterest, but I'm not quite sure I understand how it works.
Mary Ellen Barrett says
This is really lovely, such a charming and heartfelt gift.
BethanneB says
I have often pondered the idea of gift. For instance, is it really a gift if someone didn't think to themselves, “I want a travel journal” and then you gave them one? Or a doll, if they didn't think to want that kind of doll? But it seems to me that it captured you–your interest, your creativity, your energy and time. That all of those things produced a something: a beautiful journal, a doll…that's all gravy or icing on the cake or whatever topping you choose. A huge part of the gift is the fact that you've communicated yourself in love to someone you love–that's the part that makes it a treausre because she could never receive this from any other person in the whole wide world. Beautiful.
_Leila says
Yes, Bethanne, you express it well. I am not actually gift-oriented. I *always second-guess my offering, even if it has been specifically asked for!
Natasha says
I LOVED my journal and so appreciated all the thought and love that went into it. I'm excited to use it! I really don't know how you do all that you do 😉
_Leila says
It always helps to have a loving recipient! 🙂 I highly recommend to you timid crafters to get yourselves some sweet giftees 🙂
Sent from my iPhone
Moira says
I love it! It is exactly the sort of present that would delight my heart – handmade with the loves of the receiver in mind!
I want to see the dolls!!!Pretty please!
Deirdre says
I love it too, although I agree that it is somewhat random. But it looks really fun and it looks like it was a TON of fun to make! I wish I had all those materials around…
Joyful says
I think you did a beautiful job and have made something I would like to use on my travels.
rebecca u says
In awe of your craftiness! Coolest travel journal I've ever seen!
Pam says
I so love your travel journal! I think it would be fun to make something like this to put in our little truck camper to record our warm weather adventures (can hardly wait for Spring to arrive in Colorado). You created a truly personal and fun journal – very nice! Thanks for the inspiration….
miztres says
I really love this idea for a travel journal. I want to share it with some teenagers I work with at a Sydney public library and I'ld love permission to use the first image (of the front cover) in paperwork. Would that be okay?
_Leila says
Miztres, I would be honored!
miztres says
Added with a reference to your site. Thanks again.