paper talisman

I’ve been searching for a very specific soulmate notebook for a long time. I wanted a notebook that had enough capacity both in physical page count and as an energetic container, charged with magic from the natural world and woven intentions in the making process, rather than just being manufactured as a commercial product. I wanted to be able to write with any pen, including fountain pens, and I wanted the paper to feel sturdy enough for drawing. I also REALLY wanted the pages to lie flat when opened. I wanted it to feel good both aesthetically and in tactile experience.

It’s so interesting. I’ve been in the “notebook” business for 16 years, and I just couldn’t find what I was looking for. So one day, I woke up and told Frido that I was just going to try making one. The way this notebook ended up looking was a bit of an accident, as I was following a binding tutorial halfway through and started taking detours as I saw the process unfold. (I should have warned myself that I am NEVER good at following directions, even with my best attempt. The rebel in me just wants to try another way just in case.)

I finished making it shortly before I left for Japan last weekend with a little finishing touch of foiling and embossing by Frido. I debated bringing this on this trip since I just finished making it and wasn’t sure if I would like using it… But in lieu of my trying a few other BK prototype samples on this trip, I figured, “Why not?” So far, I am in love with this notebook. It’s a bit on the heavy side, but I can literally open it and write anywhere, anytime.

My nickname for this special notebook is “守りがみ (mamori-gami)”, which I loosely translate as “paper talisman”. In Japanese, “Mamoru” means to protect, and “Gami (or kami)” can mean both paper and guardian spirit. It feels fitting, as I nowadays think of my notebook as my inner-world shrine.

I’m grateful for its steady companionship on this journey, whether I’m waiting during transit, hiking through the forest, or doodling at home to wind down from the day… and I’m looking forward to experimenting more once I get home in the canyon in a few days:)