I love that feeling when you see a design and want to slap yourself in the forehead for not thinking of it yourself. You are changed, you never quite see that thing the same way again. This is how I felt when I saw these notebooks that make the closing clever – (my exact thoughts were “wow….. duh”)
via notcot - looks like they are available here, but the sites in Japanese. It’s the idea that counts!
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Came across these wonderful idea notebooks on Etsy and had to feature them – they would make me want to live up to their titles. Screen printed by hand and eco-friendly by KatieBlairDesigns.
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Field Notes: Red Blooded from Coudal Partners on Vimeo.
Field Notes have added a new, red notebook to our standard product line and just in time for Valentines Day. Check out the sweetest creative video. RED BLOODED is printed by hand on a vintage Miehle vertical press at Flywheel Letterpress (Freeport, Ill.) on “Electric Red” Construction cover stock from the French Paper Co. (Niles, Mich.).
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Love this idea for a notebook from thinkofthe.com – I can imagine teenagers (and me) loving this. 
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If you are a regular reader you know I have a notebook obsession (and a subscription to Field Notes) but these caught my eye. Beautifully simple notebooks with small embossed numbers on them (they come in packs of twelve) and are packaged as sliced bread. Yes really. $59.09 for 12 from Pukka/Dank (via uncrate)
These would make a great journal or just notebooks to carry around.
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The winner of the notebook from last week’s contest is Julia (as in “That’s a good idea Julia”).
I just couldn’t decide between the entries so they all went into a hat (or at least a box) and I drew one out.
We should do this again sometime. Thank you all for playing.
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Don’t forget to enter to win a handmade book, with whatever you want written on the cover.
You have until midnight tonight CST to enter. MORE DETAILS HERE
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You’ve read how we make personalized books (previous post) so now (in the first ever prize given away on this blog) you can win your own book. Leave a comment telling me what you would write on a book and someone will win one. I’m going to pick the one that makes me go awww or laugh or maybe put all the great entries into a hat.
Deadline for entries is Wednesday 23rd November 2011 at midnight CST.
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I have been asked many times over the last few weeks how I make my personalized books for my Etsy store. I’m always willing to share my ideas and I thought it would be easier to show you then tell you…
(further instructions are at the bottom of the post)
For the chance to win your own book click here.
1. Design the cover. I use InDesign but you could use word. Design or print in reverse.
2. Print it out onto tracing paper.We find that black doesn't print well, but other colors are fine!
3. We then run it through a Xyron Sticker Maker - this coats the underside completely with sticky stuff (see info below)
4. Now it will stick to any material you want to use as your book cover. The printing is protected because it's on the reverse side
5. Roughly trim. You will cut it to size once it is stuck down. (Make sure you have included cut marks in your original print)
6. Peel off the page and stick it down onto your cover stock. Carefully. Smooth it out as you stick it down. You don't want any air bubbles.
7. Now trim it to the finished size. We use a craft knife (or scapel) and a rule. Much better than scissors.
8. Using a binding machine, punch the holes in the cover, back cover and other pages. Don't try to punch everything at once.
9. Line it all up and prepare to bind. Cut the binding wire to the right length. (Follow the instructions on the binding machine)
10. And you are done! Enjoy the book. It took us a while to work out this system. Don't worry if your first book isn't perfect.
I hope this explains the steps well enough. Please ask any questions you have, they will help everyone. You will obviously need: Card for the cover and back cover. Tracing paper. A printer. A Xyron Sticker Maker* 
Don’t forget to enter to win one of your own!
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Yesterday on Facebook a couple of people commented on the School of Visual Arts post and said they would need something to write ideas down in the shower… I promised to share what I used (yes, I really do have a notepad and pencil in the shower)…
I have used Aqua Notes since they first arrived on the scene (or in the shower). They are simple, can get soaking wet without it affecting the writing on the paper (you can even write underwater if you must) and are easy to rip off and take with you. They are also recyclable, environmentally friendly, and printed with soy-based ink (and no, they don’t pay me to say any of this) Bath time is now the best thinking time!
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My first package from Field Notes
If you go to some people’s houses they have enough canned goods to last them through a hurricane, alien invasion, or apocalypse of some kind. It makes them feel safe. I don’t judge, I have the same need – mine is for notebooks. If, by some strange turn of fate, notebooks stopped being produced I would be OK for the next few years. Not to mention the one’s I make myself (see the esty store link over there)>>>>>
Yes, I do have an Ipad, a powerbook, and endless technology, but nothing beats doodling an idea on the pages of a little notebook. I have gone through many phrases of notebooks but at the moment I’m in love with Field Notes. – they are perfectly sized. Small enough to fit in a pocket or small bag and to get the pleasure of starting a new notebook (that’s always a good day) on a regular enough basis while being big enough to draw and write-in easily
I love this company and everything they do, so I signed up for the subscription – over the year I will be automatically sent 30 books – every quarter I will be running to the post box! (This is not a paid endorsement, they are just a really cool company).
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