Friday, August 28, 2015

Traveler's Notebooks

I have been journaling for quite some time and I wasn't introduced to traveler's notebooks until this past winter in 2014/2015. I know there is a huge traveler notebook community and planners are becoming a huge thing lately. The original, Midori Traveler's Notebook, originated in Japan. The original comes in standard and passport sizes. Lately, traveler's notebooks have becoming popular for a variety of things. It's a great system once you start using it.

What's a Midori Traveler's Notebook?

The Midori Traveler's Notebook is essentially a piece of leather that is folded in half to create a cover. This simple piece of leather has a vertical elastic strap down the center of the spine that holds paper inserts. There is a tin clasp that holds the strap into place. There is also an elastic loop that secures the notebook together. The traveler's notebook comes with a bookmark cord and there are a bunch of inserts you can purchase. The original Midori comes with the traveler's notebook, ones blank insert, an extra elastic loop and a thin cloth bag. The Midori Traveler's Notebook is a minimalist system and is easy to customize.

What's a Fauxdori?

Fauxdoris have been quite popular lately and there are a quite a few vendors on Etsy that make homemade fauxdoris. A fauxdori is a traveler's notebook crafted by artisans. The great thing about fauxdoris is the customization; you can customize the cover however you like. You can choose the color and type of the leather (or fabric or vinyl), the number and color of outer elastics, the number and color of the inner elastics, the size and you can personalize your fauxdori with embossing, stitching, pockets and inscriptions.

Why should you purchase a traveler's notebook?

With YouTube videos, blog posts and Facebook groups, there is so much love for this wonderful notebook. What I love is that you can customize your traveler notebook in so many ways. You can choose the cover, the elastics, the inserts and the setup of your traveler notebook. There are different sizes you can pick from to suit your every day needs. Some people have one notebook but others will have several and will use them for different things. All your thoughts can be compiled into one notebook and it will help streamline your life.

What can you do with a traveler's notebook?

Art | drawing, painting, coloring, scrapbooking
Brain Dump | reminders, lists, notes
Budget | expense tracker, couponing log, payment deadlines, online shopping log, gift buying log
Health and Fitness | recipes, water intake, exercise log, meal planning, medication tracker
Home | address book, cleaning schedule, babysitting log, shopping lists, pet log
Inspiration and Motivation | quotes, prayer, ideas, personal development, focus, reflection, goals
Journaling | daily, travel, dream, time capsule, gratitude, project, hobby, bullet journal
Planner | monthly calendar, day-to-day, weekly, to-do-lists, party planner, baby planner, wedding planner, teacher planner, work planner, student planner, blog planner
Puzzles and Games | sudoku, crossword 
Reviews | book, movie, music, wine, restaurant, etc.
Travel | itinerary, road trip
Wallet

My Traveler's Notebooks

My first traveler's notebook is the original standard size brown Midori Traveler's Notebook. I also have a second one which is a custom made standard sized one from 3 Speckled Fawns. Before buying a traveler's notebook, I used to use regular bound journals and notebooks to write in. I love how the traveler's notebook is easily customizable and how I can swap out inserts whenever I please. I am also fond of the feel, look and smell of the leather covers. I am also a big fan of keeping several inserts together in one place. The traveler's notebook has helped me organize my life and my thoughts.


Definitely check out the links below for more information about traveler's notebooks and the accessories.

Favorite blog posts and YouTube videos about traveler's notebooks include the following:

Jet Pens' Midori Traveler's Notebook Comprehensive Guide
Pretty Neat Living's Show and Tell: Traveler's Notebooks video
So Obsessed With's My Foxy Dori & Other Favorites
So Obsessed With's Guide to Faux Doris: The Inserts
So Obsessed With: Guide to Faux Doris: The Cover
Stuff & Things Midori Traveler's Notebook Review video

Where to buy Midori Traveler's Notebooks and Inserts
Amazon
Baum-Kuchen
Goulet Notebooks and Inserts
Jet Pens
Maido

Where can you buy a Fauxdori?
3 Speckled Fawns
Buteo Bunker
FoxyFix
Chic Sparrow
ImperfectlyPerfekt's Keelindoris
Lyra and Co (Cloth) 
Onica Hanbury Studio
Ray Blake's Raydori
Tough Old-Boots 
Zenok Leather
ZLYC

Favorite Insert Brands
Frasizzle.Made
Homemade Craft
Lyra and Co
Papier My Day
The Planner Emporium
Tumbuckle Design
Taroko Shop
YellowPaperHouse

Favorite Sticker Vendors

Hello Ashleyann Prints
It's Planning Time
Jet Pens
Kitten Plans
Station Stickers
Paperbey
The Planner Junkie Inc.
Pretty Sheepy
That Moxie Chick Studio
Whimisical Flamingo Co. 

Favorite Stamp Vendors
Ms. Kimm Creates Stamps
Mommy Lhey Designs
Studio l2e
Sweet Stamp Shop
Waffle Flower

Favorite Accessories
Bookmarks | Handmademits, R H Mohler
Dashboards | Hobby Lane Designs 
Folders | Onica Hanbury Studio

Facebook Traveler's Notebook Groups 
Inserts, Inserts, Inserts for Traveler's Notebooks 
Midori Traveler's Notebook Resources

Looking for a planner instead?
Day Designer
Emily Ley Simplified Planner
Erin Condren Life Planner
Inkwell Press LiveWELL Planner
Passion Planner
Plum Paper Designs

3 comments:

  1. Great roundup post Nicole. I have become partial to the ZLYC brand of refillable notebooks from Amazon. I was skeptical at first but I really like having a calendar notebook to track various productivity/blog reminders and also a generic to do/reminder/reference notebook. I like that I can refill instead of starting from scratch too. Best of all for me is that the notebook holds a ton while still being lighter than traditional notebooks. I'm still feeling pretty lucky that I stumbled upon Hannah's blog post about it and was inspired to investigate.

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    1. Thanks, Emma. When I first heard about them, I was skeptical at first probably because I didn't understand the concept of a refillable notebook. Hannah's posts are excellent! They are definitely some of my favorite posts about the traveler's notebook.

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  2. I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post. Best Leather Notebooks

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