The makings of a Field Guide SmashBook Journal

 A storm is building outside today and it's the perfect opportunity to  stay warm and cozy inside finishing up this nature journal. I always love putting this journal together. There are so many special little details tucked away inside.  Today I finally made my first YouTube video so you can watch a flip through of this book.

Outgoing Etsy Mail

 

  Just shipped out a personalized U.S. Road Trip notebook refill. It's always fun to go through and add in the special details and little surprises for each customer. Somebody's Traveler's Notebook will be getting a fun new addition.

 This refill was centered around the Smoky Mountain's and Tennessee.  My husband and I lived in North Carolina right near the Smoky Mountains for a little over a year.  So I have lots of inspiration and memories to pull from...

 

It's interesting too because that year in the mountains was my first year keeping a journal and the beginning of my journey into bookmaking.

 

 

 

 

 

After six months with the Weekly Midori Planner is it a keeper? The Good, the bad and the ugly...

After six months with the Midori weekly planner I discovered there are some things I loved about it and others I would have changed... In the future I will be making my own but using this was a great way to learn what works for me and what doesn't. So let me tell you all about the good, the bad, and the ugly.

I purchased the Midori weekly + Grid planner from Goulet Pens for $12.60 plus shipping. By the way Goulet Pens is an awesome company that makes every purchase feel like you are opening a gift. 

The Specs: This refill for the regular size Midori Traveler's Notebook measures 11cm x 21cm (approximately 4.33in x 8.25in), and contains 32 sheets (64 pages) of ivory fountain pen friendly MD paper. Binding is stitched. A diary in weekly format without dates.

Overall, this planner is worth purchasing and using! It's thoughtfully made of quality products and is in a useful format. The paper is an ivory color and lightweight but holds up well to fountain pens.

 

 

My big pet peeves with this planner are:

1. It only holds six months so you will have to purchase two if you want your entire year covered. That will cost around $25.00 plus shipping costs depending on where you purchase it from.  


2. I would have liked a 2pg monthly spread instead of the columnar months crammed together. I ended up creating my own monthly layout and adding it in with washi tape

 

This is the Monthly layout offered in the Midori Refill

 
I created my own monthly insert and added it in by applying washi tape to either side.

 

Now I have a two page monthly spread as well as the weekly

 

3. They only offer the refill in green

 

 

 

  So while I enjoyed using this refill, in the future I will be making my own. A full year that's only 40 pages. It's a combination of weekly + grid, monthly layout, and grid section for notes. I can design the cover to whatever I like and I will be using Tomoe River Paper for mine. I will be posting these in my Etsy Shop for anyone interested.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well I hope this little review has helped you make a decision if this product is for you or not.

 

Thanks for stopping by and if you have any questions, thoughts or suggestions , please feel free to leave a comment.