I am currently putting together a fantastic giveaway for followers. You must be a follower of my blog. It will include stickers (some REALLY cool ones), stamps, pens, YellowPaperHouse inserts, charms for your Dori, and other goodies...keep watching for it. One random follower will be selected for this great package of Traveler Notebook supplies. 
I will be posting it this weekend.
DIY Tutorial for a Monkey's Fist Knot Bookmark
This bookmark is floating around on the internet for use in TN's.
The picture is a stock photo of the knot I am talking about. In the tutorial MyLifeMits puts little weighted balls in the knot to give it a little heft and staying power. She also used leather cord rather than paracord. If you do a google image search you will see variations on the bookmark. Her tutorial, found here is really good. She also gives a list of supplies ~ which is very short....enjoy!
Size Guide for Traveler's Notebook Covers and Inserts
On Morgan Le Fae's Trinkets blog, she just posted a size guide for covers and inserts...this question comes up all the time. The nice thing is the guide is in standard and metric measurements....you can find it here.
Lamy vs Kaweco Fountain Pens
I love fountain pens, I love the feel, the way they write, the flow of ink on the paper, the variety of colors of inks. I even love how fast they use up the ink! My two favorite fountain pens are the Lamy Safari and the Kaweco Skyline Sport
~ both in medium nib. However, they feel very different in my hand.
The Lamy has a 'seat' for your fingers to ensure you always hold it correctly for the perfect writing experience....it's very good for those who are using a fountain pen for the first time. I've used them for years and it is still my go-to pen, I love how long and graceful it feels in my hand. I have the Safari in Pink, which apparently is now a limited edition color.
My other favorite is the Kaweco Skyline Sp
ort. This is a very compact pen, as you can see in the pictures. The pen has a screw-on lid and the lid fits securely on the end of the pen when you are writing. I find putting the lid on the pen end necessary when I write with the pen because the pen is so small otherwise.
Both pens write exceptionally well, no skipping or puddling of ink and neither of them leak on my hand. Changing cartridges is very easy as well. I have a converter for the Lamy which I rarely use as I find converters a very messy business. The Lamy currently sells on Jetpens for $28, the Kaweco is $23.75. I know it seems like a lot of money for a pen however, I find writing in my TN with a fountain pen to be a rather meditative experience and feel the cost of having something so perfect and sublime in my hand to be totally worth the money.
Blog Planning Insert for the TN
I'm pretty new to the blog world and realized very quickly as I was planning the blog that I needed to organize my ideas (I have a zillion of them), publish date goals, resources for each post etc. I created a very basic TN insert for this specific purpose. It isn't complicated and can easily be printed out, covered and stapled into an insert. You can download it here if you would like a copy of it. It is formatted for the regular size TN. You will need to crop it as with almost all printable insert files. Enjoy! Inserts I am in the process of creating:
- Family History
- Gardening
- Recipes
- Book/Movie Reviews
- Health Record
- Wine Log
- Knitting/Recipe
- Gratitude
Keep checking back for new inserts, they will be posted on the free download page.
52 Different Uses for Your Traveler's Notebook
I've seen a lot of people asking about ideas for using their TN's. I've been compiling a list of ways you can use it. Some are self explanatory.....most won't fit your needs but maybe some of these will ring a bell for you! Enjoy!
- Blog - Keeping it up, starting a new one, ideas for one
- Planner - Work schedule, appointments, tasks, projects
- Travel - Where you want to go, where you've been, pictures, paper ephemera
- Baby - Your pregnancy, baby's first year, baby care for babysitter
- Cooking - Recipes, great meals, recipe ideas, learning a new skill
- Pets - Taking care of your pet, pets you want, names, medical care
- House Remodel - Who your contractors are, plans, problems, schedules
- Job Hunt - Companies you want to apply to, skills to highlight, interview questions, networking
- Scrapbooking Ideas - Resources, websites, supplies, ideas, page designs
- Books To Read - Authors to follow, reading/book blogs, great books you've read
- Family - Family care, medical care for each member, stats for clothing purchases, school needs, food likes/dislikes/allergies, birthday/holiday present ideas
- Movies - You want to see, you've seen, reviews, favorite actors/actresses
- Wine - Favorite wines, upcoming wines, inventory in rack/cellar
- Medical Diary - Health care, specialists, diagnosis, medications, procedures
- Craft Projects - Websites, supply list/needs, project pages
- Writing Ideas - For blogs, books, articles you are writing
- Sewing Projects - Patterns, sources for materials, supplies, sketches of design ideas
- Knitting Projects - Patterns, sources for materials, supplies, sketches of design ideas
- Exercise/Marathon/Workout Plan - Accomplishments, weights, schedule, races
- Diary - Daily diary
- Dreams - Dream Interpretation
- Sketchbook
- Disneyland Trip - Plans, rides, hotels, food, packing for it, tickets
- Camping Plans - Campgrounds, food planning, supplies, dates
- Your Boat - Repairs, trips, upkeep
- Your Business Plans - New ideas, growth, hiring, resources, needs, repairs
- The Beach
- Fashion and Makeup
- Finances - Bill paying schedule, goals, investments, savings, stock, credit card paydown schedule
- Your History - Writing down your life history for your family and children
- Gratitude - At least three things you are grateful for each day
- One Good Deed a Day - Do one good thing a day and record it
- Note Taking for School
- Quotes - Favorite quotes, what they mean to you
- One line a Day - In a year you will have an amazing snapshot of your life
- Spiritual/Faith - Prayer Journal, spiritual goals, yoga, meditation
- Wedding - Plans, dress, reception, ceremony, vows, shower, bridesmaid/groomsmen plans, food
- Weight Loss/Food Diary
- Dating Ideas with Your Partner - Special memories, where you want to go, restaurants
- Your Bucket List
- Hobby Journal - Resources, ideas, pictures, progress
- Your YouTube Channel - plans, videos, schedules
- Photos/Instagram
- Your Garden - Planting schedule, goals, harvest, best/worst crops
- Home Decorating Projects
- Astrology
- Inspiration - for goals, life, hobbies, children, family, parenting, food, exercise
- Your Politics
- Doomsday Prepper - Supplies, locations, emergency bugout plan
- Elder Care - Medications, drs, appointments, therapies, foods
- Tea
- Family Traditions - So your children, grandchildren know what they are and why
The Traveler's Notebook....42 different sites for all your Notebook Needs!
I get asked all the time where I got my planner. I go to meetings and trainings and it becomes a topic of conversation. Then the conversation naturally turns to…where did you get______ that you put inside it. I decided to take a day and compile all the resources I know of for my planner aka FoxyDori and here they are. First, most importantly, is my cover. There are many covers out there, the two I am using currently are both FoxyDori. Kelly Strong-Marco owns the shop and makes them herself. A good cover is the jumping off point for anything you want to do with your planner. I know there are other traveler's notebook covers out there. Some people may prefer a more flexible cover, I like the leather firm, it provides structure and support for the elastic that holds the inserts in.
Next comes the inserts. I can’t possibly cover every single resource out there for the paper inserts. Many are DIY (do it yourself) printables and many are pre-made. Some of my favorite pre-mades (all Etsy Shops) are:
2. May Designs
3. Molsmum
5. MarsiaBramucci (she has DIY but will also print them for you)
6. KiddyQualia
7. OnicaHanby
This is, by no means, an exhaustive list, there are many more sites out there that sell pre-made inserts. A simple search on Etsy or Google will give you a huge list. Of course you can also purchase inserts from Midori as well.
DIY inserts are as plentiful as the pre-made ones. DIY inserts do require you to cut and bind them yourself. This is usually stapling, although some people get fancy and sew them together. You can find a lot of YouTube videos on putting printable inserts together. My favorite Etsy shops that sell DIY’s are:
8. AndreaGomoll
10. JaneDIY
11. DIYfish
12. Essikulnserts
14. ButeoBunker (he also sells pre-made)
15. PapierMyDay.
Again, this is not an exhaustive list. There are many more on Etsy. Additionally, MorganLeFaesTrinkets has a blog and FREE printables you can download. I use a couple of them in my blog Dori…they are great.
Once you have your inserts figured out then you will want to accessorize…that can mean stickers, folders, stamps, pens, charms, clips…your imagina
tion is the only limit. Here is a list of some resources, again hardly exhaustive. My favorite go-to shops are
16. JetPens
17. MochiThings
18. SeeJaneWork
19. GirlofAllWork,
20. HappieScrappie.
21. AlexStudios
22. Yoobi
23. GouletPen
24. OliBlock
25. 3SpeckledFawns
26. LadyendeVagehond
27. MyPaperShoppe
28. OllieEmily
30. StickersKingdom
31. PrettyTape
32. CharlottesWeb86
I have a zillion pens, pens are my thing. My favorite pens however, are:
33. Lamy
34. Kaweco
35. Pilot
36. these Tombow pencils (love the color)
37. this Zebra Mini ballpoint pen
38. this Pilot mechanical pencil (again the color...)
39. these Pilot erasable pens
40. These Pilot Maica fine point pens (you can buy individual pens)
41. this Sharpie for writing on stickers and washi tape.
42. JetPens just posted these...a really nice alternative to Sharpies....
I know there are MANY more resources out there for Traveler's Notebooks...please feel free to list yours in the comments if they aren't here! Stay tuned for Part II....compiling another list of the best DIY sites for instructions on making folders, inserts and more.
The Amazing Technology of the Traveler's Notebook
You are probably wondering what the 'technology' of the traveler's notebook could be since it is just leather, cord, and paper....lots of paper. I've tried just about every planner out there and almost every planner 'app' as well. I stumbled across the brand 'Midori' a while ago. Being someone who likes lots of color in her life, the Midori brand didn't cut it for me....but I really liked the idea of flexibility in the TN. No planner will work if it isn't used or it is used minimally...then it is just a stack of paper bound by leather. I found a shop on Etsy that made colored TN's by hand to order.
Once I had the FoxyDori in my hands I new I had found the technology I was looking for to pull the different parts of my life together in to one neat amazing bundle. Wikipedia states the definition of technology is: from Greek τέχνη, techne, "art, skill, cunning of hand"; and -λογία is the collection of techniques, methods or processes used in the production of goods or services or in the accomplishment of objectives. That definition fits my Dori perfectly because daily I am able to accomplish my objectives with the help of this tactile leather cover enveloping my dreams, goals, tasks, quotes, recipes, blog ideas and appointments. If you use a planner...mosey over to Kelly's shop on Etsy, FoxyDori and check out what she makes. She doesn't know I'm telling you about her but you will love what she does...I guarantee it....and you will have a new home for your dreams and goals. If you don't want color or her cover isn't exactly what you are looking for a quick search of Traveler's Notebook, Midori, FauxDori on google or Etsy will help you find other variations.