steveb leatherworks: the blather

As if you havent figured it out by now, I like my words. I like words in general, but i especially like my words…lol. I always carry a journal with me, to capture thoughts, take notes when i am in a meeting and in general, to make me look smarter than I am. For many years I have exclusively carried Moleskine journals.  They are the best, hands down. You can spend more money on “organic paper, hemp stitched, preservative free inks, etc., but you will not find better in terms of a Journal. I go through about 2 of these a year and always have ’em in my bag. One of the reasons I like Journals is because you can save them and keep a record, unlike pads.

Some time back (years ago) I was in a fancy pants gift store on the Cape with the Boss, that was selling all sorts of rich-folk gifty trinkets and happened upon a display of “specialty hand-made leather goods”. This stuff was rough in its design, crude by its construction and all in all,  not very well done (by my standards) – but it sure was pricey. Amongst the stuff they were selling was a collection of journal covers. These were made of “chap sides” – a soft and plongy leather, the bottom of the barrel quality wise. To boot, these covers were crudely stitched with fat latigo lace. The paper journals in these covers was ok, but not really made for ink, these were more for pencil sketching. For $400, these were useless and poorly done (in my opinion) and waay overpriced, but they sold, related the  storekeeper.

Well, the seed was planted. I thought to myself, I need to slap a cover on my trusty Black covered Moleskine journal. It took about a year for me to finally get to it and I made myself a prototype (this was about a year ago), which I carried up until today when i made myself a new one. I like the design I came up with and am going to roll with it, the design has stood the test of time and has seen some refinements based on daily use for a year+.. This is one of the first of a series I will be producing. This series (all with the same crazy turquoise leather as a liner) has a limited edition of four Journal Covers and all are already spoken for.

I am taking orders for the next Series of four, so if you carry a journal – consider this – you’ll ALWAYS be able to find a refill (Moleskine’s have been around for more than 100 years) and you’ll wear out before this cover does – it is made with my usual Grade A veg tan, same as my wallets and belts. Also looks classy in a corporate setting to show up with this distinctive nugget rather than be seen carrying a free schwag pad, or clipboard with someone else’s logo on it. Let me know if your game – a stamped journal cover is $250 and includes a Journal to get you started.

I am looking to do one more series of four before the New Year, so if you want one – move fast!

This particular Journal Cover has a very deep and distinctive stamping pattern with my trademark pebbling treatment. This “honeycomb” Cover is as good to hold in the hand as it is to look at, featuring a  complex coloration of reds and browns that looks different depending on the lighting. Made of 6oz Veg Tan and lined with chrome tanned leather, it is heirloom quality and will last a lifetime. A low profile birdcage snap insures that you can let this journal lie flat on a table and comfortably write on both sides of the page.  Every detail has been considered.