Pocket Sized Travelers Journals

Here are some pictures of Pocket sized travelers journals that I have made in the past:

This is one of the first little ones I've made and I use it for myself. The button has a little heart on it and it just makes me happy:

Here are four that I made as additional gifts for the director and assistant director from "Pack of Lies":

And one I made for a swap:

Thanks for looking! You can find y tutorial for how I make these here: https://kaisa-reinikka.blogspot.com/2019/06/pocket-sized-travelers-journal-tutorial.html

Teesha Moore Inspired Patch Doll

This past Summer I was in a swap where we were charged with making a doll of our partners. Why on earth I joined I'm still not sure! I would never consider myself a doll-maker.... but I jumped in at the last minute thinking I would make a fancy paper doll but then had second thoughts. After many sketches, templates, research, hair pulling, research, overwhelming thoughts of "why did I join this swap??!?", more sketches, more research, a hurried purchase of a blank doll form on etsy, and finally a flash of inspiration! I made this:

She is a TM style patchwork doll. I drafted a simple pattern for the head, body, arms, and legs. Went through my stash of fabric and picked out all the ones that I thought represented my partner (her love of nature and writing stood out the most). Then matched the fabrics up and decided where each one would go and got to cutting.

I was originally going to make her one-sided but then I decided to double up on the pieces because I wanted the back side fabrics to be pretty too! So I made two of everything and stitched them back-to-back before putting the doll together (except the I put part of the neck into the body before stitching it together). Here's her back:

The edge of the head is done opposite to all the other patches; the raw edge is turned to the back instead of the front to give her a nicer/more polished look. Her face was a challenge! I started and re-started a few times... but I think I finally gave her some nice eyes and mouth :)

I gave her some button joints:

 And then I got to work on the HAIR, so... much... hair...!!!

When she was complete I had a little extra time and made her a mini travelers journal as well :)

I used two little TM patches from my stash. I cut a rectangle of fabric big enough to hold them together and be the lining for the inside (and hide the backside of the patches). The pages are made from envelopes rescued from the recycling 

And finally, here she is with her book

Thanks for looking! 

Pocket Sized Travelers Journal - Tutorial

This tutorial is for a pocket sized travelers journal. Similar to the midor-style journals I posted most recently, but smaller. This is my method, please feel free to copy and/or modify for making your own.

For the pocket size I use notebooks that are 5" x 3 1/2" (I bought a pack on Amazon). This journal will fit four nicely.

Supplies needed:

~ Cardstock cut to 7 3/4" x 5 1/4"

~ Fabric for spine cut to 2 1/2" x 6"

~ Fabric for front and back cut to 5 1/2" x 6" (cut two)

~ Mini eyelets. For this tutorial I use 6

~ Elastic cord

~ Optional button

~ Surger (or modify for a sewing machine)

~ Thread

~ Iron (optional)

Here we go! 

Step 1: 

Fold cardstock twice at 3 5/8" in from each side

This is what I found works best for the notebooks I use, you can see they fit perfectly in between the folds:

Step 2: 

Punch holes in the cardstock for eyelets. I use my Crop-o-Dile smallest hole punch. 

The holes at the top and bottom should be about 3/8" from the edge and close to the crease. The holes in the center should be in the approximate center or wherever you want your closure band to be. 

Step 3: 

Lay your fabric out with long side (6" side) touching, Arranged with the spine fabric in the center. Serge pieces right sides together without cutting/using the serger blade. Also serge down the outer 6" sides to create a finished edge. 

Press seams toward outer edges.

Step 4:

Center cardstock on the wrong side of the fabric and fold fabric sides over to create pockets, pin in place.

Serge along the top and bottom edges close to cardstock. You will want your serger blade engaged for this. I try to serge with the outer needle touching the cardstock. It's a tricky step and I still end up with needle pricks in my cardstock, but that doesn't bother me.  Don't forget to remove your pins when serging! Go slow and hand crank for better control. 

All the serging is done now so finish off your thread tails however you like. I tie a knot and burry the thread using an upholstery needle. 

Step 6:

Snip holes in the fabric for the eyelets. Use the cardstock holes as a guide. This is another tricky bit and I haven't found the perfect technique yet. I use sharp, pointy scissors and take tiny bites until I have enough room for the eyelet.

Set the eyelets through both fabric and cardstock.

Step 7:

Add elastic cord for the notebook inserts and the closure band. Secure each with a knot.

The vertical cord is for the inserts and should be tight but not too tight (it's easier to understand by doing). 

The cord in the center should be long enough to loop around the finished journal without being loose. If you want to add a decorative button put it on the closure band before attaching to the journal. 

Step 8:

Add your inserts! My pictures were hard to follow for this step, I found that looking up a video of someone doing this was a lot easier to follow than any pictures/illustrations. 

And you're done! Thanks for reading! 

Jellyfish Midori-Style Journal

I rarely make things for myself so this is a treat! After being introduced to the Midori style journal by a swap partner I decided to spoil myself and make one for me too! I pulled out some fabric I've been hoarding and here it is:

I love this jellyfish fabric someone gave me but I only had a little piece to work with. I knew when I got it that I would have to find something extra special to make with it :) And I love how well it pairs with the green fabric I used on the spine.

I bought some rainbow cord but wasn't happy with having one layer (that didn't show off all the colors) so I braided the outside cording. I also added this neat button from my stash:

I made an extra pocket for the inside front cover that fits my small calendar perfectly:

I used an extra strip of green fabric on both sides in part because it's pretty but mostly because I miss judged the size and wanted more fabric on the inside. Here it is showing off the first notebook signature made from an old calendar:

Other side of the signature and another one I made:

I really spoiled myself because that's a calendar page I've been holding onto for a while, I love that picture! And it's fitting to be in a jellyfish journal :) 

Last signature and he back cover:

Thanks for looking!

Midori Style Journal and a Pocket Insert

I have been obsessing over this new (to me) journal idea since I was partnered with someone in a swap in February. It's a Midori or Travelers notebook/journal and the basic idea is that all the notebook signatures are replaceable. So it's extra customizable, long lasting, and addictive! I'm going to share one regular sized journal I made along with a pocket insert. This is one of the first three journals in this style that I've made and one of the largest. The ones I've made since are all smaller "pocket" sized (and I'll share those later).

When I started making it I was going back and forth between it and two other small ones to see what I did and didn't like along with what did and didn't work. I borrowed a lot of the design/structure from the fabric covered art journal I posted about in February.

I was partnered with someone that likes nature, leaves, and green/forest colors so I wanted to incorporate that into the journal. (It was a color themed swap so I paid extra attention to forest colors).  I used this dark green speckled fabric as the background and filled it with fallen leaves. I also found a wood button made from a tree branch with bark still attached that I added to the outside elastic cord.

Front and back:

 

I made the leaves similarly to the way TM patches are made by hand stitching the raw edge to the other side. I used batting in the middle to give it more weight and machine stitched the veins with a variegated thread. Closeups:

Here's the cover before I added the elastic cords:

Open cover before and after cords were added: 

I used a button on the inside to keep the cord on the outside secure. I also included some autumn leaves fabric to keep the leaves theme going on the inside. 

Then I made some paper signatures to use inside the journal. I used a combination of scrapbook paper and old calendars. One is shown flat/open and the other three are closed.

Then later for the same person (but in a different swap) I made her a pocket insert for her "travel" size journal. I used greens that I hadn't used before and some other complimentary fabrics. This thing was a pain to make and it seemed like everytime I turned around I had made another mistake. But in the end it did it's job and I was satisfied enough to send it on it's way. I tried to make a variety of pocket types to give her options.

Inside pockets laid flat (this side was supposed to be the outside but it wouldn't fold that way!):

Outside pockets laid flat:

And folded:

I enjoyed serging all the edges for this but I haven't attempted making more pockets since! Next time I make one I think I'll try something different to stabilize it. Maybe cardstock or denim?