This is a book I made for myself a few years ago, but haven't been using. It's an old book that was falling apart, so I took out its guts and used some really lovely printmaking paper for the new signatures. I bound it with some red silk ribbon and added some cherry-like beads and leaf shaped beads to the ends of the ribbon.
Lately, whenever I have a really great idea for something to create or a recipe to try, or a really great quote I want to remember, or I hear about a book or musician I want to check out, I write it down on a post it. The result is that I have a lot of post its floating around and getting lost. So into the book they will go. I don't know why I kept forgetting to use my pretty little book, but it's back now. It's not so much a journal, I think it's more like a commonplace book. 
I've filled it with sketches and ideas and notes to myself, pictures for inspiration, ticket stubs, all kinds of things. While looking through it this morning, I found a few ideas that I wanted to try out, but forgot about. It's great to have this repository for all these thoughts and ideas. It should clear up some brain space, which is sometimes in short supply around here :o). How do you keep track of all your inpirations and ideas? 
I loved looking at the Mood boards for the Decor8/Amy Butler contest recently. I think I need to dedicate a few pages for such a thing as I work on my living room. 
I've got a stack of the same really great French printmaking paper and a couple other old, old books, so I'll be making a couple of similar books for the shop this week. I thought I'd also post a tutorial for how to make your own little pamphlet-style book, which is a great size for a travel journal or maybe a special scrapbook gift. Would anyone be interested in such a thing? 
