Travel Journal Made out of Repurposed Pants

I was recently commissioned to create a journal for my friend Matt’s birthday – made extra special because in the years past he’s commissioned me to make seven different books that he’s given out to friends – so I finally got to design one for him. (click here to see pictures of me making this journal) While discussing different possibilities for the book and what it should look like his partner Jill shared the tragic story I know we can all relate to – his favorite pair of shorts had recently been relegated to the rag pile. But ah-ha! I knew I could make just about any fabric into “Book cloth” – so that’s what I used as the cover fabric for his book. I also new he traveled a lot, so I designed a travel journal.

The book is 6 1/4″ square and features antique brass toggles.

Matt's Travel Journal - handmade by Ruth Bleakley from repurposed plaid shorts

Lovely brass toggles from my antique brass button collection. I wanted to use something other than elastic to hold the book closed.

Matt's Travel Journal handmade by Ruth Bleakley with interior bouquet marbled endpages and exposed stitching

The end paper is a lovely bouquet marbled paper I made – the quote says “Life is a book, and those who never travel read only one page” The text block is only attached on one side, so you can see the sewing – a combination of French and Coptic.