Thanks to everyone who came out for all the holiday shows!  November and December was full of shows and Christmas gift orders.  Thanks to each of you!

"To dance, put your hand on your heart and listen to the sound of your soul."
- Eugene Louis Faccuito

"Your hand opens and closes, opens and closes. If it were always a fist or always stretched open, you would be paralyzed. Your deepest presence is in every small contracting and expanding, the two as beautifully balanced and coordinated as birds' wings.” 
-Rumi

Introducing leather diaries with heart locks...and just in time for Valentine's Day.

“The things we truly love stay with us always, locked in our hearts as long as life remains.”
― Josephine Baker

Perhaps you would like to note a few secret reflections for only your heart to hold or perhaps you are drawn more to the symbolism of cherishing and holding close certain thoughts, prayers, quotes...If so, this small diary would be a perfect fit. It comes with a heart shaped lock and two small heart shaped keys. Maybe it is an extra key in case you lose the first...or maybe it is a key you give to your love so the two of you can share love notes and memories. May this diary assist you well as you write and/or draw those parts of yourself that you want to hold particularly close.

If you would like a custom color and size with a different lock, here are the other lock and key options.  Please contact me with any questions.

Be empty of worrying 
Think of who created thought
Why do you stay in prison
When the door is so wide open
Move outside the tangle of fear thinking
Live in silence
Flow down and down
Into always widening
Rings of being

-Rumi

These journals were created in celebration of the state of Kentucky!  While I've considered making state journals for awhile, it was my long-time friend and fellow Kentuckian, Megan Morgan, who really pushed for me to create these.  We both have done a bit of travelling and living elsewhere, but have surprised ourselves at how we continue to be drawn back here.  I've heard similar stories from others who grew up in this state.  There is something magical about the hills, the rivers, the pastures, the people.   There truly is a growing KY pride, and these journals are meant to celebrate that.

Here is the newest community journal/sketchbook at Coffee Times Coffee House! You can find it on one of the tables.  Feel free to share your thoughts, a favorite quote, or create some sketches. It's 8.5 x 11 with 450 recycled pages and was created from a coffee bag from Coffee Times. Please enjoy when stopping by for a cup of java!

I received of an email from a Kristin, owner of Ephemera in Paducah, KY, telling me how one local artist bought a couple of my book necklaces as weddings gifts and then embellished them.  I love the idea, and they turned out SO BEAUTIFUL!!  Stefanie Elaine Graves of Cowango Studios took the two necklaces and had Ike, their local book artist, embellish them with the women's names.  She then chose stanzas from Wendell Berry's poem, "A Country of Marriage," which she illustrated with watercolor. She also added a beaded headpin to the leather strap on each to make it more decorative, and shared the photos below with me.  They are so lovely, and, hopefully, get your ideas flowing for the different ways that you can use these bitty books.   

Memory Book Ornaments are mini-books that you can actually write in and hang on your Christmas tree each year.  They are frequently used for writing little notes or memories in or for giving as gifts to book lovers, teachers, librarians, book club members, etc.  They come in two sizes with the larger size also having decorative beads.  They both have the whimsical swirly hook for hanging.  They come in a variety of colors.  If you are interested in some, please contact me or stop by one of my shows.  

This custom sketchbook was created from a discarded encyclopedia cover.  The textblock is recycled, acid-free paper that is hand-torn.  And, yes... there is a black ribbon added as a built-in bookmark.

This journal was created specifically for an adventuring, outdoor-loving, dancing, free-spirited man.  He wanted it rugged, extra thick, and with lined pages.  This book has close to 300 pages and will be assisting him on many traveling adventures and teaching/speaking endeavors.

“Love is the ultimate outlaw. It just won't adhere to any rules. The most any of us can do is to sign on as its accomplice. Instead of vowing to honor and obey, maybe we should swear to aid and abet. That would mean that security is out of the question. The words "make" and "stay" become inappropriate. My love for you has no strings attached. I love you for free.”

― Tom Robbins, Still Life With Woodpecker

Dance is the manifestation of the soul. –Isadora Duncan

This is a custom journal that my previous ballet professor is gifting to another dance professor.
How much fun is that!!

I've been doing large leather journals with hand-stitched words for awhile now, but I usually stitch them with leather stripes across the background.  I've gotten multiple comments from customers at shows who say that those journals are too "clean and straight" looking.  They wanted to see something more rugged and organic with less planned out shapes.  These were created with those customers in mind.  Thank you for the inspiration!