This is a custom turkey feather journal created from reclaimed leather, handmade paper, and turkey feathers.  Turkey Medicine is particularly significant for me so creating this journal definitely felt like a sacred task.  

Some of the keywords associated with turkey medicine are cunning and agility, fierceness and courage, being able to project your voice and your truths, tenacity, gratitude, renewable resources and cultivating a spirit of growth, living in accordance with the spirits of the land, a worthy adversary, being desirable to others, effective use of energy.  

You can read more about Turkey Medicine here. 

Things have been non-stop around here with art shows back-to-back.  Still, that is no excuse for having not taken a before picture of this journal...well, I guess I kind of am using it as an excuse ;)  Let's just put it this way:  This is a custom-made journal that was made out of a lady's favorite purse that had fallen apart.  I used the outside leather as well as some of the lining and combined it with walnut brown leather to create this one-of-a-kind journal.  In a sense, she will continue to get use out of her purse (such a great color!) as she begins to record her dreams and reflections in her new dream journal.

When I dream of an animal or come upon a particular animal repeatedly, I often look up the Native American meanings behind it.  It can be called "animal medicine" or "animal totem".  The idea is that animals have lessons to teach us and can help act as guides just by the way they are "being" in the world.  I recently created a custom journal with a turtle on it.  The recipient wants to use the journal to record his dreams in and told me that the turtle is important to him.  It made me curious as to what turtle medicine is all about.  Here is a little bit that I found:

Turtle symbolizes both new beginnings and endings. It is through the ending of something that allows space for something new to arise. This ending may be of an outer circumstance or a change or shift that occurs within ourselves.There may be a sense of loss or even grief over what has passed and yet it is through the energy of Turtle who is very long lived and thus very wise, that we can come to understand why something did need to leave our lives. Turtle can help lead us to that space where we can finally move on, to let go of what has been, celebrate it for the gifts it gave us and finally to turn and head for a new shore. 

You can find this information and more about turtle medicine here.

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.

These are a couple of custom leather journals that I made for a lady and her friend.  It was fun to work with her to get the colors and details exactly like she wanted.  What isn't shown is a letter to her friend on the first page of the journal that she was giving to her friend.  Here is here response:

"They are here, they are here! My journals are absolutely gorgeous! You do amazing work, Melissa! Thank you so much... they are worth every penny! When I met you at your first show, I knew then, that you would have great success.  Congratulations to you and the wonderful artist you have become. Thanks again-- I'm sure I will have future orders!"

 This was a fun one to create!  One of my neighbors, who is also an artist, had me create this rugged, manly journal for her husband for their 1st year wedding anniversary.  She had just found out that he kept notes throughout the day in a little notebook of things that he wanted to remember to share with her.  She surprised him with this gorgeous, earthy journal.  Here is what she had to say:

"Thank you, Melissa, for making this gorgeous journal for Ron for our first anniversary! Now he has a place to write down all those things he wants to remember to tell me. And he recently acquired tiny little journals that his grandfather and father kept. So this turned out to be perfect!"

This custom rugged leather bird journal was created in collaboration with a customer who asked simply for a large, earthy journal that had a flying bird on it.  She left the details up to me, and this was what came of it.  I loved these colors together, and it reminded me of this poigenet Rumi quote:

“God turns you from one feeling to another and teaches by means of opposites
so that you will have two wings to fly, not one.” ― Rumi

This is a custom leather wedding guestbook that is being given as a gift to the bride and groom. It was created from remnant leather, has hand-stitched initials, and closes with a handmade glass bead.  The quote on the first inside page was chosen by the couple: "This is no ordinary love."

you have to remember to...

This is custom Marriage Book! The couple who ordered it from me used it to write their vows in and read from during the ceremony. They plan on writing letters to each other on their anniversary each year; hence, the August 16th on the front. It also has a tree, the moon phase from their wedding day, their favorite constellations (with the big dipper on the front), and a stone closure from the place where they hiked on their first date. The collaboration and intention that put it together was as beautiful as the finished product!

"Wisdom is to both know and transform." –Paulo Coelho

Custom handmade, leather journal as a gift for a life coach:
peaceful, white owl and lined paper on one side. 

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
-Lao Tzu

This handmade, leather journal was carefully planned and co-created for a 7th wedding anniversary.  I was contacted by the wife who wanted a custom journal made for her husband.  The traditional gifts for the 7th wedding anniversary are wool or copper.  I was asked to incorporate both.  Her husband likes earthy colors (he was initially drawn to my work because of the coffee bag books), and she wanted the quote on the first page.  The word "journey" is hand-stitch on environmentally-friendly, 100% wool in a copper colored thread.  The center closure is copper.  I also really like that it is a circle since that echoes both wedding rings and the idea of a journey.  Their anniversary was earlier this week, and I received the kindest email from her husband once he received it. 

"I just received my 7th anniversary gift, a Reimagined by Luna original!
I'm delighted with the journal, and the story behind it (as indeed I have been behind all the products I have from Reimagined by Luna) and can't stop looking at it! Thank you very much!!"

The other really cool thing about this journal is that you can close it a variety of ways.
Here are three examples:

I'm really please with how this one turned out and enjoyed making it in honor of this couple's anniversary.  Happy 7th Anniversary to them!

This book was created for a lady who is heading to Rwanda this summer to meet her adopted son. Her circumstance is quite unique and she is planning on making annual trips there. This journal is meant to accompany her and allow her to record her story. It is created from repurposed leather and archival, recycled paper. The lettering is handstitched, and the book is handbound.

"To be rooted is perhaps the most important and least recognized need of the human soul."
-Simone Weil

 

I just completed this custom design. Someone contacted me wanting to have the Anarchist's Tool Chest printed and bound. I'll admit to being a bit hesitant as I did not know what content a book like this would have. Thankfully, I proceeded with the e-conversation and found out that it has to do with using woodworking tools to create lasting furniture. This request was also just for the index which came out after the actual book did. I worked with a local printing company to print the inside, created the cover, and bound it.  It turned out quite fabulously, and the cover has a rustic feel that works so appropriately with the content.

I was asked to create a custom piece featuring a sea turtle. I had to do a bit of research to do so and discovered some pretty fascinating aspects, especially the way they are shaped. The customer was correct in asserting that the pattern on the back echos a labyrinth. It was fun discovering how intricate I could get while still maintaining a clean, minimalist look.

For those of you who do not yet know, Noteables are journals that are made with roof from the RCA Dome.  I happened upon People for Urban Progress (PUP) a couple of years ago and began learning about this material.  The RCA Dome was an Indianapolis landmark between 1984-2008. Upon demolition ofthis structure, PUP arranged for the salvage of approximately thirteen acres (about 90%) of the roof material.  PUP was already creating other products out of the Dome roof, and I asked if I could try making books.  Since that time, I've created over 500 books in partnership with PUP.  Those pictured below are plain covers with elastic closures.  They are all handbound and have 96 recycled pages in them.  They cost $24, and I will hand-stitch intials for an additional $7.  You can also pick from a variety of thread colors.   These would make great Christmas gifts!  Get your orders in ASAP to make sure it is completed in time.

"The trees in the storm don't try to stand up straight and tall and erect. They allow themselves to bend and be blown with the wind. They understand the power of letting go. Those trees and branches that try too hard to stand up strong and straight are the ones that break. Learn the power of the trees. Let it flow. Let it go. That is the way you are going to make it through the storms."

-from The Legacy of Luna by Julia Butterfly Hill

"Dancing is not rising to your feet painlessly like a whirl of dust blown about by the wind.  Dancing is when you rise above both worlds, tearing your heart to pieces and giving up your soul."  -Rumi

This custom journal was created for a special woman whose twin brother passed five years ago.  She is a dancer and said she feels close to him when she dances.  This book is for memories, daily reflections, and letters to him.  She knew she wanted a dancer on the front as well as a fedora, a tulip leaf, and their names.  As I began making it, I had the sense that her brother wanted her to know that she isn't alone.  I felt like I needed to show them both dancing, to show that he does still dance with her.  What is interesting about this design that you may not know from looking is that both dancers are from the same cloth--just different sides of it.  This also feel significant given that they were twins.  The female dancer adorns a fedora and the back of the journal has a tulip leaf with their names hand-stitched on it. This 10x7 journal has acid-free, recycled pages inside so the writings inside will not yellow over time.  I am honored to have been asked to create this.