I’ve got a big holiday coming up in May (if things don’t escalate even more!) I’m going interrailing with my daughter round Europe for six weeks, I’m so excited!!

Anyway, obviously I want to make some kind of journal of our trip, I want to be able to write things, draw or paint, maybe stick in tickets etc. I do need to practice the drawing and painting bit though as I’m no artist!! I’ve been trying to decide what kind of journal I wanted when I spotted on Etsy a kit to make your own leather-bound journal, it was £30 for everything which I thought was a pretty fair price.

The company is called Lucas Ruth, they also sell ready-made ones if you don’t want to make your own. You could choose size, colour, personalisation and shape of tri-fold flap (straight, natural or curved as I chose). The box arrived quickly, it contained a roll of leather with my initials on and holes punched ready for the binding, some ready-threaded waxed thread, four sets of pages and a strap for wrapping round after.

The instructions were really easy to follow though there is a video too if you find that better. It probably took less than half an hour and it was made. I love it, the leather feels nice and smells lovely, I like the way the binding stitches show on the outside, I’ve left the strap long at the moment in case it ends up bulging at the seams. I can’t wait to start writing in it!