Wednesday 19 June 2013

Notebook Hoarding


The opening page of a fresh notebook is a heady mix of new stationery aroma and possibilities, I get caught up in the ceremony of putting pen to paper and setting the tone for any scribbles to follow, so much so that there are several notebooks in my stash yet to receive a maiden scrawl. I’m waiting for a worthy and perfect thought or idea to strike, you see.  The longer I wait, the bigger the expectation grows until eventually I feel as though even Shakespeare would be hard pushed to do justice in kicking off proceedings and therein lies the trap.  It is around this time that I’ll start crooning over other notebooks while out and about: cover fondling, page sniffing (I’ve become accustomed to the peculiar looks this earns me), flicking through pages and testing their weight in my hand.  After a suitable period of procrastination I’ll inevitably find myself lured into a stationers by necessity – paperclips, glue or pens are the main culprits – and instead be seduced by the siren song of notebook adventure.  When it comes to notebooks I am powerless against the rush, all self control exits stage left.
   
That isn’t to say I have dozens of them lying empty around my house, the great thing about being a notebook hoarder is that once you have a couple of newer editions the older crop start to look more accessible and before I know it I’m halfway through the ornate purple number with the cream lined pages and heavy magnetic clasp.  Gifted notebooks upset the cycle completely, instead of the need to be worthy of the first page I tend to write in them almost immediately with whatever is on my mind that day – these turn into journals or inspiration books, full of daily-life stuff and pictures torn from magazines of whatever makes my heart flutter.  Regardless of the rest there is always one constant slow-burner, a notebook with an added degree of special to me that I want to take my time filling and keep for life, this one was a gift from Tristan a few years ago and is all heavy marble-edged paper with a beautiful deep red leather binding. The smell is out of this world.
   
I once knew a person who had a dozen identical notebooks, one per year, filled at the rate of a page per day and shelved together when completed, from an interior design standpoint it looked good, but somehow it made me sad.  For me, part of the joy in having a little library of notebooks at my fingertips is the way I can grab whichever takes my fancy when I’m struck with inspiration while I can’t sleep at night, and the unpredictable journey each notebook takes – I’ll write pages upon pages of thoughts or stories - then my next entry could be weeks later about a recipe I’m experimenting with.  There’s a certain kind of magic about the rainbow of spines in a varied stack of notebooks too – all different sizes and textures and each with their own story to tell, which never turns out to be quite the plot you think it will at the beginning.  I like to pick and mix – some of mine are pastel and pretty, some are fabric covered and tactile whereas others wouldn’t look out of place in the Hogwarts library. 
   
Whatever your taste there will always be a notebook that fits and sometimes, the very special ones, find you. 


37 comments :

  1. I have stacks of notebooks, all with nothing written in them because I don't know what to write!
    www.rosesjaunes.blogspot.co.uk

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  2. know I always say this but these photos are STUNNING!! they capture the prettiness and magic of notebooks so perfectly. AMAZING POST! x

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  3. Oh my goodness, I have hundreds of notebooks! When I was little my mum put a ban on any notebook entering the house when my addiction became out of control. I also put a lot of pressure on myself to make the first line perfect. And when it's not I feel like the whole book is ruined, so most of them are not even half empty. They're barely started. That's actually one of the reasons I started a blog, so that I wouldn't have the pressure of the permanency of ink on paper. Though I do still absolutely love the idea of books filled with written words.

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  4. Great post I just love notebooks! any stationery :)

    Bee happy x

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  5. I am definitely a notebook hoarder. I like to have a new notebook for every different project or idea. This does inveitably mean that some poor notebooks are left with pages still to be filled whilst I scrawl away in a brand spaking new one....so maybe I should look to adopting your 'whichever takes my fancy' approach.

    x

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  6. Beautiful post again, Jem! I love notebooks, but I find that there isn't too much choice in them in Holland. Or maybe just not my taste. I always love going to London and find stationers that have pretty notebooks that don't cost a fortune.

    I totally agree with you about the variety; why would you get the same one over & over? Where's the fun in that?
    Not too long ago I saw a photo article of someone's home and they had actually paper covered all their books, to give them the same feel and so they wouldn't look 'so cluttered.' Made me shake my head; all those white covers with the titles on the side in the same sized black font totally took away all personality of the books.

    Erin

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  7. I love your writing so much, it's so poetic. I recently treated myself to a couple of new notebooks (I'm a fan of ringbound ones for work, because I like them to open flat) and am loving having things organised in such a tangible way! Your collection is so lovely! :) Are you fussy about the types of pens you use to write in them?

    www.ciderwithrosie.com

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  8. Those notebooks are so beautiful and your photography is great! :)
    www.theemeralddove21.blogspot.co.uk

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  9. I love everything about your blog posts..especially the way you write. Wonderful :) I have a thing for pretty notebooks too..there's something about the aesthetics of them I think! x

    LittleGliter.org

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  10. A beautifully written post Jem, I get a little obsessive with collecting pretty notebooks. I love looking at them, but then also come to that point that nothing is ever good enough to write in it!! The first page is always the neatest :) xxx

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  11. So many gorgeous notebooks! I'm definitely guilty of hoarding notebooks myself, I have loads from when I was younger that are too lovely to use xoxo

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  12. I am addicted to note books, but I have a real problem with writing in them, I have a fear of spoiling them!

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  13. What a gorgeous collection! I'm a sucker for notebooks too... but I'm guilty of starting to use a new one straight away and ending up with half filled books! x

    janesjumbles.blogspot.co.uk

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  14. I'd be taking my time over that red notebook too. Beautiful.

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  15. I am such a notebook hoarder - in fact I think I have the same note book that appears on the top of the pile in the first photo! The funny thing is, I can never write or draw on the first page - it's like a barrier between the 'newness' and what I go on to write. Weird! x

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  16. hehe absolutely love this! once i start uni in september, i'll be sure to stock up on some adorable ones! :')

    http://wishuponasmile.blogspot.com/

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  17. I love notebooks so much! I really need to get back into writing.

    Melissa
    http://wildflwrchild.blogspot.com

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  18. I too, am a notebook boarder - and struggle to actually use them as I don't want to ruin them!

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  19. I felt the same way about notebooks; the pressure to keep the interior as beautiful as the exterior was too much. but just think of them as beautiful messes; we all need a pretty place where its okay to be imperfect :)
    xx

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  20. Aah these are the most beautiful books. With equally stunning photographs.

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  21. Lovely post, the photos are beautiful and I am totally with you on the notebook hoarding front! I can never have have enough notebooks. Recently when I was visiting home I found a box of my old notebooks and spent ages flicking through them all again. This post has given me craving to go out and buy some more (like I need the excuse!)
    Zöe xx

    Let's run away to Paris

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  22. these are beautiful! xx
    http://jadegillett.blogspot.co.uk/

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  23. I to am guilty of notebook hoarding; they're far too lovley to spoil wit my scribble! A Pukka Pad from WH Smith is my usual number.

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  24. i absolutely love this post!

    andrea-herinfinitevariety.blogspot.co.uk

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  25. This. Post. I am SUCH a notebook hoarder! When I was younger a trip to WH Smiths was like visiting the promised land for me - I loved their stationary so much!! Don't even get me started on the glittery pens... Hahahaha!

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  26. Oh man, I am such a sucker for a beautiful notebook! I have so many, but I love them all! Your collection is just gorgeous.

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  27. I have the same trouble of not thinking anything is worthy of my beautiful notebooks but I've decided to use one of them as a scrapbook diary for my upcoming holiday. Hopefully it will come out well!

    Yours are gorgeous, especially the peacock one.

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  28. These notebooks are so beautiful, wow!

    Charlotte xx
    charolivia.blogspot.com

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  29. I love notebooks and stationary especially if it is novelty/unique :)

    www.ofbeautyandnothingness.blogspot.co.uk

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  30. Beautiful notebooks! You have great collection!

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  31. Oh I love notebooks! I have so many, and I love to happen across them, stop for a moment, and read or add to them.

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  32. Jem you have completely stolen my imagination here! I love notebooks, ever since going to the cinema to watch Harriet the Spy when I was nine I fell hook line and sinker over keeping a notebook! That girl has a lot to answer for. Your collection is impeccable, the spines are so spellbinding and such beautiful textures too (I agree the smell plays an important part too). You are a hoarder of beautiful things, and this collection is by far one of the greatest I’ve seen xxx

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  33. I am so so happy to have found your blog. Once I read this post I read your most recent 14 or so entries and I'm in love with all of it.

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  34. I feel just the same way about my collection of many different notebooks. Sometimes I feel a little scattered when there are ideas written in so many places, but it's nice to have a variety of places for my thoughts. You have a lovely collection!

    Alicia / Jaybird

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  35. I love this post! I am a hoarder of my old scrap books full of pictures of where I want to travel to and visit :-) it's lovely to have them and look back! Amanda x http://thisluxlife.com/

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  36. I'm a notebook hoarder as well. I love shopping for these beautiful little books but when I get them home suddenly I become intimidated by the blank pages and agonize over what I will write in them. Will my entries be important enough to warrant recording in such a nice notebook? Is my penmanship nice enough? And my angst goes on and on.

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