Currently my two main notebooks in this current format are a Khadi Papers one for recording my Fountain Pens information. The second is a Semicolon notebook for recording ‘Lists’. Favourite subjects (films, books, music, etc.) or simply a list of specific ownership. For example my camera gear, Apple Mac home recording equipment, the Solfeggio Scale, types of coffee/teas, etc.
I bought the Newestor leather cover above around four years ago. A lot cheaper then than the current price. But it is aging wonderfully. Needs more scuff patina though to be honest. The design of a ‘Traveller’s Notebook/Journal cover’ has a 2mm round elastic stretched system whereby each notebook is slotted underneath. There are four stretched bands in this journal cover. So it is possible to house a nice amount of choices as to what to include at any given time. Currently there are two notebooks, my burgundy canvas wallet for bits and bobs and a lovely beaten up Moleskine envelope. This current capture.
What is great about the Newestor is the inner ‘secretarial’ pockets. I have a similar format on my wonderful leather vintage Filofax. A pretty rare find and one to be used to house watercolour paper, the small Schmincke palette of watercolour paint and some brushes. Currently setting it up for a little field trip.
Below is the leather vintage Filofax. Closes up nicely with the watercolour palette in situ too. Gallery imagery.
Please tap on images to enlarge.
Back to the main Newestor. I find that is heavier presently. So it seems to be left in The Den on the desk. I am just writing catch up information in it currently. Recently it has been nice making my own journals out of leather. An old laptop satchel from 2006 has been taken apart and cut up. It has made six journals of varying sizes. I gave my Dad and brother one each. Field notebook sized. So pop in the pocket suitability.
Here below is the current Newestor set up. Again, tapping on the images enlarges them.
FINAL THOUGHTS.
It has been nice just sitting and journalling again, making notebook covers from old diaries, the old man bag, etc. My brother gave me a Ted Baker bag last year. My daily canvas/brass/leather French Infantry Musette Mle35 cult bag that Johnny Depp carried continually in the film ‘The Ninth Gate’ is taking a rest for a while.
The Ted Baker leather laptop bag (below….somewhere!) is a nice optional choice. Battered and very vintage looking. I glued the Medic pin badge onto the front because the metal Ted Baker lettering was missing. And a line of stamped holes was left behind. I reckon the Medic Nurse badge looks pretty cool.
But this week…….I will be getting back to recording my songs. I have many new ones champing at the bit. I want to get a consistent Gray Summers’ sound now. ‘Frail Autumn’ is going to be the new album title and I feel Faded Walls (below on the audio bar…tap to listen), as a sound, is definitely the vibe to tap into. Echoing splendidly like John Lennon used to do.
Shall I put in a few more photographs? Yes…..Why not!
Oh! Analogue? And an Olivetti typewriter too. Such a nice therapeutic pastime.
Gray Summers 
Jpurnalling with analogue instruments promotes creativity, generates enjoyment. The science simply, the results are fulfilling. Excellent write up as usual.
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Cheers for the thumbs up Danny. A lot of backlash with digital ‘scrolling’ etc. is currently being replaced with more focused notebook capture. Lots of YouTubers are uploading their philosophies and guidance on systems to use. My premise is to just get on and find your own ways of capturing thoughtful self journalling or the alternative small notebook captures of the mundane. I ask myself one simple question. Then off the mind goes. Our blogs are great examples to how we think in a more full manner.
Writing with the pens? Like yourself, I love doodling and writing down random words that arrive from the subconscious. All the best Danny.
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I adopted a form of bullet journalling before it became “the thing.” I refer to my method under the same name simply so other can relate. I have been lectured because I do not follow the strict cadence of the activity.
Journaling needs you be about you, represent you, not a chore. “just get on and find your own way” adds the most flexibility, options and creativity. The only restriction is one’s own creativity.
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Spot on Danny. The idea is definitely to simply self express. On any given subject. Depending on your mood. Little whimsical stories, deeper self analysis, reflecting on something just read or heard, key words to promote your responses to affirmation, gratitude, mindful statements, how music has affected emotions today, a few song lyrics, positives to be gleaned from recent negatives……. There are hundreds of ways to write when nib touches paper. Bullet journalling and the new Field note/carry in your pocket formats are being analysed to the extreme on current YouTube sites. It gets tiresome, as you say, with their earnest presentations.
I was writing with the Faber Castell this afternoon. It still is flowing poorly so will probably need the whole nib and feed section being given a cleaning fluid. I had it in the sonic bath. But still not great. Runs clear too on wash out. I’m saying this because, as I was struggling to write with it and the letter lines were breaking up, I was using a comical narrative and made up a stupid observational story of the situation. About ink coming out to play and stop being shy, etc. I found myself writing stuff like ‘Have you forgotten how to write Mr. Faber. Well, remember your name is Progress, and that should give you a clue what to do! Oh! You don’t like the colour choice of Sherwood Green. Are you the Sheriff of Not-working-ham’. It’s all nonsense….but fun. Stops the frustrations of failure. I can look back on it in a few months, after it has been sorted and has been behaving itself and smile. Cheers Danny.
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Mr Faber…add those great doodles you are known for and you have an illustrated story.
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That would be an idea. Not so sure about my doodle skills level though. But it would be nice to try out some new ideas and styles. The Wondrous Wintertime Fables of Mr. Faber. 😊 I re-found a really nice little wood and metal capped pencil by Johann Faber recently. It has a thick replaceable lead. Not mechanical. So Faber is fairly in the picture nowadays.
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A selection from your collection. Autumn has arrived Down Under. Faded Walls has that Autumn calming vibe that we all need. Good job Bob. 🍂🪃
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Cheers Shep. You said I had enough for a triple album with that long list of teeny try out songs I put on a blog end of last year. All sung badly or whimsy like into the iPad to get at a melody or two. Well, a fair few have developed and some have been mixed up with each other to provide some nice full songs.
Lyrics are the main aim to finish songs at the moment. I am getting some nice one liners down that are leading into fuller stories. Just got to bite the bullet now and start recording. I don’t know about you, but this is the hard part confidence wise for myself. I kind of run out of motivational spirit when I’m fighting by myself. But, it all comes out okay in the end. I always tell myself that a song is just a tune with a bit of instrumental noise to jog it along after all. 😊
Glad you like Faded Walls. I want to add more with a bit of a guitar solo in it. My brother could play that nicely. And he could play the other parts I play. But it wouldn’t sound the same again. I certainly couldn’t get at the ‘Walls’ playing vibe again. Same as the song ‘18 years was 50 years ago’. I don’t play the guitar rhythm the same when I pick up the acoustic guitar and sing it for fun. Good job I don’t play live gigs. I can always replay the bass parts easily though. Weird!
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