If you’ve been reading my blog for a while you probably know that along with books I love stationery. Probably something very common to all bookworms right? So when Galen Leather, based out of Istanbul, Turkey, reached out to me to see if I would be interested in receiving a product for review I jumped at the chance. I have known about Galen Leather for years and have a couple of their products already so I was excited for the opportunity to try out a new item.
They kindly sent me, an A6 Notebook cover in navy blue. This particular design is perfect for an A6 Leuchttrum1917 pocket notebook but I think you can easily fit in other small pocket notebooks you may just have a bit more space around the edges. I think this design is the perfect size to carry along every day in a purse or tote bag. The notebook arrived in a wonderful presentation box and with a little bag of goodies, some teas and stickers (I love stickers!). And, even an Evil Eye glass charm with a tag that tells the significance behind it as well as the story of Galen Leather.
The A6 Notebook cover, which is also offered in other sizes and colors, is a sturdy but supple leather. The hand-stitching is wonderful and having worked myself with leather a bit in my bookbinding adventures, I know how much effort and craftsmanship must go into this.
The cover has a pen loop and card slot along with space to store additional papers, stickers, tabs, etc. It also has a wide elastic band that once wrapped around your notebook cover will keep everything secured. The band is a bit hard to close around but I imagine this is due to it being new and me still trying to get used to it. I’d rather it be tight now so it will withstand the stretching out over the years.
Galen Leather offers many other beautiful products from pen cases, journals to desk accessories. Here you can see my new A6 Notebook cover along with an A5 Zippered Folio in undyed leather and the EveryDay Book traveler’s notebook refill. I’ve had my zippered folio for a year now and love it. As you can see the A6 is smaller than an A5. If you are new to journals and not sure what size would be the right one for your notebooks, Galen Leather has a handy size-guide so you know which product will be right for you.
Let’s talk price. Yes, leather items are expensive and you can probably find some cheaper alternatives online but what you are getting with Galen Leather is a high-quality, handmade item and I think the prices are very reasonable. As someone who has been making journals for years, I love to support independent shops featuring handmade items. Where can you find their products? You can order through their website or you can also find some of their products at various retailers like Goulet Pens or Vanness Pen Shop. They also have an Galen Leather Etsy shop.
Finally, as you know there was a massive earthquake that struck parts of Turkey and Syria last week. It’s devastating to see lives lost and all the damage. If you want to help you can check out Charity Navigator so you can find the right charity to make a difference.
I was happy to hear that the team at Galen Leather is well and they are operating normally. So, whether you knew of the company or are interested in some new stationery products, I hope you’ll visit Galen Leather’s website and see all that they have to offer. I know I’ve already got a list of items I can’t wait to try out next.
I’d love to hear if you also use notebook covers or folios to keep your papers/journals organized.
...Read More
This month I added some new books to my shelves. I received several advance review copies and also did a bit of book shopping via ThriftBooks.