Tuesday 3 August 2010

A minor collection

Well, August; the back to school month for retailers. It is one of the most amazing marketing tools - and I love it; such a great opportunity to browse aisles stuffed with matching stationery items. I started a fresh new notebook this week, and had a minor panic when I saw that my collection was down to about five! Really, I could have enough nice notebooks to last my lifetime and still want more. I favour the ring bound, easy to lie flat, A6 versions, with lines or squares. The bonus of the odd plastic pocket or tabbed marker page makes me swoon. Or of course, the traveller's Moleskine. Just because they're reminiscent of an era I didn't experience and like a journal, full of blank paged potential. This is why I bought a Bind It All - I couldn't believe the possibilities. And then I sold the Bind It All because I didn't manage to create anything from the possibilities; turns out a browse round Paperchase, WH Smith, The Range - anywhere - could save me hours of faffing and swearing over hole punch alignment! Ok, but the hours part is true - I decide really quickly! Each of these notebooks is currently in use; the actual collection of unuseds are dotted around - mostly so Mr D doesn't recognise another obsessive tendency in me! I really am such a 'one job at a time' person that I like a notebook for each job too......weird huh! The one with the black rings contains notes and ingredients lists for cards I've made for workshops - that way I can photo the cards, deliver originals to the shop for display and a couple weeks later turn up with all the right stuff. It works, mostly, but there have been some spectacular near misses. Like the time I was 3 hours into a five hour journey to Aberystwyth to demonstrate at Abercardabra and had to ring Bethan; I'd left the cuttlebug plates behind. It was a cuttlebug demo. Saved by Bethan's customer and some adrenaline!
The big silver wire book is actually my first attempt at Journal Your Christmas - Shimelle's famous and fab online class. It is unfinished. It was a month of discovery for me; that as much as I like the medium, I'm not a journaller. One of the smaller books is full of domestic nonsense, stupid passwords for online shops and things that you can never remember, another is for recording the challenges and finances for Ludgershall Crop and another records bookings and details for the 2 Scrap Ladies events. So you see, it is a madness, but I need notebooks. And even at this great age, I therefore need a back to school month to appear on the high street. The most silly part of this shelf is the narrow silver ring bound and the red leather spine you can just see - two previous year's diaries. I like them too much to ditch them. I'll be over them soon.
Wanna share your mild madnesses? Do you even recognise them?

35 comments:

Cardarian said...

Oh yes! I have the notebook madness and a few others too! Huh you are not even close to my notebook madness! Sometimes I worry - my daughter puts it all down to OCD! Ha, ha...
Hugs,
Cardarian

SDCrafts said...

SNAP to the power of infinity, Julia! I also collect notebooks, ring-bound being my favourite. I like journalling and list-making, creative fiction, poetry and that novel in progress, all need notebooks!

I have toyed with the Cinch now available from QVC and decided it is using notebooks and going out to buy them that I love so have easily passed on the option of making them.

Yesterday, I had a £25 voucher to spend in WH Smiths (info: a High Street stationers and bookstore, for our US readers) - it was so easy at this time of year to find my treasures.

Mandy said...

haha we share the same madness, note books! I love august, love when the shelves are filled with stationary goodies, another addiction of mine! will they ever end!

Annie said...

Hi Julia. I'm sat here smiling and in need to share my love love little notebooks too. I have such happy memories of when I was a little girl cos my Dad used to buy me a little notebook and a new pencil and I felt like I had the world in my hands. I used to sit on the wall at the front of the house and take down car reg numbers in them [sad I know, but that was REAL entertainment when I was little]. Magic moments and happy happy memories.
A x

Carmen said...

And me! I remember when we lived in Scotland a shopping expedition for me was never complete until I'd dragged my Mum round a John Menzies. Do they even exist anymore? I have notebooks stacked in little piles round the house so Craig wont notice how many I'm aquiring (and need more!) Wonder if it's some inbuilt crafter gene that we have to horde these things? Maybe we should pick up on it in the child stage... in which case all three of my girls have got the bug too *g*

Helen said...

I love notebooks but don't journal, so try to resist buying them.... usually works, though I take one to craft shows to make notes of the demos I like. Try not to spend too much on them, but really want a Moleskine one...!!!Besides, I need stamps more than I need notebooks. Guess you could say I am the same with stamps - well, you all know that, you've been round on Wednesdays, ha, ha!! I do remember John Menzies too, GREAT stuff they used to have.

mckinkle said...

and is it bad to love notebooks?!

I love mooching amongst the stationery aisles and we are all in good company ladies, the silver fox himself Mr Schofield! Now is that sad or am I sad that I know that fact?!

Keryn x

donnalouiserodgers said...

Oh if only my madness were mild? we crafters share genetic material for sure, I have a notebook for every job I do - and then sub notebooks for sub jobs- the madness multiples, and it isn't a help to organisation because I can no longer keep track of the books - and the old diaries? - all in one of my sinful(cover up)drawers saved on a promise that one day I will journal them! My holiday Art supplies?

Two moelskines, ten pens (in varying degrees of fineness all of which have a nickname so my family can help me find them) and six pencils in varying degrees of harness/softness,

and I shall be as happy as a pig in muck!

Thank goodness for stationers...

Dx

Liverpool Lou (Anne) said...

It is an innoccuous (should that be 2 nn's and 2 cc's ? can't be bothered to Google it or run upstairs for my dictionary - ooh a thought, I now have a new sideboard where said dictionary can now reside ;-)) obsession dear Julia :-) Perhaps we should share our obsessions or collections on Wednesday?
Anne xx

Linby said...

I am right behind you in the rush to buy more notebooks. I am fighting a daily battle with the purchase of a "Cinch" never got a BIA but apparently this Cinch is a must have! Will I lose the battle over hearts desire to make notebooks with common sense of plenty of pages in the ones I already have!
Linbyx

Scrapcat 1 said...

I love your obession with note books I don't keep notebooks as I can never find the one I need when I'm looking for it but I do have a small and I do mean small collection (5) of post it note pads around. I use them for things on the computer and for crafting, masks, somewhere to put my glue covered cocktail sticks etc. See you tomorrow ladies

Kerry said...

Oh, Julia I am a paper/notebook addict too. Although I only use 2 at a time. One for my crafting and one for everyday stuff. As for the journalling I have my daily journal, my thankful for journal, my prayer journal, my anger journal (if something really ticks me off I write about it in there instead of messing up my other one lol) and my journal that gets everything else under the sun written in :)
Tomorrow I will try to add a picture of my stash of journals and paper lol
Have a good one and thank you for making me feel not so alone in my paper madness haha

Sew This N That said...

Oh I can so relate! I even have a little book that I write peoples ebay names and shops into so I can remember if they were good or bad to buy from!
Oh hun, my easel arrived safetly this morning! Thank you to you and Mr D :0) I have put you a surprise in the post to say thank you :0)
*hugs* Heather x

Sheilagh said...

I have an obsession for notebooks also. All shapes and sizes. The thing is I do not use them, I do not want to spoil them with my handwriting which is awful. I would hate to tell you how many I have. It is a wicked time of the year for notenook addicts!!!

Sue said...

Hi Julia
lol, i have a few notebooks on my computer desk, mainly for challenges, odd note & must dos! I did by a cinch with high ideas, ive taken it outa the box, looked at it, returned it to the box!! Oh i did have a BIA another thing that just got looked at then given away!!!'See you 2moro, sue,x

Sarpreet said...

LOL! Me too!!! I had to stop, each time shops like tesco bring in new a4 ring binder notebooks - i had to keep buying. I also like to buy those nice gift boxes - because they are fab to put cards in for demo and for stalls.

Sarpreet said...

you are not alone in the demo thing - there is always one thing I have forgotten when I go to do a demo!!!!!!! I even make a list and I still forget!!

Anne said...

Notebooks - I'm yet to meet a scrapper (or anyone at all craft-minded) who isn't obsessed with collecting notebooks.

I am NOT ALLOWED into paperchase for this very reason. Which is why I get all excited if I have to go to London. Because it means I go through Victoria station, and therefore right past Paperchase, and well, if I'm having a day out, then I'm allowed, yes?!

Rachael said...

I work in my local WHSmith and I swear nearly 50% of my wages goes on notebooks and stationary and the staff discount doesnt help me because I convincne myself I am getting it cheaper therefore really need it!
Im glad Im not alone!
Rach :)

Unknown said...

Me Too! See your not alone i have a s.m.a.l.l collection :) xx

Angie said...

There is something about stationary ...I want to grab all of it off the shelves ...and yes I love note books ...every size.
When I am organized I love lists and to be honest its the ONLY way I remember things BUT I often forget which note book I've written it in ... as I am so disorganized lol xx

Lynne said...

I also have the addiction! I bought lots of stationary yesterday in the 'back to school' section and plan to go back for more very soon. lol xx

misteejay said...

Ummmmm, "looks around sheepishly" I have a BIA and it gets well used for mini albums but there is nothing better than mooching around a stationery shop picking up pretty notebooks. My problem is that I love the decorated fabric ones but then don't want to use them in case they get spoilt...I'm sure I've got a couple of 'moleskin' ones somewhere that I put away for safe keeping so they wouldn't get dirty LOL

WHS have done some lovely satin covered ones with embroidery/beads/sequins etc - such a bargain when in the end of line sales but I still can't bring myself to use them.

Currently using a pretty ring bound A5 one with wipeable see-through pink vinyl covers.

Toni :o)

minnie_mac said...

How amazing is the number of people confessing to being notebook nuts. I too have one for every possible purpose, and more besides.

And I have a BIA, so can manufacture more as the need arises. In fact I do love making little books of all sorts.

And yes, Julia, the ones with dividers and little pockets of various shapes, are so exciting.

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Well, I'm the one oddball in the bunch who never seemed to fall for journals. I don't journal and I don't collect them. I have a couple I've inherited and they sit, collecting dust. They simply remind me too much of school (university), where I've spent most of my life, taking notes on subjects I'll probably never revisit. However, I admire you and your confessions. It's amazing how a good confession brings it out in others.

peggy aplSEEDS said...

i think i am afflicted with the same addiction, now that you mention it. i have a bin full of unused ones (you are right, i need a round tuit!), little ones i've used as travel journals, a prayer journal, a quotation journal, a birthdays and anniversaries book, and i still would like to have a binder, and i still am planning to make an art journal or a junk journal like the ones i've seen in blogland!

Serendipity Stamping said...

Thank goodness - I am not alone. I too have notebooks, binders, etc. with just aboout everything you can think of to write down. What a terrible feeling when you know you have a notebook, but where in the heck is that one.
Actually I love to use a shorthand pad the most, must be from all those years of having to use them for of all things, shorthand on the job.

Hope and Chances said...

I'm relieved to see all these 'addicts' - I can safely stand up and admit 'I'm a collector'! :-)

Victoria said...

share your love - I'm off to town today adn will be oggling the stationery in both Paperchase and WHSmiths! I really should put my BIA to good use and make more of my own but I'm attracted to pretty things in shops.........
Hugs
Victoria
x

Chrissie said...

I have a Bind it All which I have used once!
What a waste of money, but I HAD to have it at the time!
However, you have given me the idea of making one to use for those 'stupid passwords' as you rightly term them. I think I may just have been inspired!
Chrissie

Pam said...

I'm with you Julia love notebooks and stationery, I think i have also passed it onto Hannah as she spent most of her florida money on stationery under the guise its for starting college. I also have a slight obession with cook books, OH has banned me purchasing any more so now buy cupcake books he hasn't clicked they are of a similar ilke yet!!! Hugs Pamx

Jenny said...

I have learnt to resist the notebooks, I started to feel bad about the trees, but oh, I do love a good stroke x x

Ali H said...

So it's not just me - what a relief to know that eyeing up, stroking & buying notebooks is a legitimate addition ! Maybe we could have a self help group - Noteacholics ? Glad it;s not just me struggles with the Bind It All - but some girls LOVE it - so I must have another go ! (can't admit to DH more money wasted !!)

Ann said...

I'm with 'Bluebeard And Elizabeth' in that I'm not addicted to notebooks. I admit that a trip to town MUST include a dash into W.H.Smith to see all the pretty stationary - BUT I don't actually buy it.
I probably really annoy the staff there, just like the customers who read all the magazines and put them back on the shelves without buying anything!!

LuLu said...

Howdy Julia,
Yeah! I have an obsession with journals and notebooks, too!

But i wish I could consolidate them all into one place in our house. Having them all on one bookshelf would be so - convenient!

Peace,
LuLu