Hi, I'm Eric. If you’re anything like me, as soon as the weather starts to turn warm and the days get a bit longer, your mind starts drifting toward the open road. There’s just something about vacation season that feels like a fresh start, isn’t there? Whether you’re planning a rugged hike through the mountains, a quiet week at a beach house, or an ambitious road trip across state lines, the excitement of an upcoming adventure is hard to beat.
But here’s a question for you: How are you going to remember it all?
In a world where we’re constantly snapping photos on our phones (and let’s be honest, half of those photos just sit in the cloud never to be seen again), I’ve found that nothing quite compares to the feeling of putting pen to paper. There is a certain magic in sitting down at the end of a long day of exploring and jotting down the sights, sounds, and smells of a new place.
That’s why I want to talk to you today about the ultimate travel companion: a handmade leather journal. At The Kilted Leatherworker LLC, I spend a lot of time thinking about how to make gear that doesn't just look good, but actually survives the journey with you.
Why a Leather Cover is a Travel Essential
When you’re out on the trail or navigating a crowded airport, your gear takes a beating. I’ve learned this the hard way over the years (as you may have guessed, I’m not exactly gentle on my own equipment). If you’re carrying a plain paper notebook, it only takes one spilled latte or one sudden rainstorm to turn your memories into a soggy mess.
That’s where a durable leather cover comes in.
When I design my journal covers, I’m thinking about protection. Real, high-quality leather is incredibly resilient. It acts as a shield against the elements. If you’re at the beach and sand gets into your bag, a sturdy leather cover keeps those gritty grains away from your pages. If you’re hiking and working up a sweat, the leather provides a barrier that paper just can’t offer.
There’s something about the weight of a leather-bound journal in your hand that makes the act of writing feel more intentional. It’s not just a notebook; it’s a vault for your experiences. And because it’s handmade, every piece of leather has its own character, just like every trip has its own story.
Capturing the Small Stuff
I’ve found that the best travel journals aren’t just lists of what you did. They are snapshots of how you felt. When I’m working at my bench, cutting leather or ensuring that every stitch is perfect, I often think about the person who will eventually own the piece. I imagine them sitting in a small café in a foreign city, or perhaps on a log by a campfire, finally having a moment of peace to reflect.
If you’re new to travel journaling, don't feel like you have to write a novel. Sometimes the best entries are the small ones. Here are a few things I like to include when I’m out on an adventure:
- The People: Did you have a tour guide with a hilarious accent? Did a local give you the best directions of your life? Write down their names.
- The Food: Describe that one meal that blew your mind. Was it a street taco? A fancy three-course dinner? List the flavors. (I’m a bit of a foodie myself, so this is usually the longest part of my journals!)
- The Mementos: This is why I love adding pockets to my covers. You can tuck in a ticket stub, a beautiful leaf you found, or a business card from a shop you want to remember.
The Mini Journal: For the Minimalist Traveler
Now, I know that not everyone wants to lug around a full-sized notebook. If you’re trying to pack light: maybe you’re strictly a "carry-on only" person: that’s where the mini journal and mini padfolio really shine.
I started making these because I realized I needed something that could fit easily into a pocket or one of my belt pouches. A mini journal gives you just enough space to capture the essentials without taking up valuable real estate in your bag.
There’s a real art to the mini carry. It forces you to be concise and pick out the most important highlights of your day. Plus, my mini padfolios are hand-dyed and finished with the same care as my larger pieces, so you aren't sacrificing style for size. There is something about the process of hand-dyeing leather: watching the color take to the hide: that reminds me why I love this craft. It’s a slow process, one step at a time, but the result is something that feels alive.
A Keepsake That Grows With You
One of my favorite things about handmade leather goods is how they age. Unlike plastic or cheap synthetic materials that just break and look worse over time, real leather develops a patina.
Every scratch, every slight change in color from the sun, and every mark from a spilled drop of water tells the story of where you’ve been. By the time you get home from your summer vacation, your journal cover will look different than it did when you left. It will have "broken in," becoming softer and more molded to your specific way of carrying it.
In a way, the cover becomes part of the adventure. Twenty years from now, you can pull that journal off the shelf, feel the texture of the leather, and be instantly transported back to that summer in 2026. That’s the goal of everything I make at The Kilted Leatherworker LLC: to create something that lasts a lifetime.
Craftsmanship You Can Feel
I take a lot of pride in the fact that I’m not a big factory. When you buy a journal cover or a mini padfolio from me, you’re getting something I’ve spent time on personally.
I love the quiet moments in my shop, surrounded by the smell of leather and the sound of my tools. (It’s my version of a vacation, to be honest!) Whether I’m preparing a fresh batch of hide to be dyed or carefully punching holes for stitching, I’m focused on making sure that piece is rugged enough for whatever you throw at it.
As you prepare for your summer travels, I encourage you to think about the gear you’re taking with you. Is it something that will end up in a landfill in a year, or is it something that will stay with you forever?
My Top Tips for Summer Journaling
If you're ready to start your own travel log this year, here are a few final tips from my own experience:
- Don't wait: Try to write something every day, even if it's just one sentence. Memories fade faster than we think.
- Be messy: Your travel journal doesn't need to be a work of art. It’s okay if there are coffee stains or if your handwriting is a bit shaky because you were writing on a moving train. That’s character!
- Use prompts: If you’re stuck, ask yourself: "What was the most surprising thing that happened today?" or "What is one thing I want to tell my future self about this place?"
If you’re interested in seeing more about how these pieces are made, you can read about my leatherworking journey here. It’s been a wild ride getting to where I am today, and I’m so grateful to have you along for the journey.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and for supporting a small business. It truly means the world to me that I get to spend my days creating things that help you capture your most precious memories.
I hope your summer is filled with incredible adventures, beautiful sights, and plenty of stories to write down. Happy travels!
With gratitude,
Eric
Founder and Owner, The Kilted Leatherworker LLC