One of the things I love most about what I do is that I never know what maker will materialize and completely floor me with their artistry. That was certainly the case with Shamese from Artisaan.
“Hi Sarah,” she wrote me back in August, “Since 2018, I have been making journals by hand using fabric covers and celebrating the ancient stab binding method. This binding style allows for use in both horizontal and vertical mode, as well as making it easy for both right and left-handed writers. All journals are unlined, and I keep it that way to encourage the user to make each page fit their needs for that day in their journal. Since starting, I have been stocked in over 20 small artisanal stores throughout the US and a couple in Canada, but I’d really like authentic feedback on my products.”
Let’s just say that she intrigued me at stab binding method, and then completely owned me with “left-handed writers.” I *still* have trauma from the lack of left-handed scissors in my third-grade art class, and have had many unfortunate run-ins with wire-o binding and smudgy pens since. I suspect any lefties reading this can relate. So of course my answer was in the affirmative!
Mine arrived artfully encircled with ribbon and washi tape. The binding meanwhile is exquisite in person. This is no cheap import. There is a reassuring weight to this when you hold this in your hands; this object was carefully and lovingly designed to bring to life your most important ideas!
Not only can you shop these according to type of fabric, Shamese even offers subscriptions — choose from Classic, Ritual and Wagara. Fabricistas can even shop her remnants! And, Shamese has curated a nice offering of finds from women-owned and BIPOC brands as well to discover, from Apuntes to Tinne + Mia. Poke around in her collections and find finds from stickers to soaps. Everything is artful and a feast for the senses, so at this point all that is left for me to do is to wish you happy shopping!
