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Real Life Journals: Designing & Using Handmade Books
The second in AARP's Live & Learn series celebrates making and keeping journals.
A custom-made journal can enrich a person's life, and this new entry in the Live & Learn series helps readers design journals that enhance the experiences they're chronicling. The unique format features an envelope attached to the inside front cover that contains a small book called Choose Your Own Bookbinding Adventure so readers can select the perfect journal for their purpose. Imagine a reader wants a travel journal that is portable and has both lined pages and blank ones to paint on. The booklet directs him or her to the instructions in the main book that explain how to make that specific design. There are instructions and beautiful illustrations for 16 kinds of books and 10 cover styles. A removable foldout found on the inside back cover explains essential bookmaking basics. People who had personalized journals made for them by the author share their process and their pages, and beautiful photos and profiles of journal keepers inspire readers to make their own and start writing and drawing.
A custom-made journal can enrich a person's life, and this new entry in the Live & Learn series helps readers design journals that enhance the experiences they're chronicling. The unique format features an envelope attached to the inside front cover that contains a small book called Choose Your Own Bookbinding Adventure so readers can select the perfect journal for their purpose. Imagine a reader wants a travel journal that is portable and has both lined pages and blank ones to paint on. The booklet directs him or her to the instructions in the main book that explain how to make that specific design. There are instructions and beautiful illustrations for 16 kinds of books and 10 cover styles. A removable foldout found on the inside back cover explains essential bookmaking basics. People who had personalized journals made for them by the author share their process and their pages, and beautiful photos and profiles of journal keepers inspire readers to make their own and start writing and drawing.
180 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
2 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 6, 2016
This isn't simply a book on bookmaking and bookbinding. What makes Live & Learn: Real Life Journals: Designing & Using Handmade Books (AARP) unique is how author Gwen Diehn guides the reader in designing a customized journal for his/her specific need: for example, size (perhaps a smaller one for travelling?), form and binding (does it need to stay flat? would you like more space to add pages or tuck in pockets?), paper choice (heavy paper for painting and collaging), the type of cover (sturdy, wraparound or maybe you want some windows for photos or artwork?), and special features that you may want to add to your journal. This is done through a series of questions ("Choose Your Own Bookbinding Adventure") to help you build the book you'll use and stories about a group of people for whom Diehn made customized journals - she goes through the "Choose Your Own Bookbinding Adventure" with them, creates personal journal for them and then checks back after three months to see how well the journals are working for them.
There are other books that teach a wider variety of bookmaking techniques but I really like the personalized approach Real Life Journals takes. Diehn also discusses and presents examples of the practise of journaling - the why of writing, what to journal and the different types of journals. There is a chapter on noted journals and journal keepers from the past that provide a sort of history of journaling, the purposes and forms of journals.
The clear instructions and the Bookbinding Essentials pamphlet make the tutorials easy to follow. This book would go a long way toward helping anyone create the right journals for specific needs, be it for travel memories, self-exploration, recipes or lists. I only wish the book had included more photographs of the journals showcased so we get a clearer idea of how the were made, as well as their content. Still, an excellent buy.
There are other books that teach a wider variety of bookmaking techniques but I really like the personalized approach Real Life Journals takes. Diehn also discusses and presents examples of the practise of journaling - the why of writing, what to journal and the different types of journals. There is a chapter on noted journals and journal keepers from the past that provide a sort of history of journaling, the purposes and forms of journals.
The clear instructions and the Bookbinding Essentials pamphlet make the tutorials easy to follow. This book would go a long way toward helping anyone create the right journals for specific needs, be it for travel memories, self-exploration, recipes or lists. I only wish the book had included more photographs of the journals showcased so we get a clearer idea of how the were made, as well as their content. Still, an excellent buy.
October 24, 2012
If you've ever wanted to make your own journals, from selecting the paper to binding the finished book, this is the book for you! Chock full of ideas and inspiration!
February 28, 2019
I read this for ideas rather than instructions so it wasn't super helpful, but an interesting read. I added an extra star for the "Choose Your Own Adventure" booklet for helping you decide what kind of journal would be a good fit. It was such a cute and fun beginning to the book!
September 14, 2019
An interesting and inspiring book if your thinking about making your own journals from scratch. The instructions are easy and the small booklet "Choose your own bookbinding adventure" helps keep the plethora of formats from being overwhelming.
November 8, 2021
Another good journal book from Gwen Diehn. I really appreciated the way it balances practical step-by-step instructions with inspirational examples. It covers a wide range of journal content topics and binding/cover methods, and infuses personalization on every page.
March 11, 2018
I just need to dive in and try making a book!
May 11, 2023
Definitely want to get this one again as it has some inspiring books and ideas to make.
July 3, 2022
Wonderful book with guide on different kids of techniques on book binding. Very important aspect was author displayed photos of journals bounded and owned by people and how they used the journal. It’s always a great opportunity to peek into other’s journal on how they use it to satisfy my curious mind.
Lot of details on bookbinding essentials, guide books, and purpose. Overall good book.
Lot of details on bookbinding essentials, guide books, and purpose. Overall good book.
January 17, 2011
Gwen Diehn is one of my favorite journal artists. She is the author if the "Decorated Page", among others, which is one of my all time favorite books about journaling.
Real Life Journals is mostly about the business of making and designing journals for your artwork. I have to confess that I am not that tempted to make my journals - but this is probably one of the most creative, well written and illustrated, book son the subject that you will find. That being said, aside from the construction of the journals the book includes a lot of creative, useful tid-bits about the art of journaling itself.
The inside front flap includes a mini-book-in-a-pocket-titled "Choose Your Own Bookbinding Adventure. The enclosed booklet is a very handy that leads you through the basics by asking questions and then a "if yes turn to page____, if no, turn to page___" formula that I like a lot. The back flap provides an excellent foldout chart entitled "Book Binding Essentials" - and it explains, just as it says, the basics to get you going on your journal". This is an extremely well presented, well thought out volume. I am always particularly pleased with the format and high quality of Lark Books. When they publish a book - they make everything pretty special.
The table of contents pretty well spells it out:
Design Inventory
Personal Journals
The Basics
Bookbinding Instruction (16 different methods)
Cover Instructions
Journals Past and Present
What the Tale Of Contents does not tell you about, however, is the wealth of ideas for journaling that the book includes. Watercolor, pencil, writing paired with sketches - so many great ideas on how to fill the pages of the journal that you make. I love this book - as I do all of Gwen Diehn's work. If you want to start your own journaling adventure this is the book to get. It's chock full of information and ideas that are beautifully presented. Just paging through the book can make you happy - and motivated.
For me journaling is a way to to gauge where I am by being able to see, and read about, where I've been. Journaling gives a perspective on my life that I find invaluable. I bet it would be for you to!
Real Life Journals is mostly about the business of making and designing journals for your artwork. I have to confess that I am not that tempted to make my journals - but this is probably one of the most creative, well written and illustrated, book son the subject that you will find. That being said, aside from the construction of the journals the book includes a lot of creative, useful tid-bits about the art of journaling itself.
The inside front flap includes a mini-book-in-a-pocket-titled "Choose Your Own Bookbinding Adventure. The enclosed booklet is a very handy that leads you through the basics by asking questions and then a "if yes turn to page____, if no, turn to page___" formula that I like a lot. The back flap provides an excellent foldout chart entitled "Book Binding Essentials" - and it explains, just as it says, the basics to get you going on your journal". This is an extremely well presented, well thought out volume. I am always particularly pleased with the format and high quality of Lark Books. When they publish a book - they make everything pretty special.
The table of contents pretty well spells it out:
Design Inventory
Personal Journals
The Basics
Bookbinding Instruction (16 different methods)
Cover Instructions
Journals Past and Present
What the Tale Of Contents does not tell you about, however, is the wealth of ideas for journaling that the book includes. Watercolor, pencil, writing paired with sketches - so many great ideas on how to fill the pages of the journal that you make. I love this book - as I do all of Gwen Diehn's work. If you want to start your own journaling adventure this is the book to get. It's chock full of information and ideas that are beautifully presented. Just paging through the book can make you happy - and motivated.
For me journaling is a way to to gauge where I am by being able to see, and read about, where I've been. Journaling gives a perspective on my life that I find invaluable. I bet it would be for you to!
August 30, 2013
I'll admit that I mostly skimmed this since I don't tend to read instructional books all the way through but look at the pictures for inspiration. What I found interesting about this book (as I had read Gwen Diehn's other books about art journals) was the format, which included a little separate booklet with questions designed to help you decide which format binding would work best for your needs (like a choose-your-own-book-binding-adventure).
May 6, 2012
I've loved Gwen Diehn's earlier books, but I'm disappointed with this one. It's essentially a 'How-To' on bookbinding. My mistake, I guess. I was hoping to see more of her journals. I don't need more books on bookbinding - have plenty.
Still, it's very nicely laid out and illustrated. And the instructions for making the books are easier to follow than in some other books of this kind.
Still, it's very nicely laid out and illustrated. And the instructions for making the books are easier to follow than in some other books of this kind.
April 7, 2011
By far the best book I've found on bookbinding for journals. This book not only gives you the instructions of book binding but helps the reader decide on the right kind of book for their specific journaling needs. Exactly what I was looking for.
May 18, 2016
Beautiful book, beautiful pictures, beautiful stories... beautiful reminder that I am a writer and a painter and not a creator of another sort...
But if you are a journaller / maker of any sort--worth perusing for inspiration.
But if you are a journaller / maker of any sort--worth perusing for inspiration.
March 22, 2013
This is fun! Gwen Diehn has never failed to inspire me - I can scarcely wait to set up a place where I can work on a journal of my own!
December 6, 2010
a little eye candy for the visual artist...
May 12, 2014
Can't imagine a better book on making journals that are to be used. Examples galore, clear instructions and a lovely gallery.
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June 23, 2015Really good intro to book binding and journalling
September 8, 2012
Great ideas.
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November 8, 2017Gwen Diehn's books on journals are the best I've seen, and I've seen a lot of them. I'm particularly fond of her _The Decorated Page_ and _The Decorated Journal. I'm a writer who dabbles in art, and so I'm drawn to the journals that she highlights in her books because while they are often visual journals, the words are important too. In this particular book, she covers a lot of ground.
Initially, I believed this book wasn't for me because I'm more interested in looking at and reading about other people's journals than I am making my own. (That is, I like the idea of making my own, but I'm incredibly lazy.) Because I wrongly assumed the whole book would be a sort of how-to exploration, I very nearly didn't finish reading the book beyond the first couple of chapters. (That said, if you are in the market to learn about hand making your own journal, this books has a lot of good information. It just wasn't for me.) But then, she shifts gears and shows a set of "guinea pigs" who let her choose a journal style for them that she made for them, and then writes about their experiences over a series of months as they keep the journal. This was interesting to see the sheer variety of journal styles out there, as well as how different people wanted to use the journals. But my favorite section of the book was in the last one-third when she highlights different journal makers and how and why they keep journals in the first place. This section was both fascinating and inspiring--not necessarily for making your own journal from cover to pages, but to see the myriad ways people keep journals.
The book itself is beautifully photographed and her writing is accessible and inviting. While I'd recommend you start with the two books mentioned above first, this is an excellent book, particularly for those people who are more industrious than I am. As always, I eagerly await more books from Gwen Diehn and until then will read her blog.
Initially, I believed this book wasn't for me because I'm more interested in looking at and reading about other people's journals than I am making my own. (That is, I like the idea of making my own, but I'm incredibly lazy.) Because I wrongly assumed the whole book would be a sort of how-to exploration, I very nearly didn't finish reading the book beyond the first couple of chapters. (That said, if you are in the market to learn about hand making your own journal, this books has a lot of good information. It just wasn't for me.) But then, she shifts gears and shows a set of "guinea pigs" who let her choose a journal style for them that she made for them, and then writes about their experiences over a series of months as they keep the journal. This was interesting to see the sheer variety of journal styles out there, as well as how different people wanted to use the journals. But my favorite section of the book was in the last one-third when she highlights different journal makers and how and why they keep journals in the first place. This section was both fascinating and inspiring--not necessarily for making your own journal from cover to pages, but to see the myriad ways people keep journals.
The book itself is beautifully photographed and her writing is accessible and inviting. While I'd recommend you start with the two books mentioned above first, this is an excellent book, particularly for those people who are more industrious than I am. As always, I eagerly await more books from Gwen Diehn and until then will read her blog.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews