Travelers Notebook Leather Conditioning & 2022 Travelers Notebook Setup

Happy 2022 everybody! I hope this Gregorian new year has been treating you well thus far! I have been planning up a storm! so much so that I gave my Travelers Notebook a full 2022 makeover. You can see the process of doing that here.

Conditioning a Leather Travelers Notebook

I used a leather conditioner I made to condition the leather with, I wanted the leather to be hydrated as well as more water proof so I used this recipe, but you are welcome to use any leather conditioner of your preference.

Leather Conditioner Recipe

DIY leather conditioner in a wide mouthed mason jar!

2T Beeswax

2T Shea Butter

8T Avocado Oil (but grape-seed would be great)

1) In a glass jar, mix all ingredients and double boil.

2) Once combined, remove from heat and let cool.

Such a simple recipe with so much function! I also use this recipe to waterproof my leather boots. If you do use this recipe keep in mind that it will darken whatever leather you apply it to.

To apply the leather conditioner I use a scrap of flannel wrapped tightly around my index finger to rub the conditioner into the leather. Once the leather has absorbed as much of the conditioner as it can, it is best to remove the residue (if there is any) with another flannel cloth.

I just love how this darkened the leather on the front and edges of the travelers notebook, it really pulls it all together so it looks like a book instead of a scrap of leather. This is beautiful step to care for my notebook as it will take care of me for 2022.

2022 Travelers Notebook Setup

Now that my TN cover is all shiny and soft, it is time to think about the inserts that I want to use for this year.

Last year I used a lot of signatures….

1) Book of shadows

2) research

3) work notes

4) diary/journal

5) Long Term

6) Bullet Journal (book)

After a lot of reflection there are some changes I want to make

New signature lineup

Collaged 70’s style Reflections Signature

1) Reflections

This signature is a combination of my journal/diary and book of shadows signatures since I ended up writing the same thing in both places a couple and had trouble differentiating what should go where. For this cover I decorated some thrifted craft paper with magazines collage style. So much fun!

Little sticker tabs on the pages of my lists signature

2) Lists

This is a long term signature what will live in my TN for a long time. This takes the lists that I throw in my bullet and puts them all in one place that I wont need to rewrite every 3-6 months like I would in my bullet Journal. It also is combined with the long term signature where I write Birthdays and important information for me to have accessible when planning daily.

I made the tabs out of small white stickers I thrifted on a long roll. I write the title of the page on the sticker, trim it to size and then place it folding over on the page so that it extends just 1/8 inch from the side of the page. This makes it less obtrusive and it is still super easy to flip to pages that I regularly use.

Bullet Journal as the center and the heart of my TN

The bullet journal lays so flat! Yay!

3)Bullet Journal

This is the bullet journal that I use all day every day. I got this one from michaels for about $6 and i love the rust color of it. I would love to make my own bullet journals soon, but I will have to find a source for quality paper first.

I put my bullet journal in the center of my book this time, that way it will lay open flatter since both sides are roughly the same height with 2 signatures on each side of the Bullet Journal. This is mainly what I use throughout the day so it is important to me that it stay open and lay flat.

4) Research

I have not quite perfected this signature yet and I would like somehow to make it a Projects signature of some sort. I will try this out for a little while and if I come up with the solution I will share that in a future video.

5) Sewing Projects

I have been sewing a lot recently and it is important to me that I record the projects I complete and when I complete them so that I can have some scope of what I have made in the year. This also helps me to see that I have been productive, since these are the projects I forget I have done. Mending takes time and if am able to record it then it feels even more valuable to me.

Thoughts So Far

I love the collection of signatures I have so far. I decided to put my work signature in a whole huge notebook cause when I am working i write a lot larger just to take notes on candle making and get my ideas down on paper so it really becomes more of a scrap paper notepad.

I am really loving the sewing projects signature! I have recorded all the small projects I have sewn and it is so nice to have easy reference to the dimensions of projects if I want to make duplicates, like rice packs or scrunchies. I think I would like to take this approach to other projects as well. Applying this strategy to my research signature and turning it into a “projects” signature, would make it a lot easier for me have a place to write down miscellaneous projects I am working on whether it is home/workshop reno or or just research about vitamins. I don’t think those are too mismatched to have in the same signature… so I might just rename the signature and keep going! I’ll keep thinking about that one for a while though.

All together I love my shiny new travelers notebook and the signatures in it! I think I am in for a 2022 filled with self expansion, learning and facing my fears, and this notebook will help me to do that immensly! What more can I hope for!?

Do you folks have any ideas about how I could remedy my Projects/research dilema? If you do please leave a comment telling me your ideas! 2 minds are better than one. Anyway, thank you for considering my perspective on Travelers Notebook signatures, I hope this gave you some Ideas on how you can organize your own Travelers Notebooks! Best wishes for the 2022 year of our societies calendar haha :)

And so it is!

With much love,