Our Story
Bookbinding and leathercrafting in retrospect was completely an organic merging of craft forms that came to fruition in my life. I have been infatuated with all things books my entire life. I have collected vintage books for years and just revel in their smell, look, and aura they present to me. I slowly built my "study" over time of books, mostly vintage, and when I've noticed some books begin losing their spines or pages, I always felt the need to learn how to keep old books restored so they can carry their past and their stories into the present and future.
Simultaneously, I also found myself binding all types of books for my childrens' schooling whether it was nature journals, daily journals, personalized lesson plans, and the list goes on. Somehow I felt the urge to intersect my two passions of bookbinding and my love for the nostalgic, old-world feel of old books. That's where leather found it's way into the equation. I started learning historical book binding techniques and was instantly enamored. How else to make books last a lifetime and carry their stories than to be bound in leather meant to last lifetimes, archival paper meant to withstand time, and thick waxed linen thread to hold strong for ages!
To me, journals can be the most therapeutic types of books and that's why I gravitate toward binding all types of journals. I have found all types of journaling to be very beneficial in my own life, and that is actually the third merging of passions that finds it way into my shop. I love that I can use my studio to invent new ways to help others find the practice of journaling and the self-discovery it can bring.
Thanks for visiting my shop, take a look around, and I hope you enjoy the heirloom quality products you'll find.
Lanae, Owner
Hank Belle Journal Co.