Wabi Sabi Sketchbook: cotton rag paper, 4 sizes & 3 options

Wabi Sabi Sketchbooks embrace the tactile beauty of handmade cotton rag paper and natural linen.

Their minimalist design is inspired by the Japanese wabi sabi aesthetic of simplicity and incompleteness, and American poet Emily Dickinson's 'packets' (bundles of poetry she kept tied up in string). Slight variations in texture, and optional customisations, means every book is as unique as the artist who holds it, with a quiet beauty that evolves with every use.

A special place for every creative moment

Whether you're capturing a fleeting idea, experimenting with a new technique, or creating a full composition, this sketchbook will be your constant companion. It’s perfect for artists of all skill levels, whatever medium you like to work in, from watercolours, gouache or acrylic paints, to ink and pencil, mixed media collage and stitching. 

A sustainable & ethical art journal

Sustainable, handmade and fair trade, Wabi Sabi Sketchbook are made only with recycled cotton, linen and beeswax. There's a special magic to these natural materials, which offer a tactile invitation to linger over your creativity. They are unadorned and coverless, yet practical and hardwearing.

The number of pages varies by size, but they are all medium-surface 210gsm cotton rag paper that's made from offcuts from the fashion industry. This reduces landfill waste and contributes to environmental protection. The paper is acid-free and both internally and externally sized, making it ideal for both wet and dry artwork.

"Paper thickness for me is perfect - I used ink, charcoal, pen and collage on my pages and no bleed to the other side."  - Samantha, Hampshire

A versatile sketchbook loved by artists

These Wabi Sabi cotton rag sketchbooks lie flat on a table for easy use, thanks to the French linkstitch binding. They also turn 360 degrees in a circle for displaying the contents in a studio or exhibition setting. They feature exposed spine stitching and a woven linen ribbon to keep them securely closed. Because they're bound by hand with time-honoured bookbinding techniques, they'll last your lifetime.

"It is the most exquisite work of art and yet it is still very practical, perfect for all sorts of art work. I just love it." - Melanie, Berkshire

Delivery

Small & medium are in stock and ready to ship. Other sizes, and books enhanced with covers, pockets and fold-outs are made to order; please allow up to 2 weeks plus delivery from the UK. Standard and express delivery options include door-to-door parcel tracking for your peace of mind.

Sizes, approximately

Small, A6 ish: 15 x 10.5 cm / 6 x 4.25 inches, 64 pages if no customisations
Medium, A5 ish: 21 x 15 cm / 8.25 x 6 inches, 80 pages if no customisations (video)
Large, A4 ish: 28 x 21 cm / 11.25 x 8.25  inches, 96 pages
Chunky: same as Large, but with 128 pages

NEW Customise your sketchbook with optional features

Customise your small or medium sketchbook with pockets, fold-outs and/or covers (made to order especially for you, please allow around 2 weeks plus delivery):

• Pockets for storing treasures, inspiration, found objects, fragments
  
• Fold-Out Pages for narratives, landscapes, colour mixing (fold-outs in the small book open horizontally, and in the medium they open vertically)
  
• Cover for durability when you want to archive your sketchbook, leave plain, or title and decorate yourself.
  

"Little secret compartments you stumble across as you work... I've got feathers, thread samples, fabric and different papers tucked in mine."  - Samantha, Hampshire

• Small with only fold-outs OR pockets has 4 x horizontal fold-outs OR pockets and 5 standard sections of pages. 
• Small with fold-outs AND pockets has 2 x horizontal fold-outs, 2 x pockets and 5 standard sections of pages.
• Medium with only fold-outs OR pockets has 5 x vertical fold-outs OR pockets and 6 standard sections of pages.
• Medium with fold-outs AND pockets has 2 x vertical fold-outs, 3 x pockets and 6 standard sections of pages.

"They are exquisitely made, make beautiful gifts and are packed with love." - Leigh, Kent

Alternatives

• Luxurious velvet ribbon versions in various colours
• Also available as part of The Starter and The Complete Cotton Rag Sketchbook Set

Notes

The dark images are by kind permission and copyright © Samantha Boot, 2024. If you'd like to see your Wabi Sabi Sketchbook featured here, do get in touch.

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