FreeRangeBookbinding
Top shop for gifts.
Buyers bought gifts from this shop and gave them 5-star reviews!
Announcement Featured in Travel + Leisure magazine as one of the best travel journals to bring on your adventure! Be among the thousands of happy travelers worldwide that keep their precious memories in these unique books. https://www.travelandleisure.com/style/travel-accessories/best-travel-journals
Announcement
Featured in Travel + Leisure magazine as one of the best travel journals to bring on your adventure! Be among the thousands of happy travelers worldwide that keep their precious memories in these unique books. https://www.travelandleisure.com/style/travel-accessories/best-travel-journals
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Reviews
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Lisa on Sep 4, 2021
5 out of 5 starsThank you for the beautiful books. I can not wait to write in them on our trip.
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nellesmom on Aug 26, 2021
5 out of 5 starsTruly a wonderful experience. The shop owner was SO communicative and helpful. Extremely high quality, you really cannot ask for better. 100% worth the price.
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Lisa on Aug 13, 2021
5 out of 5 starsSmall size makes it great to pack — great gift for a honeymoon trip! Beautiful.
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Denise on Jul 30, 2021
5 out of 5 starsMy expectations were exceeded: I received a high quality and unique item ahead of the projected delivery date AND I experienced unsurpassed customer service. FreeRangeBookbinding is a a high quality and trustworthy organization.
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Darleen on Jul 29, 2021
5 out of 5 starsSo unique and original! Seller was very communicative. Cannot wait to give this gift.
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Toby on Jul 18, 2021
5 out of 5 starsSeller with wonderful communication!! You can tell the journal is handmade with care and love! I can’t wait to use it! Thank you so much!!!
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cwetzel29 on Sep 12, 2021
5 out of 5 starsWow, what a shop!! I purchased this as a gift to give my fiancé on our wedding day, for us to fill with all of our future memories! I can’t say enough about this but, It turned out AMAZING!!
Cindy was such a pleasure to work with - she worked with me and my ideas before I had even purchased the book. I had sent her a screenshot of a map I loved as inspiration, and she went above and beyond to find that EXACT map to use! She sent me proofs throughout the process to make sure I was happy with how everything looked.
I am beyond pleased with the quality of this item and look forward to using it for years to come - I would absolutely order from this shop again.
Thank you Cindy for creating such a wonderful, lifelong gift I am proud to give my husband as we embark on our new beginning. You rock!! -
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Amanda on Sep 3, 2021
5 out of 5 starsThis is the 3rd book I’ve purchased from this store. I bought each one as a gift for my recently engaged friends, instead of a dedication I put lyrics from what will be their wedding song and they all absolutely loved it (we’re talking tears). Cindy was so patience, kind and accommodating as I worked out the kinks of what I wanted. The craftsmanship is amazing, I will 100% be purchasing another one.
About FreeRangeBookbinding
Bookbinding: A Love Story
Some time in 2007, I became obsessed with handmade books. Exposed spine coptic bound books, to be precise. I saw a photo of one online and became absolutely driven to learn how to make them.
I had to make books.
Had. To.
I bought half a dozen instructional manuals to try to teach myself, but as a kinetic learner, I just couldn't get the process from a flat page. (Have you ever looked at knitting instructions? Stitching instructions for books are very similar. Yeah. Not happening.)
I finally gave up on teaching myself and searched the internet to look for a class somewhere close to me. I stumbled upon a place I'd never heard of: John C. Campbell Folk School.
They had me at hello.
It was a lot of money to spend on something that seemed a little frivolous in light of other pressing demands of the day. But in May 2007, I spent a week at the Folk School learning how to make books. Little did I know what a life changing week that would be.
I got home, bought basic bookbinding supplies and immediately set up a shop in my home office. I had no plans whatsoever, even then, to make a business out of bookbinding. I just had to make books. I couldn't stop.
By the end of the summer, the books were really starting to pile up. Like, literally. Around that same time, I heard about a little website called Etsy. I decided to give it a try.
Years later, the office is now the studio, and I work at making books full time. I'm still obsessed.
I have to make books.
Have. To.
In 2015, I came full circle and taught a week long class in bookbinding at the Folk School myself. I turned out five new bookbinders that I think are a little obsessed themselves now. It's contagious. After great reviews, I was invited back in 2016. You can read about it at my shop website.
If you got this far, thanks for listening. Buy handmade.
Shop members
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Cindy Leaders
Owner, Designer, Creator
Shop policies
Shipping
Payment options
Returns & exchanges
I gladly accept returns and cancellations
I don't accept exchanges
The following items can't be returned or exchanged
- Custom or personalized orders
I accept returns I do not accept returns
I accept exchanges I do not accept exchanges
I accept cancellations I do not accept cancellations
Because of the nature of these items, unless they arrive damaged or defective, I can't accept returns for:
Privacy policy
More information
Frequently asked questions
Can you pinky swear promise I'll get my book in time for [insert Important Occasion here]?
Well, no. I can only personally guarantee a ship date, not a delivery date, since once I mail it, I'm not in charge of when it's delivered. Unless I bring it to your house. Which I'm happy to do if you live in my home town. Otherwise we both have to trust to USPS to do its job in a timely manner. I offer upgraded shipping on every item, so please go with your own personal trust level in the postal service to get it to you in the available time.
A lot of your travel journals look kind of the same. Can you explain the differences?
I've pared my shop down during a big life transition of selling and moving house, so all of my books are currently one design -- my compact versatile travel journal. The only thing that varies is the cover. Hopefully we will settle back down in 2021, and I will begin offering my full range of products again.
Can I return my item if my plans change?
Probably not with rare exceptions. You'll see in my policies that custom or personalized items may not be returned. This includes items that are custom made for you, even if they are not personalized. Unless your book is listed as "Ready to Ship," I'm making it just for you, and it is not returnable.