
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 keeping precious memories in these unique books.
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Reviews
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D on Jan 31, 2023
5 out of 5 starsReally fun personalized journal that will make a great keepsake! Can't wait to give it as a gift!
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Lacey on Jan 30, 2023
4 out of 5 starsVery helpful, quick delivery, constant communication to make sure product was exactly as desired
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Christie on Jan 21, 2023
5 out of 5 starsThis travel scrapbook is the best thing ever!! It’s gorgeous and well crafted. Thank you!
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Jill on Dec 11, 2022
5 out of 5 starsExcellent product! As advertised and can’t wait to give to my parents!
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mom2zap on Jan 22, 2023
5 out of 5 starsGreat product - love the personalization…. It’s a gift for my daughter’s upcoming trip and she can’t wait to use it, Great customer service and very responsive. If I could give it 10 stars I would!
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Tiff on Jan 19, 2023
5 out of 5 starsJust as gorgeous as promised! I'm so excited to give this to my son's girlfriend.
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Kaitlyn on Jan 18, 2023
5 out of 5 starsLoved this as a unique gift for a traveler! I got this for a big trip my mom is taking and she isn't much of a journal keeper, but this album was a wonderful way to encourage her to keep a variety of memories. I especially love that it includes folders for small keepsakes like ticket stubs!
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Amy on Jan 14, 2023
5 out of 5 starsThis was a huge hit for my family’s upcoming trip to Alaska. The book was personalized just as I requested. I had a lot of questions and the seller answered them quickly. She sent proofs in a very timely manner and shipped the item quickly as well.
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Amy on Jan 14, 2023
5 out of 5 starsThis was a huge hit for my family’s upcoming trip to Alaska. The book was personalized just as I requested. I had a lot of questions and the seller answered them quickly. She sent proofs in a very timely manner and shipped the item quickly as well.
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lefkorders on Jan 4, 2023
5 out of 5 starsThe custom travel journal was a perfect gift for my 10 year old. A big hit, totally unique, and sturdy construction. Shop owner Cindy is lovely to work with and creates a beautifully sized travel journal. She accommodated our request for Ireland and Hawai'i perfectly. I'll be shopping with her again for meaningful and pretty gifts.
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
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Cancellations: accepted
Request a cancellation: within 24 hours of purchase
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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.