"I turned silences and nights into words. What was unutterable, I wrote down. I made the whirling world stand still." - Rimbaud

Words are powerful things, and those of us who are obsessive readers, writers or 'just' compulsive note-makers are at their mercy. Whether we write our own stories, or just try to keep our lives organised, the humble notebook is quite simply an essential tool.

I'm a wordy person (you may notice) - but my creativity ventures in all kinds of directions. Most recently, I have been making collages with vintage postage stamps; however, I have found that my ideal canvas is not a canvas at all, but actually the plain old common-or-garden notebook. I mention this to illustrate just how far my pre-occupation with notebooks stretches... (Check out my collaged notebooks here: http://tanglecrafts.etsy.com)

My collage artwork and a search for the perfect notebook to use as canvas eventually led me to the possibility of having my very own notebooks printed - at first just the covers, and then - finally! - the inner page layouts, too. I was very happy!

I grew up in a house full of books, with parents who were both avid readers and hoarders. My entire adult life, I have worked as a bookseller. I have thus read widely and somewhat eclectically, discovering all manner of word-filled treasures. I love my postage stamp collages, but the (lack of) winter light is not conducive to getting as much work done as I would like. Notebook design, however, can be done in any light, at any time of year, and so my creative frustration has found a new outlet. It is also the perfect excuse to sit down and read a good book, because now that is just 'research'. ;)

I hope this Whirling World shop will appeal to fellow readers, writers and bookish types. The quotations I have chosen for my notebook covers are a very personal selection that (with one or two exceptions) are a little less common. They're the words that have stuck with me over time, and exemplify (or, in some cases, helped to build) my own world-view. They made MY whirling world stand still. :)