If you know a bit about me, you know my obsession with sketchbooks. Unruled journals. Spiral bound preferred. I wrote a bit about my sketchbooks last year during my gig as Guest Mom on DesignMom.com. 
So, naturally, I was thrilled to discover Jacob Deatherage’s Journals at the Renegade Craft Fair in San Francisco recently! His company, Ex Libris Anonymous, recycles old books into journals, each containing about 75 sheets of acid free paper that is perfect for sketching. Between the blank pages, Jacob leaves in a few original pages from the book. So cool, so vintage, so charming. Need I mention practical?
Jacob’s website, BookJournals.com, is full of fun, vintage repurposed books priced so low you can buy in bulk. You will love his blog featuring lovelies found within the pages of the books he salvages. Here are my Ex Libris Anonymous journals and the sweet things I found inside:
Super nice Jacob was wonderful enough to offer some of his books for a giveaway on my blog! The Foot Book and Yaller-Eye.
To enter the giveaway, please go check out his online store HERE, then come back and leave Jacob a nice comment! I will announce TWO winners next Friday, August 7, so be very sure you leave a way for me to contact you if you win. DEADLINE TO ENTER is noon (PDT), Thursday, August 6.UPDATE: This giveaway is now closed. You can click HERE for the results.
140 comments:
this is amazing i love how he has books of all different types. i picked up something similar several years ago at a new/used bookstore in willits, ca i thought..."i could do that" i never did tho. glad someone did. i so hope i win!
you can contact me at www.tallysplace.blogspot.com
I never win anything so I'm not here with the hopes of winning a journal but to tell you that your journals are pieces of our past. A little time capsule to our childhoods and it would be an honor to own one (win or buy!). They are wonderful and charming and a snapshot of our youth! What a lovely use of sad book (covers) that are no longer loved or wanted...!
I love the "When It happened this Way"
and the "Blue bridge" journals.
These are so amazing!!!
Awesome work!
Thanks for the awesome giveaway, and turning me on to him!
k8085@hotmail.com
They are so fun and cute. Brilliant idea.
christiadkins@sbcglobal.net
What a cool giveaway. I absolutely love the Nancy Drew journals, especially "The Hidden Staircase".
These are the most groovy journals I have ever seen!!! I also have a love journals and all things papery. Thanks for thinking of this give away! You can contact me at: becky@thestitchingbasket.com
The foot book is a favorite at our house! They also have tootle on the website. These are so cool!
I adore journals, but I'm always weird about starting to write in them-lol. I don't want to mess them up. [So strange I know]
www.kunklebaby.com
LOVE LOVE LOVE the golden book ones! How cute is that!!! Thanks so much!
www.mytreasuredcreations.blogspot.com
What an awesome way to recycle! I love vintage books and journals. So cool!
My contact info:
lily.beth.smith@gmail.com
So lovely. Creative, eco-friendly, vintage, beautiful....seriously, what more could you ask for? I absolutely adore the Black Beauty journal! So nostalgic, brings me back to my childhood!
What an incredible idea! Love all the different types and sizes of books.
danascrapsATcomcast.net
What a great idea! As I looked at the covers, I thought of several people in my life who need these and what great gifts they would make. I'll go back when I have more time to shop!
Thanks Cathe!
I love them! I really like how some of my favourite books from my childhood are there, especially Nancy Drew. Also, I think we used to have some of those encyclopedias around the house when I was a kid. I can think of so many uses for these books. I'm thinking of buying one of the cookbook covers to use for my family recipes.
What a creative way to reuse! I love these, especially the Hardy Boys journals. Great price too!
What a clever idea! Who doesn't love a blank journal? especially one with just a neat cover. I love the "When I grow Up." one.. I wish there was a "little black Sambo" one on there for my mom. That was her favorite book as a child.
It's actually hard to find unlined journals to use as sketchbooks....especially with such cool covers! I love the foot book one!
I'd heard about this idea, but somehow seeing it makes them even more appealing. Great choices of covers!!
Sue
Love idea of making old books "new" again.
Very cool journals.
info [AT] bombaycreative.com
Um, August 4 is actually Tuesday, it's my birthday then :)
Those journals are just fabulous! I love books and I love journals so combining them is probably the best idea I've heard :) thank you for giving us the opportunity to own one!
have a lovely weekend!
Wow- these are beautiful. I almost wouldn't want to journal in it!!
I love the Joy of Cooking for hadwritten recipes, The Party Book, and I think my fav is When I Grow Up.
He does fantastic work!!
Journals and stationary seem to be my favorite things to collect and this would be a fantastic addtion- to win OR buy!
I think these are so cool! There were a lot I didn't recognize on there (yes, I'm a baby :)) but there were some that I grew up on. I love the vintage feel that is preserved by keeping little bits of each intact. These are just a glimpse into a much simpler time, which many people around my age have no recollection of! Neat idea!
boxermom17@yahoo.com
These are so seriously cool! 'Your Manners are Showing' and 'Art Stories' are my top two favorites. I also hate to start in one for fear of 'messing it up' but if I win one, I promise to jump right in lol! These are wonderful.
my contact info:
theresainms AT hotmail.com
theresainms.blogspot.com
I love this! He has a great site and lots of fun items. I'm glad he keeps some original stuff in the notebooks. Makes it more exciting.
-Lauren
lauren51990 AT aol DOT com
What a super idea ~ kudos to Jacob! All book covers have such wonderful, mellow colors. I put four in my cart already ~ there's even a sale going on right now. Buy 5 get 1 free! Great Christmas gift ideas.
Thank you so much for sharing Jacob's website with us and his blog...great stuff there too!
These are great books! they look great for inspiration!
What a great idea!! I love when I grow up and Cowboy & Flop!! Fabulous!! I think one of these will go on my christmas list of must haves. Thank you for sharing!!
Kyla
Love these! I especially liked the cowboy sam cover.
Oh my gosh! What a terrific idea Jacob had! It's green, it's something everyone would like and it can be very personal! Old books bring back so many memories! I love the Nancy Drew Hidden Staircase, and Heidi. I'm bookmarking his website, and I'll be ordering Christmas presents from him.
http://songberries.blogspot.com/
OMIGOSH! I LOVE THESE! I MUST have one. IMMEDIATELY!!!!
What a great idea:)
sara.andrus@gmail.com
www.savvystitcher.blogspot.com
Love these cool journals and the fact that they use recycled goods is even sweeter!!! I would love the win one of these great journals! Keep up the great work!!
What a very cool idea! Thanks for the chance to win! lynnosborne[at]verizon[dot]net
I absolutely love these. What an amazing idea. I love journals and these are fantastic.
those are amazing! love them!
Ohhhh, I LOVE "It Happened This Way". What could be a better title for a journal? I see reams of paper, filled with little autobio comics! Yes!
I love that there are a few extra pages left in, to keep the personality of each individual book-- really sets these apart from most of the recycled journals!
Such a great idea to save these covers.. kid's books and cookbooks have an unusually short lifespan if they're loved, being subject to all sorts of batterings and troubles not given to, say, a nice edition of The Rights of Man. They deserve a second life!
carapacenator(at)gmail.com
I love all the vintage notebooks. My favorite is Dr. Seuss of course - it brings me back to my childhood. So, so very unique! Love them all!
www.skylarsclips.blogspot.com
skylars.candyclips@gmail.com
what a great idea? awesome. i need that penguin journal. sweet.
I love any idea that rescues and reuses old, beloved books so this idea of turning them into journals for us to use and love all over again is just brilliant! I'm on my way back to the site now to look some more!
freeman5262@gmail.com
recycling at it's finest, and oh so nice to look at too!
ok. I can't help myself. I love these. I love journals and these are so fun cause they remind me of the books I read as a girl. Nancy Drew! I love it.
I must say I have never seen these before and would have never thought to do this as a recycled project...great idea Jim..I love it...and thanks for the invote to your place...
visit me at: deedeescraftspot.blogspot.com
So these are just too much fun! I wish I could post a photo because I found one called "An old Fashioned Girl" The double meanings are too much to giggle about.
My favorites are 'Black Beauty" and "Old Fashioned Girl"... I these would make wonderful gifts and I'm thinking of a few people who would love to get them as Christmas gifts-- they're so unique and affordable-- I LOVE them!
1bscott@centurytel.net
I just love these, so adorable! My favorite things books & journals :) I really love the one titled It really happened this way
LOL, Jacob is hilarious! I just love his humor and his journals. Best thing to happen since peanut butter :)Vicky...
vicmeier@hotmail.com
These are adorable and August 4th has always been my lucky day. Fingers crossed.
i just bought 2!! i can hardly wait to give them to my sister (nancy drew) and friend (chiquito y cola rizada)!! what fun...thanks!
I love all the little bits of handwriting left in. I think that's the best part, knowing it belonged to someone first makes me happy. :)sp
Ooh, my favorites are the ones made out of Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books. That really takes me right back to my childhood! What a clever idea for old books!
if it happens to be my lucky day and I win, you can reach me at www.samanthaleelee.blogspot.com
I read all those Nancy Drew novels. That is such a great idea! I love them, love them, love them.
I would love to have the When I grow up journal for my daughter's homeschool diary. These are so cute and remind me of when I was little! Thanks for the chance!
Wow, these sketchbooks are such a great idea! I checked out the website and I am totally in love with the idea of Nancy Drew sketchbooks! I'd love to win!
OMG, I love these book. I bought a couple-A Nancy Drew and a Dick & Jane reader. Thanks for the heads-up Cathe. What a great recycling idea. Sally Hackney sjhackney@yahoo.com
I am a sucker for journals and notebooks of any kind. The other thing I am a sucker for is all things old! The perfect combination. I would treasure one of these.
Totally cool! As a just retired children's librarian - I LOVE them! As we were purging older books I wished we had known about this - I would definitely have offered them up or would have tried to try one. Love the Nancy Drew - my favorites.
wandalee3@aol.com
Very, very cool!!! I would LOVE the Foot Book one .... that is the first book both my oldest and I fell in love with together!
That is a really great idea. The cookbooks would be great to put family recipes in and pass on to a new bride in the family or just to journal all of them. I really like the foor book one though
I have been a fan of ex libris anonymous books for several years now, but I've never owned one. You can reach me at kelly at womenwisemarketing dot com.
Thanks!
This is the cutest idea. I hope you are at the Renegade Fair in Chicago September 11 and 12.
I love the Little Golden books- really brings back memories of when I was a little girl.
Ooh, so much fun! Love all the vintage titles (scary how many of them I recognize, though!), especially the old Nancy Drew!
Wow - those are wonderful. My heart started beating so fast to see the readers I had from 1st or 2nd grade. Great idea and nicely done!
I am a speech-language pathologist in a school and I use books all the time to increase language knowledge. I have tons of meetings that I have to attend with parents. I would love to be able to take notes in one of these lovely journals. They will also make great Christmas presents for my teacher friends!
Beautifully done! The site has been bookmarked.
what a creative idea! i love that these treasured books that are worn from love are being remade into something for someone else to love and cherish. as a teacher and mother, the golden books are precious to me.
Wow. Those are beautiful! I agree with you; I like unlined, spiral bound journals the best.
Jacob, your journals are fantastic! I literally just swooned over the "An Old Fashioned Girl" journal.
What a great way to recycle old books that are probably doomed for the dump. How creative! I am glad to here from your blog that I am not the only one addicted to journals. I always buy them and never have enough to put in them. I would love to win so that I could have one more for my collection and maybe do some reading too. I love Dr. Seuss!
You can contact me at
quiltinthingsforyou@sympatico.ca
I love books. As children, each of us in the family was taught to respect books. We were taught that books aretpur friends.I love that Jacob has included children's books, too. What an excellent way to help unlock adults' inner childs as well as introduce younger folks to journaling. A nice book would be a great way to get me journaling, again!
What a cute & creative idea. Not only do you get a fun looking sketch book, but some fun reading in between the pages!
Thank you for sharing with us!
~Nadine
I absolutely love these adorable books! The cookbooks look amazing and are SO CUTE! The prices are so reasonable too! I especially love the Pressure Cooking book, it looks so lovely.
technowizard12@gmail.com
OMG! His site is amazing! And fast too btw. I would never would have thought do something like this with old books. So clever! I saw two of them I like a lot on the site. ;) You can put two of your favorite hobbies together into one: reading and drawing and not feel bad about drawing 'inside the book'! Genious! :D
I've never seen the cool feature of "drag the book to the cart"...LOL...little things like that impress me. I love the books! Too cool! Thanks for sharing. I love "When It Happened This Way"
for you...
http://theredheadriter.blogspot.com/2009/08/secrets-friends-and-sharing.html
I love these! especially the little golden books...
Jacob, a guy who thinks to include NANCY DREW is doing a splendiforous, comprehensive job!
Love these!
such a cool way to recycle classics. i do love the little golden book collection and the nancy drew's. they are so fantastic. and the cookbooks. they're all amazing.
-kate
jaded_anthem@yahoo.com
Uber cool! I love Jacob's creative vintage style!
Very sweet! Love the site. Brought back some childhood memories.
These are so cool! You could definitely find something special for everyone you know!! Love it!
http://www.aliandsethinthecity.blogspot.com
These are really neat. I especially like his blog entries with found things. I wonder what I have left in books. Never a whole cannabis leaf or two, but maybe a detention slip. More likely one of those "I love Johnny 4-ever type notes. Check them out. The "gay science" is hilarious. Never know, I'll have to keep an eye on his list might see something I recognize as mine. So funny.
And Kunklebaby, I have the same problem, I have several blank journals that I haven't written in because they are just to good to waste and I'm waiting for just the right thing to put in them.
Karen- SouthoftheBorder58@gmail.com
This is the first time I've seen book journals, and i should say...I'm impressed! I especially like the Blue Pacific legal division journal. *crossing fingers*
katch05 at gmail dot com
The books are wonderful, and reminded me of two really sweet dedications I found in two old books. I'll post them tomorrow and let you know. Thanks for sharing these books and the wonderful blog as well! :)
I want the 'When I Grow Up' journal!
I love these journals! I am an elementary teacher and I can think of so many fun ways to use these in my classr
Wow!!!! Love them This is taking Journals to another level.
If I win you can contact me at
www.donaldacreations@msn.com
These are amazing! I think it's really great that he's taken old books and wasn't scared to take them apart and turn them into something new. He's also taken time scoping out the perfect covers!
What I love most about these is that nobdoy has to know they're your journal. I would be honoured to own one of these journals in remembrance of what they were as well as celebration of what they've become :)
elysha.degroot[at]gmail.com
The journal idea is great! Makes very interesting gifts to give nieces and nephews that like to read and are budding artists. Gives them a whole new medium to work with on coming up with their own story ideas or even a journal to "hide" on their bookshelves.
And since I don't have a Blogger, the way to contact me is tenshiya_lysa at yahoo.com
Those books are terrific ! So beautiful ! Just makes me want to read one...
I just love "When I grow up"'s cover... And would be sooooo happy to read "the foot book" ! The cover and the title are just what I like !
These are great, Jacob! It makes me happy that none of these great old covers ended up in a landfill/recycling plant. :)
Very cool.
Kandice
kalt0206@yahoo.com
What a brilliant idea his website is so great! I love both books in your giveaway but I must admit I love the "Foot Book" just too darn cute!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Christine
www.thejourneyfromconcepttoreality.blogspot.com
Oh my goodness, how fun are these. These would make such great gifts. Thanks for the chance to win ... now off to shop.
These are way cool! What a fun idea! These will make great Christmas gifts.
Jacob is brilliant! I love these so much. Especially love "your manners are showing". Great find!
colleen@saffronandgenevieve.com
What an awesome idea! I love it!
And I'm pretty sure my dad used to tell me Yellow-Eye/Yaller-Eye stories. Pretty neat!
Email me at j.hillam@yahoo.com.
Blog at hillamcasa.blogspot.com.
Fingers crossed!
I love these! Very original and fun!
tiffany(dot)hillam(at)gmail(dot)com
I love the health books and cook books! Old fashioned is the way the way to go. So much care and time put into these! They are lovely!
themusicalkitten[at]gmail[dot]com
http://musicalkitten.etsy.com
What a great idea! I particularly loved the Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Section!! And some of the titles just cracked me up (Countdown to Armageddon??!!). Great pieces!
What a fun idea!! I'd love one!!
Sandi
sugarbushfarm219@yahoo.com
Jacob has a great thing going here! So many books that bring back childhood memorys . . . I want them all! Please pick me to win one! uffda_68787@yahoo.com (PS - I love your blog!)
So amazing! What a great idea! I'd love to win the foot book! It's one of my daughter's favorites!
Terrific idea! Love the old cookbooks. Great giveaway!
piecesoftheskyATgmail.com
What a wonderful way to recycle and make something so lovely and useful!!
~Erica
www.zunkychic.com
how clever & charming > I saw so msny I love
Not only a neat, practical idea, but a cool check out system on his website!
Patty
tompatty@prodigy.net
This is so cool. Not only creative, but innovative as well.
aikychien at yahoo dot com
So many talented people out there!!
The journals are the cutest thing I've seen in a long time. Would love to be the owner of one. Please enter me in the drawing.
Donna djgarden13@hotmail.com
I loving the Golden Books journals - such a fun way to write things down on. I carry one (sometimes two) journals with me on a daily basis - loved his shop.
I just think this is the coolest idea....love the vintage look and also so great that he is putting those wonderful old bookcovers to work so that a whole new generation of people can use and enjoy them! AND how cool is it that he sticks in some of the original pages and such, what a little treat to run into those while going through your journal! ♥♥
Please add me to the drawing, I want one really, really bad!
Smiles, Karen
These sketchbooks are great! I saw so many covers that reminded me of books we had around the house when I was growing up. My favorite was the old Nancy Drew book, The Clue in the Old Album.
Nine Circles
Ninecirclesofdebt at gmail dot com
These are awesome! Adorable and fun and a fantastic way to recycle/reuse on top of it! Mother Earth is smiling down upon you!
kkondek at gmail.com
I've never seen anything like this before! So cool! I really like the Heidi book, and all the Nancy Drew books bring back a lot of memories...
what a wonderful idea. i love the children's book covers. i will be marking this site for christmas gifts.
I love love LOVE these journals! Being something of a journal nut I have to say I'm impressed!!! And seeing as how my birthday is on the 8th I'm feeling lucky!!
I could easily buy one of each. Brilliant and charming. I especially love the Little Golden Books. The Our Home one would be perfect for dreaming and planning our upcoming move. Thanks for the great giveaway!
I've seen other journals similar to these and I think they are great! I would love to win one of these. I am bookmarking Jacob's site so I can go there more often. I love that he keeps some of the artwork in. Thanks for the giveaway.
jenny
whitejennifer7@gmail.com
Fantastic stuff! I really love unlined journals/sketchbooks, and these are exactly my thing. I find the Little Golden Books journals especially charming.
Thanks for the giveaway!
emily(dot)cibelli(at)gmail(dot)com
What a great idea to use book covers for new journals. Especially if the book is not in the best shape, like missing pages and whatnot......FUN! The Nancy Drew brings back a lot of memories of reading those books in my early years!
what an awesome idea! :D
cindyascott[at]yahoo.com
I adore these sketch books. Especially the way they are a cloak for what is inside! These would make fantastic art journals, for private art and thoughts.
What a great idea! So much cooler than a plain journal. Thanks for the giveaway.
Donna
knightdomino@yahoo.com
I just stumbled upon your blog through Whitney English's website and I am so glad I did. We are fixing to start the process of building a house and I am trying to find just the right journal for me to put my creativity on paper so I dont forget all of my thoughts! These journals are amazing! Perfect for jotting down my ideas, sketching and pasting pictures! What a wonderful idea! I kept all my Little Golden Books from growing up and now my daughter loves them and I love the old time feel of them! I would love to have them as a journal.
Amazing work Jacob!!
Jessica
smjdaniels@gmail.com
The little Golden books, so precious... not to mention the tribute to Dr. Seuss! Lovely, just lovely all of them! Going to leave him so of these compliments too. Thanks for sharing all your great ideas and the buttons for the blog... some friends and I are about to set up a crafty blog and used some of them! So sweet!
teammartins.blogspot.com
Brilliant!!! I love this idea and wish I would have thought of it!
Brings back warm feelings of books I read during my childhood.
lmswindell@yahoo.com
*Swoon* The end pages are wonderful! And what a great price. I work in a library, everybody is going to want to see this. *posting to facebook*
I love these books!! A brilliant way to reuse old books! Go Jacob!!
dclautt@yahoo.com
What a great idea - these sketchbooks are great. What a beautiful giveaway - hope I'll win.
Thanks
Naomi
this is such a great idea...& i especially love all the nancy drews & little goldens. it's so fun to reminisce!
Jacob's journals are awesome. I saw them at Renegade in LA and have wished I bought one a few times. I would LOVE to win one!
those are the cutest books. Great gifts for the cook or a child who wants to have their own sketchbook! And of course I like the Nancy Drew series! Lots of memories!
you can contact me at storybeader@gmail.com
Love the journals! What a clever way to reuse a piece of the past. Count me in!
Oh...You can contact me here:
Jhoni at
froggingout@gmail.com
if I'm the lucky winner
What a great idea! I love all the golden books. It must be great fun to use one of these recycled books as a journal. Please count me in your draw. I would LOVE to win one.
***smiles**
Carol
i love these journals! i can already think of a million people to give one as a gift (plus one for me, of course!)!
Looking at all of these wonderful journals brought back lots of good memories. Keep up the good work.
contact me at
awelch2706@aol.com
Hey Jacob! I've linked to your site before... I love what you do with old books. What a fun way to recycle!! LOVE THEM:-)
That is very cool! I love journals and notebooks, too.
What an incredible and thrifty idea. I especially love how he used the cookbooks. I am down for a few of these...and the giveaway as well. Thank you!!
What a great idea! I love notebooks and journals and vintage and ephemera... so they are perfect!
Congratulations for your work Jacob!
And thank you for the giveaway!
alicecruz@gmail.com
wooow i reallly love your books.. and especially that you've added a new edge to recycling books by adding few vintage pages inside!
wooow i reallly love your books.. and especially that you've added a new edge to recycling books by adding few vintage pages inside!
Jacob! Good work! They don't make books like they used to anymore. Thank you for tying the then and the now. The journals look wonderful.
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