




A custom handmade & leather bound journal quickly becomes a steady companion whether you're a world traveler or simply headed to Grandma's house. What makes it even more special is if it's adorned with a vintage map of your city or state. The choices could be as simple as your birthplace or where you currently live, maybe your Alma mater or favored vacation destination. How about you honeymoon? No matter because I'm betting I have an old Gulf or Texaco road map of the local of your choosing. Or . . . I can get it. Really cool maps 40-50 yrs old. Featured in the images here are a few examples. My home state is this banana Republique de Louisiane, so I'm partial to New Orleans maps. So make one of these journals your own. It's easier than you think and all you have to do is contact me. We'll go from there and I'll do all the work. Prices will usually range from $100-$200 depending mostly on size and adorment. And if you'll refer to some of the other journals on my site, you can readily see the quality of work (check out #111, #112, #119, #146 and #181)
NewSouthBooks
As sole proprietor at Studio of Visual Arts, I have been a professional illustrator and printmaker for 35 years. My illustrative work is represented in five Louisiana State Museums, countless corporate collections and has received numerous prestigious grants. NewSouthBooks was born as a natural extension of that same artisanship. I am now producing and marketing handmade, leather bound journals of quality and distinction, each journal a unique presentation with original artwork as adornment. All leather, new or old, is hand-cut and trimmed. I use only the highest quality fine art/printmaking paper (250w), hand stitching each signature. My leather journals are truly bound books using traditional book binding materials. Adding to the distinction is the incorporation of original artwork to inside covers and often, the middle signature. On this site, you'll see many examples of work previously completed for clientele. Just find me and we can discuss making one to suit your individual needs and taste
Michael breathed new life into my husband’s late grandmother’s Bible. This precious keepsake, which was worn from many years of diligent use, can now be something we pass down ourselves thanks to Michael’s skillful hands. Michael kept me updated throughout the process, from receipt of the Bible to delivery, and he was careful to preserve all of the personal notes and scribbles. My husband and I are both thrilled with the end product!
I abaslutly love the work that was done, my bible is beautiful and just what I hoped it would be...He got it out sooner then the 3-4 weeks and simply delighted me. I will most defiantly be sending another in soon. Thank you so much
Making this purchase was a breeze. It turned out to be a beautiful Bible that smells just as good as it looks. It has soft leather with a worn character feel. It is a 10/10 purchase. The one downside, that is not really a big deal, is that the strap is a lighter color, and it wraps both around the front and the back with short ends. It doesn't "tie" very good. I had the feeling it was one long strap that could be wrapped around several times with an easy tuck on the second or third wrap around the book. Besides this minor miscommunication in photos, it is an amazing Bible I will have for years. Thank you for the time and effort you put into crafting this Bible's exterior.
I would absolutely recommend Michael's work if you need a journal, and if you need a custom order, then he's definitely the guy to go to. His craftsmanship is impeccable. He gave me exactly what I asked for - a beautiful, well-made journal. And he was finished with it ahead of schedule. He communicated with me frequently, and was even kind enough to re-ship the journal when the post office erroneously sent it back to him after a shipping snafu. Michael's a true professional all the way down the line.
leather travel journal turned out perfect , great experience ordering from Michael , highly recemended