Guides
A Fun Activity With Friends: DIY Leather Bag Journal Workshops in Beirut!
We have a feeling you’ll be sending this one straight to your group chat to plan your next outing. And yes, we actually tried it ourselves!
There’s something especially satisfying about making something from scratch, especially when you use it long after the workshop is over. Gaëlle Ghattas Atelier and Piece of Soul are bringing a little creativity to the city with a hands-on workshop where you’ll make your own leather bag journals, complete with three handmade notebooks.
About the collaboration
The collaboration brings together two local creatives. Gaëlle Ghattas is a Lebanese accessories designer known for her handmade bag straps and leather goods. Piece of Soul, founded by Ritalynn Anksoury, is a local handmade stationery brand. She personally designs and creates its notebooks, journals, and other paper goods.
Together, they’re giving you the chance to make their own leather bag journals from scratch.
What to expect from the workshop
The workshop is a hands-on experience, so you’ll be involved in every step of the process. If you’re not familiar with leather bag journals, they’re basically a portable home for all your journaling essentials. They’re designed to hold multiple notebooks, making them perfect for anyone who likes to journal, jot down ideas, sketch, keep a planner, or simply have a place for all their thoughts in one spot.
First, you’ll choose the leather and cut it to size. You’ll have a bunch of colors and textures to choose from, and though you might be tempted to go for a standard black, we recommend choosing something more colorful. Then, you’ll learn how to smooth and bevel its edges, then hand-punching the leather and adding grommets. That’s where the elastics will go in and hold all your notebooks.
You’ll also get to choose the covers for three notebooks, then cut and sew them yourself. Gaëlle and Ritalynn will guide you through the process, so you don’t need any previous leatherworking or bookbinding experience. And if you’d like to make your journal bag even more versatile, you can opt for additional accessories, including handmade straps that turn it into an actual handbag you can carry around.
By the end of the workshop, you’ll leave with leather bag journals, filled with three notebooks you’ve made yourself.
If you want to know when the next leather bag journal workshop is, make sure to reach out to them via Instagram so you can be added to the WhatsApp group!
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