#diy #journaling #writing #drawing Joe unveils his newest journaling system, that moves away from bound journal books to loose sheets of paper, ring-bound for archiving.
Nice idea. Fun fact - Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence on a writing box, or portable writing desk. It was made to Jefferson's specifications by a cabinetmaker and is currently in the Smithsonian's Museum of American History. May each of us be as influential in our writing.
I thought I was the only one that started a journal and jumped to another one that caught my attention before I finished the first one. Great video, thanks for sharing.
The Circa junior system is my paper binder common place book. Actually, I have two sets of rings and two binder covers. One cover is a rigid plastic and it houses my day to day pages. The leather cover is my archival place for ideas, quotes, and all subjects close to my heart. Since I can move pages around I can reassign a “home” for any pages in either book. The thin plastic cover binder has my monthly calendar and essential subjects pages so I keep it with me. I buy wonderful multi-colored paper and dividers. Best system ever also because there are no 3-ring style rings. There are other companies besides Levenger but a search on that site for “Circa” shows how easy it is to insert and remove sheets silently. Love your site. New subscriber.
🙋♀️ me too! I love this elegant solution. :) I would probably make a loop with black elastic (the kind seamstresses use) to hold the paper on the surface, and it would also help trap the sheets in the storage area. Thanks for sharing!
A great idea! And the final product looks immaculate. I hope it works out for you! I’d suggest pre-perforating your stored papers, so that you don’t write or draw over your perforation zone (I myself found that out the hard way, lol !) Write on!
Most folks don’t take the time to stop & reflect on things in their life that work for them & things that just don’t. I enjoyed hearing your thoughtful process of reviewing the various journals features that most appealed to you & your style. Creating your personalized artist’s desk was (r)evolutionary in so many ways. Carry on oh kindred spirit. Well done!
What a great idea. It looks like a system that you could package and sell to other creatives who want to journal. Like "scrapbooking" for journal writers. I'd buy one.👍👍👍👍👍
I've never related so much to a Journaling video. I've used them all. Midori, hobonichi cousin, even campus and soft ring binders etc. Moleskin, leuchtturm 1917, and finally settling on a generic Korean planner with rings. The journey is very fun! Lol
I’d be happy with a marble notebook that’s as good as one you could buy anywhere 10+ years ago. They’re all so flimsy now and the paper is a joke. >.< Don’t get me started on the state of legal pads!
I know this is tangential, but just in case it helps someone, I did see somewhere else, a woman who bound her pages herself, which was a way. She beautifully incorporated cages of different sizes, shapes, sources and made something that was entirely hers. If I remember correctly, it was her way of creating her travel journal incorporating travel mementos, like ticket stubs or flowers. There's so much creative energy here. It's really amazing and inspiring. Thank you!
This is great! I think the best thing about this video is seeing how happy it makes you that you found a solution to your problem and how excited you are to use it, test out trials & errors, etc. Thank you for sharing. Now I’m just in a good mood after this!
I was thinking a thick, possibly fairly large, rubber band would work. It could right across the middle, and then it could serve as a holder for the loose paper on top while still allowing it to move.
I think I would actually just place a binder clip over the slot. I know that doesn’t fit Joe’s aesthetic, but it would block the paper from falling out and would double as a clamp for holding the paper in windy conditions.
A large rubber band that goes around the narrow part of the pad can serve 2 purposes. It can solve his issue of keeping the paper in place while writing while still being able to shift it up as he writes. All while keeping the stored paper from falling out.
Very nice "desk". For the papers you could make a thin tray/drawer - it will keep them inside and you can slide it out to sort and reorder papers, especially thinner ones. A small magnets will keep it in place or you can use a mini latch. Would be also good place for a pen. I think I have to do one for me (I am a hobby woodworker and CAD designer).
Two things I’ve done to achieve a similar goal: - the discbound system - the office supply stores stock junior / half-sheet pages. I carry as small of a notebook as I want, and move pages to the archive after. - Hobonichi notebooks - I take them to the local office store (Staples) and I then punch and use discs as well. I love that Japanese paper! Discbound is amazing!
Love Discbound!! I get the junior size (8 discs) with some nice covers, and buy cheap blank or lined 5×8" index cards, and punch ‘em myself. The ruled lines go sideways from the usual direction, making a landscape notebook instead of portrait orientation. But that works great for me! The heft of light weight index cards is a lot nicer to me than regular thick paper. My ultimate pages would be dot grid index cards (would suit both portrait and landscape!), but they’re horribly expensive to hunt down and purchase, and I could print them directly onto the index cards using my printer, but at the moment I’ve had to put my printer in storage, so that’s not convenient (yet).
I was going to say Discbound as well! I bought a punch so I can make my own covers/papers. I like the flexibility of storing papers as small as business cards all in the same archive. (Plastic placemats work well as covers!)
I like my disk bound planner. I can carry as much or as little of it as I need to, arrange it to suit my needs, etc. I also like the way Grumbacher (think it's the Academy line) has bound the wire bound art paper books they sell at Walmart. You can remove the pages and put them back in later. Other brands do it too, it's just the one I can remember off the top of my head. The pages are also perforated if you want to remove the paper hooks.
That is brilliant! Well done 👏🏽 How about a removable band to keep the paper in and it could hold the paper but still allow it to slide up and down. I love what you said at the end too, very inspiring. Thank you 🙏🏽
Such a good idea! I already use a loose leaf system because I like to type my journal but occasionally if I am travelling I don’t always have a typewriter and I love your idea of including sketches etc in the journal. I’ve never tried that! I’m also a woodworker so making one is a simple project. I might try to find a way to incorporate a pen storage slot for my fountain pen. You’ve given me so many ideas in this one video.
Love your idea. I am currently using A5 3 ring binder and loose leaf paper. I think, if you wanted to or if anyone using something similar wanted to, you could just get plain old clothing elastic from a sewing section, and sew the two ends together and slip it around your "desk". Then you can slide the paper up and down the desk or it will help if your thumb slips and it will help hold your papers in the middle to keep them from falling out. Just a thought.
An elegant, well-thought-out design. I could see using the acrylic side for quick notes with a removable marker. The ability to have different paper types and a good writing surface at hand wherever you are is great.
Filofax became very popular in the 1980s but existed many years before that, and my late father used similar small ringbound folders in the 1950s. Many companies jumped on the wagon. They came in a variety of sizes, and you can buy a six hole punch to include any kind of paper. They were very cool I think. Having said that, I now favour notebooks. I agree that carrying your archive around isn't ideal, especially if you might lose it. Having said that, I value them, and have never lost one. I would also add the thought that journaling is a great kind of therapy, and although there is a tendancy to write when you are in the depths, or on the heights, and not so much in between, nevertheless it does help.
I love the ability to slide the paper up for a good writing postion. Two ideas: 1 - Regarding holding the paper: how about an elastic across the board at the top end. Tight enough to hold the paper, "slippery" enough to allow to smoothly slide the paper upwards. 2 - A very thin and stiff board, maybe bamboo. Attached to a similar size pocket or folder (plastic, leather) for the paper storage / filing. They can be opened like a notebook or detached to enable nice writing on flat surfaces. On the go without any table, the system can be used just like your current version.
@@joaoalbertodosanjosgomes1536I like the rubber band idea too. You could also slide that binder down to the middle to keep the stored paper from sliding out in transit
The hand position changing as your fill up a page in a notebook drives me bonkers! What an elegant solution - love that you dreamed it and made it real too!
Very nice! The one thing I am taking away from this is how often you change your journaling system. I've tried journaling on and off for about 15 years now but could never stick with it. One thing that keeps getting in my way is my anxiety and perfectionism regarding finding the perfect system for journaling, or finding a one size fits all solution to journaling. What I've learned from this video is I should just stick with it, and let my system evolve naturally over time, and that it is ok to keep changing systems or try new things. Thank you!
Nice looking build and seems really functional for your purpose. However, such a thing does exist commercially, know as a "Storage Clipboard". Often used by warehouse or delivery or repair techs and such.
Love this, the use of analogue systems in a digital world!! But have you thought of getting all your pages scanned to a digital medium so if anything happens to these pages (fire/flood) and you will still have a backup of all the work you have done over the decades.
I love this! I think storing it in a box like this is a really good sounding approach. It reminds me a little of like artist's portfolio type folder things, only the box feels a lot more permanent and lasting, and I love the simple aesthetic you've got there. I'm curious why you discarded the magnetic flap part of the idea. Are you storing it in something to keep paper from falling out or getting wet while you're porting it around? I also wonder re: the clipping of the paper - I get what you're saying re: the ability to kind of scroll upwards and keep your hand in a good position without losing leverage etc. I wonder about adding kind of a strip with a ledge under it you could use to slide the paper under to guide the paper as you slide it up, along one side. Then I could still slide it upwards but also keep a consistent alignment. I guess for me the guide would be on the right, as I'm left-handed. I suppose my other modifications - I like tech, obviously this fails the simplicity angle a little - would be to use a usb lightpad for the hard plastic cover side. Maybe one with ruled sides so I could measure stuff. This way I could see what I was writing at night, and also trace things as desired.
Many, many years ago when I was learning shorthand we used steno pads that were about 1/2 sheet size but they were Spiral bound at the top. As we worked to the bottom of the page, we were taught to push up on the paper so that we kept getting good purchase on the notebook. Something that few people remember how to do now.
There’s something I love about this… maybe it’s the change from finding that perfect journal, or spending money on a leather cover for cheap journals. It’s so cool!
I love finding ‘my people’!!!!! So, I’ve had the idea ( and actually started the process but switched around to others 🤗) of using the thin travel journals and then 3-hole punching them into a binder such as the one you have!🤷🏼♀️
I love the concept! The flexibility of your design is the main point of attraction for me. I find it a bit bulky though, but maybe that is exactly what you prefer. I would personally like a softer and grippy writing surface to rest the sheet of paper. I find it nicer to write on a soft surface than if it is directly on wood. Of course, you could use a couple of backing sheets for that purpose. I could see glueing a thin piece of leather for a permanent padding. Looking forward to your field experience with it and any other iterations. Daniel
For some years I have just used a plain clipboard to accomplish most of these same functions. It's not as aesthetically interesting as the handi-desk, but otherwise it serves just about every other purpose mentioned, plus it can also carry a pen or two under the clip, if desired. I suppose one could use one of the fancier leather or fabric folder-clipboard arrangements for a nicer look.
I shift filled pages to the bottom of the pile on the clipboard. Once a week, or as needed, filled pages are removed to a folder. Eventually these are bound together with a screwpost and cardstock cover.
After many years of inventive sketching and note taking with many books filled etc I indulged in a Kindle Scribe and now I have the capacity to sketch on thousands of pages without the bulk or dead weight of paper format, and the bonus is I can have a collection of books on the Scribe too without having a library haversack on my back.
I found your channel via the typewriters subreddit on reddit and I'm pleasantly surprised to find that you journal as well. I've been journaling since 1995 and use only composition notebooks or handmade in that size for consistency. I use my typewriters for a separate poetry diary. Anyway... love your idea for the "handi desk" and was thinking you could add a side strip that has magnets to attach. This could hold the paper inside while traveling but could come off and stick to embedded magnets on the top to hold your paper to the writing surface.
Joe, thanks for such a great video! Grabbed my attention when you described you jumping from one journal to another that caught your fancy. Either because of a feature, design improvement or styling. I too agree with other commenters, about creating a latch/locking mechanism to secure the paper. My suggestion would be to move the slot to the top. Use a stainless steel metal strip in the top to serve tripple duty. First, I t will secure the paper. Secondly it will serve as a ruler. Thirdly it can be used to secure your paper at various angles through the use of embedded rare earth magnets. If you elongate the desk slightly more you might be able to create a slot to slope a pencil in and out. Now you got my creative juices going! If you wind up patenting it good luck to you!
This is an excellent product! The idea and development are practical and creative as well as easily remade by DIYers. I do hope you send it to market for the non DIY crowd that could definitely benefit from this. I would call it the “creative journaling block”. I love it
Absolutely love the desk system, very against the 3 ring binder for the archive system. Please get the cheap insert sleeves instead of hole punching your stuff.
i like this design. it seems super useful. the only thing i can think of is maybe a rubber/elastic band that could be used to hold the paper you're drawing on to the surface of the device in outdoor/breezy situations. it could also be used as a means to keep the paper in the storage slot secure if you have to throw the device in a bag or on the seat of a car, etc. just a thought. thanks for the videos as always!
Interesting that we got similar idea~ My journal, notes, sketches and planners using A4 paper and files. I stopped buying books because first, i have too much that there's no place for more on my bookshelf. Second, bcs there's too many books i sometimes took the wrong note books to classes. So i stopped using them and straight up jotting notes on A4 papers and keep them in section in files. Turns out really well when i need to skimming through information at same time kinda work as reminder when designing things. ✨Best decision ever✨
12:22 is where you really caught my attention - I too have been writing/journaling for years and what always bugged me was the ergonomics once you've reached the halfway point on a page. I even considered building a sliding "Mahl" stick that my wrist could rest on that moved in two axes (X & Y) just above the desktop allowing my hand to float above the book I was writing in. While that may be comfortable for a fixed desk and better suited to one who writes all day every day by hand, it is an idea that could quickly get complicated to the point of being absurd - it is just writing after all (said the writer, ha). After mulling over your comments I believe you have created an excellent system - one I intend to implement on an upcoming extended vacation. Portable, simple, light, and uncomplicated to build, I appreciate your insights and discussion about what you've done and liked/disliked about it. Thank you Mr. Cleave!
I'm a bit late to the party but your mention of magnets made me think. If you embedded a metal sheet in the wood or maybe even behind you could use magnets to hold the paper down as you wrote. Avoids having the clip in the way but your paper wont fly away in the wind if you are writing outside. Thanks for the video!
What a useful and practical device. I had the same problem with notebooks. I jotted down some notes and then moved to doing something else, only to find years later that they were half (or even less) filled. But recently I found your video about the prong fastener notebooks and it's been such a relief not worrying about writing or sketching different things on my main notebook. I really thank you for that one. As for the handi-desk, I think the name goes straight to the point but here is a suggestion: pocket desk.
Read that Leonardo da Vinci probably worked off single sheets of paper and had them bound and made into books later do you’re probably on to something there 😮
Back in school I'd carry a single binder with paper with 3 different edge colors (sourced from other binders). When I got home, I'd archive the notes of the day in their source binders (each their own topic) and restock. Carrying a single medium-sized binder in my arm and watching my confused classmates carrying a backpack full of paper was fun. Wish I'd figured out a tiny bag for it, I just had a single strap that wrapped around it and I'd sling it over my shoulder, which was no good for rainy days. Very minimalistic though. I also went hardcore on pocketmod, which still exists!
I don't know if it would be useful for you as I don't know how much you'd be writing outside, but if you find yourself writing outside in adverse weather I'd recommend looking into write in the rain loose leaf printer paper, you'd have to cut normal letter paper in half with a straight light paper cutter. It's pretty durable and we use it quite a bit for field work and keeping notebooks from getting waterlogged and ruined. It's a bit pricy, but if you aren't using it all the time it'll last a while. If you order a 500 page ream it comes out to about 10 cents per half page. And if you do use it, I would recommend using a pencil as it won't smear or leak if it gets wet if you don't want to use their brand of pens as they're a bit pricy.
Great video. Just ran across your channel and subbed. I like your thinking. As a left handed writer I've always hated the spine of whatever notebook iteration I used. Went to an overhand disc system and a reverse journal process from oldest to newest. I can use any kind of paper and switch the pages around as I please. I conntinue to like the disc of various shapes and sizes. I always have a flat surface to write on top.
This is lovely. I feel comforted in the fact that most of your past journaling history is much like my own, glad to see I’m not the only one who has fallen into the same traps. As for the portable writing desk device, I’d really love to see some way to keep the loose pages from sliding out if the tablet is knocked over, and also a way to attach a pen to it so there’s a writing utensil with it at all times. Other than that it’s a great idea and system and I hope it works out for you!
A thought I had was a long door held closed by a set of magnets with the hing at the top of the tablet. Or perhaps its hingless and removable with magnets set in the top of the surface as well to use as a paper clip.
This has been available since 1970. Used a very similar tool when I was a young policeman. Google metal clip board storage... these run $14-25 ... there is nothing new!
I would suggest a 1/16 inch lip along the opening side of your writing box. This would give you a tactile guide for when you pick up the box so that you are less likely to spill the loose leaf papers. It would also help keep the paper "square" and the written lines parallel. Also I would pre-punch the sheets so you don't later punch through something vital.
Nicely made ! The only thing might be that at some point it will get picked up the wrong way round and the paper may slide out. How to prevent that? Either come up with a tactile way of identifying the orientation of the box (maybe a chamfer on the base of the box on the closed side?) or have a closure of some sort on the open area. It wouldn't necessarily need to be full length to keep page-sized contents in the box, so an inch or two of clearance thickness poplar (fitting inside the opening, flush with the edge of the box and the same material, for visual consistency) hinged/pivoting at the lower corner and fastened by a couple of recessed magnets, and having a bit of an angle cut on the inside to enable a finger to easily pop open the magnetic fixture ?
This year I decided separate my Journal from my Diary. For the Diary, I started to write in loose leaf and, at the end of the year, I will bind it and make it into a book. I add pictures from polaroids and film cameras and now I am passing most of the Diary to a digital version and add to my blog.
I was confronted with the same problem, and my solution was the Remarkable 2. Endless paper, and cut paste, store on the computer or on the cloud. Also with ocr technology immediately indexed and searchable. Still has the paper feel, but harnessing the power of the 21st century.
this tool you made , is such a great idea thank you for the video , I didn’t think something on my recommended would be so helpful I’ll have to make my own ponder board thank you ! ❤
Love this idea. You described a lot of issues I have with most regular notebooks, especially the thicker ones. The awkward writing feeling on the lower part of a page is really annoying! Thank you for sharing this idea & the tips on how to build.
Hello! I just found your channel doing some research about journaling and notebooks and I've really enjoyed your content thus far. I've autistm and looking--well--trying to break away from doom scrolling as my chill routine. You are the second person I've watched on this journey that has moved towards a non-linear system and I find that both anxiety inducing and fascinating. I never thought about the archival process and I'm torn behind this somewhat romanticised idea of having a collection of filled journals on a shelf where I can pull one, sit down, and just peruse and reflect upon that snapshot of time. I had thought about creating some sort of indexing system to find content. On the other hand, being able to sort pages and have a progressive timeline over whatever categorization method also appeals. As it stands now, I know I prefer B5 paper, and I want a bound book for ccommon-placing. I'm researching pocket notebooks for an everyday carry to have a place to just jot down whatever comes to mind which I can sit down and transfer and expand upon during my designated journaling time. I do look forward to seeing how your handy desk works out for you. That's an intriguing idea I might go for instead of carrying a sketchbook around. Thank you for your insights and sharing your experiences and feelings with your journaling. I feel less foolish for wanting to engage in the activity (I need better friends) and I'm excited to start my own journey.
Have you thought about going electronic? Here me out... 1) You can get an 8X5 writing tablet that looks great, is lightweight 2) The have a few models out there that writing on the screen feels JUST LIKE dragging a pencil on paper 3) You can sketch or write on them 4) You can either save pages on the device and upload when you get home or get a connected device and save to the cloud 5) You can get one with onboard OCR software to optionally convert handwriting to text 6) No more buying paper or pens - environmentally friendly! 7) You can keep an eBook on there for reading between your writing sessions Just something to think about.
The important question, here, is missing. What is the objective of your journaling? This seems to have changed a great deal through the process, and that question still does not come to the fore when you are discussing your future plans. Having a clear answer to that question will bring a solution that will be long-lasting and satisfying. All my journals follow one aim: To help me recall my life years later. On all my journals I write boldly 'Consistency of Purpose.' Pursuing the same aim makes it much easier to muster the discipline of going on in the same format day after day. Then, again, perhaps what I am doing is a diary, which can be different from a journal. Anyway, thank you for brainstorming the matter. Cheers!
I have so much respect for anyone that develops their own ways of working. They say that the medium is the message, and you have shaped the medium to you rather than being shaped by the medium.
You, sir, are great, very inspiring, I started a journal to improve my horrible grammar, I feel that computers with automatic correction makes me lazy. Having to write down something with my own hand makes me very conscious of spelling.
For archival, think about clam shell boxes. They are designed to be light and dust protected. Looks like a book, can be put on a shelf, and keep everything handy.
Great idea/design. Maybe consider a small lip on the opening to keep paper from falling out. Turn it upside down to get to the paper in the "desk". Also, why not store (archive) the pages in a digital format. They can be indexed and easily retreived. Anyway, thanks for sharing.
Lovely. As a creative nerd that loves technology, my mind immediately goes to how I could design something like this and 3d print it. Of course, this defeats the beauty and simplicity of your design. What I really need is a workshop with some woodworking tools.
Very practical and flexible 👍. I would add an elastic band with a pen holder loop, which would also keep the papers inside the box. Low tech but effective. You could "liberate" your bound A5 joirnals by cutting their spine and punching holes on the left margins. They would fit well in your A5 ring binder now. A decent printing place could use a guillotine to cut the spines off (it'd be a good idea to number the pages first 😊). Love the idea of using different types of papers as well. I am now very intrigued to consider this for my own journals
You would love the planner community lmfao. If you didn't already know, there are brands such as Moterm & Giglio & the likes that make book covers. They're essentially leather binders that come in all different sorts of sheet sizes. I'm sure there are types not made of leather/vegan leather that you can find if you wanted that as well
This is a great idea that maybe you can market, as I don’t have the skills to make one of my own. I understand the need to have a mix of unbound paper but I also have accepted that most of what goes into my various notebooks ends up being the start of other projects. So in that sense I don’t always need to separate out pages and group them together, as the Handi Desk helps you do. As long as I have an index page for each book I can find what I’m looking for and continue on with it in a digital form or something else. But it would be nice to collate different papers and notes from something like this. Thanks for a good video.
A thought about holding the paper (I don't like the thumb method). How about a surface like an air hockey table only "sucking" instead of "blowing"? It would increase the size somewhat but I think that that can be managed so that it is not objectionable
The Handi Desk is so nice, it's a shame the pages end up in an ugly plastic folder. I was hoping there would be an archive box/container/holder that was just as aesthetically pleasing.
I like it, however, I've been using a clipboard and printer paper like this for years. I just throw the cover of a binder or that slab of acrylic as a cover so the sheets don't get bent in a backpack. But I like the DIY, and minimalist desgin of this as an improvement on it.
I think you are onto something here. There are a lot of possibilities for this. A lot of possible configurations. You could make a larger version that has room for writing tools or even a small set of watercolors. Another user suggested that you could use the acrylic back as a dry erase board. You've got my hamster wheel turning.
"My Clean Slate " would be a great name for your creation. I believe the only thought you need to change is hole punching your sheets to fit in the binder before you write on them to ensure you don't have to hole punch over what you have already written or create a ledger line on the sheets so you don't write beyond the ledger line where the punches go.
Just missing a slot for a pen or pencil>>> Great idea though... A thought ... Maybe a thick leather for the back of your journal attached to a wooden top you write on.. The leather would allow you to easily make stationary slots and will feel better.
Love your design. I for one have used that size paper and binder for years and would print out specific sheets for meeting notes and projects notes. Great work
I've used notebooks/journals since I was really young to draw, write notes and just random doodles on my over active brain. It's funny how as an adult i still do it but with a better understanding as to why. But I still do it and enjoy it, and every few years my needs seem to evolve as well. But buying pretty new pens and papers is so fun!
I might suggest punching the sheets prior to using them. With my luck the wholes will line up with a key bit. Interesting topic, I too have a collection of books and journals.
Great idea to transport the base with the batch of paper. I am using a hardcover (empty) book to do something similar, it holds my pens and some waterbrush :) I would think of add a harder cover like your clear one. Thank you for share!
I absolutely love this, it would be great alternative to my tablet which doesn’t do a great job of letting me take simple notes. Do you have any issues with paper slipping out?
Cool idea! Do the pages fall out? I've switched to a notebook that has three types of paper, the only downside is that it has huge rings that don't open and no little pocket in the back, but it has plain, lined and dotted paper, so I use it for notes as well as journaling sort of like a Bullet Journal but less organized
This is great, I love it! There's an important insight here about the mixture of creation and archival and how physical notebooks bind you into a mix of both. For some people that may be exactly what they want because the reflection of what's been done is as important as the creation that will be done. If not though, this solution is absolutely excellent.
Glad I got this video in my recommendations. I also found it a problem to work in bound sketch/notebooks and like A5 sized papers. My solution was to use a A5 sized clipboard but this looks fantastic and refined.
I love this idea a lot, because I have used a simpler version before, when I was in college, a couple of decades ago, I bough lose paper sheets and had a binder, just add them to the binder per topic
I have a plastified sheet of paper with hand drawn lines on it at regular intervals that I use to write veary neat notes with by putting it onder blank sheets of paper. Would it be possible to add a modification to this so that you could add guides like that? Maybe an indent in the back, or maybe if you shipped them with some plastified sheets with multiple line and square patterns.
There's nothing cooler than seeing someone design a personal solution to one of their problems! Thanks for sharing :)
Mos def.
Nice idea.
Fun fact - Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence on a writing box, or portable writing desk. It was made to Jefferson's specifications by a cabinetmaker and is currently in the Smithsonian's Museum of American History.
May each of us be as influential in our writing.
I built a replica of that writing box back in the '70s in wood shop class in school! I still have it somewhere.
@@mbrock5532 I'm envious!
@@mbrock5532 I'd love to see it!
great minds...
God help us if my genderswap naruto fanfic is ever as influential.
I thought I was the only one that started a journal and jumped to another one that caught my attention before I finished the first one. Great video, thanks for sharing.
The Circa junior system is my paper binder common place book. Actually, I have two sets of rings and two binder covers. One cover is a rigid plastic and it houses my day to day pages. The leather cover is my archival place for ideas, quotes, and all subjects close to my heart. Since I can move pages around I can reassign a “home” for any pages in either book. The thin plastic cover binder has my monthly calendar and essential subjects pages so I keep it with me. I buy wonderful multi-colored paper and dividers. Best system ever also because there are no 3-ring style rings. There are other companies besides Levenger but a search on that site for “Circa” shows how easy it is to insert and remove sheets silently. Love your site. New subscriber.
Story of my life
🙋♀️ me too! I love this elegant solution. :)
I would probably make a loop with black elastic (the kind seamstresses use) to hold the paper on the surface, and it would also help trap the sheets in the storage area.
Thanks for sharing!
I have dozens of journals with only 1/5 of the pages written on…
You are. All of you are unique. All of you are so unique and quirky and I’m so glad that you can all be a happy quirky family together. So quirky
I became a huge fan of the aluminum storage clipboards back in the 90's. Space for sheets, pencil, pen, eraser, ruler, mmm delicious.
A great idea! And the final product looks immaculate. I hope it works out for you! I’d suggest pre-perforating your stored papers, so that you don’t write or draw over your perforation zone (I myself found that out the hard way, lol !) Write on!
Most folks don’t take the time to stop & reflect on things in their life that work for them & things that just don’t. I enjoyed hearing your thoughtful process of reviewing the various journals features that most appealed to you & your style. Creating your personalized artist’s desk was (r)evolutionary in so many ways. Carry on oh kindred spirit. Well done!
What a great idea. It looks like a system that you could package and sell to other creatives who want to journal. Like "scrapbooking" for journal writers. I'd buy one.👍👍👍👍👍
Steve Jobs just ordered 100 for himself
as there is no Electricity
where he has to dwell now...
👍👍👍👍👍
Or sell the plans for and make a how to video showing how to make one.
Where can I buy it? Thanks
@@raginald7mars408 May God equip you and I with the tools and criteria that we need for life beyond the grave
I would call it the Van Cleave Journal System. It’s brilliant!
The Joernal!
@@LarsUelf 👎
@@LarsUelf 👍
I've never related so much to a Journaling video. I've used them all. Midori, hobonichi cousin, even campus and soft ring binders etc. Moleskin, leuchtturm 1917, and finally settling on a generic Korean planner with rings. The journey is very fun! Lol
I’d be happy with a marble notebook that’s as good as one you could buy anywhere 10+ years ago. They’re all so flimsy now and the paper is a joke. >.<
Don’t get me started on the state of legal pads!
@@pauls.7530 yeah paper used to be better back in the day. Now everything is cheap and shitty.
I know this is tangential, but just in case it helps someone, I did see somewhere else, a woman who bound her pages herself, which was a way. She beautifully incorporated cages of different sizes, shapes, sources and made something that was entirely hers. If I remember correctly, it was her way of creating her travel journal incorporating travel mementos, like ticket stubs or flowers. There's so much creative energy here. It's really amazing and inspiring. Thank you!
This is great!
I think the best thing about this video is seeing how happy it makes you that you found a solution to your problem and how excited you are to use it, test out trials & errors, etc. Thank you for sharing.
Now I’m just in a good mood after this!
I like the name, Handi Desk. It kinda has a scandinavian look to it and the spelling goes with that. Nice concept, Joe. Another inspiring vid.
I like the system. I worry that paper can be easily lost from the slot without some sort of door. Looking forward to updates.
A rubber or silicon “cork” that squeezes in the slot would work. It just needs to keep stuff from sliding out.
I was thinking a thick, possibly fairly large, rubber band would work. It could right across the middle, and then it could serve as a holder for the loose paper on top while still allowing it to move.
I think I would actually just place a binder clip over the slot. I know that doesn’t fit Joe’s aesthetic, but it would block the paper from falling out and would double as a clamp for holding the paper in windy conditions.
A large rubber band that goes around the narrow part of the pad can serve 2 purposes. It can solve his issue of keeping the paper in place while writing while still being able to shift it up as he writes. All while keeping the stored paper from falling out.
Very nice "desk". For the papers you could make a thin tray/drawer - it will keep them inside and you can slide it out to sort and reorder papers, especially thinner ones. A small magnets will keep it in place or you can use a mini latch. Would be also good place for a pen.
I think I have to do one for me (I am a hobby woodworker and CAD designer).
Two things I’ve done to achieve a similar goal:
- the discbound system - the office supply stores stock junior / half-sheet pages. I carry as small of a notebook as I want, and move pages to the archive after.
- Hobonichi notebooks - I take them to the local office store (Staples) and I then punch and use discs as well. I love that Japanese paper!
Discbound is amazing!
Love Discbound!! I get the junior size (8 discs) with some nice covers, and buy cheap blank or lined 5×8" index cards, and punch ‘em myself. The ruled lines go sideways from the usual direction, making a landscape notebook instead of portrait orientation. But that works great for me! The heft of light weight index cards is a lot nicer to me than regular thick paper.
My ultimate pages would be dot grid index cards (would suit both portrait and landscape!), but they’re horribly expensive to hunt down and purchase, and I could print them directly onto the index cards using my printer, but at the moment I’ve had to put my printer in storage, so that’s not convenient (yet).
I was going to say Discbound as well! I bought a punch so I can make my own covers/papers. I like the flexibility of storing papers as small as business cards all in the same archive. (Plastic placemats work well as covers!)
I like my disk bound planner. I can carry as much or as little of it as I need to, arrange it to suit my needs, etc.
I also like the way Grumbacher (think it's the Academy line) has bound the wire bound art paper books they sell at Walmart. You can remove the pages and put them back in later. Other brands do it too, it's just the one I can remember off the top of my head. The pages are also perforated if you want to remove the paper hooks.
That is brilliant! Well done 👏🏽 How about a removable band to keep the paper in and it could hold the paper but still allow it to slide up and down. I love what you said at the end too, very inspiring. Thank you 🙏🏽
EDCD = Every Day Carry Desk. :D
Not to be confused with AC DC!
Such a good idea! I already use a loose leaf system because I like to type my journal but occasionally if I am travelling I don’t always have a typewriter and I love your idea of including sketches etc in the journal. I’ve never tried that! I’m also a woodworker so making one is a simple project. I might try to find a way to incorporate a pen storage slot for my fountain pen. You’ve given me so many ideas in this one video.
Love your idea. I am currently using A5 3 ring binder and loose leaf paper. I think, if you wanted to or if anyone using something similar wanted to, you could just get plain old clothing elastic from a sewing section, and sew the two ends together and slip it around your "desk". Then you can slide the paper up and down the desk or it will help if your thumb slips and it will help hold your papers in the middle to keep them from falling out. Just a thought.
Good idea ( ( 💡 ) )
An elegant, well-thought-out design. I could see using the acrylic side for quick notes with a removable marker. The ability to have different paper types and a good writing surface at hand wherever you are is great.
Filofax became very popular in the 1980s but existed many years before that, and my late father used similar small ringbound folders in the 1950s. Many companies jumped on the wagon. They came in a variety of sizes, and you can buy a six hole punch to include any kind of paper. They were very cool I think. Having said that, I now favour notebooks. I agree that carrying your archive around isn't ideal, especially if you might lose it. Having said that, I value them, and have never lost one. I would also add the thought that journaling is a great kind of therapy, and although there is a tendancy to write when you are in the depths, or on the heights, and not so much in between, nevertheless it does help.
I love the ability to slide the paper up for a good writing postion.
Two ideas:
1 - Regarding holding the paper: how about an elastic across the board at the top end. Tight enough to hold the paper, "slippery" enough to allow to smoothly slide the paper upwards.
2 - A very thin and stiff board, maybe bamboo. Attached to a similar size pocket or folder (plastic, leather) for the paper storage / filing. They can be opened like a notebook or detached to enable nice writing on flat surfaces. On the go without any table, the system can be used just like your current version.
Both great ideas, thank you!
ua-cam.com/video/6bE-S069_hUn/v-deo.htmldreds is what make to hold pages inside
🙏
@@joaoalbertodosanjosgomes1536I like the rubber band idea too. You could also slide that binder down to the middle to keep the stored paper from sliding out in transit
I loved learning about your journaling history. What a brilliant new system!
The hand position changing as your fill up a page in a notebook drives me bonkers! What an elegant solution - love that you dreamed it and made it real too!
Very nice! The one thing I am taking away from this is how often you change your journaling system. I've tried journaling on and off for about 15 years now but could never stick with it. One thing that keeps getting in my way is my anxiety and perfectionism regarding finding the perfect system for journaling, or finding a one size fits all solution to journaling. What I've learned from this video is I should just stick with it, and let my system evolve naturally over time, and that it is ok to keep changing systems or try new things. Thank you!
Nice looking build and seems really functional for your purpose. However, such a thing does exist commercially, know as a "Storage Clipboard". Often used by warehouse or delivery or repair techs and such.
Love this, the use of analogue systems in a digital world!! But have you thought of getting all your pages scanned to a digital medium so if anything happens to these pages (fire/flood) and you will still have a backup of all the work you have done over the decades.
I love this! I think storing it in a box like this is a really good sounding approach. It reminds me a little of like artist's portfolio type folder things, only the box feels a lot more permanent and lasting, and I love the simple aesthetic you've got there.
I'm curious why you discarded the magnetic flap part of the idea. Are you storing it in something to keep paper from falling out or getting wet while you're porting it around?
I also wonder re: the clipping of the paper - I get what you're saying re: the ability to kind of scroll upwards and keep your hand in a good position without losing leverage etc. I wonder about adding kind of a strip with a ledge under it you could use to slide the paper under to guide the paper as you slide it up, along one side. Then I could still slide it upwards but also keep a consistent alignment. I guess for me the guide would be on the right, as I'm left-handed.
I suppose my other modifications - I like tech, obviously this fails the simplicity angle a little - would be to use a usb lightpad for the hard plastic cover side. Maybe one with ruled sides so I could measure stuff. This way I could see what I was writing at night, and also trace things as desired.
Many, many years ago when I was learning shorthand we used steno pads that were about 1/2 sheet size but they were Spiral bound at the top. As we worked to the bottom of the page, we were taught to push up on the paper so that we kept getting good purchase on the notebook. Something that few people remember how to do now.
I'm 72 y/o and still use the shorthand I learned in h.s. & tested out of in college. ;-).
I well remember those spiral top-bound pads!
There’s something I love about this… maybe it’s the change from finding that perfect journal, or spending money on a leather cover for cheap journals. It’s so cool!
I love finding ‘my people’!!!!! So, I’ve had the idea ( and actually started the process but switched around to others 🤗) of using the thin travel journals and then 3-hole punching them into a binder such as the one you have!🤷🏼♀️
I love the concept!
The flexibility of your design is the main point of attraction for me. I find it a bit bulky though, but maybe that is exactly what you prefer. I would personally like a softer and grippy writing surface to rest the sheet of paper. I find it nicer to write on a soft surface than if it is directly on wood. Of course, you could use a couple of backing sheets for that purpose. I could see glueing a thin piece of leather for a permanent padding.
Looking forward to your field experience with it and any other iterations.
Daniel
For some years I have just used a plain clipboard to accomplish most of these same functions. It's not as aesthetically interesting as the handi-desk, but otherwise it serves just about every other purpose mentioned, plus it can also carry a pen or two under the clip, if desired. I suppose one could use one of the fancier leather or fabric folder-clipboard arrangements for a nicer look.
I’ve considered doing this! What do you do to archive the filled pages?
I shift filled pages to the bottom of the pile on the clipboard. Once a week, or as needed, filled pages are removed to a folder. Eventually these are bound together with a screwpost and cardstock cover.
After many years of inventive sketching and note taking with many books filled etc I indulged in a Kindle Scribe and now I have the capacity to sketch on thousands of pages without the bulk or dead weight of paper format, and the bonus is I can have a collection of books on the Scribe too without having a library haversack on my back.
I found your channel via the typewriters subreddit on reddit and I'm pleasantly surprised to find that you journal as well. I've been journaling since 1995 and use only composition notebooks or handmade in that size for consistency. I use my typewriters for a separate poetry diary. Anyway... love your idea for the "handi desk" and was thinking you could add a side strip that has magnets to attach. This could hold the paper inside while traveling but could come off and stick to embedded magnets on the top to hold your paper to the writing surface.
Joe, thanks for such a great video! Grabbed my attention when you described you jumping from one journal to another that caught your fancy. Either because of a feature, design improvement or styling. I too agree with other commenters, about creating a latch/locking mechanism to secure the paper. My suggestion would be to move the slot to the top. Use a stainless steel metal strip in the top to serve tripple duty. First, I t will secure the paper. Secondly it will serve as a ruler. Thirdly it can be used to secure your paper at various angles through the use of embedded rare earth magnets. If you elongate the desk slightly more you might be able to create a slot to slope a pencil in and out. Now you got my creative juices going! If you wind up patenting it good luck to you!
@sbenite great ideas
This is an excellent product! The idea and development are practical and creative as well as easily remade by DIYers. I do hope you send it to market for the non DIY crowd that could definitely benefit from this. I would call it the “creative journaling block”. I love it
These exist. Clipboards in office supplies stores, with storage behind
sure, but they are not creatively inspiring or beautiful. This has a purpose that is different than that.
Absolutely love the desk system, very against the 3 ring binder for the archive system. Please get the cheap insert sleeves instead of hole punching your stuff.
i like this design. it seems super useful. the only thing i can think of is maybe a rubber/elastic band that could be used to hold the paper you're drawing on to the surface of the device in outdoor/breezy situations. it could also be used as a means to keep the paper in the storage slot secure if you have to throw the device in a bag or on the seat of a car, etc. just a thought. thanks for the videos as always!
Oh, you beat me to it! I mentioned this in my own comment. It’s a great solution, I think.
Interesting that we got similar idea~
My journal, notes, sketches and planners using A4 paper and files. I stopped buying books because first, i have too much that there's no place for more on my bookshelf. Second, bcs there's too many books i sometimes took the wrong note books to classes.
So i stopped using them and straight up jotting notes on A4 papers and keep them in section in files. Turns out really well when i need to skimming through information at same time kinda work as reminder when designing things.
✨Best decision ever✨
12:22 is where you really caught my attention - I too have been writing/journaling for years and what always bugged me was the ergonomics once you've reached the halfway point on a page. I even considered building a sliding "Mahl" stick that my wrist could rest on that moved in two axes (X & Y) just above the desktop allowing my hand to float above the book I was writing in. While that may be comfortable for a fixed desk and better suited to one who writes all day every day by hand, it is an idea that could quickly get complicated to the point of being absurd - it is just writing after all (said the writer, ha). After mulling over your comments I believe you have created an excellent system - one I intend to implement on an upcoming extended vacation. Portable, simple, light, and uncomplicated to build, I appreciate your insights and discussion about what you've done and liked/disliked about it. Thank you Mr. Cleave!
Cool idea! I love seeing peoples portable creativity kits!
I'm a bit late to the party but your mention of magnets made me think. If you embedded a metal sheet in the wood or maybe even behind you could use magnets to hold the paper down as you wrote. Avoids having the clip in the way but your paper wont fly away in the wind if you are writing outside. Thanks for the video!
Wonderful idea and great video delivery. I totally agree with your comment on how your penmanship suffers the further you travel down the page. Thx.
What a useful and practical device. I had the same problem with notebooks. I jotted down some notes and then moved to doing something else, only to find years later that they were half (or even less) filled. But recently I found your video about the prong fastener notebooks and it's been such a relief not worrying about writing or sketching different things on my main notebook. I really thank you for that one.
As for the handi-desk, I think the name goes straight to the point but here is a suggestion: pocket desk.
Read that Leonardo da Vinci probably worked off single sheets of paper and had them bound and made into books later do you’re probably on to something there 😮
Back in school I'd carry a single binder with paper with 3 different edge colors (sourced from other binders). When I got home, I'd archive the notes of the day in their source binders (each their own topic) and restock.
Carrying a single medium-sized binder in my arm and watching my confused classmates carrying a backpack full of paper was fun. Wish I'd figured out a tiny bag for it, I just had a single strap that wrapped around it and I'd sling it over my shoulder, which was no good for rainy days. Very minimalistic though.
I also went hardcore on pocketmod, which still exists!
I don't know if it would be useful for you as I don't know how much you'd be writing outside, but if you find yourself writing outside in adverse weather I'd recommend looking into write in the rain loose leaf printer paper, you'd have to cut normal letter paper in half with a straight light paper cutter. It's pretty durable and we use it quite a bit for field work and keeping notebooks from getting waterlogged and ruined. It's a bit pricy, but if you aren't using it all the time it'll last a while. If you order a 500 page ream it comes out to about 10 cents per half page. And if you do use it, I would recommend using a pencil as it won't smear or leak if it gets wet if you don't want to use their brand of pens as they're a bit pricy.
Great video. Just ran across your channel and subbed. I like your thinking. As a left handed writer I've always hated the spine of whatever notebook iteration I used. Went to an overhand disc system and a reverse journal process from oldest to newest. I can use any kind of paper and switch the pages around as I please. I conntinue to like the disc of various shapes and sizes. I always have a flat surface to write on top.
This is lovely. I feel comforted in the fact that most of your past journaling history is much like my own, glad to see I’m not the only one who has fallen into the same traps.
As for the portable writing desk device, I’d really love to see some way to keep the loose pages from sliding out if the tablet is knocked over, and also a way to attach a pen to it so there’s a writing utensil with it at all times. Other than that it’s a great idea and system and I hope it works out for you!
The cardboard slipcover keeps it all tidy when not in use.
A thought I had was a long door held closed by a set of magnets with the hing at the top of the tablet. Or perhaps its hingless and removable with magnets set in the top of the surface as well to use as a paper clip.
This has been available since 1970. Used a very similar tool when I was a young policeman. Google metal clip board storage... these run $14-25 ... there is nothing new!
this is a really interesting take on journaling. thank you so much for sharing this.
I would suggest a 1/16 inch lip along the opening side of your writing box. This would give you a tactile guide for when you pick up the box so that you are less likely to spill the loose leaf papers. It would also help keep the paper "square" and the written lines parallel.
Also I would pre-punch the sheets so you don't later punch through something vital.
Nicely made ! The only thing might be that at some point it will get picked up the wrong way round and the paper may slide out. How to prevent that? Either come up with a tactile way of identifying the orientation of the box (maybe a chamfer on the base of the box on the closed side?) or have a closure of some sort on the open area. It wouldn't necessarily need to be full length to keep page-sized contents in the box, so an inch or two of clearance thickness poplar (fitting inside the opening, flush with the edge of the box and the same material, for visual consistency) hinged/pivoting at the lower corner and fastened by a couple of recessed magnets, and having a bit of an angle cut on the inside to enable a finger to easily pop open the magnetic fixture ?
This year I decided separate my Journal from my Diary. For the Diary, I started to write in loose leaf and, at the end of the year, I will bind it and make it into a book. I add pictures from polaroids and film cameras and now I am passing most of the Diary to a digital version and add to my blog.
I was confronted with the same problem, and my solution was the Remarkable 2. Endless paper, and cut paste, store on the computer or on the cloud. Also with ocr technology immediately indexed and searchable. Still has the paper feel, but harnessing the power of the 21st century.
this tool you made , is such a great idea thank you for the video , I didn’t think something on my recommended would be so helpful I’ll have to make my own ponder board thank you ! ❤
Love this idea. You described a lot of issues I have with most regular notebooks, especially the thicker ones. The awkward writing feeling on the lower part of a page is really annoying!
Thank you for sharing this idea & the tips on how to build.
Hello! I just found your channel doing some research about journaling and notebooks and I've really enjoyed your content thus far.
I've autistm and looking--well--trying to break away from doom scrolling as my chill routine. You are the second person I've watched on this journey that has moved towards a non-linear system and I find that both anxiety inducing and fascinating. I never thought about the archival process and I'm torn behind this somewhat romanticised idea of having a collection of filled journals on a shelf where I can pull one, sit down, and just peruse and reflect upon that snapshot of time. I had thought about creating some sort of indexing system to find content.
On the other hand, being able to sort pages and have a progressive timeline over whatever categorization method also appeals.
As it stands now, I know I prefer B5 paper, and I want a bound book for ccommon-placing. I'm researching pocket notebooks for an everyday carry to have a place to just jot down whatever comes to mind which I can sit down and transfer and expand upon during my designated journaling time.
I do look forward to seeing how your handy desk works out for you. That's an intriguing idea I might go for instead of carrying a sketchbook around.
Thank you for your insights and sharing your experiences and feelings with your journaling. I feel less foolish for wanting to engage in the activity (I need better friends) and I'm excited to start my own journey.
Have you thought about going electronic? Here me out...
1) You can get an 8X5 writing tablet that looks great, is lightweight
2) The have a few models out there that writing on the screen feels JUST LIKE dragging a pencil on paper
3) You can sketch or write on them
4) You can either save pages on the device and upload when you get home or get a connected device and save to the cloud
5) You can get one with onboard OCR software to optionally convert handwriting to text
6) No more buying paper or pens - environmentally friendly!
7) You can keep an eBook on there for reading between your writing sessions
Just something to think about.
The important question, here, is missing. What is the objective of your journaling? This seems to have changed a great deal through the process, and that question still does not come to the fore when you are discussing your future plans. Having a clear answer to that question will bring a solution that will be long-lasting and satisfying. All my journals follow one aim: To help me recall my life years later. On all my journals I write boldly 'Consistency of Purpose.' Pursuing the same aim makes it much easier to muster the discipline of going on in the same format day after day. Then, again, perhaps what I am doing is a diary, which can be different from a journal. Anyway, thank you for brainstorming the matter. Cheers!
I have so much respect for anyone that develops their own ways of working. They say that the medium is the message, and you have shaped the medium to you rather than being shaped by the medium.
So cool Joe. Looks like a real product, and probably could be
You, sir, are great, very inspiring, I started a journal to improve my horrible grammar, I feel that computers with automatic correction makes me lazy. Having to write down something with my own hand makes me very conscious of spelling.
For archival, think about clam shell boxes. They are designed to be light and dust protected. Looks like a book, can be put on a shelf, and keep everything handy.
Ha!, cool stuff Joe! Man you are creative.
Great idea/design. Maybe consider a small lip on the opening to keep paper from falling out. Turn it upside down to get to the paper in the "desk".
Also, why not store (archive) the pages in a digital format. They can be indexed and easily retreived.
Anyway, thanks for sharing.
Lovely. As a creative nerd that loves technology, my mind immediately goes to how I could design something like this and 3d print it. Of course, this defeats the beauty and simplicity of your design. What I really need is a workshop with some woodworking tools.
the handi desk is a great name if I could suggest maybe 'the Cleave or Cleaver desk'.....just a thought.(inspired name from some of the other comments
Very practical and flexible 👍. I would add an elastic band with a pen holder loop, which would also keep the papers inside the box. Low tech but effective. You could "liberate" your bound A5 joirnals by cutting their spine and punching holes on the left margins. They would fit well in your A5 ring binder now. A decent printing place could use a guillotine to cut the spines off (it'd be a good idea to number the pages first 😊). Love the idea of using different types of papers as well. I am now very intrigued to consider this for my own journals
You would love the planner community lmfao. If you didn't already know, there are brands such as Moterm & Giglio & the likes that make book covers. They're essentially leather binders that come in all different sorts of sheet sizes. I'm sure there are types not made of leather/vegan leather that you can find if you wanted that as well
This is a great idea that maybe you can market, as I don’t have the skills to make one of my own. I understand the need to have a mix of unbound paper but I also have accepted that most of what goes into my various notebooks ends up being the start of other projects. So in that sense I don’t always need to separate out pages and group them together, as the Handi Desk helps you do. As long as I have an index page for each book I can find what I’m looking for and continue on with it in a digital form or something else. But it would be nice to collate different papers and notes from something like this. Thanks for a good video.
A thought about holding the paper (I don't like the thumb method). How about a surface like an air hockey table only "sucking" instead of "blowing"? It would increase the size somewhat but I think that that can be managed so that it is not objectionable
The corners have fillets not chamfered. I’m definitely building one of these, awesome idea!!
The Handi Desk is so nice, it's a shame the pages end up in an ugly plastic folder. I was hoping there would be an archive box/container/holder that was just as aesthetically pleasing.
I like it, however, I've been using a clipboard and printer paper like this for years. I just throw the cover of a binder or that slab of acrylic as a cover so the sheets don't get bent in a backpack. But I like the DIY, and minimalist desgin of this as an improvement on it.
This is great, Mr. Cleave. Would you share a link to your design? Or are you selling it, if so, where to buy?
There are no plans, I just cobbled this together from scrap material.
What are the external dimensions of this?
@@guitaristofrivia9960 242x156x20mm
I was just thinking about this in the morning and your video appeared. What a master. Thank you for the inspiration!
I think you are onto something here. There are a lot of possibilities for this. A lot of possible configurations. You could make a larger version that has room for writing tools or even a small set of watercolors. Another user suggested that you could use the acrylic back as a dry erase board. You've got my hamster wheel turning.
"My Clean Slate " would be a great name for your creation. I believe the only thought you need to change is hole punching your sheets to fit in the binder before you write on them to ensure you don't have to hole punch over what you have already written or create a ledger line on the sheets so you don't write beyond the ledger line where the punches go.
Just missing a slot for a pen or pencil>>> Great idea though... A thought ... Maybe a thick leather for the back of your journal attached to a wooden top you write on.. The leather would allow you to easily make stationary slots and will feel better.
Love your design. I for one have used that size paper and binder for years and would print out specific sheets for meeting notes and projects notes. Great work
Great thoughts. Possibly consider size to fit IPad mini which you could use to take notes, then print off, and archive in a binder.
I love that you can have different weight papers! 💚
❤
I 👍 it too.
I've used notebooks/journals since I was really young to draw, write notes and just random doodles on my over active brain. It's funny how as an adult i still do it but with a better understanding as to why. But I still do it and enjoy it, and every few years my needs seem to evolve as well. But buying pretty new pens and papers is so fun!
I might suggest punching the sheets prior to using them. With my luck the wholes will line up with a key bit. Interesting topic, I too have a collection of books and journals.
Thanks - like the idea.
Curious on how it evolves through daily usage.
Think you'll want to stop the stored paper from sliding out?
Great idea to transport the base with the batch of paper. I am using a hardcover (empty) book to do something similar, it holds my pens and some waterbrush :) I would think of add a harder cover like your clear one. Thank you for share!
How about a leather writing surface? Just saying. Very elegant and simple.
Everything about this video is great. I switch up my system every year because of all the reasons you listed. This makes better sense!! Thanks!! 🎉
I mainly take notes for work and TTRPGs, but being able to reorder the notes and collating them by topic instead written date.
I absolutely love this, it would be great alternative to my tablet which doesn’t do a great job of letting me take simple notes. Do you have any issues with paper slipping out?
Fascinating. Great concepts: "separating archive from journal system"
Cool idea! Do the pages fall out? I've switched to a notebook that has three types of paper, the only downside is that it has huge rings that don't open and no little pocket in the back, but it has plain, lined and dotted paper, so I use it for notes as well as journaling sort of like a Bullet Journal but less organized
This is great, I love it! There's an important insight here about the mixture of creation and archival and how physical notebooks bind you into a mix of both. For some people that may be exactly what they want because the reflection of what's been done is as important as the creation that will be done. If not though, this solution is absolutely excellent.
Glad I got this video in my recommendations. I also found it a problem to work in bound sketch/notebooks and like A5 sized papers. My solution was to use a A5 sized clipboard but this looks fantastic and refined.
Steve Jobs just ordered 100 for himself
as there is no Electricity
where he has to dwell now...
I love this idea a lot, because I have used a simpler version before, when I was in college, a couple of decades ago, I bough lose paper sheets and had a binder, just add them to the binder per topic
I have a plastified sheet of paper with hand drawn lines on it at regular intervals that I use to write veary neat notes with by putting it onder blank sheets of paper. Would it be possible to add a modification to this so that you could add guides like that? Maybe an indent in the back, or maybe if you shipped them with some plastified sheets with multiple line and square patterns.