Kindly Note: We're Crafted with Care, Not Clicked to Rush!
We take pride in our bespoke approach to fulfilling your orders. Unlike the lightning-fast pace of Amazon, we dedicate 1-3 business days to meticulously prepare and process each order with the personal touch it deserves. Your patience allows us to ensure the exceptional quality you expect and appreciate. Thank you for supporting our commitment to excellence over expedience!
Everything gets packed and shipped from our warehouse in Oakland, California.
The cost and speed of shipping depends on the delivery destination and the weight of the order.
Free shipping is available for orders over $50.
We offer USPS and UPS shipping, as well as DHL International shipping at the checkout page.
Handmade disclaimer
As with all handmade and small-batch items, no two pieces are exactly the same.
Since we use recycled and upcycled materials, variations in size, color, and design will occur naturally.
We guarantee the quality of our handmade products, and we hope that you enjoy and celebrate these variations and natural imperfections as much as we do.
Note: Color discrepancies may occur between this product and your computer screen. Our materials have natural marks and lines that make every piece unique.
The cover stays when the notebook is full
Made to hold what matters
Run a thumb along the edge of this cover, and you’ll feel every stitch. Each one is pulled through by hand around the full border of the leather, so the seam itself becomes the design.
Choose deep green or black salvaged leather, fastened with a single button. The cover measures about 6.2 by 8.8 inches and holds a standard A5 notebook, so you can swap out the lined pages for work, plans, and everything in between whenever one fills.
Our artisan partners in India, families we’ve worked with for more than ten years, cut the leather and stitch every edge by hand. Because the leather is salvaged, its grain and small marks stay visible, and no two covers come out the same.
Made Stitch by Stitch
A journal for ideas still forming, plans taking shape, and stories waiting to be written.
This is perfect for:
The person who notices the small details.
Hand-stitched edges in green or black salvaged leather, closed with a button, the kind of detail most notebooks skip.
Refillable and sized for standard A5 notebooks, so it can be the same cover for a decade; a strong first-job or promotion gift.
Lined 90 gsm fountain-pen-friendly A5 pages for meeting minutes, one-on-one agendas, client call notes, and a running brag document for review season.
The cover
Made to gather character
Hand-stitched edges frame green or black salvaged leather, closed with a single button and with no print or quote competing for attention. It suits people who care about how a thing is made and want a work notebook that looks better after a year of daily use.
The paper
90 gsm Fountain-Pen-Friendly A5 Paper
The included A5 insert is lined for meetings, agendas, and work notes. Standard A5 compatibility makes replacement easier than a proprietary refill. The included lined 90 gsm A5 paper was selected for fountain-pen use. It can be replaced with another standard A5 notebook when full.
Pen compatibility: The lined 90 gsm A5 paper is fountain-pen friendly. We still recommend testing a preferred nib and ink on a small area first. Ballpoint and gel pens are also suitable.
Optional gel pen add-on: Medium-point black gel pen that writes smoothly on the included 90 gsm A5 paper.
Questions about this journal
Product FAQ
Is this journal refillable?
Yes. The leather cover is refillable. It holds standard A5 notebook inserts.
What type of paper is inside?
It has a lined 90 gsm fountain-pen-friendly A5 notebook insert.
Can I personalize it?
Yes. Add up to 20 characters in black ink. Allow 2 days for personalization. Personalized items are final sale.
Is the cover real leather?
Yes. Green or black repurposed leather with visible hand stitching and a button closure. Natural color and texture variation is expected.
What pens work best?
The lined 90 gsm A5 paper is fountain-pen friendly. We still recommend testing a preferred nib and ink on a small area first. Ballpoint and gel pens are also suitable.
Is it a good gift?
Yes. It’s a considered choice for a first job, promotion, new manager, or design-conscious colleague. Optional gift wrap adds a ribbon and handwritten card.
How is it packaged?
Most of the journals come in a Soothi-branded kraft box or drawstring bag. We offer optional gift wrapping which includes some ribbon and a handwritten note to make the gift extra special.
Customer Reviews
Overall rating: 4.9 / 5 from 1559 reviews.
I’m a repeat purchaser of Soothi journals. I love them. First and foremost I love their sustainability. I don’t purchase leather first hand but love supporting second hand leather. I love that all their pages are made of cotton. I also love the high quality of their journals. I’ve never had a journal of this high quality. They’re sustainable and extremely beautiful and high quality. Pretty much everything you want in a journal. They also have a lot of pages.
The inks were alright, but with as little experience I had with glass pens, it was an awesome tool to use! Additionally, I am quite amazed to see it come in one piece, all of the parts worked as I thought they would. I would honestly buy from here again!
Its my favorite journal company. This is my fourth journal I have brought in the last 4 years. I have given them out as gifts and my friends love them. The book has a vintage look and the paper is of high quality. I am impressed with the work. Thank you.. I love the charms rings of affirmation. Best of it all, Soothi donate trees to different countries and you get to pick.
I love the lighter color of this journal. As always the materials are super high quality, the paper is amazing and I love the tie string. This journal is made to last!
The words aren't very dark on the quote so I was a little bummed about that. You can't really read it super well. But other than that it's a great journal.
Oops journals are some of my favorite! I love coming up with creative ways to cover the little "oopsies" It's a lot of fun. There a great price and amazing quality! Get one and let your creativity flow ☺️
This is probably my favorite journal I've bought from Soothi. I love the fun quote on the front, and I'm a huge fan of the lined paper. I wish more of the journals had the options for lines! Overall beautiful journal.
Such a beautiful journal, hand made leather. Can’t wait to make more family memories to write in my clean canvas journal. You also get sent a card to plant your very own tree with every journal! How amazing is that! ❤️🌳❤️🌳
The Soothi "If A Story" Handmade Leather Journal is a beautiful, well-crafted notebook ideal for writers, travelers, or anyone who appreciates quality stationery. Wrapped in a gorgeous, rustic leather cover that softens with age, it features a motivational quote by William Faulkner for a touch of inspiration. With 100 blank pages for writing, sketching, or brainstorming, the unlined format offers complete creative freedom. The handy 7" x 5" size makes it portable and perfect for taking anywhere. But it's not just functional – the rich leather is a pleasure to hold and adds a touch of elegance to any desk. It's as beautiful to look at as it is to write in.
I ordered an "oops" item and received that perfect little journal. I love it and am very happy with it. I have bought several things from Soothi over the years and I have been super stoked about everything I have received. Great craftsmanship, it's practically an art. I highly recommend this shop when you're shopping for self-care/love or a gift for someone special.
Love the quality of the leather. Feels weathered and wears well. Surprisingly light journal considering the amount of pages and leather binding. Nice pen compartment, though I only use it if I'm traveling.
To note: If you do watercolor, the pages are heavy but slightly yellowed.
I like this journal so much that I bought 3 of them....1 for me and 2 for my weird and wonderful friends. It doesn't just say Weird and Wonderful, however. The complete quote on the journal is
"all things Weird and Wonderful". It's a great soft leather journal with awesome lined pages and a string tie.
"Earth Element Refillable Stone Leather Journal" has a very beautiful cover. BUT the binding of the papers inside is different from other non-refillable journals. Not easy to use. So I returned it. Please take a careful look at the picture of the papers inside the journal, especially the binding area.
I was skeptical since I've never bought from this site, but.........
Bought this journal for my Father-In-Law for Christmas this year (Christmas 2023 photos) who's been writing in journals all of his life, he said this is one of the best he's ever had. The leather smell hit him when he first opened the box, it hit us all! He loved it! The book, the smell, the inscription! He said he couldn't wait to start writing in it at the beginning of the 2024 year, which just happens to be TODAY!
Thanks for helping me with this great gift!
Not the same color leather stain as in the promotional photo. Was drawn to it for the look, but didn’t come like that at all. Same stain as everything else.
I like soothi journals so I’ll use it, but it’ll probably be a bit before I buy anymore due to mistaken advertising - I wanna buy what I know I’m gonna get.
I thought I was getting an oops item like a journal, but it’s literally what one sees in the photo - some oops 10 pk of blank cards - which I had no idea what it was until it showed up and I realized I just bought the most expensive blank note cards I’ve ever purchased in my life.
Not worth it. Envelopes flimsy and I don’t know what I’d ever use these for. But because it’s an oops item there are no returns.
Some blotchy leather stain on the back and some inadequate stain on the front lettering, but it’s a beautiful journal otherwise.
Just has QC overlooked cosmetic character.
I typically like the soothi journals though.
Some of ooops journals are absolutely 💯 usable but some are the paper to write on is rough but I love the surprise of ooops
Thanks for personal little note on the tabs holders I use as a book mark. As a journal blogger thank you for the smaller hand held versions need more with a pen holder Love it thank you
Larger than I expected...may actually have to reinforce the handle at attachment point cuz I keep loading it up with so much stuff ;) Sheds a little but I expect that will lessen over time. A real attention getter cuz of the fun quote!
Larger than expected...may have to reinforce the handle at attachment point cuz I keep loading it up ;) Sheds a little but I expect that will lessen over time. It's a real attention getter cuz of the fun quote!
