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For the person who checks the trailhead forecast before the work calendar.
Best for: The person who checks the trailhead forecast before their work calendar and keeps a packed daypack by the door
At a glance
Product details
What arrives: one John Muir quote "The Mountains Are Calling" debossed on a leather journal with 100 unlined 120 gsm handmade cotton-paper pages
Size: 5 x 7
Cover: brown or blonde/tan repurposed leather with “The Mountains Are Calling” debossed above a mountain range, a string tie, and artwork on the back cover
Paper: 120 gsm handmade cotton paper, which is tree-free material and acid-free
Paper Style: unlined
Binding: permanently stitched; non-refillable
Origin: handmade in India
Variation: Vegetable dye changes slightly from season to season, so color can vary from batch to batch
Personalization
Add up to 20 characters in black ink. Allow 2 days for personalization. Personalized items are final sale.
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.
Keep the trail beyond the summit photo
Bringing The Mountain Home With You.
You know the feeling: Friday afternoon, a clear forecast, and a daypack already waiting by the door. John Muir put it into words in an 1873 letter to his sister, and the line is debossed above a mountain range on this cover: "The Mountains Are Calling."
Turn it over, and there's a second artwork on the back cover that most people miss until the journal is in their hands. The 5x7 size rides in the lid pocket of a pack, and 100 unlined pages hold trail mileage, gear lists, ski days, and quick sketches from the top.
Choose all brown or tan color options. Our artisan partners in India, families we've worked with for more than ten years, cut and hand-stitch each cover from repurposed leather finished with natural vegetable dyes, so trail dust and rain marks become part of the record. The 120 gsm tree-free pages, made from cotton pulp and waste, are permanently stitched into the spine, and a string tie keeps everything closed between trailheads.
The mountains keep calling. Now you have somewhere to write down the answer.
Fill it one summit at a time
Log the miles, the weather, and the view, and you'll have a record of every time you went.
This is perfect for:
The person who checks the trailhead forecast before their work calendar and keeps a packed daypack by the door.
Muir's "The Mountains Are Calling" is debossed above a mountain range, with a hidden artwork on the back cover that only the owner tends to notice.
A gift for a ski-season friend, a new mountain-town transplant, or someone celebrating their first fourteener; in brown or brown and tan.
100 unlined handmade pages in a pack-friendly 5x7 for trail mileage logs, gear and packing checklists, ski-day records, and quick summit sketches.
The cover
Made to gather character
Muir's "The Mountains Are Calling" is debossed above a mountain range, with a second artwork hidden on the back cover. It's built for people who plan weekends around the forecast and want the trail, not just the photos, waiting for them when they get home. The journals come in two color options.
The paper
120 gsm Cotton Waste Paper
Unlined pages allow trail maps, quick summit sketches, packing lists, and dated notes to share the same spread. The unlined pages use 120 gsm handmade cotton paper made from cotton pulp and textile waste. It’s tree-free material and acid-free.
Pen compatibility: Well suited to ballpoint pens, gel inks, and markers. For fountain pens, test the ink on a small area or back page first because handmade paper can vary by batch and season, and results vary by nib and ink.
Optional gel pen add-on: Medium-point black gel pen that writes smoothly on our handmade paper.
Questions about this journal
Product FAQ
Is this journal refillable?
No. The pages are permanently stitched into the journal.
What type of paper is inside?
It has 100 unlined 120 gsm handmade cotton-paper pages. The handmade cotton paper is tree-free material and acid-free.
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. Brown or blonde/tan repurposed leather with “The Mountains Are Calling” debossed above a mountain range, a string tie, and artwork on the back cover. Natural color and texture variation is expected.
What pens work best?
Well suited to ballpoint pens, gel inks, and markers. For fountain pens, test the ink on a small area or back page first because handmade paper can vary by batch and season, and results vary by nib and ink.
Is it a good gift?
Yes. It’s a considered choice for a first fourteener, ski season, mountain-town move, or hiking birthday. 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 1558 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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Love my new travel journey. The leather cover, meaningful quote, and slim size means I’ll be taking it everywhere. It’s both useful and aesthetically pleasing - the best of both worlds!
Pleasantly surprised. There is a part of me that wishes the leather was a little more supple; but I love how it lies flat - and the stiffer leather makes it easier to write in. Love the feel of the parchment.
This is by FAR my best and most favorite journal I have ever had! The feel is sturdy, soft and smooth just as the paper is thick and perfect for most any inks/markers/ whatever you'd like to use for Journaling! The quotes on the front are all amazing this just was one of many of my favorites and the back is beautiful as well with pictures of the constellations! This would make an amazing gift for your favorite artist/journalists/or writers/novelists. I highly highly recommend these journals!
It’s a very beautiful journal just like the last five or six that I bought but I have noticed that the last two the cardboard covered by the leather is noticeably thinner, and the journals bend much easier and the corners dog year, much easier as opposed to the thickness of the Arthur Conan Doyle, journal that I have also 8 x 6 the cardboard under the leather on that one is very heavy, and really makes The whole experience, much better but overall your product is excellent which is obvious because they continue to order.
This is my second journal from Soothi. I love the quality and durability of the pages. I love the whimsy fun of this Renoir journal - bright and colorful. Some of the colors seemed to appear a bit muddy on fabric, but I love the uniqueness of the design, perfect for unique season of life that will be written in it.
Fits well in my hands. Smooth yet thick leather. The paper has a smooth yet old time feel. It feels exactly as you think it would as a classic leather journal
I gave this Journal to my friend! She loved it. I have also bought other journals for her here. I had one custom made here. Soothi has great customer service!
Love the quote on my journal as well as the blank pages that allow for drawings as well as the words. This is well made and a great size for easy use. It fits in my purse nicely.
Another amazing journal! I would have liked it a bit better if it had a tie closure instead of an elastic one, but it's still a great piece and the quality is fantastic as usual!
