Les Carnets de Zhou

I may or may not have some insider info that led me to Nicolas Joliet and his handcrafted notebooks and albums: Les Carnets de Zhou. I have seen these in person (and was even given one--the pink one featured above) and they are spectacular. Working out of his studio in Provence, Nicolas masterfully creates one of a kind notebooks and sells them in various markets and fairs around the south of France and online. I have also heard rumors that these notebooks get bought up by the chicest of the chic on vacay from Paris.

Having studied Chinese for most of his life and even living in Taiwan Nicolas practices tai ch'i every morning and it seems that the process of making these notebooks is an extension of that zen. He carefully selects fabric for the covers of each album and hand glues, irons, and binds every aspect of the notebooks. Yeah. Every. Single. Piece.

You can email him directly for a truly personal experience. If you're shy you can get to know him a little bit before you email by watching the charming videos of Nicolas in his workshop explaining his craft.