Wings in the Weathered Woods – Handmade Bird Junk Journal | Eco Printed, Rust Printed & Naturally Dyed Papers

Handmade Bird Junk Journal | Eco Printed, Rust Printed, Coffee & Blueberry Dyed Papers | Vintage Naturalist Journal

A weathered little book of birds, botanicals, quiet blues, and papers that carry the marks of time.

Wings in the Weathered Woods is a one-of-a-kind handmade junk journal inspired by birds, nature, and the wonderfully imperfect character of old field journals and well-loved books.

Measuring approximately 8½ × 5½ inches with 51 pages, this journal combines soft blues, misty grays, warm coffee tones and weathered neutrals with bird imagery, botanical details, handmade papers, pockets and tucked-away pieces of ephemera.

Rather than trying to make every page look new and perfect, I allowed the materials and handmade processes to leave their own marks. Rust, coffee, blueberries and actual bougainvillea flowers have all contributed to the colors and patterns found among its pages.

Papers Made by Nature, Time & Experimentation

Some of my favorite pages in this journal are also among the most unpredictable.

Several sheets were eco printed with bougainvillea flowers. The flowers were placed against the paper and subjected to heat and pressure, allowing the plant material to leave soft, irregular botanical impressions. The resulting papers have beautiful gray and smoky neutral tones with ghostlike traces of the flowers that created them.

Other pages were blueberry dyed, introducing muted blue and blue-violet tones that complement the bird theme, while coffee-dyed papers bring warmth and an aged appearance to the book.

You'll also discover several rust-printed papers. These were made by placing rusty objects against the paper and allowing them to leave their naturally irregular marks and impressions behind. No two areas develop exactly alike, and those unpredictable stains and patterns contribute beautifully to the journal's old, weathered character.

Variations, stains, uneven coloration, markings and other irregularities created during these processes are intentional characteristics of the handmade papers.

A Soft, Unusual Upcycled Cover

The cover began with something decidedly ordinary: padded Amazon packaging envelopes.

I repurposed the brown padded packaging and combined it with two layers of cardstock to create a softer cover than you would find on a traditional hardcover journal. The padded material gives the book a slightly puffy feel and even a subtle crinkly, crunchy sound when handled.

The exterior was sealed to give the surface additional protection. The sealing process also deepened the original kraft-brown color of the packaging, adding to the aged appearance of the journal.

An upcycled cotton ribbon wraps around the book to keep it closed and adds another soft, timeworn element to the design.

The journal is assembled with a three-hole pamphlet-stitch binding.

Birds, Pockets & Things to Discover

Bird imagery carries throughout the journal in shades of blue, gray and weathered neutrals.

Inside are numerous pockets, tags, journaling cards, decorative pieces and tucked-away bits of ephemera to discover as you move through the pages. Many removable pieces are held in place with paper clips that I treated to create an aged, rust-like appearance, complementing the rust-printed papers and overall vintage aesthetic.

You'll find both decorated areas and quieter spaces for writing, making this a journal that can be explored, added to and actually used.

Purchased digital artwork, printed imagery and commercially made ephemera are incorporated throughout the journal and have been selected, layered and arranged as part of the overall design. This journal does not contain original hand-painted artwork.

A Note About Its Character

This journal has an intentionally rustic, grungy and weathered appearance.

Hand dyeing, eco printing, rust printing, repurposed materials, torn or irregular edges, staining and variations in color are part of its handmade character rather than indications of mass-produced uniformity.

The photographs show the actual journal you will receive. Because screens and lighting can reproduce color differently, the blues, grays, browns and naturally dyed tones may vary somewhat from their appearance in person.

Journal Details

• One-of-a-kind handmade bird junk journal
• Approximately 8½ × 5½ inches
• 51 pages
• Three-hole pamphlet-stitch binding
• Upcycled padded packaging cover
• Two layers of cardstock incorporated into the cover construction
• Sealed exterior for additional surface protection
• Upcycled cotton ribbon closure
• Bougainvillea eco-printed papers
• Blueberry-dyed papers
• Coffee-dyed papers
• Rust-printed papers
• Purchased digital imagery and ephemera
• Multiple pockets and tucked elements
• Removable tags, cards and ephemera
• Paper clips treated to create an aged, rust-like appearance
• Blue, gray, brown and neutral color palette
• Bird and botanical/naturalist theme
• No original hand-painted artwork
• One journal available—the journal pictured is the journal you will receive

Please Watch the Video

Because there are so many pockets, removable pieces, paper textures and small details tucked throughout this journal, photographs can only show part of it.

The accompanying flip-through video provides the best look at the journal as a whole and lets you see the pages, pockets, ephemera and interactive elements in sequence. I recommend watching it before purchasing so you can get a good sense of the journal's construction and handmade character.

Ideas for Using Your Journal

Wings in the Weathered Woods can be used as a personal journal, nature journal, birdwatching journal, memory keeper, commonplace book, creative writing journal or a starting place for your own collage and mixed-media additions.

Or simply enjoy exploring it as a finished piece of handmade book art.