The Traveler's Notebook is designed to become yours. The vegetable-tanned leather darkens and softens with handling, picks up small scratches and marks that record where it's been, and develops a patina that's genuinely unique — no two TNs look the same after a year of use. This process of personalisation is integral to the object, not incidental to it. This guide covers how to accelerate and direct it.
The leather itself
New TN leather arrives stiff and slightly waxy. It needs breaking in. Flex the cover gently in both directions multiple times when new — this softens the spine and allows the notebook to open more freely from the start. Handle it. Carry it without a bag sleeve if possible, at least initially, so the leather responds to your grip and your environment.
The colour changes with time. Most TN leathers (Brown, Camel, Black, Blue, and Olive in the standard range) darken with handling as natural oils from the hands interact with the leather. Brown TNs in particular develop a beautiful deep caramel quality over a year; Camel develops toward a rich warm tan. Black stays relatively consistent in colour but develops sheen. This ageing is the goal, not the problem.
Charms and string accessories
The elastic bands that hold TN refills also provide attachment points for small accessories. A brass charm on the spine band — a key, a small token, a handmade pendant — becomes part of the object's visual identity without interfering with its function. TRAVELER'S COMPANY makes a range of brass accessories designed for this purpose.
Stamps
Hobonichi and Midori both produce ink stamps — small, purpose-made rubber stamps — designed for planner and notebook use. Stamped symbols on the TN cover or inside pages create a record of places visited, things done, or simply a visual aesthetic chosen deliberately. TRAVELER'S COMPANY also makes specific stamps designed around the TN system.
Stickers
TRAVELER'S COMPANY produces sticker sheets specifically designed for the TN leather — durable enough to adhere properly, appropriate in scale for the cover. Used selectively, a few stickers on the inside cover or first page of a refill create visual identity without overwhelming the minimal aesthetic. Washi tape on the cover is popular in the TN community — the matte texture of washi adheres well to the leather surface and can be layered or changed.
Pocket stickers inside
Internal adhesive pockets (TRAVELER'S COMPANY sells these specifically for TN use) can be stuck inside the front cover, inside refill pages, or on the inner back cover to create storage for cards, receipts, stamps, and flat ephemera. This extends the TN's functional capacity beyond the refill pages and is one of the most practical personalisation options available.
What to add to refills
The inside pages of TN refills are the most personal and variable element of the system. Washi tape headers mark sections and dates decoratively. Folded ephemera — receipts, maps, business cards, tickets, small photographs — can be attached with washi tape or adhesive tape to create a record of places and moments. This mixed-media approach to journal pages is one of the TN's defining aesthetics.
Letting it develop naturally
The most important advice: don't overthink the personalisation. The TN becomes yours through use, not through deliberate decoration. Carry it, write in it, take it places. The patina that develops naturally through a year of handling is more distinctive and more personal than anything applied deliberately. The accessories and stickers are supplementary; the daily use is what makes it irreplaceable.
Browse Traveler's Notebook accessories, charms, stamps, and stickers at The Journal Shop, alongside the full range of TN refills and starter kits.
Where to start: browse our notebooks and fountain-pen-friendly notebooks at The Journal Shop.
