Renaissance Art

Number 12, Tait, won Giveaway #41, our  Wrap-&-Tie-style Rustic Fishing Journal. Please send us your address so we may send your gift!

Arthur has been busy at Renaissance Art developing tons of new products for a wholesale line. It’s pretty exciting each morning to come in and and have Arthur pass us a new journal he’s made the night before. One morning, a medium-sized, buckle-style 120-page journal greeted us:

I love this closure–the buckle adds another layer of time, another rustic element. The charming curve of the belt as it wraps around the spine and dips to highlight the braiding. And being in Santa Fe, I can’t help but feel the Southwestern touch. In fact, I love it so much, we are giving it away!

The closure on a journal is one of the most important parts–it dictates aesthetic and also function. What are some journal closure (wacky and practical) ideas that you have? Tell us in your comment for a chance to win: click HERE to read the rules of this Free Giveaway but DO NOT comment on that link to enter. You enter by commenting on THIS post.

Remember that the winners need to contact us with their address and phone number in order to get their gift.

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Number 114, Blair, won Giveaway #29. Please send us your address so we may send your gift!

Nobody’s perfect, right? While the craftspeople at Renaissance Art try to be pretty close, we misstep once in awhile. Like the time that Jackie made a beautiful new 3 x 5 ring binder and just happened to (mis)stamp our logo in a conspicuous place: the front  (check out under the flap) instead of the back!

Remember that the winners need to contact us with their address and phone number in order to get their gift.

No need to mention last weeks winner here.  She already contacted us :)  BTW… I will be adding some pics of the finished designs of the 3X5 card binders.  I am working on the product pages at this time and expect to have them done really soon.  I wanted to do a lot of size comparisons for the three different styles and all the photography is what is taking so much time.  But I hope to post a pic of the three different styles later this week and have all the product pages completed by next week.

Traditionally, when we think of a book, we think of it as either hard covered or paperback.  Well, our version is a little non traditional.  In the traditional sense, it has a front and rear hard cover.  In the non traditional sense we sew the pages right into the spine.  It is both decorative and functional.  In fact, so functional that you can bend the book over on itself at the spine without doing any damage at all to the integrity of the book.  This would break the spine of a traditionally bound book.  But for ours books, it just adds to the usability of the book.

These books will lie completely flat from the first page to the last… no fighting to keep any of the pages down.  This particular one which we are giving away has 144 pages of Rives lightweight paper.  It is 100% cotton rag and a little on the raggy vs. smooth side.  It is 115 gsm and about 90% opaque.  We had some of this in the studio and so decided to use it for this prototype.  The sheet size is a standard European A5 size and we added a strap to keep it closed.

We will be doing these in our colored leathers as they are fully leather lined.  Just something else in the works at the Renaissance Art studio.

Remember that the winners need to contact us with their address and phone number in order to get their gift.

As usual, click HERE to read the rules of this Free Giveaway BUT do not comment on that link to enter. You enter by commenting on THIS post.

Number 21, Jennifer, won the free giveaway last week. It was the leather cover for a discbound notebook with 3/4 inch discs.

This week we are switching things up a bit.  We have offered 26 Free Giveaways to date of anything from our leather journals to our rustic leather bags.  SO… we figured that we would start to giveaway stuff from featured artists, in this case a writer.  It is a 144 page poem… but not just any kind of poem.  It is an erasure poem.  Anybody know what that is?   I sure didn’t.  Well, just go HERE to read more about the book and see a preview.  It is pretty cool.  It is an erasure poem of the 9/11 commission report.  Basically it takes the entire report, erases out some of the lines and words and what is left is the poem… which is basically a commentary on itself.  Hard to explain.  You just need to go have a look.  And once you have, be sure to comment here to enter to win your free copy.

We will be featuring other artists here from time to time in the Free Giveaway section.

Below is a picture of the book’s cover.

Remember that the winners need to contact us with their address and phone number in order to get their gift.

As usual, click HERE to read the rules of this Free Giveaway BUT do not comment on that link to enter. You enter by commenting on THIS THIS post.

Number 82, Jason, won the free giveaway last week. It was the leather cover for a discbound notebook with 3/4 inch discs.

This week we have another discbound cover and once again for 3/4 inch rings.  Will probably have yet another different one next week too, so if you did not win last week or do not this week, don’t loose hope.  We are building the new prototype on the 1 inch disc notebook.

On previous designs we have done where the rings are hidden inside the notebook, we could only have the notebook attach with the rear cover.  This was for usability reasons.  Basically, if you attached your notebook using the front and rear cover, it would bind up and not close very well.

However, by creating a design with the rings showing on the outside, this issue no longer exists.  This is the first design we are working on in this open ring design.  The one we are working on for next week will have more of a medieval elegance to it.  So, this is design allows you to attach the notebook by sliding the front and rear covers into their respective interior pockets.  The final product will have 2 interior pockets for storage, similar to the post under this one, An Inside Look.  This one does not have any storage pockets.  It is just the initial prototype.  Also on the final version the ring slots will be 1/8 inch wider front and rear.

Just click this link discbound stuff to see what discbound stuff we currently make.  And, all of our stuff is tweak-able (customizable) to fit your own individual style because it is made right in our Santa Fe, NM studio to order.l

So, the item below will fit your 8.5 X 5.5, 3/4 inch disc discbound notebook. It has no extra interior pockets (which the final version will have) but does have a pen loop. Have fun commenting.

Remember that the winners need to contact us with their address and phone number in order to get their gift.

As usual, click HERE to read the rules of this Free Giveaway BUT do not comment on that link to enter. You enter by commenting on THIS THIS post.

Number 68, Ted won the free giveaway last week. It was the leather cover for the large size Moleskine notebook.

So… I am back now from a 2+ week, 6000 mile road trip.  While I was gone Jackie did some prototyping of some new discbound stuff we are creating.  You know… that Rollabind and Circa brand stuff with the discs and mushroom shaped punches in the paper which can be removed and reinserted.  Anyway, we already sell some discbound stuff like our heavier leather covers and modular systems but we are working on a line of covers using our rustic elegance leathers that come in 7 colors.  This one is shown in our cranberry red leather.  The interior of this one has 2 interior pockets.  Our final version will have more storage with three.

The item below is the prototype with a black quarter binding…. our first attempt.  We are also toying with reinforced corners.  It is a little disproportioned which means the winner gets it for free.  We have corrected that problem and these will be appearing on our virtual shelves some time soon with prices to rival… “he who cannot be named”.

The new line will be fun, innovative and while elegant, not the same ole corporate looking stuff everyone else is carrying.  PLUS… it is made right here in our Santa Fe, NM studios and not at some overseas factory in China.  So, you know the quality will be superior and… since we make everything to order you will be able to TWEAK it.

So, the item below will fit your 8.5 X 5.5, 3/4 inch disc discbound notebook.  It has 2 extra interior pockets and a pen loop.  Have fun commenting.

Remember that the winners need to contact us with their address and phone number in order to get their gift.

As usual, click HERE to read the rules of this Free Giveaway BUT do not comment on that link to enter. You enter by commenting on THIS THIS post.

Number 9, Suzy won the free giveaway last week. It was the leather wine tasting journal.

We have not given away anything Moleskine related lately so how ’bout it.

This giveaway is for a Cover for the Large size Moleskine Notebook.  The cover has a snap closure.  It is personalized with “It’s All Good”  Click HERE to read more about the product.  Enjoy… and may the most random person win.

We will be posting all the new colored leather cover designs for the pocket size Moleskine refills shortly.  There will be a discount of 20% for all blog readers in the post.  It will be active thru Sunday.  Hope you all like the new cover designs.

Remember that the winners need to contact us with their address and phone number in order to get their gift.

As usual, click HERE to read the rules of this Free Giveaway BUT do not comment on that link to enter. You enter by commenting on THIS THIS post.

Number 42, Ms Ije O won the free giveaway last week. It was the paper journal from the start of Renaissance Art. Please email us with your name and address to get your free giveaway from last week

I wonder… are there any wine drinkers or wine bargain hunters or connoisseurs out there?

Friday evening I opened up a $28 bottle of wine that should have been at least $100.  Easily good enough, and IMHO, better than, the highly scored Opus.  I do not the score of this wine but I do know that I am into big fruity velvety smooth reds.  This one was truly amazing and at $28 for the bottle a deal.  What is it?  It is Estancia 2004 Meritage.  Huge black cherry taste… not the kind you have to think about either.  This is there, in your face, no doubt about it black cherries.  A liquid mouthful of the real thing.  Velvety smooth and sprinkled with many other complexities… like pepper that is not spicy but smooth.  The current vinatage is the 06.  Have not tried that one yet.  If you like big velvety smooth and complex reds… find the 04 and get some.

If you have a fav wine… no matter the cost, tell us about it cuz that is what our Free Giveaway is this week… NO… not a bottle of wine… our small Wine Tasting journal.

Go HERE to read all about it.

Here is a pic of the outside.  Good luck to all of you and… if you have a wine story or fav… let’s hear about it

Remember that the winners need to contact us with their address and phone number in order to get their gift.

As usual, click HERE to read the rules of this Free Giveaway BUT do not comment on that link to enter. You enter by commenting on THIS THIS post.

Number 78, Linda F won the free giveaway last week.  It was the half large journal with the snap . Please email us with your name and address to get your free giveaway from last week

The new giveaway this week will be our Special, the 4X6 Refillable Journal with wrap and tie closure… refill is included.  The paper we use is Arches Text Wove… 120gsm weight, 100% cotton rag, lightly sized with a light tooth.  This is our standard paper but we are working on offering some others.

Go HERE to see what the 4X6 Refillable Journal looks like.
Go HERE to get linked to the specials page… coupon code is on the page.

Here is the pic of what we are giving away. Hope you all like it.

Remember that the winners need to contact us with their address and phone number in order to get their gift.

As usual, click HERE to read the rules of this Free Giveaway BUT do not comment on that link to enter. You enter by commenting on THIS THIS post.

Number 7, Rich Lobrecht won the free giveaway last week.  That was the large composition book cover/3X5 card holder.  Please email us with your name and address to get your free giveaway from last week

For the rest of us, here is the new giveaway… half a large journal sewn up by Jen this morning.  No, we did not chop it in half.  We just finished sewing up 70 of these for a local business and did the wrap and tie closure with some turquoise in the braided cord.  We thot we would sew up an extra and give it away.  The turquoise is not included but the rest of the book is for this giveaway.

This book is about 5X8 and has 108 pages.  Our regular large journal has 216.  BTW folks… we are almost out of large journals on that 40% off special.  Such a deal, eh… but not better than half a one given away.
Go HERE to see what the full size Large Journal looks like.
Go HERE to get linked to the specials page… coupon code is on the page.

Here is the pic of what we are giving away.  Hope you all like it.

Remember that the winners need to contact us with their address and phone number in order to get their gift.

As usual, click HERE to read the rules of this Free Giveaway BUT do not comment on that link to enter.  You enter by commenting on THIS THIS post.

For the last two weeks we have been interviewing and giving away the medium 108 page journal.  Sewing up that book quickly and nicely is a cut point when we hire.  Yes, I know what you are all thinking… we are mean people at Renaissance Art.  But if you ask anyone here they will say that is’s me who is mean.  So this week, this mean person is giving away an older model of our Large Composition book cover which holds 3X5 cards.  You can have a look at all the pretty pics and read all the details HERE.

Remember that the winners need to contact us with their address and phone number in order to get their gift.

As usual, click HERE to read the rules of this Free Giveaway.

We are interviewing again… that’s right… we are hiring again.  AND… we have some Renaissance Art Recession stuff at great prices coming too.

Anyway… interviewing means we have an abundance of imperfect Medium 108 page journals and that means we can either sell them for really cheap or… give them away.  So, which would you prefer… really cheap or free?  Yes, it’s a no brainer and that was a rhetorical question.  So, here a pic of what a perfect one looks like.  The winner’s will be slightly imperfect :)  Besides… everyone seems to like when we have this book as a giveaway.

OH… and PLEASE, please please…. really important:
Will the winners of the last 2 or 3 giveaways please contact us so we can send you your stuff.  Just go to the comments of the respective giveaway post and look at the last or close to the last comment where I post the winner/s.

As usual, click HERE to read the rules of this Free Giveaway.

Sorry everyone… late in getting this posted this week…. very busy week…. Bad Artbeast!  This will run thru late Sunday so as many as possible can get comments in for the drawing.

This has been popular in the past and I wanted to get away from the Has Been box with all the Discbound and Moleskine cover stuff so this week we are giving away one of our 108 page Medium Journals, one with a wrap and tie closure or one with a strap.  I will let the winner pick.  More info on this journal can be found HERE.

Pics are below and… as usual, click HERE to read the rules of this Free Giveaway.

Here are the pics representing these two different closures.

Wanna get organized?  This weeks giveaway is a black folder we pulled out of the Has Been box.  This one is an oldie and was made before we started putting edging on the… edges.  Yes, the picture is boring and looks like a black blob but you can see what our new model looks like by clicking HERE. 

Have fun commenting and… as usual, click HERE to read the rules of this Free Giveaway.
oh… btw… winners are posted on the comments, usually the last one or close to the last one.  So check back come Sunday or Monday to see if you won the previous weeks giveaway.  The winner should send an email with their address and phone number to claim their item.

I have just noticed that some of you are leaving comments on the post about the rules.  To be entered in the giveaway you MUST comment on the actual giveaway post and NOT the post where the rules are stated.