My Journal

For six years, every single Dapper Notes notebook was wrapped in a belly band and then placed inside a clear plastic sleeve, with a little thank you note inside. The process for packaging each edition took a long time, and...

While 2021 recaps are flowing into your feeds, and since time is linear here's what I've been working on and what's coming up next: Pictured here is an AMAZING mascot illustrated by the very talented Manny Aguilera. Over the last...

A lot of my work is inspired by music. I make an earnest attempt to listen to as many genres each year as I can, oftentimes fighting the streaming service algorithms in search of something new. Many Dapper Notes editions...

I guess it's about time I revealed what was in the December mystery edition. Years in the making, I finally refined my infinity ampersand design and created an edition to celebrate its journey.  Below is the cover for the mystery edition,...

It's now September 2020, and it feels kinda late to start making masks. We've been in need of protective coverings when out in public for a while now, and sure, we have a long way to go before we can see each...

Your feedback A short while ago I sent out an email where I inquired if anyone would like to get updated with some sneak peeks, and see the process of upcoming editions as they're being made. I thought it would be a...

Your Survey Responses A short while ago I recorded a podcast episode with Stuart from Nero's Notes, where I explained that I had covid, I fully recovered, tested negative, and then asked for your feedback. I was hoping to hear from you how...

Towards the end of March I shared the news that covid-19 hit my household. I wrote a blog post where I've also continuously posted updates whenever there was something new to share. While everything was on hold, I spent the...

Posted March 25th, 2020 (updates at the end) Hi everyone. It's hard to know what to say at a time when we're overwhelmed with news and updates. It seems like every day there's another company we haven't thought about for years that sends...

15 min read The last podcast episode of 2019 ended with a promise: that I'll return in the new year with an episode that chronicled changes I made in February 2018. After making that announcement, I started thinking about the current state...

Well, how long does it take? Great question! I'm so glad you asked. This is one of the first questions that comes up when folk learn that I make Dapper Notes by hand, one-by-one, from scratch. It's a very good question,...

Two years ago, I collaborated with Eric Friedensohn on the Summer of Sketching Dapper Notes. We met through @goodtype, and decided to give back: $1 per book towards the Goodtype Stay Sharp Scholarship fund. Who's Goodtype? It's the only community account...

New Video! Over the last few months I've experimented with a variety of styles to fine-tune a journal that feels just right. There are ten new designs launching December 2018, all inspired by my generous friend Maggie Enterrios, who is also the designer of the...

Years in the making Before I started selling Dapper Notes (which were then called Hebrew Type Books), I was already experimenting with making notebook covers. No, not the kind that are hand-sewn into Dapper Notes notebooks, but rather covers that can hold a...

The sixteenth edition of Dapper Notes is for subscribers only. Here's Why. Everything is an experiment Every design I create is a brand new experiment. I try to find an interesting combination of cover materials - usually fabric and book cloth -...

If you ever wondered what goes into making Dapper Notes, I filmed and edited a look into the full step-by-step process, from fabric roll to packaged notebook. Every edition is made a little differently, and I normally do some parts...

It was time. Over a year in the making but for the most part not being made at all. This site was overdue for a makeover, and what you're looking at right now is the fresh coat of paint. Here's what I changed and why I did it.

This website has two logos, kinda. There's a nice bit of history behind each one and how they work together. Here's how it all started...

New Video! The ninth edition of Dapper Notes was made in collaboration with Eric Friedensohn, to celebrate Summer of Sketching. While constructing the notebooks, Eric shot a lot of behind-the-scenes footage, and compiled it all into this one-minute, delightful video. If you...

(Dapper Notes photo by @emmibee) Regardless of whether you're already familiar with Dapper Notes, or coming across them for the first time, one thing you'll notice right away is that a majority of the editions are sold out. How Dapper...

Every Dapper Notes has the same 70lb smooth paper inside, and while it always worked well for my penciling needs, I often get asked about how they perform with fountain pens and other inks. I'm not exactly a fountain pen...