AD Who agrees with me that there is NOTHING like the feeling that comes with a brand, new notebook?!
It’s the promise and the potential that comes with a notebook that gets me. It’s not just a blank book, full of blank pages – it’s literally a fresh chapter, ready for opportunities and exciting plans, to-do lists and reminders.
A handy but beautiful notebook is an essential part of my history blogger toolkit – I’m always on the hunt for a beautiful art history notebook – so I was delighted when The Portrait Diaries reached out to me and asked if I would be interested in receiving a free notebook.
The Portrait Diaries’ products are crafted on a unique, female focused concept – A series of notebooks featuring well to-do ladies in all their finery, but with the mischief of personality added to their portraits.
The idea behind The Portrait Diaries is taking portraits of women in history, and instead of defining them by their husband or father was, giving them a character and life the period they were born into would never have allowed.
For example, I was very kindly gifted a beautiful hardback notebook featuring the character of one Miss Émilie Du Pont; a mathematician, physicist, author, and one of the greatest minds in France. She shocks society with her unorthodox lifestyle and intellectual prowess. Sounds like the kind of woman I could be friends with!
I selected this art history notebook as I vaguely recognised the artwork, and I’ve always had a bit of a thing for Georgian portraiture. Then the notebook arrives and – one Google Lens search later – I realised I had selected a notebook featuring the image of the famous 18th century Welsh actress and tragedienne Sarah Siddons. My Welsh history-radar was obviously on point that day!
There are many other options to chose from in terms of portraits and imagery, so you are bound to find something to your tastes! I also really liked the Miss Margaret Fortescue notebook and the Clemence Ravenwood notebook which has ALL the dark academia vibes going on!
There are many other great features of these ntoebooks;
- Spiral or casebound notebook – you choose your binding!
- A5, so the perfect size for taking in a bag for studying or work
- 120 pages of thick, quality paper
- Available with plain, ruled or graph pages to suit your needs and planning style
- Handy document pocket to store informant bits of information – no more loose papers!
- Smooth black back cover for durability
- Excellent print quality
As the tagline goes this is ‘stationary for your old soul’. These notebooks are functional yet beautiful, and truly of good quality. I have a smile on my face when I go to get my notebook from my bag, and spot the artwork on the front. They are a flash of beauty in a mundane day!
Dare I say these notebooks would make a great historical Christmas gift for the history lover in your life?