The Leather Notebook Atelier

Where stationery, creativity, and community come together—one workshop at a time.

Babs Collective is welcoming you to our Monthly Creative Workshops. Join us for a cozy, hands-on experience designed for stationery lovers, journal keepers, ink enthusiasts, and anyone who finds joy in pen, paper, and the little details. Each month, we spotlight a different facilitator from the creative community—bringing their unique style, craft, and passion to the table.

For our March Babs Collective workshop, we’re delighted to welcome Chris Hughes as our facilitator.

Chris is a lifelong leatherworker and fountain pen enthusiast based in Orangeville, Ontario. He has been working with leather since childhood and collecting and using fountain pens for more than 25 years. What began as tradesmanship gradually evolved into a deep creative practice. Chris approaches his craft with the patience and care that only years of hands-on experience can cultivate. He has a particular appreciation for natural materials, traditional techniques, and beautiful everyday tools, the kinds of objects that age gracefully and become more personal over time.

In this workshop, Chris will guide us through the process of creating our own handmade leather journal cover, this timeless companion for writers, journalers, and stationery lovers. Rather than simply assembling a pre-made kit, participants will get a true introduction to the craft: learning how leather behaves, how hand-stitching works, and how simple traditional techniques can transform raw materials into something both functional and beautiful.

Participants will be able to choose from a curated selection of leather pieces in different colours and textures, allowing each journal cover to feel personal and unique. You will also select between two practical sizes: A5 or A6, depending on how you like to journal or carry your notebooks.

During the session, Chris will walk us through the steps of measuring, punching, stitching, and assembling our leather covers by hand. The stitching process itself is deeply satisfying, slow, tactile, and meditative, and it perfectly reflects the spirit of Babs Collective: slowing down, creating with intention, and enjoying the beauty of handmade things.

By the end of the workshop, you will leave not only with your own handcrafted leather journal cover, but also with a new appreciation for the craft behind objects we often take for granted.

✨ All materials will be provided, and no prior experience is necessary. Just bring your curiosity, your creativity, and perhaps the notebook you’ve been waiting for the perfect cover for.

It’s going to be an evening of craft, conversation, and beautiful materials—the perfect gathering for anyone who loves journals, fountain pens, and the quiet joy of making something with their hands.