Made In Everett: BookGrain Journals
When it comes to making books, Josh Mattson from BookGrain Journals is the best. And I'm not just saying that because he's the only book maker I know. His wooden books are true works of art. We sent Josh some interview questions to see what he's been up to and dig deeper into his work.
We featured BookGrain in a video back in 2015, but for those who missed it, what is BookGrain?
BookGrain is a humble book business specializing in the creation of wooden journals, sketchbooks, guestbooks and ancient books of wisdom, such as the Proverbs of King Solomon. The primary idea being to create a beautiful home for beautiful thoughts.
☝️ BookGrain video from 2015.
When and why did you start BookGrain?
Early in 2013 I resigned as an electrical designer at an Engineering company and decided to sit down in my room and spend a few months simplifying, thinking, and reading. During this time I became quite curious to discover if I could come up with a simpler way to bind books, one that would accommodate a wood cover.
After a lot of tinkering, some flying sawdust, a few trips to the hardware store, and doing my best not to panic or be frustrated, the first BookGrain journal was born!
How many books have you made now?
To date, my best estimate is that I have made more than 250 BookGrain journals and guestbooks that are dwelling literally across the world!
Any stories from favorites you've made or sold?
Last year in 2016 I had a company order 15 journals for their annual conference to give as gifts to each of their International Directors. Essentially each of these journals literally went with the directors to 15 different countries. It was very humbling and exciting to suddenly have 15 pieces of your artwork transported around the world.
I like to think that even when I go to sleep at night, there could be someone across the world waking up and writing in their BookGrain.
What has been the most challenging part of running BookGrain?
I would say the most challenging parts are sanding, marketing and not having any employees to delegate or provide instant feedback.
What is your favorite type of wood to work with and where does it come from?
My favorite woods to work with are the reclaimed woods I get from Sean Hall Woodworks, these are Washington State trees that were cut down or fell down in a storm and now are getting a new life in a BookGrain Journal.
My favorite is some Old Growth (100+ years old) Ponderosa Pine, from a tree that fell over in an Issaquah storm! You can literally count the rings on the edge of the journal, it’s amazing, and the smell of the sawdust is divine!
What has most influenced your work?
Simplicity, silence, beauty, and wisdom. Sometimes this means a good book, other times a conversation with a good friend, other times staring at the blue sky, or walking through the woods, or taking a big breath and remembering all the blessings and beauty around me.
If I had to be more specific, I would say Dan Miller has inspired me to have the courage to take new risks, and the Japanese have inspired me to work with the deepest honor, respect and sense of wonder.
What do you most enjoy about running BookGrain?
I love the creation process of making a journal, getting to work in my shop is such a privilege. It's quiet, time slows down, there is possibility and joy and creativity and problem solving, it is so satisfying and fulfilling. Then when I finish making a journal I feel like singing, really my cup overflows, and I open and close the new journal like I have never seen or held one before!
The other aspect that puts me over the moon is connecting with people. When I have the opportunity to sell at a show, and reveal my work to the public I find immense satisfaction. It is difficult not to smile the entire time. And when even one person appreciates the work I do, I want to run home and make more journals!
What makes your journals different?
Well there is a physical aspect and a poetic aspect. Physically, the journals I create use a unique bookbinding which combines the aesthetics of classic bookbinding, with the practicality of a spiral bound notebook, meaning the journals lay flat when they're open and are easy to write in.
I use high quality American papers, which have a minimum of 25% cotton in them, for longevity and durability. The journals are simple, humble, easily repairable and full of character and life.
Then there is the poetic aspect, I view each of my journals as a poem, which means I sing life into it when I create it and I hope and pray it will bring life to whoever one day owns it. I want every journal I make to be an invitation to discover beauty and truth.
What's the value of buying locally handmade goods vs (usually) cheaper mass produced products from a box store?
I think when you buy local handmade goods you receive and a give a greater gift to your community. You receive not just the material good, but also a connection and relationship, you have an opportunity to learn more about what is around you, and learn the story of what it is you now own. This helps you to be more excited and thankful.
It also is a very practical way to support your local micro-economy, which will likely come back and support you. For example when I sell a journal to someone at a market, I have an opportunity to share with them about the wood, about the binding, about writing in journals, and we can learn from each other and begin a relationship.
I've heard you sometimes include custom Haiku's with your journals. What's up with that? Do you have a haiku for the Live In Everett readers?
As often as I can I enjoy including Haiku’s with the journals. This I intend as a gift of inspiration, to encourage others to find wisdom and beautiful thoughts in their journal and to help keep my mind sharp and focused on beauty. Here are a few of my favorites:
Blank pages appear empty,
but truly they are filled,
with the light of the moon.
Beautiful thoughts,
have been here much longer,
than the dinosaurs.
Journals have big ears,
so they listen well,
but don’t talk much.
You've chosen to live a seemingly simple life. No car. No cell phone. And you make handmade books. How does your unique life style influence your work?
I think the way we live our life will give us an opportunity to see life in a parallel way. The beauty of simplifying your life is you instantly have access to a new world of beautiful possibility, because you have more ‘room’ to receive the beauty of what is around you.
Another strength of leading a simple life is that you can have more time to work on what means the most to you. Without the blessing of simplicity I don’t think I would have ever discovered BookGrain.
You've lived near downtown Everett for quite a few years now. Does Everett have any influence on your work?
Absolutely, I think the space you live in can greatly influence you, and when you live in a beautiful space such as North Everett, you will be easily inspired to use the energy given to you from that beauty to create more beauty! In North Everett we have beautiful mountains all around us, seagulls a plenty, the glorious Puget Sound, beautiful parks and great walkability!
Many times before I begin my work I will step outside and take a deep breath of our fresh, crisp mountain and sea air, and I love my city and the people within it!
Anything else you'd like to add?
I really want people to understand that my goal with BookGrain is primarily to help others think beautifully about the world, about other people, about themselves, and I think by offering them a beautiful journal, I can give an invitation to do this.
I think a journal is one of the best ways to cultivate a new vision of beauty in your life, because it involves: quiet, reflection, thoughtfulness, and feedback. You can get a very good view of the way things are, and then you can decide what you want to improve or change. A few times a week I will sit and write down the most beautiful and inspiring events and thoughts that I witnessed, every time I do this my vision for beauty is strengthened and I have more life.
I want to invite others into this practice, and I don’t want them feel like they have to be a ‘writer’ or ‘journaler’ to do this.
Keep Up With BookGrain
Website // Facebook
What do you think of BookGrain? Comment below for a chance to win a prize from our sponsors. You can check out Josh's journals in person at the Everett Maker's Market on April 1st happening in conjunction with the Fisherman's Village Music Festival. You might even catch Live In Everett there with some of our Everett Swag.
Garret Hunt is the co-founder of Live in Everett. When he isn't busy
making coffee for all of us in the office, he enjoys skateboarding
around Everett with his iPhone vlogging about life, and selling real estate.
