This is a quick update on my previous Everbook post.
New Style
I have created a new Everbook, and wanted to go over some of the good and bad things with this new iteration.
I made this one by taking a thin plastic cutting board and cutting it down to the sizes I needed. Then I did the same to some Walnut wood veneer. I used contact cement to glue the two materials together. The veneer is not strong enough by itself, so the cutting board gives it some strength without adding much thickness. The “hinges” are suede or leather. I poked the holes in all the pieces and laced them together with that black thread.
Good
I really like the look of this. The wood, suede, and lacing all look fantastic together. The harder wood surface now is nicer than the previous suede-only version. You can actually use it as a writing surface. I made this one a bit smaller than my last one, to better match the size of paper inside. That actually seems to work very well, I had been worried that it would make the edges of the paper become ragged.
Bad
So far I only really have one complaint for this version. The wood veneer is just too brittle. You can see some spots in the pictures where it has cracked or flaked off. It isn’t too bad yet, but I don’t think it will last very long. Perhaps if you are very careful this could work fine, but I think I need something a bit more rugged.
I think for the next iteration, when this one wears out, I will skip the wood and just find some cutting boards with nice designs on them. Lace them together in the same way. That should hold up nicely.
Dec 2024 – Update
I still use this Everbook. The outside wood veneer has completely peeled off, but it is still there on the two inside flaps. That is still a nice look; it keeps it kind of rugged on the outside and almost luxurious on the inside. The size is still perfect for my needs.
It has held up very for nearly five years now, and still going strong!