Found Paper Journals are back.

I'm back blogging it up about my favorite art books and zines. While I've been away I've been collecting more art books, making art, and hoarding every scrap of interesting paper I can get my hands on for the latest edition of the Rowan Morrison Found Paper Journal which just became available today.

Now it's time for a confession. While, of course, I have one of the FPJs as a little sketchbook/notebook thing in the studio, I find it very difficult to write in. That's because the papers inside are so damn awesome on their own. Seriously, who would have thought that an assembly of random papers would be more aesthetically compelling than most abstract art and design out there today.

And this edition is even better than all previous editions because we got really obsessive with including really great papers. You have your usually excellent assortment of accounting ledgers and colored loose leaf and graph papers. But I also hunted out some amazing mimeographed worksheets, job applications, some of the free promotional pads that pharmaceutical companies give doctors, grade-school newsprint that is over 50 years old, and some of the most delicate onion skin typing paper imaginable.

Of course there are lots of awesome Braille pages, mostly harvested from issues of 1990s Rolling Stone Braille Edition magazine. There are some mental institution disciplinary forms in there (never can have too many of those), a few map pages, and even some deluxe watercolor paper. One FPJ even has some one's death certificate in there! No kidding.

Honestly, sometimes I get a little disappointed that a "blank book" like this sells far better than any art book or zine I could ever conceive. But I view these things are art books as well as blank books. It's rewarding to have an outlet for my collecting habits, and it seems like a lot of other crafty people have connected with this publication. And do I even have to mention that this is a "green" product. I didn't think so.

The Found Paper Journal is 7.5x5" and has about 128 pages. The embossed chipboard cover features an original scissors design by Narangkar Glover. Rounded corners and hand-stamped on the back. Bound with animal-free glue. Made entirely in Oakland, California. This edition is of about 500 books, with 50 of them with retro, first edition covers!

You can get more info or order yours in our online shop here. Still only $10!

And as a special bonus, if you post a comment on this blog you might get randomly selected to win a free Found Paper Journal of your own. Just leave a (positive) comment below (make sure to have it connected to your blogger account or url so we can track you down when you win) and we'll pick a random winner by mid-October. If all goes well, we'll have more art book give-aways coming up.

Please, don't let the prospect of winning a free journal discourage you from actually purchasing one.

Update: Congrats, Plinio! You'll be getting your Journal soon! Everybody feel free to continue to post comments about how great our products are.

Great to be back!