Modified from the original post at D*I*Y Planner.
Leather products these days are a sign of class and longevity. I’ve always loved the smell of leather and its cool, slick feel. By now you’re probably wondering why I’m including a case review here? I know I would. Well, this case is unlike any you’ve ever seen. Enter Renaissance Art (they’re now called Innovative Journaling). This small company builds amazing leather products. They produce a wide variety of handmade journals, bags and cases.
Recently, Renaissance Art added a few new products to their line. Products that cater to journalling enthusiasts all over the world. I’m here to tell you about my experience with just one of these new products, the Moleskine Cover with Single 3×5 Card Case for a pocket-sized Moleskine. Bottom line, I think this little leather case is worth the price for tarot enthusiasts to invest in. The idea that you can keep both a Moleskine journal and a card in the same area was just too good to pass up.
I purchased a two-tone Moleskine Cover with Single 3×5 card case from Renaissance Art a few years ago. This little gem is the perfect cover and companion to any small pocket-sized journal. It’s made of rugged leather so has that worn in and well loved look. This little case combines my two passions into one location: tarot and journalling. Opening the case exposes a slide in area that you can slip in a tarot card of the day, or index cards, on the left side and still have easy access to a journal on the right.
This case comes in three different colors: brown, black, and a two-tone brown/black combination. Renaissance Art even gives you three choices for your pen loop (small, medium and large). The leather Renaissance Art uses feels like it’s been around the globe and well traveled; unlike other companies whose fine grain leather feels too smooth and clean. The price is also right, at $50.00 to start (the price does quickly add up as you select various options like monogramming, adding a starter Moleskine, and a gift pouch.) But is this little case worth the price? I think so.
You can place 5 tarot cards (or 10 index cards) snuggly in the pouch area. Sliding cards into the case is easy: first you place the small set of cards into the bottom holder, then you bridge them as if they were a slim pack of playing cards and slide them up through the top strap. This holds them down so they don’t slip out.
Immediately upon purchasing the Cover from the online store, my mind flooded with ideas and uses. My first thought was how I could use this with my tarot practice. Barring the traditional uses for a Moleskine (like journals or planners), here’s what I came up with for various types of people and how they could use this case:
- Tarot enthusiasts: Slide a daily personal card or meditation card into the pocket. Use the Moleskine to capture thoughts and meditations on the card as the day progresses, or various spreads done to clarify goals.
- Writers: Use the pocket to keep track of story scenes, characters or settings. Use the Moleskine to write out the actual story.
- Students: Use the pocket to keep track of essay ideas or cram notes for tests. Use the Moleskine side to take class notes, write essays or compile study questions to use before your tests.
- Artists: Use the pocket to keep a paper-style watercolor palette of colors. Use the Moleskine side when you travel to capture sketches and scenes from your journeys in a watercolor Moleskine notebook. Replace the pen in your pen holder with a water brush for quick and anytime painting.
- Programmers: Use the pocket to keep track of current stories in your Agile development project. Use the Moleskine to keep track of meeting notes, extended story and feature requests, and comments from potential users.
I’ve now owned this case for a few years and I’m still very happy with the purchase. The snap enclosure still works and the leather holds up to a constant battering of being jostled around in various bags. Just looking at it makes me smile. Ordering was a breeze and the product came very quickly. Renaissance Art’s craftsmanship is of high quality and I know that the case protects anything inside of it throughout any weather. I’ve even gone camping with this case and it’s protected my cards from being warped and my thoughts from being smudged in some serious Pacific Northwest rain.
