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The notebooks · at the bench

Every notebook begins at this bench.

Some are made as one-offs, with their own paper, format, cover and binding. Others belong to the Robey series, with a new numbered scene each time.

Painted notebook pieces, brushes and colour spread across the Studio Monjo worktable

Studio Monjo, Seoul · painting, folding and sewing at one table

01 · One of one

Each one-off starts from a different idea.

I once made a small blue notebook with a piece of hanji sewn to the cover and a line of calligraphy painted on top. Another may begin with a particular paper, an unusual size or a different binding. I decide the whole notebook as one piece. There is no fixed base model.

Paper
Hanji, translucent leaves, textured or drawing paper
Form
Pocket-sized, tall, wide or cut to an unusual proportion
Surface
Calligraphy, painting, collage or stitched paper
Binding
Thread and structure chosen to suit the piece
A small blue notebook with a hand-torn piece of hanji stitched to its cover and painted with calligraphy
Hanji · calligraphyHand-torn hanji is sewn to a small blue cover, then painted with calligraphy.
A large blue notebook with a narrow photograph sewn onto its cover over a deckled white paper panel
Image · formA narrow photograph is sewn onto a larger blue cover.
A long white hand-bound notebook with Korean calligraphy written down its cover
Calligraphy · proportionCalligraphy runs down the length of a tall white cover.
In the studio now

The notebooks in these photographs are examples. They may already be gone, and the next one may look completely different. Message me to ask what is available or currently being made.

Ask on Instagram ↗

02 · Continuing line

Robey notebooks begin with a walk through Seoul.

When a place stays with me, I paint it with Robey somewhere in the scene. The painting wraps around the cover, then I choose the thread and bind a small numbered edition.

On the walk

I notice a place, a detail or a brief moment.

Back at the studio

I paint the scene and place Robey somewhere inside it.

At the bench

I print the cover, sew the edition and add Robey's letter.

Ordering from the studio

from Seoul to your desk.

Tell me which notebook you have in mind.

In Korea

Order through Naver.

Current Robey scenes can be bought directly through the Korean shop.

Open the Korea shop ↗

Outside Korea

Message the studio on Instagram.

Send the notebook name or a screenshot and tell me your shipping country. I’ll confirm availability, delivery cost and payment details before sending it.

Message Studio Monjo ↗

One-off pieces appear whenever a new idea is ready. If you saw one you liked, include a screenshot in your message.