Our Mission
We will provide our customers with stationery that fuels their creativity and reconnects them to the world outside of technology.Every item that leaves our hands will be as beautiful as it is useful.
Our Story
In the Spring of 2015, my brand new husband and I were driving from Boston to New York City on the back half of our fabulous honeymoon and discussing what I was going to do when I made the incredible lifestyle change of moving from sunny Florida, USA to cloudy Midlands, UK.
I’d had a little bubble of an idea quietly growing for weeks and what better time to give it wings! So I told him of my desire to start a business selling high-quality handmade paper artwork. My darling new husband looked at me sideways, judged I wasn’t nuts, and smiled-and-nodded his agreement to let me give it a go. And so, a few months later, Citrus Book Bindery was born!
I have used my own love for all things paper and stationery to design for you the most beautiful books available on the market – choosing only those materials that I would enjoy using myself. That devotion to quality over quantity has allowed Citrus Book Bindery to blossom and grow, and in the Winter of 2017 my husband, Ian, left his full-time job to join the venture. Now, instead of my dream, it is OUR dream and I couldn’t be happier to share it with him every day.
The great 19th century designer William Morris once said: “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” I try to apply this principal to every one of my products – something beautiful to hold in your hands and yet still serve a useful purpose for you. I hope that you love your Citrus Book as much as I do! – Fran McKay
Fran McKay
Owner, Artist, Etc.
Fran is the founder, designer, and voice behind Citrus Book Bindery.
Every journal is touched by her in some way before it makes it’s way to it’s forever home.
Ian McKay
Owner, Maker, Etc.
Ian is the glue master, shipping king, and bad design rejector.
He keeps Fran from falling down too many rabbit holes!
WE PLANT TREES
EVERY MONTH
TO OFFSET OUR EMISSIONS
Discover our CITRIDORIA forest
Hi there. I love your books. They look beautiful. The number of pages: are they counted singely or including both sides of the paper? So does a 48 refill book mean 96 number of sides of paper or are there 24 sheets resulting in 48 numbered pages?
Hi there! The page count is already considering both sides, so a refill with 48 pages is 24 leaves of paper.
Hi! I found you while “clicking around” after initiating a Google search for “travelers notebooks”. I visited your Etsy shop, am following you on Instagram and finally ended up here. Your site is full of the most gorgeous hand-made books and I am literally in love! I can’t wait to receive my first order – the first of many. I am blown away by your talent!
Thank you very much, Heidi!
Hey I love your products! Is there any way I can track my order?
Have a nice day!
Hi Amy – thank you for reaching out! Orders are typically shipped in about a week, though it can take a little longer at very busy times of the year. Please feel free to send me an email at fran@citrusbookbindery.co.uk if you have specific concerns about your order. ~Fran
Hi,
I love the concept of the refillables as I manage projects so being able to add and remove notebook inserts would be perfect. 2 questions – how securely fastened are the inserts for carrying and writing on the move? And also do you sell a diary insert at the moment? Thanks
Hi there – thank you for reaching out! I pull the elastics pretty taut and they are VERY difficult to break (if it’s even possible without a sharp edge). So they stay really secure whether you have all the elastics filled or just one! If you hold the book upside down they don’t even sag. At this time I am not offering any diary style inserts, though, I do apologize for that. 🙂
These are gorgeous and luxe! It evident that you put love and care into your craft. I ogled at your journals on Instagram and Etsy for a while before deciding to treat myself and now I can’t wait to try them!!! @pixiemommiejournals
Thank you very much! <3
Hi, I was wondering if your journals are vegan?
Thank you for reaching out! All of our products use vegan-friendly materials, including our adhesives which are all synthetic rather than animal based. We do use natural beeswax on our threads, however, so that item alone is dependant on your own personal views.
Just received my gorgeous journal. I love it! It’s beautiful and sturdy and I LOVE the paper. Thank you so much!
Thanks, Ken – I am so glad you love your book!
Hi I was wondering if there’s a difference between the travellers 4 pack refills and the notebook single refills in terms of compatibility? I can’t wait to order! Thanks
Hi there – no difference at all! They are the exact same size and page count. They are sold as singles or sets only for convenience.
Hello. How many vertical and horizontal dots are on your A5 standard(5mm) dot grid paper?
Our 5mm dot grid A5 pages are 27 grid squares across by 40 down. 🙂
Thanks, Fran. 🙂
Hello again, Fran. I decided to try a B5 for the first time. Do you know how many vertical and horizontal dots are on your B5 standard(5mm) dot grid paper? I’m trying to plan my bullet journal spreads before my precious arrives. I am so excited.
The B5 with standard 5mm dot is 33 x 48 grid squares. 🙂
Thank you. 🙂
I have ordered 5 times from Citrus BOOK Bindery and it’s like waiting for Christmas waiting to receive your order. Amazing craftsmanship. Thanks Fran and Ian.
Our company has ordered large quantities for marketing initiatives and appreciates the responsiveness, quality and attention to shipping concerns. Thank you Citrus Book Bindery!
Thank you very much for your continued business. We appreciate you!
Many fascinating hours of researching bullet journal and planner options (with help from the big, very detail-orienting online planner community) has led me to many exciting options but this website may be most exciting of all. It’s so highly customizable with so many options hardcore notebook lovers care a lot about…a gorgeous, big selection of covers…colored paper even…and even can submit our own art for the cover…and vegan minus some beeswax. I mean how can it get better than that really? Thanks for running such an awesome company. Disclaimer: I haven’t ordered yet but already so impressed.
Thank you so much, Flower!
I’m considering if you can also bind the books in landscape format.
Yes, this can be done as a custom request – you can send us an email or a message via Facebook or Twitter to discuss. 🙂
I’m so excited to receive my notebook cover. Ordered the 8 string as I was blown away at all the possibilities. All of your products look wonderful.
I would like to know though…What is the cover for the travelers notebook made of?
Hi there, Richard – thank you for your order! Your particular cover is printed on a heavy paper with a coated canvas spine to match. We also have a number of solid colour options that are a mix of linen-feel fabrics, coated canvases, and specialty coated papers.
Hello,
Is the paper in your notebooks fountain pen friendly?
Hi there – absolutely! All of our papers take fountain pen inks extremely well without feathering and bleed-through. We have some paper samplers available in the shop if you’d like to give them a try before you commit to a full journal. 🙂