New journal, with removable pages

First, let me say that I'm really enjoying my journal making classes with Sue. But please don't tell the teacher that I just didn't like making this journal. I think it's a really great idea using 1" binder rings (I used 1.5" because I couldn't find the smaller ones) since you can add in & take out pages to this journal as you go. But there was something that I didn't like about it & I'm not really sure what it was.

Ok, there were a couple of things, but I'm not sure if that's what made me not like this one. The binder rings were slipped through grommets, which I had to install..................NOT FUN!! I didn't have any problems with the bottom & top grommets since I was able to use my 1/4" hole punch. The center holes..............a completely different story. How was I going to do this? Ok, take a deep breath & relax (yeah that didn't help). I never bought an awl for the class since I figured why spend the money when you can use a nail & hammer to do the same thing. Trying to keep in my relaxed state, I sat on my garage floor with a board underneath my journal & I pounded a nail through the journal where I wanted my center grommets to go. I had to do this 3 or 4 times since I needed the hole big enough for a 1/4" grommet to fit through. It still wasn't easy, but with some wiggling of the nail & some deep breaths, I got it to work & I told myself never again unless I find a better way to do this!!

The other thing that bothered me is that even though I used 70 Peltex, it's a pretty soft & flimsy piece & I think for what I'm wanting, I need it to be stiffer.

Below, you can see the inside of my journal. I created pockets for scissors, pens, etc. I also decided that this would be a perfect journal to keep all of my dye swatches & their recipes in!!

I almost forgot to tell you, I hand dyed bamboo poplin (just love how the orange turned out) & for the pockets, hand dyed bamboo again, then black misty fuse with red eyelash yarn. The closure I used velcro.

In each of the journals I've made so far, I always seem to get hung up on the closure apparatus. After you've hand dyed the fabric & made this wonderful journal, you then finish it with Velcro? Velcro just seems so cheesy to me. I need to find a better closure option. Metal clasp? Toggle? Wrapping it with beautiful yarn? My DH does beautiful wood working & has a lot of exotic wood scraps laying around.......................hmmmmmmm??