All my journals go through many processes and each takes many, many hours to complete.  Each page in my journals have been hand-torn and distressed to keep with the look and feel of the journal, plus you may find a treasure or two in the way of handmade paper from around the world, some of which I have collected when I was in India and Nepal, or maybe remnants of an old letter or an ancient map.   Each journal has been hand-stitched with exposed stitching which allows the book to open flat for ease of writing.  All my journals come with an attached handmade bookmark and will be wrapped in calico.  If used under normal conditions your art piece will last a very long time.