Orders & Timeframes
This is the one people ask about most. Here's the honest answer.
How long will my order take?
We carry stock of most notebooks and dispatch within 1–3 business days. If you're after a specific colourway or a less common piece, we make in small batches — in that case, allow 7–10 business days for production before dispatch.
Once your order leaves the studio, it travels via Express Post. Allow 3–5 days for delivery depending on your location.
If you have a date you need to hit — a birthday, an anniversary, something that matters — just ask. We'll tell you straight whether we can make it work.
Do you add personalisation? How long does that take?
Yes — monogramming is available on all notebooks, stamped directly into the leather using traditional blind embossing.
Personalisation adds a little time. If we have your piece in stock, allow an extra 1–2 business days for embossing before it's dispatched. We'll always let you know where things are at.
Note: monogramming is not available on The Companion insert.
Can I get something urgently?
Reach out before you order and ask. We'll look at what's on the bench and give you an honest answer. We won't promise what we can't deliver — but we'll do what we can.
When do I need to order for Christmas?
For made-to-order and embossed pieces, order by Friday 4 December to be safe. In-stock pieces can go a little later, but December post is busy, so earlier is always better. If you're cutting it fine, send us a message before you order and we'll tell you straight.
The Notebooks
If you haven't used a traveller's notebook system before, here's how it works.
What's a traveller's notebook system?
It's a leather cover that holds inserts — thin notebooks that slide in behind a set of vertical elastics. When one insert is full, you swap it out and keep using the same cover. The leather stays. The cover gets better. The inserts are replaced.
It's the opposite of throwing out a notebook when it runs out of pages. You keep the thing you love and just refill what's used up.
Are the paper notebooks included when I buy a cover?
Yes. Every cover in the Traveller's Range comes with its paper inserts included, ready to write in from the day it arrives. Each product page lists exactly what's inside.
Are the notebooks refillable?
Yes — that's the whole point. The leather cover is built to last years. The inserts are replaceable. Refills live in The Inserts Library on the website, available anytime.
How many pages does each insert have?
Our kraft cover inserts have 60 pages. Our thick hardcover inserts have around 250 pages. Each notebook cover holds up to four inserts at once.
What's the difference between the notebooks in the range?
The Traveller's Range runs from The Settler (the most minimal — a single wrap, four elastics, centre closure) through to The Wren (the hero of the range — internal sleeves, stitching, and a raw edge front pocket). Each step in the range adds structure or character.
The Narrator Range is for the person who carries one notebook and fills it completely — no elastic system, just a leather cover that wraps around your book and becomes its second skin.
Not sure which one is right for you? Come into the studio or send us a message. We'll point you in the right direction.
What's The Companion?
The Companion is a slim leather insert that slides into any Rustic Wren notebook with an elastic spine. Inside: a full-height sleeve, smaller sleeves, and a zippered compartment. It keeps everything organised without adding bulk.
People tend to come back for a second one.
What sizes do you offer?
The Traveller's Range comes in three sizes: A6, A5 and A4. The Narrator Range comes in A5 and A4. Size options are listed on each product page.
What paper is in the inserts?
High-quality, acid-free paper. Smooth and suitable for most pens — including fountain pens. No bleed-through.
The Leather
Where does your leather come from?
Around 85% of our leather comes from Australian cattle, with the remainder from New Zealand. We use premium full-grain cowhide. We source locally wherever we can — to support Australian industry and because the quality is genuinely better.
What's full-grain leather?
Full-grain is the top layer of the hide — the strongest part, with the natural grain left intact. It doesn't age the way cheaper leather does. It accumulates. Every crease and mark is yours. Over time it develops a patina that belongs entirely to you.
It's not a piece you'll replace in two years. It's a piece you'll carry for twenty.
Will the colour change over time?
Yes — and that's a feature, not a flaw. Full-grain leather deepens and softens with use. The more you handle it, the better it looks. This is what people mean when they talk about patina.
How do I care for my leather?
Wipe down with a soft, dry cloth as needed. Keep it away from excess moisture and direct sunlight. If you'd like to give it extra protection, a high-quality leather conditioner applied sparingly works well. Less is more.
Personalisation
Can I add my name or initials?
Yes. Monogramming is included with every notebook purchase — stamped into the leather using traditional blind embossing. Names, initials, dates. Tell us what you'd like.
Can I have more than eight letters?
Yes. Eight letters is a guide, not a hard limit. It's there to stop the truly enormous names. If yours runs a little longer, we're happy to stamp it, no extra charge. Pop it in the personalisation field or send us a message.
Can it be lowercase, or formatted a certain way?
Yes. Type it exactly as you'd like it stamped. Capitals, lowercase, initials with or without full stops. What you type is what we press.
Do you do gold or foil embossing?
No, blind embossing only. Foil can flake and wear off over time, and these pieces are made to be carried for decades. Blind embossing is pressed straight into the leather and lasts as long as the piece does.
Can I see what it will look like before it's stamped?
We use one font and stamp into the leather by hand. If you have a specific placement preference, let us know when you order and we'll do our best to accommodate it. If you're not sure, just tell us what you'd like stamped and we'll take care of it.
Once it's embossed it's permanent — so if you have any questions about sizing or placement, ask before we start.
Can you emboss a custom logo or design?
Yes — for corporate and wholesale orders we do offer custom embossing. Get in touch with your requirements and we'll go from there.
Gifting
Do you offer gift wrapping?
Yes. Every Rustic Wren order is packaged with care. If it's a gift, let us know and we'll make sure the presentation does justice to what's inside.
Can you help me choose the right notebook for someone?
Absolutely. Tell us a little about the person — how they work, what they use a notebook for, whether they'd want something minimal or something with more features — and we'll point you to the right one. Send us a message or come into the studio.
What are the most popular gifts?
The Notebooks and Brushrolls are consistent favourites for birthdays and milestones. The bundles — a notebook paired with The Companion and inserts — are a great option if you want to give someone a complete system, ready to use from day one.
Leather is the traditional third wedding anniversary gift. We hear that one a lot.
Studio & Stockists
Where are you based?
Our studio is at 14a Main Street, Lobethal, South Australia — a production workshop with a retail space. Come in, handle the leather, and find the one that calls to you.
Open Wednesday to Saturday, 10am–4pm. Also available by appointment — just reach out ahead of time.
Do you have stockists?
Yes — we have stockists across South Australia and beyond. Check the website for the current list.
Wholesale & Corporate
Can we become a Stockist?
We'd love to hear from you. Fill out the Wholesale / Become a Stockist form on our contact page and we'll be in touch.
Do you do corporate or bulk orders?
Yes — notebooks, compendiums, menus, and other leather pieces for teams, events, and client gifting. Custom embossing available. Get in touch with your requirements and we'll put together a quote. We usually respond within 24 hours.
No minimum order — though pricing does work on a scale.
General
Where are your products made?
Every piece is designed and handcrafted in our Lobethal studio by me, Jess, and a small local team. Nothing is imported. Nothing is outsourced. The making is done here.
Do you ship internationally?
Yes — reach out for a shipping quote based on your location.
What if something's not right with my order?
Send us a message and we'll sort it. If a piece arrives with a genuine fault, we'll make it right. Natural marks, colour variation and growth lines aren't faults, they're the leather, and every piece wears its own. We don't offer returns for change of mind, so if you're unsure before ordering, just ask. We'd rather help you choose right the first time.
Can I visit the studio?
Yes. We're open Wednesday to Saturday, 10am–4pm, and by appointment outside those hours. Come in, handle the leather, and find the one that calls to you.
Still have a question?
Send us a message — we're quick to respond and no question is too small. We'd rather you ask than wonder.
rusticwren.com.au · hello@rusticwren.com.au