Artisan Notebooks: A Canvas for Your Journey

Featuring unique, hand-drawn sketches by Israeli artist Efrat Gabriela Attias, these notebooks are adorned with illustrations that capture the essence of travel, adventure, and the human spirit. Whether you’re a dreamer, a student, or a seasoned traveler, these notebooks are designed to accompany you on your path, offering a space to record your aspirations, studies, and visions.

Designed in Israel

Efrat’s studio in the northern Israeli kibbutz of Snir, an area that has recently faced the harsh reality of ongoing rocket attacks from Lebanon. Despite the challenges of her surroundings, Efrat infuses each notebook with her passion for art and her love for storytelling. The result is a product that reflects both the resilience and creativity of Israeli design.

The Story Behind the Illustrations 

Whang-Od 

This hand-drawn portrait is of an extraordinary woman named Whang-Od, a stunning 105-year-old. She is considered the last mambabatok, a traditional tattoo artist of her generation. When Whang-Od was 25, her partner tragically died in a car accident. Instead of remarrying, as expected, she chose to dedicate herself to the art of tattooing, a skill she learned from her father. She continues to live in the remote village of Kalinga in the northern Philippines. Her resilience draws thousands of tourists who undertake the long and challenging journey to receive a tattoo from her. Her story is a profound inspiration, highlighting the power of preserving fading traditions, feminine wisdom, and the magnetic force of art.

Wise Woman 

Even today, witch hunts persist in places like Ghana, where women are still ostracized for alleged witchcraft. Thousands of women and their children live in refugee-like conditions, as a result of being expelled from their communities. A photograph from one of these camps deeply moved me, said Efrat, the creator of Megalayah, inspiring the "Wise Woman" illustration. This piece reflects not only the cruelty women still face but also their resilience and their ability to create unity in the face of adversity.

Tiziri 

Tiziri, a girl from the Amazigh tribes in Morocco, began helping her family at a young age, unaware of her beauty. At 14, she joined the women’s mysterious ceremonies and chose to be tattooed with two lines—one on her forehead, connecting her to higher realms, and one on her chin, grounding her to the earth. These lines symbolize her strength and the wisdom she gained as she grew into a strong woman.

Sadhu Baba 

The "sadhus" are spiritual wanderers. Their lives are guided by principles of detachment from material possessions and desires, making them a symbol of spirituality. The "sadhus" were the inspiration for the "Sadhu Baba" portrait, with added flowers to symbolize femininity and beauty in Hinduism, capturing the spiritual essence of these figures.