So question.... I am looking for a binder - not targeted as a recipe binder because I like to make my own - that is a bit classy and different than the usual office binder. Any good ideas on places to get one? Some unique stationary/office supply stores? Thanks.

lyntyrrel, have you been in an office Depot/Max lately? They have some new fancy office supplies and there are often pretty binders to be had. Target even has a few.

@lyntyrrel, you might try an office supply shop for one of the binders with clear sleeves, you can slip your favorite handmade paper into the front-back-and-spine, they're wipe clean and come in sizes from 1/2" spine to 4". Otherwise I cover my journals in my favorite fabrics, it's quite easy to do if you first make a paper grocery bag pattern, but that's not wipe clean and kitchen friendly.

As others have mentioned, office supply stores are starting to get better about keeping nicer looking products in like fancy binders. You might also look into scrapbooking supplies. Some scrapbooking companies use a more binder like product than a traditional scrapbook/photo album, and you might find something really nice looking that would work for you.

I use a clear cover white binder for all my recipes (actually, 7 binders--I have so many, I needed to break them all up into categories, as my binder was impossible to lift after a while). I keep all my recipes as individual word documents, and make sure that each ones has at least an inspiration picture if I don't have a picture of the actual recipe itself. (Like, a picture of a fresh strawberry for the strawberry pie I make a lot, but always forget to take a picture of...) It helps with the visual factor of getting excited about a recipe, but isn't a big hassle if I haven't remembered to take a picture yet. I print each recipe and put them in a clear sheet protector, so when I have it out on the counter and I get splashes or flour on it, it just wipes clean. I give a copy to friends and family when they have a big life event, like a marriage or graduation, but I don't do the page protectors for them. I would, but I also know that they aren't going to keep every recipe I put in there, so I leave it to them to handle it how they like, or I take it back after they've rid it out of what they don't want, and put each recipe in a protector for them. Occasionally, I go through my files and update my word doc recipes with notes I've taken on the pages in my books. I just put a little post-it on any that I write on, so I can find them easily when I sit down later to work on it.

It works great for me--every recipe is easy to read in a way I like to read it (I like my directions numbered, I like my ingredients in a list, etc), but can be easily altered to whatever way a friend or family member might want it for their own preference. I leave lots of space for handwritten notes, and always have a little blurb stating who is responsible for the recipe and any pertinent notes that other people might enjoy, as well as reminders to myself of what I might want to do to change things in the future, etc. I use an easy to read, standard font, I put a nice clean border on the pictures and keep them at a small enough size to not eat up ink, but big enough to inspire and give an example of how things should turn out. I keep them on a shelf in my kitchen, and I keep all my actual printed (storebought) cookbooks on the bookshelves with the rest of our books, so they stay in nice condition and can be referenced. When I find a recipe I like in one of the books, I make a document for it, and I even go so OCD as to scan the picture if it has one in the book and then put the image into the document. It's a little extreme, but my experience of working with my cookbook is so satisfying, that it is worth it. I don't dust my floorboards but once a year, but I sure as heck will scan 200 recipe pictures. :) Priorities!

Oh isn't this gorgeous! Could make a lovely hostess/homewarming gift as well.

Re: Prettier than usual binders
I like the ones
found at
http://www.katespaperie.com and
http://www.seejanework.com/
I've ordered from and loved both sites.

I keep all of my recipes on index cards. I love how easy it is to pull them out and rearrange them.

My mom prints/photocopies all of her recipes onto 8.5" x 11" paper, so that all of her odds and ends (newpaper/magazine clippings, handwritten recipes) become uniform, and then she keeps them in a binder.

I use a Moleskine binder for my recipes, but this one is so pretty. Would I be able to get it in South Africa ? Perhaps from an online shop or eBay or similar ?

Oh, wait, silly me. I just saw that there website delivers to me :) yay !

...for $33 :(