Washington, D.C. - March 11, 2008

Artistic Genius

Moleskine Notebooks by Goshdarnknit

Ah, the old Moleskine notebook. Through the years it’s contained the thoughts of countless luminaries — Hemingway, Matisse, you — yet its dreary black and brown exterior hardly foreshadows the brilliance that awaits readers.

Goshdarnknit, by local artist Rania Hassan, has fixed that problem by creating sweeping cover art on Moleskines. Hassan was inspired by the concept of carrying art around in your pocket and set out to create books that are as cool as the people who use them — for not much more than the retail price.

There are two themes for covers. Those featuring characters are based on warnings from paranoid parents. (“You don’t know where it’s been!”) The others are inspired by nature, with curling branches and intricate sunflowers. Hassan offers lined, unlined, and even extra-large notebooks.

You know, for really big geniuses.

Available online at shoofly.etsy.com.