After losing her job in the pharmaceutical industry, Katie Pietrak transformed a crafting hobby into her own small business. Through Vintage Vinyl Journals, she creates notebooks from used records and album covers.
Bringing vinyl back to life —
After losing her job in the pharmaceutical industry, Katie Pietrak transformed a crafting hobby into her own small business. Through Vintage Vinyl Journals, she creates notebooks from used records and album covers.
Courtesy Katie Pietrak
The idea for Vintage Vinyl Journals came from Pietrak's desire to make use of her large collection of records, many that were too scratched for listening.
Bringing vinyl back to life —
The idea for Vintage Vinyl Journals came from Pietrak's desire to make use of her large collection of records, many that were too scratched for listening.
Courtesy Katie Pietrak
Almost every step of the bookbinding process is done from the comfort of Pietrak's home studio, except laser cutting, which she contracts out. "Hopefully one day, we can afford to have our own machine," she said.
Bringing vinyl back to life —
Almost every step of the bookbinding process is done from the comfort of Pietrak's home studio, except laser cutting, which she contracts out. "Hopefully one day, we can afford to have our own machine," she said.
Courtesy Katie Pietrak
Pietrak uses a record to create the front cover of each journal and the matching album sleeve for the back. She does the bookbinding herself, sewing together the pages and gluing them to the cover.
Bringing vinyl back to life —
Pietrak uses a record to create the front cover of each journal and the matching album sleeve for the back. She does the bookbinding herself, sewing together the pages and gluing them to the cover.
Courtesy Katie Pietrak
While assembling journals, Pietrak usually turns up the music in her studio to inspire a creative atmosphere. She even set up a play area in her studio for her daughter.
Bringing vinyl back to life —
While assembling journals, Pietrak usually turns up the music in her studio to inspire a creative atmosphere. She even set up a play area in her studio for her daughter.
Courtesy Katie Pietrak
Some custom orders are pricier than others, particularly journals featuring Beatles albums. They're harder to find and usually more expensive, Pietrak said.
Bringing vinyl back to life —
Some custom orders are pricier than others, particularly journals featuring Beatles albums. They're harder to find and usually more expensive, Pietrak said.
Courtesy Katie Pietrak
Pietrak says she has more than 500 journals ready to ship in her studio. Custom orders can take longer to deliver depending on the availability of the record.
Bringing vinyl back to life —
Pietrak says she has more than 500 journals ready to ship in her studio. Custom orders can take longer to deliver depending on the availability of the record.
Courtesy Katie Pietrak
Pietrak used to sell her journals at craft shows. As sales have grown through her website, she has been able to scale back the amount of time she travels and spend more time at home with her daughter.
Bringing vinyl back to life —
Pietrak used to sell her journals at craft shows. As sales have grown through her website, she has been able to scale back the amount of time she travels and spend more time at home with her daughter.
Courtesy Vintage Vinyl Journals
Making journals is a big departure from her former corporate job, but Pietrak says getting laid off turned out to be a blessing in disguise. "I'm such a different person now," she said. "I'm not that corporate, hungry, heel-wearing person anymore."
Bringing vinyl back to life —
Making journals is a big departure from her former corporate job, but Pietrak says getting laid off turned out to be a blessing in disguise. "I'm such a different person now," she said. "I'm not that corporate, hungry, heel-wearing person anymore."
Courtesy Katie Pietrak