Anyone who has ever seen Bomo Art notebooks, bookmarks, and other stationery wonders will never mistake this brand for any other. Illustrated in the style of vintage engravings, they take us on a journey to the past, offering modern craftsmanship.

Distinctive balloons and retro illustrations are the trademarks of this small workshop, located in a charming part of Budapest on Régiposta Street. Initially, Bomo Art offered diaries, decorative wrapping paper, postcards, and photo albums. Over time, the offerings expanded to include handmade notebooks, sketchbooks, stationery, and even sticker sets. Future plans, as revealed by the brand's founder, Károly Boldizsár, include interior design and the introduction of large-format graphic designs.

Bomo Art is a team of sixteen people. From the concept, through graphic design and hand-binding and stapling of notebooks, to packaging and shipping – each stage is overseen and treated with the same level of care. Nothing is left to chance, and individual elements create a cohesive line. This ensures that customers receive refined products that delight the eye not only on the day of purchase but throughout their long life.

As Károly Boldizsár says, behind every project lies an idea and a talented illustrator. He's referring to Eva Holllósi, who has been responsible for graphic design at Bomo Art since 2000. Using paints and watercolor pencils, she brings Károl's ideas to life, which are then transferred to digital media. Interestingly, all graphics are created in the format of a sheet of wrapping paper. This allows individual illustration elements to later appear on notebook covers, for example, or become the motif of even small products like stickers or pins.

Bomo Art draws heavily on its native Budapest – its prints feature iconic scenic spots and iconic buildings, such as the neo-Renaissance Hungarian State Opera House in Budapest and the Gresham Palace Hotel, which now houses the hotel. In addition to architecture, the artists draw inspiration from local nature and art depicted in early 20th-century prints. Their latest projects are inspired by posters depicting Lake Balaton in Hungary from the late 1960s and early 1970s.

And where did the famous balloons, one of Bomo Art's most recognizable symbols, come from? As Károly Boldizsár explains: "The inspiration came from an old photograph of a balloon over Paris. I imagined a view of Budapest, which at the time was very reminiscent of Paris... The buildings, the café and art life, the poetry, the whole thing... I wanted to reflect this vibrant urban culture with this project."

Knowing how many of you value good-quality writing tools, we couldn't leave out Bomo Art notebooks from this post. The constantly refined hand-stitching and binding technique ensures they don't lose pages or fall apart, even after years of intensive use.

Inside, you'll find light, creamy, acid-free, pH-neutral Fedrigoni paper, made in Italy. This paper works well with inks, preventing bleed-through and fraying, even when using a wetter nib. Due to its high absorption, some ink colors may appear slightly more intense on it, while sheen inks may appear less shimmery.

Bomo Art is definitely not a brand for everyone – but anyone who wants to discover extraordinary items, created with passion by a small company in Budapest, will definitely come back for more. Guaranteed!