The MTV Movie Awards are this weekend, and one Vicksburg native is excited to once again have her products in the hands of celebrities.

Kristi Baker’s heirloom quality handcrafted Pocket Journals will be included in The Artisan Group’s celebrity swag bags.

“I’m very excited about gifting my Pocket Journals at GBK’s gift lounge. I think their rustic feel and authenticity will appeal to the MTV Movie Awards crowd,” Baker said. “They are also incredibly versatile — I designed them to work as either a leather pocket notebook or a Wedding Vow Book, the perfect size to fit in his pocket to hold his handwritten vows, keeping them safe and close by for his special day. They also make an amazing groomsmen gift, prayer journal or small personal notebook.”

The journals measure 2.5” x 3” and are bound with black waxed linen thread. Offering a total of 13 chapters and a hand-braided, waxed linen wrap closure, the journals make creative expression easy with multi-media friendly, 50 pound acid-free, hand torn paper.

“Around 2010 I started making the journals for myself,” she said. “I got tired of buying all the standard cookie-cutter journals at the bookstores.”

As an artist, Baker felt she could make nicer journals that better reflected her style and character. The handmade journals were a hit.

“I started making them for all of my family and friends, and I was encouraged to start selling them,” she said. “I opened up an Etsy shop, and it just literally has blown up.”

Baker, a member of The Artisan Group, was invited to participate in the gifting.

“I’ve been a member with them since 2012, and I have participated with the Oscars, the Golden Globes and MTV,” she said. “The celebrities come through, they get a gift bag, and I’m giving away little leather pocketbook journals.”

At the last MTV award show Baker participated in, Kelley Jakle (Jessica in Pitch Perfect) took a photo with Baker’s heirloom journal on display.

“While she was filming Pitch Perfect 2, she got in touch with me and said she just had to have what she posed with,” she said. “She actually tweeted out the journal sitting on her piano. She uses it as her personal songwriting book.” Baker said she’s been able to connect with many, many celebrities through The Artisan Group, including Sasha Pieterse, who plays Alison DiLaurentis on ABC Family’s Pretty Little Lairs.

Baker, born and raised in Vicksburg, moved away with her husband in 1998. The ’91 Warren Central High School alumna said all of her family still lives in the area. To see journals available for purchase, visit etsy.com/shop/Thenibandquill.