I'm currently reading a book about the history of quilting (well actually, I'm reading two but I can't remember which one it's in- If you want to know I'll go back and check) and it has a section in there about fabric diarys that ladies used to keep.
Thy would have samples of their fabric and would write what they thought of them/planned to do with them/had done with them.
The book in question even showed some pictures of these antique books. I fell in love with them I must say!