Custom Notebooks at Ito-Ya

Fancy a visit to the paper concierge? “Attention paper sophisticates: Ito-Ya, the legendary 111-year old Japanese stationery mecca will make your dreams come true. On the fourth level of their newly renovated 12-story emporium in Tokyo’s Ginza shopping district, a counter called “Note Couture” is dedicated to creating the perfect writing pad, on the spot.For … Continue reading Custom Notebooks at Ito-Ya

Antonio Lopez’s Journal

An absolutely gorgeous page from a journal belonging to Antonio Lopez, a Puerto Rican fashion illustrator whose work is being celebrated with an exhibition at the Museo del Barrio in New York. I love the mix of elements on this page– the old fashioned ledger with numbers and notes then covered by these elegant drawings… … Continue reading Antonio Lopez’s Journal

U. S. Government Printing Office Memorandum Notebook

Here’s a really cool item I snagged on eBay: This is an early version of the Federal Supply Service notebooks I’ve reviewed here. I don’t know when they changed the information on the back, but from googling the Government Printing Office and the Federal Supply Service, my theory is that the US government used to … Continue reading U. S. Government Printing Office Memorandum Notebook

Notebook Addict of the Week: MissVickyBee

This week’s addict is another YouTuber called Miss VickyBee, who has a variety of lengthy videos in which she talks about her various journals. This one is about 25 minutes and goes through all the journals she is currently using (or was using as of its 2014 date).   There are lots more to explore!

Review: First Draft Notebook

A new American-made notebook is always exciting, so I was very happy to be offered a sample of the First Draft notebook for review. The one I received is a lovely red color– navy and sand are also available. The first impression is of a solid, well-made, chunky mid-size notebook. I had a flashback to … Continue reading Review: First Draft Notebook

A Fiber Artist’s Sketchbook

“[Internationally known fiber artist] Cindy Steiler is always working, in her studio, “drawing with thread.”, during a European artist residency, teaching students how to push the boundaries of fiber. She works in an antique mall, browsing eerie photos of women she doesn’t know. She works in a grocery store aisle, scribbling an idea into her … Continue reading A Fiber Artist’s Sketchbook

London Notebooks

I was in London a few months ago, and while the trip wasn’t my best notebook-spotting adventure, I did see a few interesting items. At Foyle’s, the huge bookstore on Charing Cross Road, there is a nice selection of stationery tucked in shelves by the registers on the 2nd floor. I thought the Puggy’s Best … Continue reading London Notebooks

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Moleskine

The creator of the musical Hamilton use Moleskine notebooks…. and despite the images below of Hemingway, Picasso, etc, the linked article does a good job of explaining the true history of “moleskine” vs “Moleskine®”. “Lin-Manuel Miranda worked for six years to get his Grammy- and Pulitzer-winning musical Hamilton from his head onto a stage. He … Continue reading Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Moleskine