Oh, how I longed for that pack of Prismacolor pencils! Yet every year my consolation prize was a plastic pack of Laurentiens and, if I was lucky, a fruit-scented eraser. But the gold-tipped deep red Prismacolor box is what I remember most from the annual August school supply shopping of my childhood. Hilroy notebooks, Berol HBs, Elmer’s Glue and Pink Pearl erasers, maybe a Trapper Keeper. But certainly never the Prismacolor or the fancier-still Faber-Castells.

I got all excited for a minute, thinking ” ‘Hilroy?!?!?’ A new notebook brand I’ve never heard of!” But they’re actually pretty dull-looking, along the lines of Mead notebooks. Further along in the article, Moleskine, Rhodia, Field Notes, Canteo, Whitelines, Clairefontaine, Rite in the Rain and other brands are mentioned. And I liked this quote at the end:

The beauty with having a notebook is that you write anything random down. You can always cross it out later.

More praise for the Canteo at this blog:

1) I love paper, notebooks, books, pens – and new ways to keep my things organized. 2) I love things that are unique. 3) I really like things that are excellent and this is one. 4) It’s a great combination of craftsmanship, attention to detail and reasonable price. 5) I love that they included a really cool looking pencil and a set of VERY unique page markers. Moleskine doesn’t do that.

I hope this company finds a US distributor, as those who have managed to get their hands on these notebooks seem to really love them!