Category Archives: Notebook Reviews

Review: Blackwell Notebook

The Blackwell notebook is an interesting “mole-clone” that has a bit more branding than most, but in an unobtrusive way that I rather like. Below you see the Blackwell notebook next to a Piccadilly notebook– in the front view, it’s almost impossible to tell the difference. (The Blackwell is on the left.) In this photo … Continue reading Review: Blackwell Notebook

Moleskine Monday: Original Volant Notebooks Giveaway!

Have you ever fantasized about a cool notebook from the past that’s no longer available, wishing that someone saved a stash of them and then put them up for sale again? Well, that fantasy might come true today! Back in 2003, Moleskine branched out from their standard hardcover notebooks for the first time, introducing the … Continue reading Moleskine Monday: Original Volant Notebooks Giveaway!

Review: Kolo Essex Travel Book

The Kolo Essex Travel Book is an interesting hybrid of a Moleskine-type notebook and a Filofax. From the outside, it looks a lot like a Moleskine, but with some important differences. The binding is cloth, with a window in which you can insert your own image. An elastic band holds it shut. On the back, … Continue reading Review: Kolo Essex Travel Book

Review: Handmade Journal by Deafmessanger

“Deafmessanger” is Kucin, an artist living in Prague. He sells his notebooks, diaries, sketchbooks and postcards in lots of locations around Europe, as well as at Bluestockings and Spoonbill and Sugartown here in NYC. He contacted me a few months ago and offered me a sample journal to review– when I took a look at … Continue reading Review: Handmade Journal by Deafmessanger

Review & Massive Giveaway: Arwey Notebooks

Arwey is an interesting brand of notebooks you don’t see too often. The company is based in Turkey, but even on my trip to Istanbul, I only saw their notebooks sold in one store. I first discovered them at A.I. Friedman in New York, but they don’t seem to be carried there anymore. However, the … Continue reading Review & Massive Giveaway: Arwey Notebooks

Review: Japanese Notebooks from Kinokuniya

Here’s a look at a couple of notebooks I couldn’t resist buying at Kinokuniya, a store in Manhattan that specializes in books, movies, stationery and other Japanese items. The first is a quite unique notebook, made by Pilot and branded “THE-II” on the front. The cover is a very retro leather-textured plastic: But here’s what … Continue reading Review: Japanese Notebooks from Kinokuniya

Review: Piccadilly Primo

As I’ve often mentioned here, I’m a fan of Piccadilly’s little black notebooks. I’ve probably bought 8-10 of them by now and I have used 4 of the small ones as my daily notebook. I haven’t paid as much attention to the rest of their product line, but when I saw the small Primo Journal … Continue reading Review: Piccadilly Primo

Review: Ecosystem Notebook

A while back, I wrote a post mentioning Ecosystem notebooks. Someone at Ecosystem actually noticed, and even though I more or less trashed their whole brand identity, they were kind enough to send me a sample so I could actually review the quality of the product. (Now that’s good marketing.) So, let’s take a look… … Continue reading Review: Ecosystem Notebook

Review: Scribe Notebook

Today I’m reviewing yet another variant on the basic black notebook that has become so ubiquitous. This time, it’s the Scribe Plain Notebook. An initial impression of this notebook might suggest that it’s just like a Moleskine, but I actually found it more similar to the Pen & Ink notebook I reviewed here, or some … Continue reading Review: Scribe Notebook

Notebook Addict of the Year: Carmen

You might think April is a little early to be declaring a Notebook Addict of the Year. Well, I’m ashamed to say I have been trying to get this post ready for months, so it really should have gone up last year. But I’m not sure it even matters what year it is, because Carmen … Continue reading Notebook Addict of the Year: Carmen