I don’t speak German, but this picture is worth a thousand words:
I’m wondering if the ones at the top of the pile are Moleskines with a little pen-loop added on…
Notizbuchblog.de » Blog Archive » Sonntagsidee 1: Kinderentwicklungstagebuch.
Do You Like Notebooks Because You Write?
Or do you write because you like notebooks?
“Girl with A Notebook” ponders the question “How has writing affected your life?”
One of the seemingly obvious answers would be that I spend a lot more time alone since I’ve started writing, preferring the company of my keyboard to the company of my classmates… or did I start writing because I was forced to spend a lot more time alone, because my keyboard suddenly became my only company? I’m not sure which way that goes.
Same goes for my obsession with office supplies — notebooks, post-it notes, pens, paperclips, paper, pencils, erasers, notebooks… But then again, do I like office supplies because I write, or do I write because I like office supplies?
via Girl With a Notebook: Blog Chain: How Has Writing Affected Your Life?.
A Penny For Your Thoughts (or a Notebook)
As this article mentions, there are some big bargains on school supplies to be had these days. I just had this ad pop up while I was reading my email:
One cent! They may not be fancy, but if you need some basic spiral notebooks, now’s a good time to shop!
Review: The Goldline Journal
Here’s a lovely notebook that I haven’t seen sold in very many places: the Goldline Journal.
It’s made by Tollit and Harvey of the UK, the same people who make the Guildhall notebook. I was never tempted to buy the Guildhall because the paper was lined, but the Goldline has plain paper, and a lovely faux-suede cover! How cool is it to have an off-white suede notebook? It seems so decadent and groovy, like something Austin Powers’ girlfriend might stash in her purple vinyl purse. Next to this baby, a Moleskine looks like a nerdy, bespectacled science teacher out of a 1950s film strip (not that that’s all bad).
Here’s how the notebook is packaged in the store, in a loose plastic bag rather than shrinkwrap.
Once you get the plastic off, it turns into a bit of a puzzle, as the elastic is trapped under the paper band in a way that makes it tricky to open. It’s not really that hard, but it would probably make a good sobriety test.
The back of the journal has the standard embossed logo. The holes for the elastic are a bit bigger than I’d prefer.
Inside the front cover there are a few lines for you to write your name or other info. Inside the back cover is the usual expanding pocket.
The paper seems a little lighter than most– I would say it has more show-through than any other notebook I’ve reviewed thus far in my usual pen tests. The paper weight is not specified on the notebook or the company’s website.
And here’s another distinguishing element: like the Guildhall tested by Black Cover, the Goldline has an extremely flexible binding. You can fold it back completely without it cracking, though I’m not sure why anyone would want to! I think the signatures are just a bit more loosely sewn than in other notebooks. The second image below shows a bit of separation but it was like that before I bent it.
The Goldline journal also comes in pink, lavender and light blue. Not to be sexist, but these are great gifts for girls– they’re cute without being too cutesy. I gave them to two adolescent nieces who seemed to really like them. The only retailer I know of that sells these in the US is Paper Access in New York. Pocket size 3.5 x 5.5″, price $11.95. Goldline notebooks are also available in a 130 x 210mm size, though I haven’t seen them at Paper Access. If anyone has spotted these at other retailers, please let me know!
Piccadilly Softcover Notebooks Coming Soon!
Ooh, ooh, ooh! Check out this page at Piccadilly’s website.
Apparently they’re introducing softcover notebooks! So far just a lined version, in small, medium and large sizes.
I contacted someone at Piccadilly to get the full scoop: the lined softcover notebooks will be available around the end of September in the bargain section at Borders stores and on the Piccadilly website. Just lined for now, but they plan to have other styles at a later date.
I also took the opportunity to ask about some of the quality concerns many Piccadilly users have expressed, mainly that the elastics were lousy and lost their stretch too fast. In response to those concerns, Piccadilly has improved the elastic on all their notebooks, using a thicker, better quality elastic. I recently bought a small graph paper notebook and so far, that elastic does seem to be holding up much better than the original lined notebook I bought last winter, which went slack almost immediately when I’d barely even used it.
On Twitter, ecram mentioned that he’d heard Piccadilly was upgrading their paper from 80gsm to 100gsm– it turns out this is not true. Piccadilly makes other products with 100 gsm paper, but the line of hardcover and softcover notebooks will stay at 80gsm.
Stay tuned for more Piccadilly reviews sometime this fall!
Engineer’s Field Notebook, late 1980s
A couple months ago I posted about the artist David Fullarton and wondered where I could get a notebook like the one he used for his work. Well, it turns out I had only to look in my own collection! The unusual gridded pages appearing in Fullarton’s artwork come from an engineer’s field book like this one:
I’d forgotten I had this notebook, which I bought when I was in college and used for notes and sketches. It measures 7 1/4 x 4 5/8″, with a hard cover faintly embossed with the words “Field Book 1308” (1308 is the Boorum & Pease product number).
The inside front cover has the Boorum and Pease logo and item number, and boasts of the following features:
This book contains a superior 50% rag content paper having a high degree moisture resisting surface. Waterproof ink is used and it is sewed with Bing Enamel Waterproof Thread. The binding material is also waterproof.
The pages all have the strange grid format– horizontal rectangles on the left side, and a small grid pattern bisected with a red line on the right side. It’s funny, both my dad and brother-in-law are engineers, but I’ve never known them to have a notebook like this, and I have no idea why an engineer needs that particular kind of grid layout! The same exact page layout is also used in something called a “Mining Transit Book,” which is even more mystifying to me, urban thought-worker desk-jockey that I am.
Here’s a few of my odd notes and sketches. I have to say I found the bathroom stall one rather amusing and have no memory of having drawn it!
In the back of the notebook, there are several printed pages with information that I suppose an engineer might use, or would have in pre- laptop computer days– mathematical formulas and various other tables.
I still really like this notebook. The paper is quite sturdy and the binding also held up to being knocked around quite a bit. And there’s something about that weird grid pattern that really appeals to me! I also love the old-fashioned look of the cover. The brown color is kind of ugly, but it’s sexy-retro-ugly, somehow. I think more notebooks should be made in these sorts of colors– black covers can get a little boring after a while but it’s a bummer when the only alternatives are too bright and cheerful. (Kikkerland’s Writersblok notebooks are one of the few pleasingly muted alternatives.) If this notebook could be shrunk down to the pocket size 3.5 x 5.5″ format, I might never use anything else.
I haven’t seen a notebook like this in a retail store for a long time, but similar ones are available online from EngineerSupply.com.
The Woodgrain Jotter (Pink) by paperlibrarian on Etsy
A fun find on Etsy: woodgrain covers, but in surreal colors!
Notebook Addict of the Week: Strikethru
This week’s notebook addict is Strikethru.
For reasons I don’t understand, some of my notebooks are at least half used, while others have only a sullied page or two, and still others are completely blank. When I look back over my skritchings, one thing is clear– since college, I have rarely used a notebook for anything other than cryptic notes, rambles and weird little margin drawings.
You can see some of those margin drawings in her post. But here’s her stash:
Not bad for someone whose first love is typewriters!
The First Carnival of Pen, Pencil and Paper
Welcome to the first edition of the Carnival of Pen, Pencil and Paper!
Some carnivals have roller coasters, fried dough, and oversized stuffed animals as prizes. This carnival offers just as much fun and variety, if you love handmade Japanese paper, fountain pens, Filofaxes, and 15-year old spiral notebooks. Every month, a different blog will host this traveling collection of the best posts about pens, pencils, notebooks, and other related topics. (More information here and here.)
I’m so excited to be launching the Carnival with such a great collection of posts. The submissions were everything I’d hoped for: a wide range of topics from a variety of blogs, some that I knew well and some new ones I’ve just discovered. It was hard to select a few favorites to highlight as Editor’s Picks, so I chose a few from the blogs that were new to me.
Editor’s Picks:
Clement Dionglay presents I Love Notebooks posted at Rants of the Archer.
Nifty says: If this hadn’t been in the carnival, I definitely would have made it an “Addict of the Week” post!
Kim presents Head to Head Highlighters posted at Prosaic Paradise.
Nifty says: you don’t see too many side-by-side highlighter comparisons–especially not ones that conclude that they’ve found the holy grail of highlighters!
Blackwing 602 pencil presented by pencil talk, who says, “a pencil review, in fact :-)”
Nifty says: wow, there is an incredible amount of detail and history in this review of a no-longer-made pencil with an unusual design. Great photos too.
Monda presents Reading the Minutes posted at Fresh Ribbon, saying, “Sometimes old notebooks have secrets…”
Nifty says: I love it when notebooks can capture bits of history like this.
Now on to the rest of our carnival, organized by topic.
New Product News
Tom Oddo presents Cross 2009 Fall Line Sneak Peek posted at Goldspot Pens, saying, “New Cross products due out Sept 1st.”
Alberto presents Pentel Slicci 0.8 mm metallic gel pens first impression posted at Lung Sketching Scrolls, saying, “Some sketches and initial review of the new Pentel Slicci 0.8 metallic gel pens”
Notebook Reviews
Sam presents Review: Asda Executive Notebook posted at Future; Nostalgic.”
Judy Hudgins presents School (supply) Time! posted at Knottyneedle, saying, “Just a general statement on the advent of school supply time and notebooks purchased recently”
Michael C presents The Quo Vadis Habana Notebook posted at Takenotesonthis’s Blog, saying, “Hopefully my wonderful experience will radiate through this review. I intended for this review to spark some great interest in not only Habana and Quo Vadis products, but also in all notebook and stationary products alike.”
Flea presents Ode To Shakespeare posted at Be A Survivor.
CynthiaNiklas presents Review: Pen and Paper Test in a Ciak Journal posted at Journaling Arts.
Pen Reviews
Nrepose presents Zebra Clip On Multi posted at Unposted.
Okami0731 presents Featured Pen – Retro 51 Cioppino posted at Whatever.
dowdyism presents Review: Zebra F-701 posted at The Pen Addict, saying, “The Zebra F-701 is a pen that has been around for a while, but it is new to me, and many other readers as well.”
Kew L. Ang presents Lamy Safari posted at My So Called Life, saying, “Lamy Safari is an entry level fountain pen and it is also the cheapest from this German Company. The pen has a black chromium plated steel tip and the body was made of ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) plastic. In the middle of the body, there is a little window displaying the ink level and the pen cover has a gigantic clip. At first glance, it is young, chic and colorful. The pen screams our practicality rather than something that look nice on your pocket. The pen comes in Blue, Black, Red, Yellow, Orange and recently in bright Pink as a special edition.”
Margana presents Time for a Purple Fix posted at An Inkophile’s Blog, saying, “Inkophile is about fountain pens, ink, and the paper that suits them best.”
John Hartzog presents Tommy And The Platinum Pro-Use 03 MSD-1000A posted at Pens And Pencils, a drafting pencil review.
Sketchbook Art
Cheryl Lowry presents Ampad 8×5: Notebook of my youth posted at Strikethru.
From Our Own Collections
Nan Barber presents It’s That Time Of Year Again!! posted at Philofaxy.
James presents A Fountain Pen of Note posted at Everyday Correspondence, saying, “Not exactly from my collection, but from Thomas Jefferson’s. On a recent trip to Monticello I was able to photograph this pen from the 1820s. In my post about it, I also mention Jefferson’s ivory notebook and provide a link to the history of Jefferson’s involvement in the development of the modern fountain pen.”
Steve presents Filofax – My Own Story posted at Steve Morton.
Jackie Flaherty presents Pens & Notebooks posted at Letters & Journals, saying, “I am one of those people who collects notebooks and pens unabashedly. I don’t even need a reason to write…just a fine tip pen and smooth writing paper.”
Vintage Writing Keepsakes, because I’m Sick of Talking Politics is presented by No Telling, who says, “…because sometimes the perfect little notebook has a bit of history…”
Mom Birthday Cards Printable is presented by Home Life Weekly, who says, “I have put together my printable Mom Birthday cards to share with you. They are really easy to make all you need to do is download the Mom Birthday Cards print and fold”
Hilary presents Decorative Japanese Bindings posted at A Yen For Paper.
That concludes this edition, but don’t worry, another Carnival will be rolling into town soon! The next edition will be hosted by The Pen Addict on September 8th. Make sure you submit your post by5pm on September 6th using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page. The carnival is organized by me, Nifty at Notebook Stories, so if you have any feedback or suggestions about the frequency or topics of the carnival, or if you’re interested in hosting, please contact me! Thanks for reading!
The Journal Shop Offers Free Paper Samples
Ever wished you could try before you buy? The Journal Shop website now offers free samples of paper from various notebooks (there’s a limit of 3 per customer). All they ask in return is that you contribute a brief review on their website.
Check it out here: The Journal Shop | Free Paper Samples.
(via Everyday Correspondence.)