This is an unusual update for me– for the first time since starting this blog, I think, I am not using any Moleskine notebook in my daily carry. I just finished a Moleskine Sketchbook, and decided to replace it with a Leda Sketchbook (I will soon be doing a full review). I like the Leda … Continue reading What I’m Using Now: May 2018 Update
For fans of the Discworld series and Terry Pratchett‘s other books: Doodle-covered exercise books that belonged to a schoolboy Sir Terry Pratchett have come to light and reveal he already had many ideas for his early stories.They provide a fascinating, rare insight into the legendary late author’s creative process as he allowed his mind to … Continue reading Terry Pratchett’s School NotebooksÂ
Black n’ Red is a pretty common brand in many stationery stores, but I haven’t talked about them much on this site, for two reasons. One, that all their notebooks are lined, and I gravitate more towards plain, squared, or dot-grid pages. And two, the Black n’ Red notebooks that I tend to see in … Continue reading Review: Black n’ Red Ruled Notebook and Business Journal
A poignant artifact from the Cambridgeshire Community Archive: an amazingly well-preserved World War I diary. Eric Gardiner was the youngest son of F J Gardiner, owner and editor of the Wisbech Advertiser (now the Fenland Citizen).  Eric joined up when war was declared and from the moment of his arrival in France up to his death in 1915 he … Continue reading Eric Gardiner’s World War I Diary
About 2 years ago, I visited a very cute shop in Philadelphia called Omoi Zakka. As Wikipedia explains, “zakka” is a Japanese concept having to do with household items that are attractively designed. The Omoi Zakka shop certainly delivered on that when I was there, with lots of interesting little items for the desk and … Continue reading Notebooks from Omoi Zakka Shop
Since my last update in January, I’ve finished one Moleskine Sketchbook and just started a new one. For my daily journaling and catch-all notebook, I’ve switched from a squared Moleskine to my lovely blue linen-covered Bindewerk dot-grid notebook. I’m enjoying being able to use my fountain pens more on this sturdy paper, though I miss … Continue reading What I’m Using Now: March 2018
This notebook was a gift from a friend who visited Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam several years ago. I’m not sure which of those countries it was purchased in. I’m sorry to say this kind of notebook gift always makes me a little sad! People who know me well are aware that I’m always scribbling things … Continue reading Notebook from Southeast Asia: Giveaway!
Here’s another Japanese shop that makes customized notebooks to order: Kakimori is the brainchild of owner Hirose Takuma, who opened the shop in 2010 as a place for writing fanatics. He stocks the store’s shelves with an impressive lineup of fountain pens and other items carefully chosen from leading Japanese and overseas stationery brands, winning … Continue reading Made-to-Order Notebooks at Kakimori in Tokyo
Here’s some appropriate notebooks for celebrating Presidents Day! These are from Redbubble: This one is available from Cafe Press: For something a little more elegant, you can get these at Amazon (click image for details):
Treuleben is a very nice-looking German notebook brand that I recently came across online. At 95 euros for a pocket notebook, I am not planning to buy one anytime soon, but from what I can see on their website, they do offer some luxurious detailing for your money: full-grain leather covers in beautiful colors, gilt … Continue reading Treuleben Notebooks