Beautiful Notebooks By Bomo Art, Hungary

[elderberry]

Hi all,

 

Another review of under-the-radar stationery goodies: custom leather and half leather notebooks by BomoArt from Budapest, Hungary!

 

I think I found them via another online shop carrying a small range of their products which looked very interesting, especially their notebooks They're combining a range of nostalgic/romantic/steam-punkish prints with leather spines of various colors to mix and match after your fancy (their web shop is pretty well made too!) Among others I picked this blank A5 notebook with dark brown leather spine and prints of a nostalgic aviary.

 

 

 

The brand name is embossed at the back of every journal. Looks pretty classy.

 

 

You can choose ruled or blank paper with various page counts. Each book has a ribbon bookmark and bright red end papers.

 

Below you can see one of their thicker journals with 280 pages. Some of their motifs are quite kitschy for my taste but others are simply adorable like the balloons, the aviary or those roses. I love roses!

 

 

 

 

I also ordered a small stationery box with 10 A4 sheets and 10 Din long envelopes. The box is a bit larger than the DL format - which is a pity because the A4 sheets come folded to fit into the box -, but beautifully made with some leather details. The envelopes are lined with the same balloon motif you can see on the box. The sheets are unprinted.

 

 

The notebooks feel sturdy and well made. The covers are made of thick cardboard, the leather has a nice feel and isn't dyed to death. The paper doesn't disappoint either, it worked well with any ink and nib width I threw at it. (Especially that Danitrio and Diamine Asa Blue are a super wet killer combination)

 

The blank books are A5 format whereas the lined ones are a little slimmer. Lines are light grey and unobtrusive.

 

 

Beautiful products and at a rather low price point too (€17-20 for a half leather journal size A5). They also offer diaries, address books, giftwrap paper and all kinds of other papeterie stuff. I'm determined to get my daily diary for 2014 from them, probably with the balloon design.

 

All books are handmade in Budapest and were made to my specifications.

 

As usual no affiliation but a happy customer.

Edited October 26, 2013 by elderberry

[inkypete]

Look fantastic - great to read that the paper performed so well. How often do we find a great looking notebook that has paper that hates fountain pen. I'm off to their site to take a closer look at the range.

 

Thanks for the review.

[elderberry]

Glad you like it! Sometimes paper reviews really don't get a lot of attention around here. Probably my taste's too eccentric.

[Dewyn2211]

Love the designs, especially the balloons. I was just looking for a new notebook, so it was perfect timing to stumble upon your post.

[kmyers]

Thanks! I just ordered one.

[gistar]

Really interesting review. I also ordered one.

Thanks!

[AnnieB123]

Beautiful! Thank you so much for the info! I've ordered a couple of journals/notebooks. Can't wait to get them!

[DrCodfish]

Miss Elderberry;

 

You bring a smile to my face. Seems I recall a thread last spring concerning Design Y journals and you mentioning something to the effect that you were well stocked with paper, notebooks, and journals. I will say though that you have come across something which looks great here. And by the way, excellent photography!

 

 

[elderberry]

Thanks, Dr. Codfish! Yes, I'm indeed well stocked.... even better now than back in spring. :-D I'm hopelessly behind on paper reviews because I find them rather boring to do, but these I just had to share. Meanwhile I've decided to order a daily diary for my work appointments in 2014 - the prospect of having such a nice book around filled with good paper brings a smile to my face.

[Rita_K]

Thanks for a great review. These journals are absolutely beautiful. I wish I had known about them when I was visiting Hungary this summer.

[raging.dragon]

I generally use pads or loose leaf paper instead of bound jounals; however, the Bomo address book and day planner are tempting.

[Ghost Plane]

Seeing it perform so well with the stub is tempting.

[tinta]

I too have just returned from Hungary. Thanks for showing this. I will look them up.

 

BTW: Hello Rita (re: post # 10)

 

Istvan

Edited November 3, 2013 by tinta

[Rita_K]

I too have just returned from Hungary. Thanks for showing this. I will look them up.

 

BTW: Hello Rita (re: post # 10)

 

Istvan

Szia Istvan !

I hope you enjoyed your trip as much as I did.

That sketchbook is calling out my name. I'll have to see how much they charge for shipping to the states.

[elderberry]

So did any of you guys who ordered from them get your parcels yet?

 

I just received one today with some products me and some other people from the german pen forum ordered together. I had decided to get one of their diaries for work and an address book. They're lovely!

 

 

Here's a thick A4 notebook a forum member ordered, on top of that are said diary and address book. They're beautifully made as usual.

 

 

The address book has gilded edges and the letter tags are made of leather with gold print.

 

 

The diary has a lot of nice stuff in it like an additional weekly diary with international holidays, a register as well as some maps! The paper is very thin which gave me a bit of a scare as I definitely wanted a fountain pen friendly diary but it seems to take ink very well and hasn't shown any bleed through or feathering with a B italic with medium ink flow and Rohrer & Klingner Verdigris. I haven't tried any other pens yet but I'm confident.

 

 

So, well, next year just has to be a good one.

 

 

[kmyers]

Dear Elderberry,

 

I'm still waiting for mine, but it's a long way to Indiana USA.

 

Karen

[Gentleman]

I'd be curious to know whether any of you are aware of a maker who produces Jr. Legal Pad-sized portfolios. As a journalist, I carry one daily; it's cheap leatherette, folds open, and the front half has a pocket (pockets) for business cards, loose items, etc. Our new kitten made quick work of it: what once was a functional if unimpressive thing is now well-shredded with bite and claw marks. The few I've seen (primarily Wal-mart) are flimsy. I'd like something more durable, yet with a bit of character. Any thoughts or recommendations? Appreciate any leads!

 

cheers /// Joe

[elderberry]

Hi Joe,

 

Haha, our kitties (8 months old now) also seem to chew on everything. I wonder if they're under the impression they're rodents? Anyway, I'd recommend making a new thread for your question if the search function doesn't yield anything as I'd like to keep this one focused on the BomoArt stuff. Also you're likely to get more replies that way.

[Inked]

Hello folks

 

The journal paper looks great for an FP, but the daily planner looks a little thin.

 

I can see the print from the next or previous day, through the page in the photos.

 

How will this planner paper hold up to a FP in regards to see through? Has anyone tried?

I just don't like reading the previous days notes while trying to write new ones.

 

Looks really nice for ballpoints. That is what I have been forced to use in previous years.

 

Inked

[elderberry]

Hi Inked,

 

I've posted some more pictures on my blog (link in signature) and there's also one where you can see the back side of the writing. There is some show through but it isn't massive. Probably also depending on nib size, ink color etc. The paper is indeed quite thin so I guess anything would show through a bit, even when written with a ballpoint or pencil.