Seven Seas Notebooks Are Back.

[Baalberithim]

For those of us who have been anxiously awaiting their return, the Seven Seas notebooks are back. I was pretty excited to see there's now a blank page option, and that there's been a price drop. The paper for fountain pen books are more my size for journaling, but A5 is just about perfect for me for creative writing. I got my order in and can't wait to see it. I'll have to get a cover and order a few more when I can. If only we had an option for dot grid too, I'd be in paper heaven.

[Behike54]

I tried to lick on link that said, "new version" and got a "NOT FOUND" error msg.

[_Stormin_]

Definitely need to get an order in for these ones. I tried both products and they're live now.

[Cushy Butterfield]

It's in the main body of items for sale. Any one have any comments on the faux leather cover? how imitation does it look? Any other good recommendations while I'm ordering - makes the postage to the UK less painful if I order a few things. (An illusion I fear, but if you can't lie to yourself, who can you lie to?)

 

(Edit: someone please tell me the faux leather is wonderful - I feel an almost overwhelming migration of my fingers towards the kip leather!)

Edited October 25, 2014 by Cushy Butterfield

[lgreen]

I have the faux leather and it certainly won't fool anyone into thinking it is leather but it works well as a nice cover and you can buy an awful lot of the actual notebooks (which are great!) for the cost of real leather cover

[jvhalbrooks]

I noticed that the new edition does not include bookmarks--so procuring a cover equipped with a bookmark might be advisable for those who would miss them.

[Cushy Butterfield]

Thanks folks. Your advice was very useful. Went with the faux leather and blank journal. Now eagerly awaiting the postie! Recently bought the Allan's Journal which I haven't been able to bring myself to use (yes, I know, I'm daft) but have extracted a couple of pages and am very pleased with it. Looking forward to compare/contrast with the Tomoe River.

[mhguda]

I like the faux leather cover - I now have two! And with the unlined option, I fear you've just given me a reason to get yet another Seven Seas Writer... oh no!

Too late... but at least I held off on another faux leather cover. I also have some of the plastic ones, empty, that I have not used yet. I'd waited so long for the unlined option to become available!

[Ernie Wayne]

These look great. Can someone tell me if the cover is essential, or could I get by with just the notebook?

Thanks.

[mhguda]

Before I bought some of his covers, I made my own. I reused gift wrapping paper, or store-bought decorative papers, They work fine. It's a little more effort, but they work well. And you can, IMO, also use the notebook as it is. But the cover adds the benefit of a pocket, and I have found that I am unable to use a notebook without accumulating little scraps of paper that just have to be stored in the back or front of the notebook - the pocket for me is essential, and this function is served by the cover.

[Ernie Wayne]

Yes, that makes sense about the pocket. Thanks for the information!

[cancoi]

Sweet! Just ordered a lined-journal. So excited for more Tomoe River paper!

[bostonfin]

The faux leather cover is fantastic. It holds the journal nicely and holds up well in my bag that I use for transport to and from work. I Do wish black was still an option.

[Jackson]

I got the faux first, then the Gfeller (kip) . . . It's hard to go back to the farm when you've seen Paris...!

[Davros]

I think I'm the only person who doesn't love my Gfeller cover, but I do love the notebooks. The blank version is great. I won't miss the bookmarks, since I'm using an extra Hobonichi Cousin cover with all the pockets and bookmarks I could want.

[Ronnie Aloha]

Favors, did you get the leather Hobo cover? What didnt you like about the Gfeller? I'm contemplating getting the black Hobo TS cover for the Seven Seas or the Gfeller.

[Marlon]

I am experiencing problems with the shipping address. A little pop-up comes up and says that one or more items in the car cannot be shipped and requests me to give a different address. Anybody knows a work-around?

[mhguda]

Send the owner of the site an email & see what he proposes.

I have the same problem if I try to ship directly to my home but this is where I use a remailing service. I ship to a P.O.Box in the US and from there my stuff is shipped to me. Expensive but it lets me get items that "Cannot be shipped to your address".

[Davros]

Favors, did you get the leather Hobo cover? What didnt you like about the Gfeller? I'm contemplating getting the black Hobo TS cover for the Seven Seas or the Gfeller.

I actually got the cheap polyester (?) Hobo two-tone covers (black and pear green, and coastal blue). They seem exceptionally well made and sturdy, and the colors are vivid. I really love the pockets, and the loops are roomy enough for fountain pens. And I like the way they smell with the Hobonichi, vaguely pine and library books. It feels like a lot of thought went into their design. If the cheap ones are like that, I am sure the expensive ones are great too.

 

The Gfeller cover was custom ordered, and it was difficult to get info/communication before shipment (which was delayed quite a long time). No doubt, that colors my view of the product. The loops were supposed to accommodate a thick pen, but were so small that I can barely get a Vanishing Point wedged in them. The leather is very soft, but the texture feels slightly weird, like it is overgreased. I sent Gfeller three emails about this and got no response in return. The kip leather grabs ink stains and absorbs them from my hands, even if I have washed several times and can't get anymore off in the sink. I don't know if this is normal, but it is irritating. I also don't feel that the cover will hold up well to serious use (in the field). It came with several large ridged scuffs and gray oil spots, and a page telling me that this was normal, but no one warned me ahead of time. In short, it just doesn't match my expectations for such an expensive product from a company that makes field equipment. Some of this is no doubt my problem, some of it is miscommunication and mismanaged expectations, and some of it is just unacceptable. There are things I like, like the aging of the leather and the quality of the stitches, but overall, I can’t love it. No one else seems to have these issues, so it is probably a one-time thing.

[Ronnie Aloha]

Thanks Davros. I like the functionality of the Hobo covers so I may go that route. I have a natural leather watchband but it does take sometime to weather. Considering the notebook will be inside the house most, if not all, the time makes me think it will take too long to patina to my liking. I'm also considering a One Star Leather cover.