What are your top 5 notebooks?
#2
Posted 05 February 2008 - 08:53 PM
Rhodia
Clairfontaine
Black N Red
Paper Blanks
"The moment he opened the refrigerator, he saw it. Caponata! Fragrant, colorful, abundant, it filled an entire soup dish, enough for at least four people.... The notes of the triumphal march of Aida came spontaneously, naturally, to his lips." -- Andrea Camilleri, Excursion to Tindari, p. 212
#3
Posted 05 February 2008 - 09:24 PM
Moleskine
A5 size Xonex Ru (new favorite)
spiral bound sketchbooks
.......................
Rhodia or Black n Red
... still searching for the Perfect One
#4
Posted 05 February 2008 - 09:30 PM
Clairefontaine 9606 (11x17 cm, clothbound)
That's pretty much it.
I want to like Moleskine. Love the design. But NOT friendly to wet nibs.
Like the looks of Paperblanks & Brownlow but not willing to put out the cash and find the same result as Moleskine.
There are times when you know the truth, and it is liberating. But other times you are so used to the shackles that you wait for the truth to vanish like a dream at waking.
#5
Posted 05 February 2008 - 09:30 PM
Sailor Sapporo GT F Nib
Pelikan M1000 (black) B Nib
Pilot VP red/GT M nib
Bexley Simplicity bronze GT B nib
Pilot VP blue/GT B nib
#6
Posted 05 February 2008 - 09:31 PM
Clairefontaine "foręts vertes/Forever" (their new "eco" paper - less smooth, I don't dislike it)
Rhodia
Apica
That's it.
#7
Posted 05 February 2008 - 09:39 PM
It's Canadian-made, from ***recycled***
Here is their website: http://www.ecojot.com/
Everything from plain ruled paper to the most funkadelic designed notebooks.
#8
Posted 05 February 2008 - 09:51 PM
Pukka from the UK is available here but only a small range. Excellent value.
Moleskin continues to disappoint paper wise.
Paperchase just becoming available here but again only a small range. All a bit girly for me design wise and overpriced.
Campus products are fantastic but limited range here. Great paper.
Apica - about to order from Molly so I will report soon on my opinion, but if they are typical Japanese quality they will be great.
#9
Posted 05 February 2008 - 10:13 PM
Rhodia
Black n' Red
Apica
Moleskine
#10
Posted 06 February 2008 - 12:59 AM
My all-time favorite notebooks are:
1, Maruman "Libretto" and "Boston Note". These notebooks are 8.3" x 11.7" and they use fine vellum (I think) paper (ruled both narrow and regular). The bad news is they are made in Japan and the only place I've been able to find them is in a wonderful stationery store in Japantown in San Francisco (where I live). I've seen, but not used, the Moleskin products, but my problem is that I am a writer (as in novels, nonfiction, poetry books) and I need the most bang for my buck space-wise and a notebook that lies flat. If anyone knows where to get them on line PLEASE email me. I can find them on Japanese sites by Googling Maruman, but I haven't found any way to order them.
2. Kokuyo. Another Japanese product with more great ruled paper inside, although not as quite as fine as the Maruman. I've searched for these elsewhere as well also but without luck. The ones I use are only slightly smaller than the Maruman ones.
3. Alvin. These pads (reporter/steno style) are without a doubt the finest. They come ruled or quadrille in a multiplicity of sizes and are available through Amazon and are even cheaper at The Fine Art Store directly. This paper makes your pen glide. I'm not crazy about the top fold-over style but there is an ingenious design that allows the tablet to lie flat; it is creased in three places at the top to allow this. The one I use is No. ALG18.
For me as a constant writer it is imperative that my notebook fold and lie flat on both sides, so I need a twin-wire binding. If anyone can find the Maruman or even an Alvin twin wire notebook around 8x11 that has to be bought in bulk, I'm willing to go in on it with you. My friends think I'm nuts. They will read one of my novels and then call me up and say, "Tell me you didn't write the rough draft with a fountain pen." I tell them of course I did and that was even more fun than seeing it on bookshelves.
#11
Posted 06 February 2008 - 11:18 PM
Apica
Rhodia
Clairefontaine
Black 'n Red
I'm hoping to find the Ecojot notebooks and try them out as well. I received a letter from an FPN penpal on the Ecojot paper, and it looks very promising.
#13
Posted 07 February 2008 - 12:43 AM
Rhodia
Levenger's Notabilia
Crane & Co. (Graphic Images blank leather bound journals w/out embossed cover.) My Morning Pages book
Moleskine
#14
Posted 07 February 2008 - 01:21 AM
I'd probably go for the ePure, and might consider the Renaissance Art covers for Rhodia/Clairefontaine notebooks whenever they release those on the general public.
#15
Posted 07 February 2008 - 01:23 AM
Rhodia
Levenger's Notabilia
Crane & Co. (Graphic Images blank leather bound journals w/out embossed cover.) My Morning Pages book
Moleskine
Just got my Black 'n Red 8 x 11 twin-wires and the paper is terrific. I've tried all my pens on them and I think I'm in love. And they're only $6.50 USD!

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