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What are your top 5 notebooks?

#1 User is offline   millybrook 

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Posted 05 February 2008 - 08:12 PM

I'm curious to see what people have on their list.





#2 User is offline   CharlieB 

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Posted 05 February 2008 - 08:53 PM

Moleskine
Rhodia
Clairfontaine
Black N Red
Paper Blanks
CharlieB

"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 User is offline   lefty928 

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Posted 05 February 2008 - 09:24 PM

Clairfontaine
Moleskine
A5 size Xonex Ru (new favorite)
spiral bound sketchbooks

.......................

Rhodia or Black n Red



... still searching for the Perfect One


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#4 User is offline   BruceW 

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Posted 05 February 2008 - 09:30 PM

Clairefontaine 9540 (14.8x21 cm, clothbound)
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.


BruceW
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 User is offline   scratchy 

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Posted 05 February 2008 - 09:30 PM

In the UK there is a notebook maker called Paperchase and I have been obsessed with their notebooks for at least 5 years. I particularly like the A4 spiral bound polypropylene covered squared paper version.

Sailor Professional Gear GT B Nib
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 User is offline   Grog 

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Posted 05 February 2008 - 09:31 PM

Clairefontaine regular
Clairefontaine "foręts vertes/Forever" (their new "eco" paper - less smooth, I don't dislike it)
Rhodia
Apica

That's it.



#7 User is offline   knitbug 

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Posted 05 February 2008 - 09:39 PM

Anything by Ecojot
It's Canadian-made, from ***recycled*** thumbup.gif paper, and fountain pen friendly. It's awesome enough like that, BUT you get some ultra hip covers too!! Stumbled upon these at the campus where I work, and doodled on a test page with a fp while waiting in line - it was love at first write! Ha, I made a pun rolleyes.gif

Here is their website: http://www.ecojot.com/

Everything from plain ruled paper to the most funkadelic designed notebooks.

#8 User is offline   inkypete 

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Posted 05 February 2008 - 09:51 PM

Clairefontaine and Rhodia streets ahead of the rest but I have to order from US making them an expensive luxury. But that quality is just wonderful.

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.
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#9 User is offline   WhosYerBob 

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Posted 05 February 2008 - 10:13 PM

Clairefontaine
Rhodia
Black n' Red
Apica
Moleskine
I'm your huckleberry...

#10 User is offline   krandall 

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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 User is offline   girlieg33k 

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Posted 06 February 2008 - 11:18 PM

Whitelines
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.
Talking about fountain pens is like dancing about architecture.

#12 User is offline   millybrook 

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Posted 06 February 2008 - 11:39 PM

people seem to be consistent with their top choices.

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#13 User is offline   penhound 

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Posted 07 February 2008 - 12:43 AM

Claire Fontaine
Rhodia
Levenger's Notabilia
Crane & Co. (Graphic Images blank leather bound journals w/out embossed cover.) My Morning Pages book
Moleskine
*

#14 User is offline   Sousy 

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Posted 07 February 2008 - 01:21 AM

I love the Rhodia/Clairfontaine paper, but would like a 'hardback' style journal. (Not the paper cover notebook I've been able to source locally.)

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 User is offline   krandall 

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Posted 07 February 2008 - 01:23 AM

QUOTE(penhound @ Feb 6 2008, 04:43 PM) View Post
Claire Fontaine
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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