So today on my way to work I went a little out of my way and stopped at an Opus art supply shop that I knew (thanks to FPN) had Quo Vadis Habanas. I picked up a 10x15cm black lined notebook for a steep $13.50CDN (.$40 cheaper than their 9x14cm Moleskine price). As I scurried off to work, I cracked the plastic wrapper to inspect the notebook only to find BLANK pages!

I don't do blank pages.

I quickly checked to make sure I hadn't misread the label - no, clearly marked as "Notes - ruled notebook". Dang! I couldn't go back as I had to get to work, and I knew the shop would be closed on my way home. Double dang!

So now I've got a dilemma: I have a notebook I desperately want to try out, but it isn't REALLY what I want, particularly as I think about the weeks it'll take to fill up before I'll allow myself to buy another, and I know it'll be about a week before I can make it back to the shop to exchange it. A week of handling the cover, riffling the pages, thumbing the paper, wondering how it takes ink... you can see where this is going, can't you? It's sad, really.

The right thing to do is so obvious: set the book aside and take it back next week. But if I were prone to doing the right thing when it came to notebooks, I wouldn't have bought the Habana until I at least had filled the 9x14 Boku, the 9x14 squared Moleskine, and the 7.5x12 Clairefontaine I've got lying around. Not to mention the Allen's 12x15.5 oxford paper journal I've got coming in the mail. Or the fact that I'm not even into the small journals right now, and have a solid dozen A5/classic/halfpage size notebooks in the queue!

I need to go lie down.

Ryan.

So... what'd ya do???

lol

When I write in an unlined journal, I like to draw little pictures to go with my writing. it's fun even though all i can draw is stick figures. Over the years i feel that I've come to be a master in the art of stick figure drawing

M

If the pages are any less than 100% opaque, why not use them with a high-contrast guide sheet underneath? They're not much trouble to use, and can improve penmanship to boot.

I try always to keep these words in mind, but sometimes I can't help but think, "We are what we repeatedly do. All that we are then, is the sum of our compulsions." At least this compulsion is relatively harmless!

Ryan.

@elegantmistake & Murderface: thanks for the tips/suggestions.

I'm sure I'll enjoy using the notebook: I really like the form factor, and the paper is smoooooth! I just have to remind myself of what I tell my 4 year old when she encounters something unexpected in a familiar context, "It's not wrong, just different!" lol!

Ryan.

As an aside, the paper is definitely less than 100% opaque:


R.

Do you/did you find that the cover has a funny smell to it? Like chemicals or plastic? I got a black lined Habana (small), but it's currently sitting tented open in the garage, offgassing! It's gotten better over time--I hope it ceases stinking by the time I use up my other journal! I love the form factor, but if it permanently smells funny, I'm going back to the Journey notebook!

Yeah, the cover definitely smells of whatever rubberized stuff it's made of, though I don't find it overpowering. I've only had it a couple of days, but it seems to have faded some. I don't know if it will fade completely. The smell reminds me of the plastic/vinyl covered planners I used in university, which were also Quo Vadis, come to think of it. If the scent was around long enough to form a mental association, I suspect it was fairly long lasting.

Good luck with the outgassing process!

Ryan.

ps - I just realized a Miquel Rius soft cover notebook I have smells similar. I went to my shelf to confirm (because I've had that one for a couple of years), but it's been sitting next to a Cavallini leather bound notebook for a while and the MR now smells of leather! A possible solution for you? lol

R.

I have the larger-size red Habana notebook (also blank pages) but I never noticed an odd smell. It's definitely not the same kind of paper that Quo Vadis uses for their regular planners though. To which I say, "Bah!!"

Hey drifted,

I hope you settled your unlined angst.

The unexpected is a good thing. Shake things up a bit for you. Push the unlined edge in your life. You can always use it for more artistic endeavors. Another excuse to buy a sketch pen or art pen...

Is the paper transparent enough you can use a lined backer behind it and do your thing? If it is, you could make one with your blackest inks and widest nibs or use a sharpie permanent, etc.

I took an unlined pocket journal on a two week vacation...makes for more interesting entries..writing all over the place.

It's ok to color outside the lines.

Wanda