I like to use a 4'' X 6'' notebook for phone messages, shopping lists, notes, to do lists, and any scratch work. I prefer not to spend a lot of money for these, but I want decent paper. Usually I buy printer paper and make my own, but I also try out bargains that I find. Yesterday, I found some 4.12'' X 5.67'' notebooks for $1 at Dollar Tree. They are 4-subject (sometimes I like dividers, but I may cut them out) 150-sheet notebooks with durable plastic covers and double-wire binding. The brand name is "jot", and it says it is distributed by Greenbrier International, Inc., Chesapeake, VA....made in China. I used a Laban Mento fine point with Noodler's Legal Lapis and a Laban Mento fine point with the new Noodler's Luxury Blue. I had to look closely to notice any feathering (minimal), and it looks favorable for writing on both sides of the sheet. I was especially pleased with the results using the new Luxury Blue. On a lot of other papers the new Luxury Blue flows to look more like a medium line. On this paper it is the fine line it is supposed to be. It's not the quality of Rhodia pads, but it's about one-sixth the price and better than most other notebooks I've tried. I only bought two yesterday. I'm going back to get at least a dozen more today.

ht

We've got several Dollar Trees nearby. I'll drop by and pick up a couple of these. Thanks for the info. What I don't have is a smallish notebook for er.. notes, that'll fit in a large purse or the glove box of the car.

For a larger-scaled NB, I picked up a CLASSIFIED 6 x 9 l/2" NB a few weeks ago. It has two dividers, and the dividers have pockets. The paper is good for FPs, though it's not Rhodia or Black n'Red luxurious. About 150 sheets I think, and around $6 from an independent office supply store.

Let us know how they work for you. I picked up several more this afternoon. I tried using the old Noodler's Luxury Blue and the old Noodler's Fox Red. Both of these worked fine.

I like this size because it fits the area I use to write notes from phone calls at work. The plastic cover is a nice benefit because I usually toss the notebooks I use in my bookbag, and often stick the smaller ones in a pocket. Card stock covers just don't hold up as well.

ht

Do they sell a larger notebook, like something that would be good for class notes? I'd prefer college ruled, if that is available.

They had some larger notebooks, but I didn't check them out. I have tried their "jot" notebook filler paper, and it's decent. For larger notebooks I prefer the Norcom marbled notebooks that Walmart has for 50 cents now. Target usually has Norcom 70-sheet wirebound spiral notebooks in August in packs of 10 for one dollar, and they have it in college ruled. I stock up on both this time every year. I like the Norcom notebooks better, but I haven't found any Norcom notebooks in a 4 X 6 size.

ht

Thanks for the suggestion. I will check out Norcom notebooks at Target. Since I am a student, I need the larger notebooks. 70 page spiral notebooks would be ideal.

Walmart and Target have the 70-sheet Norcom notebooks now for $1 each, but when their back-to-school specials start Target usually has the 10-pack for $1. I saw some two-subject and five-subject Norcom notebooks in Walmart today. I don't remember the prices, but they were reduced.

ht

This has been my week for Walmart, Target, Dollar Tree, etc. Today I went to Target. They have the Norcom 70-sheet notebook individually for 10 cents and in packs of 5 for 50 cents. I didn't see any 10-packs. They also have 5-packs of Top Flight and 5-packs of Tops notebooks for 50 cents. I bought a pack of each to try. I still like the Norcom a little better. At that price I'd recommend trying a pack of each and testing a notebook from each pack to see which one works best for the pens and inks you use. I didn't see the Norcom marbled notebooks at Target, but Walmart had a good selection.

ht

I don't know if it's still going on, but last week I bought some really FP friendly, really nice recycled notebooks from Staples for a dollar. The covers were nicely designed as well. Kraft paper brown with green, blue and brown designs.

After a few years of some truly dreadful paper products coming out of greater Asia, there seems to be some nice FP friendly products coming out now. I have found a couple of Chinese products, one acceptable, one good, in a local equivalent to a Dollar Tree shop, and a very good/excellent Indian recycled product in Officeworks, an Australian equivalent to Staples.

I just wish some Asian entrepreneur would take the best of these and put them out under one brand name, so we can buy the same product in US, UK, Oceania, etc.

I'll make sure that I check out the Norcom notebooks once Target and Walmart start their back to school sales. Those sound great for the price!