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I am nearing the end of a Paperblanks notebook that was a gift. The decorative cover is quite appealing, but for my next journal, I'm hoping to get something that is better on a few functional points. Love these kinds of covers: http://images.utrechtart.com/products/optionLarge/Paperblanks/Paperblanks-Ventaglio-Rosso-64024_lg.jpg http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/97/81/44/13/10/9781441310415_500X500.jpg http://www.lecadeauartistique.com/im/articles/carnet-paperblanks-safavide-ultra-details.jpg http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61s9N0-poCL._SY300_.jpg http://images.utrechtart.com/products/optionRegular/Paperblanks/karakusa_X.jpg The notebook I'm finishing up has a magnetic flap closure, which adds a lot of useless weight and bulk—a pain when traveling. The paper is decent, works with some inks and not others, shows no shading, but dries fast. The line spacing is also a bit wide. Some of the Peter Pauper notebooks have beautiful covers, but the lines are absurdly wide for my handwriting. 90% of my writing is with EF western nibs. On the paper, a little ghosting is fine, but bleed-through is not acceptable. If the paper is very thin, I'm good with writing on just one side, but it had better make up the difference with a good page count. Don't like add-ons in notebooks: maps, historical notes, holidays, pockets, weight and measure conversion tables. They just and weight and bulk. Ribbon bookmark are nice, but I'm not going to say "no" to a notebook that doesn't have one but is otherwise good. So, in sum: Ornate, decorative cover—but not cartoony or girlishLined, with a narrow ruling, preferably around 6mm5x7 to 7x9 inches or something in the A5, B6, A6 rangeLays flat or close to flatCream/off-white paperHardcoverNot more than 1 inch thick, preferably less than 3/4Not full of extrasAny suggestions for notebooks that fit these requirements?

I moved the entire review to a different to the review paper forum because I realized it should have been there. Basically, I am warning you that you should use the 100 gsm notebooks because the others are not even Pilot G2 friendly let alone fp friendly.

Hi. I love a big fat nib and lots of ink. I fill a 100 page journal in under a month. I used to use 24 lb paper with a wide-rule template underneath on a clipboard, but kept getting my pages mixed up in the fury of the moment of writing. Plus, I would sometimes neglect to punch holes and put into binders. Lately, I've been using Moleskine and not loving it because of bleed through. Here are my criteria: Lies flat--spiral bound preferred, but open to other suggestions paper that can handle lots of ink wide-ruled (my eyes aren't as good as they used to be) 8 1/2 x 11 (or thereabouts) Easily available in the US Would prefer some recycled content in paper Any suggestions? I looked at the notebooks offered through Cafe Press for the network, but they're too small and the lines are narrow. Otherwise, would have been happy to support the cause.

Hey everybody! I'm a new fountain pen user, and I was wondering what are some good journals for me to use? It will be used as a diary, and I travel a lot. Specifically, I will be spending two months in China in the near future (yay!), and need a good journal for my Lamy Safari XF. I typically either use Diamine Sherwood or Waterman Black, if that helps at all. I'm looking for something not too expensive, though I am willing to spend up to 25$. I prefer something that looks nice but not girly, is medium sized, and maybe has a hardcover? Also, I tend to fold the cover back, and my last journal fell apart because of this, so does anyone know of any ones with really strong bindings, because it may be abused a tad. Finally (this is a lot, I know, but bear with me), any travelling tips? I'll have one suitcase and one carry on, so I really need to know how to properly store this stuff. Can I write on the plane with my Lamy and not have to worry about it exploding? Should I use a ballpoint (cringe) just for the ride? Thank you so much! PS I already love this website.

I'm new to fountain pens, but looking to start journaling to my kids (they are young now, but to give to them when they are older). I have five kids so I need these notebooks to be reasonably priced (Around $30 each). I'm hoping the kids enjoy them enough to keep them around for a while so I'd like acid free paper, a reasonably attractive cover and binding that will hold up over time. This is probably asking a lot for my price range, but hoping to get some recommendations from you experts before I just buy the best reviewed notebook on amazon in my price range. Thanks for any/all recommendations.

Hey FPN'ers, I made this case last night. It is a A5 sized case that is capable of holding up to 3 different journals, I currently have two Rhodia and a slim Leuchtturm, by holding them in place with a strip of material that you adjust with a cord lock. I also used magnets to close the front so you dont' have to worry about elastics going or slowly pulling out of the material. I am really happy with how it turned out and I think I might start selling them on my Etsy. I would love to have everyone's feedback about what you think and if you would be interested in seeing it in a A6 or A4 size. Cheers, Phil

This is a page from the most recently filled pocket journal. I'll go through the pro's and con's with it after the pictures. And too acknowledge that another member from a year or so ago gave me the idea of making the Aquiline Font an 'everyday hand' and that I practiced it in the journal, I would like like to post a link to that thread https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/215433-aquiline-two-font-identification/ This is the pocket journal wrapped closed with the tie. Despite that being a theme over the last two journals, I actually prefer them to not have any. And the brand, quite literally on the back of the journal. "Rustico, Made in USA" EDITED TO ADD: This photo is of an entry made with a dip pen quill using Speedball ink. Both the right and left page, and should show the writing on the opposite side of either page, to demonstrate the level of transparency/bleedthrough the paper has. So this handy little guy has served as my handy "pocket journal" over the last three months. I kept it in the right back pocket, as it is a hardy journal/notebook. The cover is pure, thick leather. It not only stood up to the, um, large seat, that was pressed down on in during that time, it also softened it up a bit and added some character to it in my opinion. The paper, is good...I'm not an expert on the subject, so I can't give much more of an analysis than that. I used a Pilot G7 gel pen, because frankly it was too small to use with an italic nib. Minimal feathering and a little bleedthrough, not significant. I personally like being able to see a little bit of the writing on the other side, but that's just me. The pro's with this journal were: Tough, durable, archive quality paper (so it says, ivory too, again: Not an expert) and the smell of leather. Cons: Expensive: I'm a big proponent of that you get what you pay for, that being said, almost twenty bucks for a 3x5 inch journal seemed a bit much. That may have been just the store I bought it from, however. Glued Spine: Unlike nearly every other Rustico product, the pages are glued into place with this journal, so it does not lay flat. In fact, you have to struggle with it just to keep it open. You get used to it, I suppose, as I did manage to continue in it for three months. Final Thoughts: Overall, I would recommend this for people who do lot's of outdoorsy style stuff. It took a lickin, and still looks good. It would make a good fishing/hunting/camping journal in my opinion. I also used my Crow/Hawk Speedball quill on it when I was at home, and it took it just as well as the Pilot Ballpoint. You get that great feeling when a dip pen is writing smoothly over the paper with that scratch. I'm not sure what it's called exactly, I just love the feel and sound. A couple of guys at my work loved the look of it too, and I get them each one as a present for being upstanding dudes. A couple of weeks later, I saw them actually making use of it, and they said they loved it. These guys were not into journaling or penmanship at all, just as regular notebooks. It also comes in three different colors from where I got it from. Brown (pictured), Saddle, and Black.

Just found this little ink journal on Etsy. It looks very handy. http://www.etsy.com/listing/129821718/inkjournal-classic-collectors-dot-grid?ref=sr_gallery_43&ga_search_query=Fountain+pen&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=CH&ga_order=price_asc&ga_page=2&ga_item_language=en-US&ga_search_type=all&ga_facet=Fountain+pen