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  1. Hello everyone, I recently bought several Black 'N Red notebooks from amazon, and I've got to say that I'm thoroughly impressed! These notebooks are made of high quality materials and the paper within is glossy and gives me very little show-through even with a wet 1.1mm nib writing with a very wet ink+pen combination. All of this for a fraction of the equivalent Rhodia notebook. I definitely recommend them. I will post some photos and tests if anyone is interested.
  2. Hello all, I picked up a Mead Flex notebook at a local office supply store. It's a very interesting binder-notebook cross, with the best characteristics of both. The Flex is what you would get if you had a typical plastic notebook and used 3 flexible plastic rings instead of wire. The ones I saw were in different solid colors (pink, blue, green, black) on the front with black plastic rings and a black back. It comes in 1-subject, 3-subject and 5-subject sizes, although you can comfortably fit quite a bit more paper in a Flex than Mead says. Any US 3-hole punched paper will work (not sure if 3-hole punches are the same size in other countries). I definitely recommend this if you like the paper-swapping abilities of binders but have trouble with the stiff sides breaking, the weight, the size, etc. It's the weight of a wirebound notebook, the size of a wirebound notebook except for right where the rings are, look and operates like a notebook (including folding the front cover around to touch the back to show only one sheet of paper), except that you can use any paper you want. The only thing that could be improved is the cover stiffness. Amazon reviews are generally very positive, so I feel good about its ability to stand up to lots of use. The only concern I can see at the moment is that the rings may eventually wear out, like binders will develop problems closing if used enough. The front and back covers are solid plastic, and feel sturdy. They are flexible, not stiff. The notebook can be completely opened and the front cover moved to the back (just like a regular wirebound notebook), but remains flexible when that is done. It's not stiff enough to write comfortably without bracing it on a surface. It's light enough that even with the thin Mead paper I'm not worried about a yank disordering my notes (my concern about disc-based systems). Here I'm holding the Flex by a couple sheets of paper. With heavier paper I feel comfortable yanking it around by whatever part's nearest. http://www.img.ie/images/et3vs_thumb.jpg Binding: The notebook uses a thin strip of cloth and 3 flexible plastic rings to keep itself together. The cloth is inside the plastic rings and is stitched to the front and back plastic covers. The rings keep the paper together with the cover. They're spaced like standard binder rings, but are plastic instead of metal. They are attached to a stiff strip of plastic which is bolted to the back cover of the Flex. Each ring has to be pulled apart individually, which isn't as noisy a process as most binders I've dealt with. More of a dull pop than a loud boing. One side of a ring is a hollow tube, which is contoured inside to be the mate of the plastic spear that is the other side. The rings are flexible, and not perfectly round, which makes them easier to write over compared to binder rings. Here's both sides of the notebook cover, showing the binding http://www.img.ie/images/1qr9o_thumb.jpg Closeup of a ring on the back cover showing how they're secured http://www.img.ie/images/6y8y3_thumb.jpg Paper: Mead Five Star paper. It's OK, but doesn't really matter, because you can use any paper you want. Durability: The Mead guarantees are only for a year, and looking at how the plastic rings hold together, I can see that something might become worn down if you swap pages around very frequently. This is a softer plastic. On the other hand, I haven't see any signs of wear yet, and not having to buy a $50 punch just to use a notebook makes this a much better investment for me. Pricewise it's cheaper than or comparable to the disc notebooks I've seen ($12 for the 3-subject).
  3. Today I'm reviewing a leather notebook/diary system made by a German manufacturer. The X47 is their high end line, there also is X17 which is cheaper and, I think, uses a less sophisticated system to attach the refills. As I haven't found anything about the brand on FPN yet I feel it's high time. I've never liked ring notebooks like Filofax but the idea of something refillable always appealed to me. That's why I own two Midori Traveler's Notebooks and three A5 sized handmade leather journals of various colors. The X47 is a very different animal as it doesn't breathe "handmade and rugged" but "businesslike and classy". http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Necke6IoktI/UkZ43LC7SKI/AAAAAAAAAws/Q4dIkE7-1r4/s1600/x471.JPG They are handmade though, sewn here in Germany. A5 and A6 size are available. There is a range of leather colors and surfaces to choose from. I chose glossy chestnut brown calfskin and it's beautiful. Boyfriend is working with leather and if you've touched and worked with hides, good ones and poor ones, you can feel if it's good quality. For me, a glossy surface notoriously rouses suspicions because many poor quality leathers try to hide behind a ton of lacquer and dye. These are the leathers that feel like painted cardboard. My X47 isn't like that! It's nice and supple and feels good. http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GkCd_lzgcGQ/UkZ7TXbtM4I/AAAAAAAAAw4/BsuGLY578_g/s1600/X472.JPG The notebook offers a few goodies. For instance if you choose the A5 size you can insert an extra A6 cahier into the inside of the front cover. The one currently sitting there is a little smaller than A6, but it's wise to put something there, else the gap could be bothersome when writing on the first pages of the first refill. There is also a stamp sized space with a leather flap but I have no idea what that's for. It's definitely too small for business cards (plus there is space for business cards at the inside of the back cover). Any ideas? The leather is really thin so there's something stiff between the layers of the front and back cover. It will prevent the whole thing from becoming too soft and wobbly over time. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mi77-B4cofA/UkZ8Vo29n0I/AAAAAAAAAxA/kwpAAfj7Bh0/s1600/X473.JPG Refills are inserted using slim aluminium rods. The curvy parts are attached to the leather, the straight parts can be taken out and have two thorns which go through the spines of the notebook refills. Near the lower edge of the next picture you can see such a thorn. The ready made refills you can buy at X47 already have such a straight rod attached to their backs so exchanging them is quick and easy. You can also remove those rods and attach them to any notebook you'd like, in my case a Midori MD light, a Rhodia and a Semikolon. Another cool detail: sewn-in ribbon bookmarks. The ends of those have been covered in resin or something similar so they won't fray. I don't know if I would mind them fraying but I'm a little impressed by the thoughtfulness. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pbqfCY9pwAo/UkZ-h0xVUTI/AAAAAAAAAxM/zQZOprNfnqw/s1600/X474.JPG This picture also shows the color better, a very nice reddish brown. The glossy surface makes it even more lively. I have to say I like this system, it's very slim and elegant. Even though it makes using your own paper a little more complicated than with a Midori I feel it's worth it. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xA-ZTw347O8/UkZ_kXpxNmI/AAAAAAAAAxU/BVWmpiPtzRI/s1600/X475.JPG There's also a pen loop large enough for a slim fountain pen - part of it is elastics but anything fatter than, say, a Pelikan M400 would be a really tight fit. The notebook weighs 570 g with said 3 refills, which is a little heavier than a larger sized Midori TN - which is still quite a bit smaller than A5 -, but lighter than my handmade notebooks. I'm still not sure if this very classy style is really for me but no matter what, this is some really nice piece of work. Hope you've enjoyed my review. P.S.: The decorative pen is an Omas Extra Lucens.
  4. I'm tempted: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Italian-Leather-Journal-Handmade-Blank-Notebook-Travel-Diary-Black-Brown-/221285851448?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item3385aa2138
  5. 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?
  6. Has anybody tried either the Clairefontaine or Rhodia 3 hole punch notebooks? I want to get some good loose leaf paper - not the stuff that you can practically see through whatever you are looking at. I have some from last year and it bleeds through like it's nobody's business. Or would I be better off getting a notepad and using a three hole punch?
  7. 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.
  8. Hi FPNers, A few days ago while looking up handmade notebooks I came across this site http://emgielibris.com/ . The notebooks look gorgeous and have a nice rustic appeal to them. Anyone here have any experience buying from them? Also is the paper FP friendly??
  9. Hey, so I'm going into my senior year of high school, and I'm just about to go school supply shopping. I really only need a three-subject or five-subject notebook that's good with fountain pens, so any advice? I prefer the three or five subject ones because they have the folders in them, so are easiest to use for everything. For context, I live in the US and I use a Lamy Safari XF, but will be getting a pen with a finer nib soon. Thank you!!
  10. I picked up a small pocket notebook at a yard sale earlier this month. On the cover is: IMPERIAL NOTE BOOK Efficiency Line No. 655 I have searched and searched, and cannot find anything on this type of notebook or brand. It is 6 3/4″ x 3 3/4″, sturdy, flexible cover, 57 sheets (114 pages) with one or two pages in the front ripped off. The edges of the notebook are rounded–an elegant touch in a utilitarian notebook. The paper is ruled w/margin on top, faint blue lines and pretty heavy. It was a cream or white originally, and has a yellowish-ivory tinge now. The binding is stitched, not stapled. The paper feels good to the touch–I don’t know how old the notebook is but it is certainly ready for use.
  11. Leuchtturm1917 Major notebook. Love the features and design. The paper is a complete disaster. A4-size notebooks with plain paper are few and far between. Clairefontaine apparently made/makes a good one but I can't find one for sale. I've ruled out the A4 Rhodia Webbie. I'm in love with Tomoe River paper and would like to put together a notebook from it. The perfect-bound A4 pads with the binding on top are in the right direction. Anybody want to make any suggestions? A custom notebook would be OK if it didn't cost and arm and a leg for fancy leather work. Has anybody had any experience with perfect binding at Kinko's, Sir Speedy or other copy shops that will do one-offs for cheap?
  12. Hey FPN'ers, I just completed my new A6 journal covers yesterday and listed them on my etsy store. I have included a couple of photos so you can take a look a them. These covers are designed to hold three journals/cahiers. The open cover does not have a pen loop in it, but it is an option for the cases. I just found with this small case it is just easier to clip it over the spine on the closure. Let me know what you think. Cheers, Phil
  13. 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.
  14. AncientScribe

    Everyday Notebooks

    Hello, I just started using fountain pens last year about halfway through my most recent school semester. I use a Lamy safari with a fine nib inked with Parker Blue/Black and I am not happy with the performance of the cheap notebooks I have been using ( feathering, bleed through, etc). I am looking for a better notebook to use for taking notes in school and I usually go through about 12-15 80-100 page notebooks a year so I would like them to be somewhere in the 5 dollar or lower range. I have been searching the forums and online for a while already trying to find a quality notebook at a decent price but no real luck yet. I live in Canada so many online retailers make it impractical to order from them even with lower prices, example: Goulet pens wants 35 dollars just for shipping on 5 notebooks. Any advice would be welcome.
  15. 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
  16. 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.
  17. http://www.ebay.com/itm/281089063455?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 I read some good reviews of Muji notebooks being fountain pen friendly so I ordered a couple different Muji notebooks. The spiral bound Muji notebooks will be coming in soon. Details: selling price is about $7, $3 shipping (you can haggle for a slightly cheaper price)about 5.8" by 4.1"144 sheets, not pages, of cream colored paperPro's: very smooth creamy colored paperbeautiful minimalist appearanceresists bleedthroughcould probably withstand very wet and broad nibs, but the feathering might make writing with wide nibs unbearableCons: Some inks will feather on this paper, the feathering I noticed was bearable but slightly noticeable.Showthrough occurs, but isn't noticable if you write on both sides of the page. Recommended? It's not a terrible notebook. I'm looking forward to finding a use for it (I misjudged the size of the book upon ordering, I was looking for a slightly larger book for class notes. ). It's competitively priced against Black n Red, Rhodia, and Clairefontaine notebooks which have amazing reviews and quality control (I haven't tried those brands yet). To be honest I'd recommend notebooks from the previously mentioned brands, the pictures of ink performance on those papers show much better fp friendliness than this paper. http://24.media.tumblr.com/bd576b69df00613736e2390777c6bc5a/tumblr_mnmta3AbRP1r4c920o1_500.jpg http://25.media.tumblr.com/22ef75b0155f601c3aa1205bdbc8077f/tumblr_mnmta3AbRP1r4c920o2_1280.jpg http://25.media.tumblr.com/de3c75e9c6da34d111df0e00966071a9/tumblr_mnmta3AbRP1r4c920o3_1280.jpg http://24.media.tumblr.com/7aa118a191952dafec0854dd439aa712/tumblr_mnmta3AbRP1r4c920o4_1280.jpg http://24.media.tumblr.com/033164c46627b340742d7dd7bf68307b/tumblr_mnmta3AbRP1r4c920o5_1280.jpg





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