Search the Community

Hey all you brilliant paper fanatics out there... Has anyone tried the notebooks by the Productive Luddite that are listed on amazon? I would like to know more about them before I drop money on them. You all seem to be the best place in the world for info on paper, inks, pens, and the like... Any help would be appreciated. Paper quality - I do love my fountain pens, but I also use gel pens and different hardnesses of pencil leads so bleed through information would be great to have Paper weight estimate - not that I am that picky, but... Line width - for the paper with lines, I admit I do tend towards 6.5 to 6 mm line widths Grid or Dot width for the notebooks with those features, these have their place Binding type - perfect, thread, etc They look interesting, and I like the set-up for some of them, particularly the index and tagging concept. Thanks Kiryan

Hi! First of all, I'm from Hungary so its important to me to find a site which is based in the EU (UK, Germany etc.) and sells that product. I need one about A5 - B5 size, neither too big, nor too small, its better if its thinner rather than taller. Its also important to be fountain pen friendly ( But i still can't decide which fountain pen should i get for my money ( 70 - 80 gbp / 100 - 120 usd ), so if you suggest a few i will be glad! ( Right now im looking into the reviews of TWSBI 850-AL and Platinum Sai Limited Edition). I want to start to write a journal, so i i not really need a notebook, more a journal, and i prefer leather cover.

I'm using a pocket Moleskine as sort of daily bullet journal , and having recently switched to using fountain pens as much as possible , I've found out that the notebook + Preppy Medium are not a good combo at all .. Looking for a notebook of ~ same size (3.5 inch*5.5 inch or 9 cm * 14 cm), preferably hardbound , and not too expensive. Also, needs to be available online as I'll need to have it shipped to me in Israel. Thanks

Dear fellow members I was using matrix spiral notebook earlier and currently iam using soft bound classmate notebooks... I was certainly liked classmate notebooks better than the matrix spiral notebooks... However i would like to know from all 1. What notepad you are using? 2. How much it costs? 3. Purchased from? 4. Will you recommend it?

....turn it into an art journal! I managed to fill up my Clairefontaine notebook with ink and nib tests in a very short period of time. Oops. I just can't help it--I get excited by ink. I hate to just toss it into the recycle bin, feeling I didn't do too much with it, but also no longer needing the information. So I thought of it as a little art-seed... added water.. (not the same page as above) ..and it is blossoming journal of backgrounds! Some inks are more permanent than others. Adding splashes of Stormy Grey is encouraged. Some areas that didn't bleed out all the way will be covered in other applications. Gesso, clippings, photos, more ink splashes, what have you. I'm pretty excited to see how the whole book turns out! I only have about 3/4 of the pages left to alter.

Gambol 5 Subjects notebook (from Kokuyo) My Subjective Rating: 2/5 My Objective Rating: -1 Pros: cheap (+2)easily available (+1)wire-bound (+3)good value (page per dollar) (+2)divider every 40 pages (+1)rounded corners (+1)Cons:feathering is quite severe (-3)bleedthrough is quite severe (-3)only good for dry fountain pens/ballpoints/pencils (-3)single-wire binding (-1)soft cover is not durable (-1)Price: RM6.90 (1.90 USD/1.60/£1.30)Binding: single-wire binding Size: A5 Number of Pages: 200 Printing: 7mm lines (24 lines/page) Gsm: (not specified) Cover: Thick paper (soft) Page colour: white (slightly greenish discolouration) Additional Information : blank yellow paged divider every 40 pages.index pageBlank lines at the top of each page for number and dateNo marginRuling does not start and end at the end of the sheetsPhotos:

Today we have discounted most of out Field Notes at 10% for the holidays. Also take an additional 10% your entire order with the coupon code HOLIDAYS You must order from out sale page to get the discounted price: http://www.penchalet.com/sales/days-of-holiday-deals.html Currently discounted are the following: http://www.penchalet.com/images/emails/12Days/2014/fieldnotes_ambition.jpg Ambition http://www.penchalet.com/images/emails/12Days/2014/fieldnotes_unexposed.jpg Unexposed http://www.penchalet.com/images/emails/12Days/2014/fieldnotes_aands.jpg Arts & Science http://www.penchalet.com/images/emails/12Days/2014/fieldnotes_pitchblack.jpg Pitch Black

Hey, I take a lot of notes at school, and usually carry cheap, lined paper sheets in my binder. My inks tend to have a lot of bleedthrough and feather on the cheap paper, and i was wondering if there is a company that sells lined paper sheets made for fountain pens. I know i could just use a notebook, but it makes it frustrating not being able to have individual sheets to work on. If anyone knows of any paper that would suit my needs, please leave a responce. Thanks Mutton

Some days ago I could finally get myself to visit this beautiful shop in Budapest, Hungary. I've been browsing their online store every week just to see their awesome products. Their new website just launched this week! http://www.bomoart.com/ They offer paper, leather and half leather bound notebooks, diaries, sketchbooks among many other things like postcards, greeting cards, calendars, boxes, etc with vintage like designs. Various styles, inspired by the atmosphere of the 1910s, '20s, '30s and '40s, all with amazing detail! Their designs are quite unique and original. You can almost get everything with the same matching pattern. For example, there is their hot air balloon themed design. If you really like that, its available on almost every product they offer! The spines of the leather products are beautiful! And the leathers feel really nice in hand. On top of that, you can choose the color of the leather you want. If you order a half leather bound notebook/planner online, you can select the design you'd like, and the preferred leather color as well! All in all, when I was browsing online, I was like "OMG!". When I went to the shop, "OMG! OMG! OMG!" The B&M shop is really small, but its filled up completely with their products. Abundant supply. So, what I've bought on my first little trip there, is a 3 pack of BomoMemo. A/5 sized, paper covered, lined notebooks, with 96 pages each. (I gave one to my sister. It had beautiful flowers on it, but I thought it would be a wee bit feminine for a hairy guy...) This is also available in A8 size, but with different cover designs in the pack. http://kepfeltoltes.hu/141202/P1230609_1_www.kepfeltoltes.hu_.jpg http://kepfeltoltes.hu/141210/P1230603_1_www.kepfeltoltes.hu_.jpg Again. Amazing detail!!! They are just pure joy to look at! (The Christmas card is also from them) And they don't only look good from the outside. The inside of the covers are also taken care of, and there is a red plastic-like dividing page both on the front and back. Its like those pages what are mostly found in photo albums, just thicker. http://kepfeltoltes.hu/141210/P1230623_1_www.kepfeltoltes.hu_.jpg http://kepfeltoltes.hu/141210/P1230702_1_www.kepfeltoltes.hu_.jpg Luckily the paper itself is also nice! It has a little texture, but nothing bad. It takes ink quite well. It can bleed with wetter inks or nibs though, but most of the time there is just show though. What also happens with wet inks is that the letters can get a little bit hairy. Most of the time you have to look really close to see it. http://kepfeltoltes.hu/141202/P1230636_www.kepfeltoltes.hu_.jpg http://kepfeltoltes.hu/141202/P1230629_www.kepfeltoltes.hu_.jpg Stormy Grey is on the wet side. http://kepfeltoltes.hu/141210/P1230685_1_www.kepfeltoltes.hu_.jpg The dots did bleed a little, but the tattoo like process doesn't make it easy for many papers. Most of those are also just show though. http://kepfeltoltes.hu/141210/P1230714_1_www.kepfeltoltes.hu_.jpg http://kepfeltoltes.hu/141210/P1230718_1_www.kepfeltoltes.hu_.jpg http://kepfeltoltes.hu/141210/P1230720_1_www.kepfeltoltes.hu_.jpg No disappointment at all! It worthed every penny! (Forint...haha) I hope I can get myself a full leather planner for 2015 form them.

Still loving my pink ink. This is my writing kit ready for the start of National Novel Writing Month, NaNoWriMo for short. Rose Tendresse ink, pink Lamy Safari pen and a pink and silver notebook. I plan to write longhand during the day and type and upload in the evening, at least that's the plan that's in my head http://i866.photobucket.com/albums/ab228/Mariella_Moon/PinkforNaNoWriMo_zps35231023.jpg

I mentioned in my Hobonichi unboxing post that I had found a way to carry around my 2015 Hobonichi with me and still “use” it even though it hasn’t started yet. This is that way. YellowPaperHouse (which I shall henceforth abbreviate as YPH) is a mother/daughter team that creates inserts for Midori-style notebooks and Filofaxes and sell them through Etsy. Everything is designed and made by them, so you are getting a totally original product. I found out about them I think from Instagram. Anyway, no affiliation, just to get that out of the way early on. As of right now they offer 26 different styles of these notebooks, each one being available in 4 sizes (full size Midori, passport, cahier, and Field Notes/pocket) and many being customizable with a choice of 19 paper colors and 6 inside rulings. Whew! That is a lot of options for customization! As the title of this review implies, the style that I purchased was one modeled after the Hobonichi format with white paper inside. I chose the Field Notes size because it easily fits inside of my original Hobonichi cover. I’m sorry that all my photos are very blue - I think it’s because the paper is white and I was using early morning light. I would try to adjust it, but it winds up looking funky no matter what I do… Most of the page is dominated by a grid that, upon measuring just now, contains 3 mm squares. At the top of each page is a place where you can fill in the date by coloring in the bubbles that match the day, month, and day of the week, as well as indicating moon phase if you are into that and the weather. As you can see, I have been marking the date by coloring in the appropriate bubbles with a colored pencil. I’m not one of those people who gets all artsy with their journaling - I primarily use a planner for actually planning my day and then capturing little things that happen throughout the day. I’m not saying that “scrapbook journaling” is bad, but it’s certainly not for me. This is how my pages usually look: I’m also going to try out dividing the page vertically similar to the Hobonichi so that I have a place that’s divided up by the hour to write appointments and then a place to write little thoughts and musings. I’ll perhaps update on that later. In case you were wondering how I’m fitting this into my Hobonichi cover, I just slip the back cover of the notebook into the long back pocket of the cover (the one that has the little “Hobonichi 2015” tag on it). I also have the Hobonichi itself only inserted into the from cover right now, so I don’t stretch out that backside of it. Perhaps a picture will explain it better: Sometimes it can be tough to write on the side that opens onto the Hobonichi with this configuration, but in that case I just slide the notebook out and write and then slide it back in. It adds barely any bulk to the cover, so I’m really enjoying the setup this way. Well, we are now at that stage where I have given some background, so now I can talk about what I like and dislike. Things I like Having this available in an undated format is wonderful. I’ve gone through and filled in all the dates, but it could be particularly useful for someone who wants to log things that don’t happen on a daily basis.It’s a little thing, but I like that the header on top is mirrored across two pages. I also like the weather option and I keep thinking I should use the blank space next to that to jot down the high and low tempsThe corners are rounded. Another small thing, but so importantThe paper strikes the perfect balance between being fountain pen friendly (at least for F and not-too-wet M nibs) while still having fast dry times. I don’t think I’ve noticed any bleeding with either my pens or my highlightersThere are so many options, so you can pretty much get exactly what you want and we all know how hard that is nowadaysOther than the band that comes around it, there is no branding. I think this makes for a very clean looking notebookIt’s an original product, and I really like that. I dated a graphic design major in undergrad and I know how much work they put into their designs so I try to honor that as much as I can Things I dislike The cover is a bit flimsy. This isn’t really a big issue for me since I’m using it inside another cover and I know it’s designed to be that way, but it would definitely get worn fast if used just by itselfI wish the grid ruling for this particular design was a bit bigger. I think if it was 4 mm then I could do one line per box (I think the Hobonichi is 3.7 mm but Tomoe River paper makes writing look finer too), whereas now I kind of have to take up two boxes in height per line of writing And now something that falls into both categories for me: the price. The price changes depending on which size you get, so for the two notebooks I got it was $12. To me this was totally worth it because after paying a decent chunk of cash for the Hobonichi itself, what’s another $12 so I can start using it right now? And it was going to be a one-time purchase for me, at least for the foreseeable future. From that standpoint, the price was pretty good because it solved a problem quickly and neatly. However, if you are a Midori style notebook user and you are going through a lot of notebooks, this is probably not the most efficient way to do it. Each of these books contains 38 days (there is no printing on the very front and very back pages, so 40 pages = 38 days), so if you wanted to use these for an entire year that would be 10 notebooks and run you $60, plus shipping. Whether it’s a good deal then is entirely up to you. Overall, I think these are high quality, uniquely designed notebooks that are worth checking out if you use any of those four sizes of notebooks I mentioned earlier. While I don’t have plans to buy any more (because I’ll be starting my Hobonichi when these run out, eek!), I will definitely keep an eye on this shop and return to it in the future if I have a need they can fill. I purchased this product with my own money and I am not being compensated in any way for this review. All opinions above are my own and you are free to disagree with them if you like.

I rarely go to T.J. Maxx, largely because there aren't things I like to make wading through the junk worth my time...........till today. MIRO JOURNAL Large (10 x 7) 190 pages, 100gsm (fountain pen friendly)Rubberband closure, bookmark, and back page inner-pocket.Made from post-consumer recycled materials. MY COST: $3.50. AMAZON: $21.95 BLAMMO!!!!!

I've got a spare A5 Clairefontaine notebook that I currently have no use for. What should I do with it?

Hi! I'm looking for options to put in my Midori-style leather cover. It's Moleskine/Field Notes-sized, but I would like better paper to suit fountain pens. Preferably also thicker than Rhodia - I like to draw. I live in Norway, so the physical stores don't cover my needs. It would have to be an online shop with worldwide shipping. I have a Banditapple Carnet on its way, I just would like more options. Thank you.

Background - and Disclaimer! A little over three months ago now (in April 2014), one of my local (Australian) online pen stores began stocking Tomoe River paper for the first time. I’d heard so much about it, I wanted to give it a try – but hadn’t been prepared for the cost of importing paper myself – so as soon as it became available in the online store (www.JustWrite.com.au), I placed an order. AU$16.50 for 100 A4 sheets, that’s not exactly cheap… but then again, this is a very unique paper. In conversation with Kevin Watson, the ‘proprietor’ of JustWrite Pens, I discovered that he’d linked up with a printer by the name of Jo Olive – proprietor of ‘Olive and the Volcano’, a local letterpress studio – and commissioned her to produce a line of notebooks using Tomoe River paper. These arrived instore last week – and Kevin offered me the privilege of receiving a couple of sample copies, in return for an impartial review. Let me stress from the outset, I have no relationship with JustWrite Pens, nor with Olive and the Volcano, other than as a customer – and a periodic recipient of JustWrite products for review. That said, it’s hard to understate how thrilled I am, not only to have access to Tomoe River paper from an Australian supplier, but now to have access to these beautifully presented notebooks as well. With no further ado, on to the review: Packaging The notebooks arrived in a cardboard container large enough to hold 2-3 of the A5-sized books – and to protect them against bending, folding, or creasing – a decided advantage if your only way of obtaining these books is through the mail! On opening the container, I found two Tome River Notebooks – one A5-sized, and one A6 – each with a beautiful paper wrap-around advertising the product: “Handwritten Letterpress Notebook – Tomoe River Paper”. Each notebook was also wrapped in a plastic bag, fitted to size, that provided additional protection while in transit. http://i.imgur.com/13g9ea3.jpg The Paper The paper used to make these notebooks should be familiar to anyone who frequents the Fountain Pen Network (and/or Fountain Pen Geeks!). Made in Japan by Tomoegawa Co Ltd, the paper is extremely thin and lightweight (52gsm, compared with 80gsm for normal laser paper, and 90gsm for Clairefontaine) – and yet one of the most fountain-pen-friendly papers going around. Even with the wettest of pens, Tomoe River paper is feather-resistant and bleed-through resistant –and though the translucency of the page makes ghosting inevitable, even this is not much of an issue, unless you’re holding it up to the light. There is a trade-off though: the dry-times for fountain pen ink tend to be a little longer than usual – though maybe comparable to Clairefontaine? In terms of colour, the paper in these notebooks is too pale to be called ‘cream’, but not ‘light’ enough to be called ‘pure white’ – so I’ll go for ‘off-white’. Its texture is beautifully smooth, allowing for just a hint of ‘feedback’ between paper and pen. http://i.imgur.com/KoXByIR.jpg If you want to know anything more about Tomoe River Paper, you’ll get a better idea of its properties from some of the other reviews on this site. Suffice to say, it’s a beautiful paper that works extraordinarily well with almost any fountain pen / ink combination – as long as you’re prepared for the slow dry-times, or prepared to use a bit of blotting paper. Each notebook has 60 sheets / 120 pages – compared with a Clarirefontaine A5 Cahier or a Staplebound Duo (9x14cm), both of which I purchased from my local OfficeWorks store… and both of which contain 48 sheets / 96 pages. By way of comparison, I’d say the Tomoe River notebooks are about 2/3 the thickness of the Clairefontaine, despite the larger number of pages in the former. I should also point out, the paper is unlined. I’ve suggested to Kevin that future shipments could come with a lined backing sheet – for now, buyers will have to make their own. The Cover – and Quality of Construction The JustWrite Tomoe River notebooks are presently available in two sizes – A5 and A6 – but the cover, the binding, and the finish on each are identical. The cover is made of black, 450gsm cardstock. That’s thinner than the comparable Clairefontaine products – I’d say the Cahier and Staplebound Duo were closer to 600gsm – but thick enough to provide some protection, and thin enough to be easily folded back. http://i.imgur.com/NtQoNI8.jpg Clairefontaine Stablebound Duo (Left) vs A6 JustWrite Tomoe River Notebook (Right) The notebook has been bound together by machine stitching – black thread to match the card stock cover. In terms of the ‘look’ of the product, that’s probably my only quibble: at the centre of the notebook, the black thread stands out starkly against the white paper – I wonder whether staple binding would have been a little less obtrusive? But the only time you’ll notice the threads is when you’re sitting right at the midpoint of the book – so maybe I’m being too picky! The machine stitching is regular and secure, and double-stitched at top and bottom, so there’s no risk of this product falling apart! http://i.imgur.com/phLT7n2.jpg Lightly embossed on the bottom right of the front cover of each book – and subtle enough that you could miss it if you weren’t looking for it! – is an embossed enscription (or should that be ‘debossed’? The imprint goes inward:) NOTES . TOMOE RIVER Paper Likewise on the back page, you’ll find the following inscription: A HANDCRAFTED NOTEBOOK A COLLABORATION DESIGN AND LETTERPRESS OLIVEANDTHEVOLCANO.COM JUSTWRITE.COM.AU http://i.imgur.com/F7Bh7It.jpg http://i.imgur.com/QH2rOwz.jpg The other thing that strikes me as I look at the notebooks is how beautifully finished the edges are – both for the cover and for the sheets. Although these notebooks are hand-crafted, the edging is very precise: the cover and the paper line up perfectly, and the corners of both have been rounded off. These notebooks are well-made, the cover is a good thickness, the binding is very secure. And again, the embossing is impressive - just deep enough to be visible, but faint enough not to be a distraction. The Verdict As I mentioned earlier, I’d been waiting for these notebooks to be completed with a sense of eager anticipation – and have not been disappointed. I’d hoped to be ‘first cab off the ranks’ in terms of purchasing one or two of these books – and was hesitant to accept them free, for fear that might create the perception of bias when it came to writing up a review. I can honestly say, though, I’m really impressed with these notebooks – so much so that I’m hesitating to write in them just yet (I still have a fair few loose A4 sheets of Tomoe River paper!) – but I wanted to get this review up online, particularly for Australian buyers, so you know what you’re getting if you place an order. (OK, OK, I caved - see writing sample below...) These handcrafted books are well-made, simple yet elegant, and beautifully finished – with one of the most fountain-pen-friendly papers in the world. [Late-breaking news: as I prepared to put this review up online, I received notification from Jono at www.pentorium.com that he’d just published a review also. Haven’t only skimmed it, but I direct the reader to his website for comparison - and some writing samples!] http://i.imgur.com/MoQinMl.jpg At the time of writing, the A6 books (which will easily fit an inside jacket pocket) are retailing for AU$11 plus postage, while the A5 books (my preferred size, personally) will set you back AU$19 each. That might sound a bit steep - but remember, Tomoe River paper is expensive to purchase - and even more pricey to import in any quantity! I should also mention, these notebooks are also available for international delivery – check the relevant product page on the website (www.JustWrite.com.au) for delivery charges. My thanks again to Kevin from the JustWrite Pen Company for providing me with review copies (1 each) of the A5 and A6 Tomoe River Notebooks – I’ll be looking forward to buying more of my own down the track… Any questions about the product, pop them into the comments below - I'll do my best to answer them.

Staples has a spiral bound graph notebook available. It is 4 squares per inch, comes in 70 sheets, sized 8 inches by 10 1/2 inches (203 mm x 266 mm). I comes 3 hole punched on the left side and has a perforated left side. White paper with light blue grid. Product # 40698. It says the paper is made in Egypt. Tested as follows: Bulow x450, F nib with Diamine Evergreen Sheaffer Sagaris F nib, Sheaffer blue cartridge Sheaffer Clearview 1.o mm with Diamine claret Sheaffer Clearview 1.5 mm with Tanzanite Sailor M-F nib with De Atrimentis Midnight blue Pilot 78G with B nic, Pilot black ink cartridge Cross F nib with Shin-ryoku So, with this cross section of pens, nibs and inks no feathering at all. A tiny bit of show through, you would have to see if your pen is wet enough to preclude both front and back of page being used. I think I can use both. Pro: $2.00, to me a good price sturdy flex front cover, hard cardboard rear cover perforations and 3 hole punch behavior with my fountain pens (A-) Cons: You may not like the size of the grid you may prefer a paper with more of a quality feel or higher weight paper

I reviewed Black n' Red notebooks on my blog, but I'll also post a quick writing sample here. Writing Sample:Pen 1: Lamy Safari F filled with Levenger Cobalt BluePen 2: Sailor 1911 Mid-Size EF filled with Levenger Cobalt BluePen 3: Montblanc Meisterstuck 146 F filled with Pelikan Edelstein TopazPen 4: Visconti Rembrandt F filled with Levenger Blue BahamaPen 5: Pelikan M200 F filled with Noodler's BlackPen 6: Montblanc Carrera EF filled with Pelikan Brilliant BlackPen 7: Cross Classic Century M filled with Cross BlackPen 8: Cross Bailey M filled with Cross Blue-Black Pen 9: Parker 45 F filled with Waterman Serenity BluePen 10: Sheaffer Stylist F/EF (The nib is reversible) filled with Sheaffer Skrip BlackPen 11: Speedball C-4 Dip Nib with Noodler's HabañeroPen 12: Speedball C-4 Dip Nib with Noodler's Midnight BluePen 13: Pilot Varsity Blue MPen 14: Pilot Varsity Purple M Pen 15: Kuretake Brush Pen filled with Kuretake Black http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O2ErmH5hkb8/U6iheT1HB1I/AAAAAAAAAP8/7fRCMe_gKec/s1600/SCAN0013.JPG http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2FREDYSQZ1k/U6ihhHQYk9I/AAAAAAAAAQE/CU6v6tJmyjo/s1600/SCAN0014.JPG Please visit my blog for the full review and leave any comments you may have either there or on FPN.

BLOG: Making Leather Traveler's Notebooks http://thefrugalfountainpen.blogspot.com/2014/06/making-leather-travelers-notebooks.html

I have this notebook I bought because of the cover- which has aged very well. The paper has grooves that make it difficult to sketch on it, so I wrote. I have used around half the paper but I am tired of writing against the grain. So, I am looking for a paper that comes close to those measurements ( and I make the holes) or a notepad that I can take the papers from and make the holes myself. It is easy to make the notebook again since it has a thick string that goes thru the holes and ia not at the end of the string keeps it in place. Help will be greatly appreciated

Hello everyone. I was wondering if anyone knew where I could buy the Midori MD Notebook Light A5 (ruled) notebooks in the US or via a website that ships to the US? Here is the official Midori MD Notebook LIGHT page. The closest I got after exhaustive searching was The Journal Shop in the UK, but they haven't had A5's in stock in a long time. I would appreciate any leads any of you have. Thanks! Henry http://www.midori-japan.co.jp/md/en/products/swin/img/light_a5_yoko03.jpg

While living in England I got used to using some very nice Office Depot brand A4 sized blue casebound notebooks for note taking. These ones: http://www.viking-direct.co.uk/a/pb/Office-Depot-A4-Feint-Ruled-Casebound-Manuscript-Book/pr=Q25&id=5313033/ They're unpretentious but attractive, sturdy, and the paper is excellent - thick and very good with fountain pens and just about any ink. Sadly, they're unavailable in the USA, where I've moved. Most notebooks in stationery stores here seem cheap and flimsy, but I thought I'd found a good replacement with a Moleskine Folio Professional Notebook (this one http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/8862931913). It was expensive, but was the right size and even looked a little smarter. Sadly, it turns out that the paper is awful. It's not nearly as good as those Office Depot notebooks - it's spongy and with my medium nib Lamy 2000 and Diamine ink, the ink feathers like crazy and bleeds right through the page. With a fine nibbed Hero 616, it's almost OK, but any dawdling on a letter causes the ink to bleed through there too. I'm pretty miffed as this notebook was not cheap and Moleskine positions itself as a high end brand. Does anyone have a recommendation for a similar notebook that is fountain pen friendly and can be obtained in the USA? Basically, I'm looking for: * A4 or US Letter size * Feint ruled * Hardcover, with case binding (ie. 'book' style binding) * Not tacky looking * Last but not least, with good quality paper that won't feather Does this exist in the colonies?

I'm starting to use discbound systems and have liked Arc a lot so far, but hear that the Levenger Circa aluminum discs are easier to turn pages on than the plastic Staples discs, does anyone here have personal experience with this they can share?

While looking for a daily notebook the first thing on my mind was the classical Aurora linen covered notebook. It's quite often seen here in Belgium but does not get that much attention on this forum. Is it something typical of my country? The paper quality will do for a daily notebook and the firmness does add value when carrying it arround. In my experience it is a iconic notebook that is fountainpen friendly. Is anybody else using it? Or perhaps just avoiding this notebook?

I purchased the large-size Webbie back in March. I’ve been hesitating to do a review because I just wasn’t sure what my final verdict was going to be, but now I think I know. In case you’ve been living under a rock or something, here’s a brief overview of the Webbie: Made by RhodiaContains 90g creamy Clairefontaine paperSewn binding, all encased in a soft-to-the-touch leatherette coverIncludes a ribbon bookmark and elastic closureAvailable in lined, dot-grid, and blankThis size sells for $22+ online, depending on retailer (I bought mine for $25 from Goulet Pens)That’s the infamous Webbie. Some people love them, some people hate them. I am going to do a bit different format today and list the things I like about this notebook, the things I don’t like but aren’t severe enough to keep me from using it, and the thing I didn’t like that ultimately delivered the death blow. Things I like: The hard cover is very sturdy and I enjoy the texture of it. Soft and supple to the touch but without seeming delicate - it’s a good balance of style and stability. The material also doesn’t seem to be prone to picking up an inappropriate amount of dirt, even when used as a daily carry. The paper is but-tah smooth. I started to say that it’s the smoothest paper I have ever used, but in reality it’s on the same level as the Tomoe River Paper in my Seven Seas journal and the Staples inkjet paper I write reviews on is of similar quality. There are different ruling styles available. Not all retailers seem to have all rulings, but they are out there and it nice to have choices. The only experience I have is with blank pages, but it’s nice to even have that option since a lot of notebooks seem to only be offered in lined and maybe grid.That might seem like a short list, but overall I have to say that the experience of using and writing in a Rhodia Webnotebook is very pleasant. The paper is some of the best you can buy and the build quality is excellent. If you are looking for a really nice notebook, I don’t think you can go wrong with trying out a Webbie. However, there are some things that I don’t like at all about the Webbie. Things I don’t like (minor): The notebook is only available in black and orange. While I do appreciate having choices, I only dislike the color orange slightly less than I dislike the color black, so there’s that. This is obviously a personal thing, so take it with a grain of salt. The Rhodia logo on the front cover is anything but discrete, at least on the orange version. I can see how it would be easier to miss on the black one, but the imprint is so deep that the shadows created on the orange cover means you will always be able to see the logo, unless of course it’s so dark that you probably won’t be doing much writing anyway. The paper, while fantastically smooth and able to handle most inks, is not perfect. I did have a few inks that started to bleed through the pages, which is something of a deal breaker for me. Granted, these were not the inks I used regularly, but I think I’ve been spoiled by Tomoe River Paper where nothing bleeds through the pages. I don’t mind a fair bit of ghosting, but bleeding is unacceptable. The elastic band is so tight that it leaves little indentations in the soft material of the cover. The flip side of that being that the elastic band starts off nice and tight, so the notebook is held closed very securely.All of those things are minor quibbles, and for the most part personal annoyances more than anything else. Not everyone has the same standards that I do, so these things might not bother you at all or they might be the ultimate deal breakers for you. For me, there was a single quality that has caused me to stop using the Webbie as my EDC: The paper is cream. It’s listed online as “ivory” but it’s darker than the color I consider ivory. It’s noticeably yellowed, and this will dramatically affect the appearance of your inks on the the page.Which is not a big deal unless you are using this as an ink journal. But, for me the color is too much. I absolutely love bright white paper. I like my writing to pop off the page. I’ve learned that I will probably not find a notebook with bright white paper that is also FP friendly, but the color of the paper in the Rhodia is too much for me. Thus, while the paper quality and build quality of the Rhodia Webnotebook is fantastic, it is ultimately not the notebook for me. I have recently shelved it and gone back to my Seven Seas journal, which is making me wonder why I ever left it. The issues that made me switch to the Webbie have turned out to not be something that I really took that much advantage of in the Webbie anyway, so I’m back to the wonderful Tomoe River Paper. Overall, I think the Webbie is a great notebook, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who needs a classy looking notebook filled with FP friendly paper that will hold up to a daily beating. All of the objections above are personal criteria I have used in my quest for the one true notebook and are in no way meant to bash on Rhodia. Yes, the Webbie is pricy, but there are few other notebooks out there that boast such nice paper and a sewn binding with hardcover. The only thing I can say is try it out if you are curious, since the only person who can tell you if a notebook will work for you, is you. :-) This notebook was purchased with my own money and I am in no way affiliated with any companies mentioned above and am not being compensated for this review in any way. The opinions expressed are entirely my own and you are free to disagree with them if you like.

Hello and welcome to the Quick Review of the Staples Sustainable Earth Sugarcane Paper Notebooks. As you know, Staples Sugarcane (Bagasse) paper is well known amongst fountain-pen users as an economical alternative to more pricier notebooks and papers such as Rhodia. Although by no means superior, it fulfills every criteria for general-purpose writing. Note: These notebooks were purchased from a Staples store as of April 14, 2014. http://i.imgur.com/xkfTHaj.jpg http://i.imgur.com/r45preH.jpg http://i.imgur.com/P9WEWW4.jpg http://i.imgur.com/jajrKyc.jpg http://i.imgur.com/xuCyOZ9.jpg For the up close scans of the sample page: Obverse: http://i.imgur.com/IgV0Pl7.jpg Reverse: http://i.imgur.com/3Z29fsE.jpg Covers are made of heavy weight kraft paper. Paper content is 80% sugarcane fiber, unsure of the remaining percentage. Unsure if acid-free and lignin-free. Paper is as thin as tracing paper, but not nearly as fragile and easily torn. The pages are lined (7 mm apart, College Ruled) and perforated with a 22 mm margin on the top. The big blobs you see on the page is the result of me doing a police siren impression while holding a loaded TWSBI Diamond 580. When writing there is little feedback (in fact with a Pilot Prera it was pretty glassy). Absolutely no feathering and no bleedthrough when writing at a normal speed (don't keep the nib on paper if you're pausing). Writing on the back is feasible if you don't mind the slight show of the other page. For both the 9.5 in. x 6 in. and 11 in. x 8.5 in. notebook, there are 100 sheets (200 pages). Both come with a page of pockets in the front (also kraft paper), one pocket on each side (2 pockets) for inserting torn-out pages or pages from somewhere else. At the time of purchase the 9.5 in. 6 in. notebook costs $3.99 and the 11 in. x 8.5 in. $4.99 excld. tax. That's it for this review, hope you enjoyed and if you have any questions or comments feel free to ask! Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Evening and Night!