Modo Arte Journals At The Works (Uk)

[Fullangr]

So, Callique just reminded me of something I meant to post back when I first delurked...

 

I've been buying rebranded Modo Arte journals from The Works for a few years now, and I thought I'd give UK FPNers a quick(...ish) heads-up, because these really are something else. They're by a company called Victoria Journals who are based in Hong Kong, and they're usually sold under the name Modo Arte Collezione (if you're not in the UK, they're sold normally through various retailers - no official UK supplier yet, hence the heads-up about The Works).

 

I bought a couple out of curiosity a few years ago, when I was just starting to journal with fountain pens and needed something with better paper than my usual Pukka Jotter. I've always liked the B5 size, and they do a lot of them, so I stocked up while they were on offer at about £1.99 each. I now hoard them every time they're in stock, because the paper in them is amazing. I write almost exclusively with wide, wet calligraphy nibs and messy, super-saturated inks, and I've yet to find a combination that bleeds, feathers or has any significant showthrough. Even my Sailor brush pen doesn't show through, which genuinely astounded me when I first tried it in there. It's also very smooth, with just enough 'bite' to make it interesting. The closest equivalents I've been able to find are Apica and SemiKolon, neither of which are quite as nice, but they're close enough in a pinch

 

Just to prove the point, this is my latest rollcall of my pens, and not a single one of these showed through to the other side. Which is quite something, given that I was actually applying extra pressure to see if I could get anything less than a perfect result (I was bored, and this stuff's almost annoyingly perfect). Even the big brush pen mess of Diamine Eclipse at the bottom didn't show through on the next page:

 

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e13/Ellie_McGee/VJSample_zpsf019a5ee.jpeg

 

 

The notebooks themselves tend to be B5, Smyth Sewn (signatures are sewn through the fold, then glued together, meaning the pages lie flat), with a thin, white ribbon marker and wide-ruled 100gsm cream paper. They're rebranded by The Works as Paper Place (as are nearly all of The Works' notebooks), but the Modo Arte ones usually have some reference to 'heavy cream paper' on the back, and I've yet to see one without a ribbon marker. As The Works sell a lot of other notebooks, and the covers of these specific ones vary so much, I tend to cross-reference with the collection on the VJ site, which is here: http://victoriasjournals.com/collections.php

 

If you're in the UK and looking for excellent FP-friendly paper, these are definitely worth looking for. I've never paid more than £3.99 for one, and they're quite hefty as good notebooks go (160 pages). I spoke to Yordan at VJ recently, and they're preparing a new order for The Works, which should start arriving within the next 4-6 weeks. If I find any, I'll update this thread with the covers/styles so people know what to look for

 

If you're not in the UK, there's some information on the website about where you can buy these (http://victoriasjournals.com/where-to-buy.php), and an email address for the lovely Yordan if you want to know about specific countries not listed.

 

 

Disclaimer: Not affliated in any way, just sharing the love

[Lamyrada]

Bad news here: http://helloaia.tumblr.com/post/64369799963/the-perfect-page-modo-arte-ive-been-meaning

 

I don't know them but was intrigued. IF they are so cute i probably have used them (from Barnes & Noble possibly?)

Edited September 26, 2014 by Lamyrada

[Algester]

I just use Copelle I have yet to use Venzi grande... either way I'm liking the Copelle standing up

[Fullangr]

Bad news here: http://helloaia.tumblr.com/post/64369799963/the-perfect-page-modo-arte-ive-been-meaning

 

I don't know them but was intrigued. IF they are so cute i probably have used them (from Barnes & Noble possibly?)

 

That's odd, because I've bought some since that blog post, and they've got the same paper they've always had. Maybe The Works specifies the heavy cream paper?

[JulesSilvan]

Always wondered who they got their notebooks from. The Works used to stock A6-ish sized VJ notebooks which either had faux-leather covers or black covers with brightly-coloured paper edges. I must have bought up all they ones they had over a two month period because the paper was better than I first expected.

[Fullangr]

Always wondered who they got their notebooks from. The Works used to stock A6-ish sized VJ notebooks which either had faux-leather covers or black covers with brightly-coloured paper edges. I must have bought up all they ones they had over a two month period because the paper was better than I first expected.

 

I can't speak for other Works branches, but the one in Birmingham's got loads of the little A6 ones! They're too small for me so I don't buy them, but I see them every time I go in

[adriatikfan]

I can't speak for other Works branches, but the one in Birmingham's got loads of the little A6 ones! They're too small for me so I don't buy them, but I see them every time I go in

As do the stores in Wolverhampton and Harrogate. I also find them too small.

 

Staff in neither of these stores were able to shed any light on possible stocks of B5 sized notebooks.

 

Best Wishes,

David

[Victoria*s Journals]

Hello, Friends! thank you for the nice words. It makes me really happy that you like our journals. As far as paper goes: our best quality paper so far is the 120gsm cream you can find in our Copelle journals only. Unfortunately those are available in the Philippines, India and a couple of other countries but not in the UK... The Works UK will be bringing in new products from us at the beginning of 2015. They will all have the standard 100gsm cream paper. The covers will be mostly leatherette. They will have the PaperPlace logo. You guys in the UK are really lucky to get that kind of quality for that price thanks to The Works who are one of our best customers around the world. Since I am now rediscovering my pen addiction, I have decided to create some new products with premium quality paper and vintage look for ink lovers only. I would really appreciate your opinion on size, paper whiteness, gsm, cover designs etc. How do you imagine this perfect journal? Enjoy writing!

[Fullangr]

Hello, Friends! thank you for the nice words. It makes me really happy that you like our journals. As far as paper goes: our best quality paper so far is the 120gsm cream you can find in our Copelle journals only. Unfortunately those are available in the Philippines, India and a couple of other countries but not in the UK... The Works UK will be bringing in new products from us at the beginning of 2015. They will all have the standard 100gsm cream paper. The covers will be mostly leatherette. They will have the PaperPlace logo. You guys in the UK are really lucky to get that kind of quality for that price thanks to The Works who are one of our best customers around the world. Since I am now rediscovering my pen addiction, I have decided to create some new products with premium quality paper and vintage look for ink lovers only. I would really appreciate your opinion on size, paper whiteness, gsm, cover designs etc. How do you imagine this perfect journal? Enjoy writing!

 

Well, if it isn't my favourite journal manufacturer

 

My personal preference is for B5 hardcover, Smyth Sewn, with 100gsm lined ivory/cream paper, a ribbon marker and black endpapers for testing sheening inks. But you already make those, so where's the fun in that?

 

On a more serious note, you have some wonderful foil/jewelled type covers that I've seen in The Works before, and I've had an A5 one for ages, but I'd love a bigger one (B5 or A4). There were also some black and silver floralish covers that were particularly nice, that I've only recently been able to bring myself to use. Elastic closures would be nice on some of the bigger journals as well.

 

 

And if you need a tester for any of that ink lovers' stuff...consider me well and truly volunteered.