Several years ago, I linked to an article about the history of an iconic Japanese notebook: The Tsubame Fools Notebook. It’s taken me a while, but I’ve finally managed to buy and review one! I don’t know what took me so long. They’re not that hard to find, and they certainly aren’t expensive. This notebook … Continue reading Tsubame Fools Notebook Review
In this past weekend’s New York Times there is an article about the new Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa, OK, where all his archives are stored. The collection includes a variety of artifacts, including Bob Dylan’s notebook shown below, in which he made notes for lyrics, many of which evolved into the final version known … Continue reading Bob Dylan’s Notebook
I recently went to the Morgan Library in New York City, primarily to see the Holbein exhibition that’s currently being shown there. (Well worth seeing and it closes soon, so go if you can!) The Morgan is also currently showing an exhibition about Woody Guthrie, which happens to feature quite a few notebooks! This composition … Continue reading Woody Guthrie’s Notebooks
This week’s addict is chamo_san, an artist from Barcelona who I’ve been following on Instagram. A lot of the work he shares is done in sketchbooks, and they all look rather lovely piled up like this! The work he’s creating inside them is quite stunning too! Here’s just a sampling: You can see more here: … Continue reading Notebook Addict of the Week: chamo_san
I was browsing eBay recently and came across a very odd Moleskine planner. I searched for it on Moleskine’s own site but found nothing. The only other listing I found was at Target: Digging still further, I found another Target listing for a beige version, which was also listed on the website of Sandman Books. … Continue reading Weird, Ugly Moleskine Planner
Shocking news from a publishing industry newsletter: Sen. Ted Cruz Slams Blank Book Sales for ‘Potentially Offensive Content’ Sen. Ted Cruz (R.-Tex.) took his crusade against books he deems objectionable to a new level this week when he warned against the dangers of selling diaries, journals and other blank books to minors. Just days after … Continue reading Banned Blank Books!
I’m a fan of Paperblanks notebooks. I own several of them but I had never actually used one until quite recently, when I decided to bite the bullet and try using a Paperblanks Flexis notebook as a daily journal. I’ve been coveting these notebooks for a while– there are some very cool cover designs, and … Continue reading Paperblanks Flexis Notebook Review
A nice little piece in the New York Times about keeping a commonplace book, by Charley Locke: I’ve never been a journal person, though not for lack of trying. A monogrammed duffel bag in my parents’ basement holds many old diaries — a furry leopard-print one from elementary school, Moleskines with unbroken spines from college … Continue reading On Keeping a Commonplace Book
A few months ago, I wrote about the launch of Plotter USA, but lamented that they were only selling larger sizes, not including the 6-ring “Mini” pocket size they sell in Japan. Happily, they are now introducing the Mini size Plotter notebook for the US market. And even more happily, I received a free sample … Continue reading Plotter Notebook Mini Size Now Available in the USA
I may tend to use a lot of Moleskines and similar pocket hardcover notebooks, but I’m still a sucker for a nice wire-o binding on a notebook, especially one with some interesting design details. I was very happy when Goldspot Pens gave me the opportunity to review a free sample of the Nebula Casual Note, … Continue reading Nebula Casual Note Review