Post of the Week:
Brad over at Pen Addict annoyed and infuriated a lot of people with his opinions on a recent podcast about the Moleskine notebook. This week, he posted his favorite Moleskine Alternatives and talked at length on the show this week about how Moleskines are not evil but they are more hype, marketing and brand recognition than they are quality paper goods.
Pens:
- Pilot Prera Fountain Pen (via All Things Stationery)
- Edison Pearl…Rollerball? (via From The Pen Cup)
- Video Review: OMAS Ogiva Alba (via The Pen Habit)
- Uni-ball Eye Needlepoint Rollerball (via Pens! Paper! Pencils!)
- Staedtler Intium Lignum Fountain Pen (via Pen Addict)
- Marlen Rainbow Over Hong Kong Fountain Pen (via Unroyal Warrant)
Inks:
- Blue Black Fountain Pen Ink Comparison (via Jet Pens Blog)
- Review + Video: J. Herbin 1670 Emerald of Chivor (via Ed Jelley)
- Visconti Brown (via Alt. Haven)
- Noodler’s V-Mail Burma Road Brown (via Gorgeous.Ink)
- Sailor Kobe #3 Sepia (via The Desk of Lori)
- 5 Best Inks For Everyday Use (via Ed Jelley)
- Franklin-Christoph Midnight Emerald (via Inkdependence)
Pencils:
- Lamy Scribble 0.7 mm Pencil (via From The Pen Cup)
Paper & Notebooks:
- Midori Notebooks | Free Printables (via My Digital Art Studio)
- Why Richard Branson Never Goes Anywhere Without A Notebook (via Business Insider)
- 24 Of The Best Ideas To Fill Your Notebooks (via Heart Handmade UK)
- 2015 Hobonichi A6 Planner (via Gourmet Pens)
- Paper Oh! Cahier Ondulo A5 Notebook (via Inktronics)
- Video: Unboxing the Summer 2015 Field Notes Workshop Companion Edition (via Woodclinched)
Other Interesting Things:
- 9 Office Hacks for a Healthy Workspace (via My Domaine)
- Simple Modern Brush Lettering Tutorial (via The Postman’s Knock)
- Letters from Authors (via Letter Writers Alliance)
- Maximum Sketchkit (via Pens! Paper! Pencils!)
As always, thank you for the link love!
Moleskines are nice and all, but I gotta agree it’s a lot of hype for a kind of notebook you can get anywhere. And they do not play well with fountain pens!
Moleskine notebook paper (and i mean notebook, not sketchbook) is simply not compatible with fountain pens except:
A very dry extra-fine nib. What i mean by compatible is note bleeding through, and being able to write on the reverse side of the sheet, and later, not having the writing on the first side in anyway interfere with reading the reverse side of the sheet.
The other fav notebook, at least their brown craft cover regular issue ones are equally incompatible, i.e., Field Notes. I have heard some of their special editions are ok with FP’s, but i do not know my self, since paper quality on the Field Note brand is – – – – shoot (playing a particular dice game :). I am using up the FN’s i have with pencil and space pen when doing notes during field observations of animals and the like.
Interestingly enough, the inspirations for both brands, both being the leaders in nostalgia marketing for notebooks, where used with pencils (Hemingway et al in the little french black book), and the give away notebooks at feed stores, banks, etc.
I don’t use fancy pens, but I hate moleskines. They are totally overrated and overpriced!
Ok. So everyone hates on moleskines.
I don’t use fountain pens. So this is mostly not a concern for me.
But I use a leuchtturm 1917 anyways, just for the table of contents.
I also use a moleskine cahier, and really like it.
Now I’m a giant snob, and completely willing to try out another cahier. I go through them reasonably quickly, and will need to buy new ones soon anyways.
What’s out there that can substitute for the moleskine pocket sized cahier?
Important attributes: Black. 3.5 by 5.5. Lined. Preferably stitch bound rather than staple bound. Not too far off in price from the moleskine cahier (three for ten bucks). Classy enough to carry into court.
With the stitched spine, rather than stapled, I’d recommend the Baron Fig Apprentice though its a tiny bit smaller than the 3.5×5.5″ dimensions you require at 3.5×5″. Or the Banditapple Carnet Peewee which will meet all your criteria but it a tiny bit more expensive at $3.50 each.