I was browsing Vanness last week, like you do, and I found some cute notebooks that I wanted to try. I ordered the Kokuyo Me Field Notebook ($6.50) in Purple (also known as Chic Plum) and a matching gel pen ($4.50).
The Field Notebook is designed to be a slim, compact notebook to go with you everywhere. The notebook is hard cover, featuring a glossy patterned print in several different colors. Inside the notebook is full of 3mm grid paper, 40 sheets to be exact. The paper is white, and the grid is light blue. The notebook comes in at 3.75″ x 6.5″ (9.5cm x 16.5cm) making it non-standard for “pocket size,” but still small enough to fit most places.
The paper was actually quite surprising. When the notebook arrived and I got a good look at it, I figured that the paper was just fine for ballpoints and gels, but wouldn’t stand up to fountain pen ink. That’s where I was wrong – it did beautifully!
I went ahead and ordered the matching gel pen, the Kokuyo Me Ballpoint .5mm Gel. There’s also an option to order a matching mechanical pencil ($10.00). The gel pen wrote smoothly and the two make quite a nice little set. My only disappointment in the gel pen is that the ink cartridge is actually black, not purple!
Writing in the notebook is a pretty easy experience. As I said, the paper stands up to gel and fountain pen ink. It’s very smooth with no extra texture. The gridlines do show through the ink, particularly the fountain pen ink, if that’s something that bothers you. The notebook also doesn’t lie 100% flat unless held open. I expect that with some breaking in and wear it might, but I did have to hold it flat for the photos.
Overall I can see myself tucking this cute little set into my purse, or keeping it desktop for jotting down notes and ideas. The bonus of the graph for me is that it might hold knitting design sketches as well!
DISCLAIMER: Some of the items included in this review were provided to us free of charge for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.
I’ve been eye-ing this one @ MaiDo – I think next trip I’ll pick it up. Thx.
I’m pretty sure Pilot Juice pens have this color of ink.