Notebook Review: Leuchtturm 1917 Some Lines a Day

Notebook Review: Leuchtturm 1917 Some Lines a Day

Review by Tina Koyama

A lifelong journal keeper, my mom used various diary and journal formats throughout her life. One I remember her using when I was a child was a small, five-year diary. Each page was headed by the date, and below that were five small spaces, one for each year. My mother, a practical woman, probably liked the five-year format because it was small, compact and less expensive than keeping a bunch of single-year diaries.

She wrote in Japanese so I couldn’t have read it if I had wanted to, but I had the impression that she noted things like the weather, which of us had a cold or stomachache that week, current events, the books she was reading, things like that. Sometimes she also used it to have the final word: If someone whined, “I can’t believe how cold it is! It’s never this cold in October!” she would pull out her diary, refer to the same date a few years prior, and say, “No – it was even colder than this back in 19__.” End of discussion.

A lifelong journal keeper myself, I’ve tried many different formats, too. Every now and then I have looked at the five-year diary format, but I never made the commitment. I already keep a DIY journal/log book (here’s what I’m using this year), but I prefer to keep a single year in one volume with more space for freeform writing when needed. What would I write in a five-year diary that would be different from the kinds of things I already note in my ongoing log (books and movies I’ve consumed, places I’ve sketched, current events, people I’ve socialized with, the weather – you can see my mom’s influence, I’m sure)? And yet, I clearly see the appeal of having five years of entries for a given date on a single page: More than a snapshot of a day, the format captures patterns over a five-year period.

Several months ago when I was shopping for a Leuchtturm A5 blank journal (one of my favorites for my DIY log book), the Some Lines a Day 5-Year Memory Book ($27.95) came to my attention. It’s familiar A5 size, paper and hardcover material were attractive to me. Maybe it was finally time to give the format a try.

About a quarter-inch thicker than a standard Leuchtturm A5 notebook or weekly planner, the 5 Year Memory Book “provides space for some lines per calendar day over 5 years. In time, this special diary will become an interesting reference book of your own past.” I chose the berry cover. It’s also available in black and Nordic blue. Like all Leuchtturm notebooks, it has an elastic closure band.

2 - Leuchtturm cover without wrap

3 - back cover wrap blurb

The flyleaf offers space to record the years covered by the undated book and the owner’s name. The next page includes a quotation by Lincoln.

4 - flyleaf

5 - quotation

Immediately following are the 366 days of the book. Each day offers about an inch and a half of writing space. If you’re familiar with Leuchtturm’s weekly planner + notebook format, it’s just a smidge of space more per day. I think it will be a comfortable amount of space to write two or three sentences with my large handwriting – not too cramped, not burdensome.

6 - main pages

7 - main pages closeup

Two fabric ribbon page markers – one striped, one solid – are bound in. (Ana would be pleased that they are long enough to pull all the way out past the edge of the book, so they could be used to open the book to the page.)

8 - ribbon pagemarkers

The inside back cover includes the obligatory pocket. Leuchtturm books always include a sheet of title page and spine labels. (I never have a use for these, but they are a nice touch for those who do use them.)

9 - pocket

10 - labels

My media tests confirmed that the paper is the same as what I’m familiar with in Leuchtturm’s other notebooks and planners. Although it’s less opaque than I would prefer, only the fine-point Sharpie showed actual bleed-through. Even my juicy Sailor fude nib and pigment brush pens did not feather or bleed.

11 - media tests

12 - reverse of media tests

So that’s the product – familiar, reliable, unlikely to disappoint – but what about its contents? What would I want to record and later read over the course of five years? I thought about it long and hard. This pandemic year seems like such a crazy time to think about any kind of diary. On the one hand, I’m not doing much of anything worth documenting. On the other hand, I’m doing so many things differently out of necessity. I suppose it might be interesting to compare those mundanities in future years . . .

Then I started thinking about something about myself that has distressed me. This year I have had many unkind, ugly and even vicious thoughts about certain individuals and many people that I don’t even know – based on what I perceive to be their beliefs. In the moment, I feel better, but later, I realize I do not want to have such thoughts.

My Leuchtturm Some Lines a Day will be devoted to thinking one kind thought about someone each day. It could be a loved one, the mail carrier, a social media acquaintance, the Instacart delivery person, or another total stranger, but I know that if I commit to writing one kind thought at the end of each day, I will be more mindful during the day about having such thoughts. When I read my entries later, perhaps the thoughts from a prior year will prompt me to call someone I haven’t talked to in a while. Or perhaps I’ll see some type of interesting pattern that will give me insight. My hope is that I will become a kinder person over time.

13 - flyleaf filled in

I also decided that I don’t need to wait until Jan. 1 to begin. The Gregorian calendar is a practical device, but each of us began our actual first day of the year when we were born. My birthday is just around the corner; I’m going to begin my Leuchtturm Some Lines a Day on that day.

14 - year filled in


DISCLAIMER: The item in this review include affiliate links. The Well-Appointed Desk is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. Please see the About page for more details.

tina-koyamaTina Koyama is an urban sketcher in Seattle. Her blog is Fueled by Clouds & Coffee, and you can follow her on Instagram as Miatagrrl.

Ink Review: Sailor Studio 224, 252, 280

Ink Review: Sailor Studio 224, 252, 280

By Jessica Coles

Sailor Studio inks are a collection from Sailor covering 100 ink mixtures from pastel, multi-chromatic to saturated and highly sheening. Over the summer, Sailor announced that they would be retiring three inks from the lineup (543, 531, 864) and adding another three inks – 224, 252, and 280.

The first number of the Sailor Studio ink name indicates the relative saturation of the ink with 1 as the lightest up to 9 with 0 as the darkest. Sailor Studio 224, 252, and 280 are light enough that significant color combinations can be seen in ink swatches.

Sailor 224 is a tough ink to compare to others. The haloing green is a good match for Vinta Karnival.

The shading color in 224 is close to Sailor Chushu while the base color (the lightest on the swatch card) is somewhat similar to Vinta Aegean Armada. As I said, 224 is a tough ink to compare to other colors!

Sailor Studio 252 was easier to match up for comparison. Birmingham Grant Street Weathered Brick is close in color, especially to the base color. The haloing color here is a greenish brownish shadow.

I’ve also compared 252 to the popular Sailor Studio 237 (252 is much dustier) and the hard-to-match Private Reserve Arabian Rose (252 is almost a toned down Arabian Rose).

Moving on to Sailor Studio 280 – a tough ink to describe. As you can see on the swatch card, the ink writes closer to a yellowish brown than the actual yellow green of the swatch. The written ink looks a bit lighter than Sailor Rikyu-cha or Troublemaker Kelp Tea with a touch more brown. The swatch is closer to PenBBS Tolstoy or KWZ Green Gold.

I will be looking at how these three inks change dramatically when using a wide variety of paper types – that was what originally had me waiting impatiently for these inks to be released. Until then, however, here is a small look at how the ink performed on Cosmo Air Light paper and Bank Paper with the ink swatches (the same used above) for comparison.


DISCLAIMER:  The inks in this review were purchased by me although the Col-o-rings were provided to me by Ana because she knows she can keep me writing all the time in exchange for the wonderful cards. Please see the About page for more details.

Link Love: Gimme A Break.

Link Love: Gimme A Break.

2020 continues to provide a rollercoaster of ups and downs. Whatever your stance on American politics, the fact that the election is over and, as far as I can tell, a decision has been reached without violence, has provided everyone with a sense of relief.

But 2020 is a gift that just keeps on giving. I’m not sure if you saw but the manufacturer that I partner with to make my rubber stamps had a tragic fire two weeks ago. My heart breaks for them knowing the catastrophic loss. (No one was hurt but the shop, equipment and inventory was lost.)

Selfishly, this also means that my stamp inventory may be out of stock a bit longer than usual while I work to find with a new vendor in the interim. The awesome Margaret of Paper Pastries has volunteered to help me with my stamp needs while my original vendor gets back on their feet.

Then news hit that my friend and cohort Brad Dowdy broke his arm. How? Playing Pickle Ball. It’s a recreational sport usually played while drinking (cause of the accident? Maybe…). Brad is likely to make a full recovery but, in the meantime, his writing hand is out of commission. Really, 2020, we are all tired of your crap.

Pens:

Ink:

Notebooks & Paper:

Art & Creativity:

Other Interesting Things:

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In my other life…

In my other life…

In my other life, I’m a knitter and a (sometimes) pattern designer and I’m happy to announce that I have a new pattern out for fall!

(Con)Sequential (Ravelry Link) is a simple cowl and eternity loop in one pattern. The only difference between the two is the initial cast on number. And the entire pattern is worked in something called sequence knitting; except for TWO stitches the whole cowl is all the same combination of knits and purls.

Ever since I watched an interview with Cecelia Campochiaro, I have been fascinated with the idea of sequence knitting. That is, the process of repeating a simple pattern over and over again to create amazing textures. When I received the some yarn from Manos del Uruguay for review (Alegria Grande in Ushuaia), I was curious to see how it would look in sequence.

So armed with needles and an idea, I began knitting. I quickly realized that even though I loved the look of the Ushuaia knit up (it reminds me of galaxies!) it was a little busy for the pattern I had in mind. I subsequently purchased an additional skein of Alegria Grande in the Leo colorway to knit a smaller cowl which would show the stitch texture even better (bonus: it coordinates nicely with Ushuaia).

So how did I name the pattern? I was knitting a pattern in sequence out of yarn from Manos del Uruguay. I love Manos del Uruguay because the company is dedicated to improving the lives of its artisans and their families in Uruguay. They are certified by the World Fair Trade Organization certified, meaning they are committed the highest ethical practices, caring for their artisans and providing them with opportunities, and keeping their environment clean. Manos del Uruguay’s contributions to the industry at large are of consequence, hence (Con)sequential!

I’m offering a discount on (Con)Sequential through Friday, November 13. Simply enter the code SEQUENCE25 in my Ravelry or Etsy shop and you’ll get 25% off the purchase price of the pattern.

While you can use any worsted weight yarn to create your cowl or eternity loop, I hope you’ll consider using Alegria Grande and supporting your local yarn store!


(Con)Sequential by Laura Cameron is available on Ravelry or on Etsy.

A special thank you to the folks at Fairmount Fibers for yarn support; they sent me two skeins of Alegria Grande for free.

Fountain Pen Review: Kaweco Special FP

Fountain Pen Review: Kaweco Special FP

There aren’t a lot of fountain pens on the market, within a certain price range (under $200) that, if I like them, I haven’t purchased at some point. That said, when I saw the new Kaweco Special Fountain Pen in Collectors Edition Blue ($97.50), I was reminded that I have never purchased this particular pen despite having always liked the look and feel of the Kaweco Special line. While I decided not to buy the Collector’s Edition Blue for reasons that will become apparent as you read this review, I did decide to purchase the Kaweco Special FP in Matte Black ($92.75) with a fine nib.

The Packaging:

I don’t know how much other people care about how their pens are packaged. It’s something that, after I accumulated 20 or 50 or 100 pens, has lead me to continually thinking about the reusability, recyclability and just general waste in packaging. Specifically in regards to Kaweco boxes, I am inclined to like their packaging. There is a paperboard oversleeve (totally recyclable like a cereal box) that covers an embossed, tin box.

Inside the box is a molded plastic liner that holds the pen and accessories.

The plastic liner can be removed and the tin can be reused for keeping your treasures. Useful. Of course, since its metal, it can also be recycled. Yeah! This makes the Kaweco packaging some of my favorites of all. While packaging won’t make or break anyone’s pen buying decision, it might affect a decision to make a second or third pen purchase.

The Pen:

The Kaweco Special FP is a soft hexagonal shape. So, even though it doesn’t have a clip, the hex shape keeps it from rolling away. The grip section is round but very short. Luckily, the pen is not very widde so there is not a big step up to the barrel making it easy to move your hand up or down the body of the pen as needed for gripping. The ridges of the threads are a bit crisp but they are close together so they feel more grippy like knurling than sharp or painful. They are noticeable if you stop and think about it.

The length of this pen allows for a full length converter or a cartridge-and-a-spare making this a great office option. Kaweco pens take standard international converters and cartridges which adds to the ease of use in an office environment. Who doesn’t have a drawer of cartridges?

On the cap end is an engraved Kaweco badge in silver. It’s the only silver besides the nib on the pen. (Psst! Hey, Kaweco, black nib, black badge…. Blackout Edition. You’re welcome.)

There are threads at the end of the pen that allow cap to be posted securely.

At the point where the threads meet, there is a black rubber ring to help keep the threads from untwisting unexpectedly. (pardon the dust, when I zoom in this close, it seems inevitable.)

The nib is a standard steel nib but is a smooth writer. Kaweco’s EF and F nibs seem to be excellent out of the box.

The most surprising thing about the Kaweco Special is how well it writes when posted. It makes it a really long pen but it is light and well-weighted. I did end gripping the pen a bit further back than other pens but the slim shape makes that an easy, comfortable transition. The cap screws onto to the end so using it posted is definitely something to do for longer writing sessions and not an activity you’d want to do for every single line entry in an on-going to-do list.

The Comparison:

When compared to other pens, the Kaweco Special is slimmer than many recognizable pens while being similar in length. In this line-up, all the pens are almost the same length when capped. From left to right, Lamy AL-Star, Caran d’Ache 849, Kaweco Special FP, YStudio, YStudio Resin, Faber-Castell Grip, Diplomat Traveler and TWSBI ECO. Of the four hex-shaped pens, the Kaweco Special is the slimmest. I don’t have a caliper but it is closer in width to a thick drawing pencil (like a pastel pencil) than the others. The Kaweco Special is the only one with a screw cap. The other three hex-shaped pens are snap caps.

When uncapped/posted, it’s easy to see a much wider variation in lengths. The Caran d’Ache reaches record lengths when posted.The Kaweco Special is shorter than the AL-Star when posted but not by a huge margin. It’s comparable, when posted to the TWSBI, Traveler and Grip. The Kaweco Special’s closest competitor, the YStudio in brass doesn’t post at all. (The YStudio Resin cap does post. My mistake when photographing it here. It’s not a tight fit, but it will sit on the end of the pen).

The overall weight of the pen is 20gms posted/capped and 15gms uncapped with a full length converter. The length is 5.5″ (142mm) capped, 4.875″ (122mm) uncapped and 6.6875″ (170mm) posted.

The Kaweco Special Line-Up:

I told you it would become apparent why I chose the Matte Black over the Collector’s Edition Blue. As you can see from the photo above, over the years, I’ve acquired the Kaweco Special Nib Holder ($40.50) and the  Kaweco Special 0.7mm Pencil ($44.25), both in Matte Black. I have the earliest version of the Nib Holder which does not have a removable tail end. The white streak is evidence of me trying to wrench the end off as demonstrated by a fellow pen friend who has one of the more recent models which does allow for the end to be removed for easier storage or to keep nibs in the body.

So, while the Collector’s Edition Blue is lovely, I needed to complete my triumvirate. (Why yes, I am a member of the Black Pen Society, thanks for asking!)

Tools:

The ink used in this review is the new Papier Plume Le Héron Bleu. It’s created as a fundraiser for the Coalition to Restore and Protect the Louisiana Wetlands. Each bottle sells for $12. The ink will go live later this week. Follow Papier Plume on Instagram to find out when it is available.


DISCLAIMER: Items included in this review were provided free of charge for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.


In the writing of this review, Ollie required petting:

My job is very demanding.

Notebook Review: Geistnotes Pencilog

Notebook Review: Geistnotes Pencilog

Review by Tina Koyama

Every stationery-related collection goes through these stages: At first you have a few, or several, or even a dozen, and they look beautiful displayed on your desktop. Very soon, you have too many to keep on your desk at one time, so a few select ones stay there, and the rest go into a storage bin or drawer. Not too long after, they fill numerous storage bins, drawers, closets, entire rooms. You know you’re in the latter stage when someone asks if you have this one, and you can’t recall, so you have to go into the bins, drawers, closets and rooms to see if you do.

If you are in that last stage with your pencil collection, this product won’t help you (I’m there with mine, and I use an Excel spreadsheet). But if you’re still in either of the first two stages, the Geistnotes Pencilog (2/$10) is just what you need to manage your beginning and intermediate collection.

2 Pencilogs unwrapped

Handmade by Justin Ryan Books for stationery purveyor Notegeist, the Pencilog is a Field Notes-sized log book for tracking pencils as you acquire, use and collect them. They come two to a pack, and the covers have the same cute pattern of stationery goods in two colorways. (Incidentally, I was not familiar with Justin Ryan until now. He makes a variety of log books for interests and hobbies, such as beer, wine, coffee, pizza and even dreams. Notegeist carries several.)

The handy pocket size is intended to make it easy to carry the log with you while shopping so you can refer to your growing collection before adding to it. (Admit it: You’ve inadvertently bought the same thing twice because you forgot you already had one.) The paper weight and type are not indicated, but it feels like 60 pound with a tiny bit more tooth than the typical smooth Finch that Field Notes favors. It feels good with graphite.

3 Pencilog front covers

4 back closeup

The inside front cover offers suggestions for using the log, such as pencil details to record, where it was acquired, and where it is stored (I might have to add this to my Excel). The first two pages serve as an index to the log entries.

5 inside front cover

The log entry pages form the meat of the book. You could track 56 pencils in one book, two entries per page. The pages are not numbered, but the lower corners indicate a place to number them yourself.

6 log pages

7 log entry closeup

The log ends with a two-page Want List. The inside back cover offers pencil trivia (14 billion pencils are made each year!) and suggestions for pencil use.

8 want list and inside back cover

Although I’ve seen a few log books for tracking foods and beverages (apparently tacos are important to log), the Pencilog is the first I’ve seen of its kind. Alas, my collection is long past the stage where I could benefit from it, but I think this would make an excellent gift, along with a few choice pencils, for someone who already has a few but won’t admit it’s a “collection.” (We all know that stage of denial, right?)


tina-koyamaTina Koyama is an urban sketcher in Seattle. Her blog is Fueled by Clouds & Coffee, and you can follow her on Instagram as Miatagrrl.