As I have mentioned in a previous post, I have been journaling for a long time. How I have journaled has changed through the years. I used to want to fill up a book completely before moving on to the next one. I went through a phase where I used large, blank cover journals and modge podged my own covers because I was tired of all the cheap ones with lame covers being sold at the bookstores. I had a few of those that turned out great but some modge podged covers were just a bad idea. After the last trip we took to Las Vegas I decided to create a cover made entirely out the of the stripper trading cards you get from the people on the street corners. Shortly after making it, I realized that I could never take such a "unique" journal out in public, rendering it useless.
My last journal was this Robert le Heros Lined Journal. After a little bit of use, I did not like this journal at all. The paper was great, but I hated the design on the cover after about two months and the feel of cover material wasn't my favorite.
I need to really like the journal I choose or I won't write in it. I have several journals with very few pages filled because I just didn't connect with the book. Sometimes it was too pretty looking and I felt like by writing in it I was ruining it. Other times I just didn't like how the paper felt, the way it opened or the width of the lines.
This year I want a journal that is more functional than previous journals. I want nice paper that responds well to fountain pens and the various .3 pens that I have. I don't really want any designs on the cover. The book must be large, pocket sized journals don't work for me, A5 is the smallest I would want. The book should be lined, but not too small or too large of width, which I guess means a little bigger than a moleskine, but not too big. It can not be spiral bound because then I am tempted to rip pages out of it later on.
I have been all over the usual pen/paper websites looking at reviews and I just can't decide! If anyone has a suggestion, I would be glad to hear it. If I buy the journal you suggest, I might even send you a pen or unused journal out of my collection!
In other news, did you see the Sixth Carnival of Pen, Pencil and Paper over at Journaling Arts? You should check it out and then make sure to catch the February edition right here at SchoolSupplyDance!
Edited 1-8:
I am still looking for journal ideas, but if anyone has specific experience with the following I would love to hear it!
-Roma Lussa Leather Journal
-Toscana Bonded Leather Wrap Journal
-Fiorentina Lined Journal Refill
-Leuchtturm Master Book Lined Journal
-Leuchtturm Desk-Sized Notebook, Black
-Canteo (I can't seem to find a US Distributor, any ideas?)
I am really interested in the Canteo and the Leuchtturm books, and I want to know if the two Leuchtturm I have listed are the same or different.
I have this exact same problem when it comes to notebooks. I can't finish one unless I reeeeally love it.
ReplyDeleteI have tons that are half-full or even 3/4 but that doesn't matter because I'm always so tempted to start a new one and see it THAT one is going to be the one that I can finally write in until I run out of pages.
The notebook I recommend to you is one that I like a lot, and it's pretty and simple enough to continue to draw me towards it.
Here's the link:
http://www.thedailyplanner.com/hardcover-96-ruled-sheets-p-5236.html
It's not too big, but if you want it slightly bigger or smaller it comes in those sizes too.
It's Clairefontaine so the paper should be great for all your thin pens. I have lots too :)
Hope you like the notebook!
Passion
Passion, this is a great suggestion. I like that the covers have color but aren't in a pattern that is overwhelming after using it for awhile. It is definitely something to consider!
ReplyDeleteExactly my thoughts. I'm actually writing in an orange one right now and I love it.
ReplyDeleteOh, and how's you DIY planner going?
ReplyDeletePassion, I am going to post an update about my planner soon. It has underwent some changes, but I am still doing a DIY planner. In fact, I made a version of one for a friend for Christmas. I hope people will be interested what I did for that too.
ReplyDeleteI have one of the Canteo, unlined, journals from Switzerland and I quite like it. I did a brief review of it several months ago on my blog.
ReplyDeleteNota-bene is the only NA distributor.
http://www.nota-bene.ca/
ReplyDelete