new paperblanks mini

The new Paperblanks French Ornate Mini journal is beautiful. It's the size of a pocket Moleskine. It comes in lined or plain and has a back inside pocket. I can see someone carrying this for travel or as a fancier Moleskine alternative. It closes with a leather(ette?) strap with a magnet on the end. I've held one of these (the larger size) and they have a great feel to them. From the manufacturer:

"Exactingly printed to recreate the luminosity and look of classic era silk, our journals in shades of olive green and alluring blue are dedicated to the beautiful fabrics of the Jacquard loom silk-weaving tradition.

These unique books have a subtly weighted magnetic strap for secure closing, satin ribbon place markers and a convenient memento pouch.

4"× 5½" — 160 pages — Smythe sewn — Memento pouch — Ribbon page marker — Leather strap enclosing"

ciak personal journal

I love my ciak journal. I use it as my personal journal (as opposed to most me my other writing supplies which I have to share with others). Shown with my Waterman fountain pen.

ciak notebooks at borders

Found these a couple months ago and snapped a picture on my cameraphone. They have various sizes, both colored and white paper inside, and as you can see they come in black, hot pink, turquoise, and medium blue (which is really pretty in person).

I like ‘em.

ciak!

 

To start a new year and a new decade of being alive, I bought a Ciak journal from Borders. I feel like somewhat of a Moleskine traitor.

It’s a gorgeous 5×7″ black leather (not oilcloth like Moleskine) lined blank book. It’s got a horizontal elastic around its middle, rather than the Moleskine’s vertical on the open edge. I love the feel of the very soft leather, and the creamy pages are great. The binding has a round edge, and it lays flat.

They’re available in a great number of sizes, colors, and paper styles – color, lined, blank – in the US at Borders Books and online at jennibick.com. The official site is helpful for information only.

I certainly recommend them to anyone who likes a Moleskine, but wants more pages per book (about twice that of the Moleskine) or prefers leather. Enjoy!

kate’s paperie

Kate’s Paperie, the renowned New York stationery shop, has a lovely online catalogue and plenty of journals, notebooks, and sketchbooks to keep everyone happy during the holidays and beyond.

My favorites:

Beach lined journal: “Like a brightly striped beach chair! This everyday journal is covered in boldly striped canvas from France, making it stylish and durable-especially a la playa! Edges of canvas at top and bottom are slightly fringed, blank pages inside are cream colored.” Each of three patterns comes in two sizes (pictured). The “slim” journals are $30, the “medium” size $25.

Textured stripe journal: “Organize your thoughts and words in our elegant fabric-bound books from a small bindery in Germany. These stylish journals come in sumptuous textured stripes, with lined cream pages and a ribbon to mark your place.” They’re 6″x8″ and available in blue/yellow (shown), olive/rust, and green/lavender, $25 each.

Miquelrius bound journals: “Handy bound notebooks go with you anywhere! With a leather-look cover in red, blue or black, the pages come with either lined or graph paper.” They’re availble as 6″x8″ for $8 or 4″x6″ for $6. I have a small black graph-paged one, and the smooth soft cover is really delightful. Great for technical notes or sketches.

Watercolor journals: “Take along sketchbooks of handmade 100% heavyweight cotton watercolor paper with a deckle on all sides. The sturdy cover makes it perfect for the studio or en plein air.” At 50 pages each, these lovely sketchbooks are a good value for 6″x8.5″ for $23 and 8.5″x11″ for $30. I love the handmade look of the paper. It would probably be delicious to write on with a good fountain pen.

So that’s it for my Kate’s Paperie writeup! Gift wrap’s $5 and shipping’s $10ish, depending on how soon you need your new goodies. Buy something for your sweetheart, coworker, or family papersnob.