Notebook Review: The Theme System Journal

February 26, 2022

In these early morning hours, I’m struck by the thought that I should most likely be writing in my journal instead of online writing about journaling, but thus are the perils of stationery blogging! I will say that it’s much easier to build a morning or evening journaling routine , especially at first, when you have a quality personal journal with some, but not too much, structure. That’s where the Cortex Theme System Journal shines.

Built around concepts discussed in the “Yearly Themes” episodes of the Cortex podcast, the Theme System Journal offers “a simple framework for daily journaling”, allowing you to adapt it to your personal themes and how you choose to track your own individual needs and goals. While I won’t go into the intricacies of the “Theme System” in great depth, it’s built around the concept of planning for and organizing your year around broader “themes” instead of more traditional “goals” or “resolutions”. That’s not to say that you can’t have specific goals or resolutions within the context of each “theme,” but the idea is that themes are more adaptable as the year goes on, allowing you to adjust and stay on track even if a particular goal or resolution doesn’t work out. it’s an approach I’ve taken over the past couple of years, as reflected in my "Intentions for 2022” series of posts that I published around New Year’s Day. To learn more about the Theme System, check out the Theme System website or give the Cortex Podcast a listen. But you don’t need to do an intensive study of “the system” to find the journal useful as a stand-alone product. Its layout is fairly intuitive and I could see use cases beyond personal and professional development journaling.

Layout and Functionality

The notebook is broken down in to several different sections, including four “Theme” Pages where you can develop your Annual/Quarterly/Monthly themes; 90 daily journal pages, though these are undated so you can journal more or less frequently should you choose; 12 “Daily Theme Pages” that allow you to track specific tasks/habits/guideposts or anything else that you might like to follow on a daily basis; 13 pages for notes; and two pages for an index. The version that I currently have is from the first run, which does not have the blank pages for notes, just the theme, journal, and tracking pages with the index template inside the back cover.

I hope you understand that nearly all of my journaling themes are highly personal and/or work-specific, so I won’t show you actual pictures of the journal in use here, but I can tell you that I find the layout to be both intuitive and flexible, Again, you can check out the Theme System website for actual examples of “themes” and how one would incorporate them into the layout if one were strictly following the system.

What I will do is show you how I’ve chosen to use the daily journaling page, which consists of four unlabeled boxes. I use the first box for short gratitude journaling, or briefly noting things I’m thankful for or which made me happy that particular day. The second is for a quote that I found particularly interesting or inspiring, since I’m trying to read at least 30 minutes every day. The third is my “anything” box, where I typically recount a few of the day’s significant events and how they relate to my annual themes/intentions. Finally, the fourth is a short box where I try to summarize how I’m currently feeling about things in a single word or short phrase.

I’ve been using the Tracking Pages mostly for general habit tracking, as opposed to anything specifically theme-related.

I’m honestly not sure what I would use the index for, so it will probably remain blank. I tend to journal chronologically, though I assume that if I ever wanted to organize my journaling by highlighting those entries that touched on a certain subject, I could use these pages.

Specs and Build Quality

Whether you use it for Theme System-style journaling or not, this is a great notebook built around functionality, and was originally developed in collaboration with Studio Neat, makers of the Panobook and Totebook. Like the Totebook, the Theme System Journal has a similar soft cover featuring a debossed Cortex logo, a lay flat thread sewn binding, and Munken Lynx 100gsm paper that so far has handled every fountain pen and every ink I’ve used in this notebook. I’ve heard that others have managed to make this paper bleed and/or feather, but no matter how hard I’ve tried, I have never experienced any issues. For functional everyday journaling, this notebook is more than adequate.

Theme System Journal in Lochby Field Journal — As you can see here, the Theme System Journal is only slightly smaller than the Nanami Seven Seas Writer.

The Theme System Journal is what I call “A5-ish” size, meaning that it’s slightly smaller than a standard A5 but not so much that it won’t fit most A5 notebook covers. I have had success using my Theme System Journal in both an A5 Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter and a Lochby Field Journal (pictured here).

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Two months in, the Theme System Journal has taken hold and I can see this as a long-term replacement for the A6 Hobonichi Techo, which I used for years before I found myself wanting something with just a bit more structure and space to write. Do I journal every day? No, I have mornings where I’m just not inspired, but I would say I’ve stuck with it a solid 5/7 days through the first two months of the year.

You can purchase the Theme System Journal directly from Cortex Brand, with orders fulfilled via Cotton Bureau. The Theme System Journal costs $25 for a single notebook, but you can save $5 if you purchase a subscription, which will ensure you get a notebook each quarter. While there have been stock shortages of the Theme System Journal in the past, I understand that supply issues are now resolved.

I purchased the Theme Journal featured here with my own funds, for my own use. This post does not contain paid third-party affiliate links, and I was not otherwise compensated for this review. The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more!

Fountain Pen Friendly Paper (Updated Resource)

February 18, 2022

As part of my recent site reorganization/maintenance, I’ve updated the “Hierarchies of Fountain Pen Friendly Paper” post to reflect not only reader suggestions from the comments, but my own discoveries in the year since I initially wrote the article. The comments section on this post is extensive, and contains many recommendations beyond what I’ve been able to verify and incorporate into the list, especially on the lower-end of the price spectrum. Be sure to give the comments a read, and feel free to leave your own feedback and recommendations!

You can check out other informational resources under the “Resources” and “Archives” tabs, including the comprehensive fountain pen review archive I’ve assembled over the years. Keep an eye on the site for more educational/informational content as the year goes on, as expanding this type of content will be one of my main goals for 2022!

Soumkine-Universal-Planner-Agenda-Mustard — Paris, France-based Soumkine is now available in the shop! Not only do we have the gorgeous Mustard notebook with the vintage styling, but the notebook also comes in a plain charcoal or rose-colored cover.

I’ve managed to add many of these brands to the shop, so you can purchase good paper directly, but where necessary I’ve linked to other trusted retailers and/or manufacturers who sell directly. None of these third-party links are paid affiliate links. If you would like to support T.G.S. even further, please consider checking out the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more!

Paper Review: What Is Bank Paper, and Why Is It So Popular?

January 19, 2022

Though the fear and FOMO has since subsided, the rumored demise of Tomoe River paper prompted many manufacturers and enthusiasts to begin searching for the “next big thing” to replace it as the go-to option for fountain pen friendly paper. One alternative that kept popping up was “Bank Paper,” a product originally developed by Mitsubishi for the high-end office market. While it offers a different writing experience from Tomoe River Paper, it’s yet another ink-friendly paper that’s becoming more available in the U.S., and which I personally enjoy very much.

Life Bank Paper "Three Diamonds" Watermark — The classic Mitsubishi “Three Diamonds” watermark adds some vintage flair that I adore. You can also see some of the texture here.

What strikes me the most about Bank Paper is the tactile feel. The paper has a slight texture to it - not nearly as pronounced as a heavier bond paper or antique laid paper like Original Crown Mill, but it’s there. Some may enjoy it, some not, depending entirely on personal preference. It reminds me of the business letterhead I used to steal from my Dad’s office as a kid.

Life Bank Paper Writing Sample — Most Bank Paper is ivory, so your inks may look slightly different than they would on bright white stock. Performance, however, is exceptional.

Performance-wise, you won’t go wrong with Bank Paper. Like most ink-friendly papers, it can be somewhat slow to dry, but I had no issues with usability. (As noted below, the Life Bank Paper Writing Pad shown here ships with a large piece of blotter paper, in case you find yourself using especially wet nibs or slower-drying inks.) While there is some show-through, I experienced zero feathering or bleeding, as should be expected of a paper at this price point.

Life-Bank-Paper-Reverse-Writing — Zero bleed. I’d characterize this as the ultimate office paper, and is something I could use every day if it weren’t so pricey.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Personally, I love the look, feel, and overall writing experience that Bank Paper offers. I sometimes find Tomoe River paper (or at least the 52gsm variety) too smooth for my preference, and enjoy the more tactile Bank Paper texture. I also tend to prefer ivory paper over bright white for written correspondence. For those few letters I write, I can see myself turning to Bank Paper, and once I work my way through my enormous journal backlog, I wouldn’t hesitate to use this paper in a notebook (with a blotter sheet as necessary).

Bank Paper is no longer so specialized that you can’t easily find it. We sell the letter-sized Bank Paper writing pads from Life Stationery, which contain 100 sheets and a full-size piece of blotter paper, perfect for stocking up in advance of InCoWriMo (International Correspondence Writing Month). Another option are the paper sampler packs from Yamamoto Paper, which have a Bank Paper option. And Atelier Musubi has long offered certain of its handbound journals with Bank Paper.

Finally, I wanted to alert all of you to a new product that recently hit the market: Bank Paper notebooks from The Paper Mind, a new venture from a pen enthusiast and former stationery blogger who recently started a company focused on high-end notebooks with fountain pen friendly paper. Currently available in A5 size, these notebooks feature 192 pages of lined Bank Paper in a stitched lie-flat binding. Be sure to check these out and support this sort of creativity in bringing new products like this to market!

I will note that none of the Bank Paper options are inexpensive - $28 for the writing pad, and $35 for the notebook - but this is imported specialty paper, after all, and I get the impression Bank Paper is a highly specialized product, even for Japan, that’s not made in large quantities. The things we do for an exceptional writing experience!

I received the Paper Mind Notebook pictured here for review purposes, free of charge. This post does not contain paid third-party affiliate links, but does contain links to the T.G.S. Curated Shop. By shopping with us directly, you are supporting original content, pen reviews, pen show events, etc. from The Gentleman Stationer. If you would like to support us even further, please consider checking out the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more!

Clairefontaine A5 French-Ruled Looseleaf

Stock Update: Clairefontaine French-Ruled Paper Went Fast

January 18, 2022

Just a short note here for those of you hoping to land some of the Clairefontaine French-ruled looseleaf paper: I’ve sold through a huge chunk of my shipment over the last three days! The reaction to this particular product has been bigger than anything I’ve ever tried to do before in the shop, and I’m going to order more of it immediately. The problem is, since it’s an import product, it will likely take a while. As of now, we are completely sold out of the A4 single sheets, and very low on both A5 single sheets and the 100-packs of A4 booklets. If you were looking to get your hands on some, don’t sleep on it.

You can check out our entire offerings of Clairefontaine products here. Note that we’ve also recently added lined wirebound notebooks in the A5 size.

By shopping with us directly, you are supporting original content, pen reviews, pen show events, etc. from The Gentleman Stationer. If you would like to support us even further, please consider checking out the T.G.S. Patreon Program, which offers access to online meetups, exclusive discounts and pre-orders, and more!

The Paper Product That Started It All! French-Ruled Looseleaf Sheets and Booklets Are Finally Here

January 15, 2022

Yes, as you might have guessed, it’s Clairefontaine French-Ruled (Seyes-ruled) paper, but not in notebook form. I finally managed to source looseleaf sheets of this paper in both A4 and A5 size, taking me back to when I could travel freely and schlepped suitcases full of this paper back from France because I couldn’t find a reliable source that stocked it in the U.S. You can read more about my love affair with French-ruled paper here, including how I first discovered it and why I like using it so much.

As part of my initial order - which had to be imported as part of a special order through Exaclair, Clairefontaine’s U.S. distributor - I managed to get my hands on single sheets in both A5 and A4 size, as well as the coveted Clairefontaine booklet-style A4 double sheets, which combine four pages of writing into a versatile format that I love to use to make flowcharts, outline oral arguments for my legal practice, draft longer documents, and more. I’ve been down to my last pack and have been using them only sparingly. (If nobody buys any, at least I’ll have a personal lifetime supply! For a stationery addict, there is nothing more satisfying that looking at a warehouse full of hundreds of packs of high-end paper. but I digress.)

Availability and Pricing Information

Ok, so I bought a LOT of this paper. Feel free to stock up. When I’ve had it readily available, this has served as my default looseleaf paper for most of my writing, and I used to burn through packs of it regularly. I personally can’t wait to get this back in my rotation, and I’m working on a large work project right now that’s going to be the perfect use-case for these double booklets. If this sells well, there are other formats and options I can stock, including colors such as pink and blue, but I started relatively small since an import order requires me to purchase large quantities, and this is still very much an experiment.

As of this morning, looseleaf French-ruled paper is live and available for purchase in the T.G.S. Curated Shop. One of the reasons I love Clairefontaine paper is that it’s relatively inexpensive for how good it is. The single sheets are priced at $6.50 for a pack of 100 A5 sheets, and $9.50 for 100 A4 sheets. The double sheets (or booklets), are priced at $6.50 for 50 sheets, and $10 for 100. Finally, a note on shipping - I know it’s expensive relative to the price of a single pack, but paper is heavy and nearly always needs to go USPS Priority or UPS. From a value perspective, it’s probably best to purchase 2-3 packs of this to make up for the shipping charge, or to do a couple of major stock-up purchases per year and hit the free shipping threshold, currently set at $75.