Why I Love Natural (Undyed) Leather and Why You Shouldn't Worry If It Gets Dirty

Up until a couple of years ago, I used to be fastidious about keeping my gear clean and free from marks, tears, scuffs, etc. For example, if a pristine leather notebook cover, briefcase, or pen somehow got a ding or scratch on it, I literally couldn’t carry it anymore because all I could do was “see the damage.” This hang-up obviously hampered my enjoyment of the hobby, especially since I’m a “user” as opposed to a collector. What pen or bag, or notebook - if it’s actually used for its intended purpose - isn’t going to receive the inevitable battle scars?

Note the difference between my relatively new Galen Leather 12 slot Hard Pen Case and this years-old Nanami Paper Cafe Note Gfeller leather cover.

So how did I get over this issue? I started collecting and using natural undyed leather. How did this help? Because the scratches, stains, dirt, and signs of wear are features, not defects, given that it’s literally impossible to keep this leather clean, and that’s the whole point. If you want to use the product at all, you have to get over it getting dirty, really fast.

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Once upon a time these black ink spots and the grey halo around the edges of the notebook cover would have driven me crazy.

Natural leather changes color over the years and months you use it. Even the oil on your hands will cause it to change color and develop the signature grey-bronze patina, and if you’re lucky you’ll also accumulate a few ink blotches and splashes along the way. While it may be hard at first to watch that pristine surface gradually disappear, I found that my hesitancy to truly “use” my other products vanished along with it. Case in point: check out these pics of this old Baron Fig wallet (which used to be “grey”).

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These days, I’ve largely moved on from black and dark brown, and actually appreciate leathers in lighter finishes such as tan, natural undyed, and even grey and yellow, specifically for the patina they accumulate over time. Fortunately, natural leather notebook covers, portfolios, and pen cases are fairly easy to come by. In addition to the Galen Leather product line, Nanami Paper carries undyed Gfeller leather covers for their “Seven Seas” and “Cafe Note” series, and of course there’s the classic Midori MD natural goat leather covers that we sell in our own shop. To me, nothing is more satisfying than showcasing a well-made, well-worn, yet still-perfectly-functional piece of gear that bears your own signature finish, made unique by your own years of use!

Other than the Galen Leather Hard Pen Case, which I received from my friends at Vanness Pens, I purchased all products featured in this post with my own funds. This post does not contain third-party affiliate links. T.G.S. is supported by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop. 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!

Catching up with Baron Fig: New Squires, a Confidant Partnership, and Leather Goods

In terms of companies that make some of my favorite products for everyday use, both at home and at work, you need not look much further than Baron Fig. From its origins as a Kickstarter notebook project, the company has evolved from being simply the makers of the Confidant notebook to a full-blown lifestyle brand, though the focus remains on stationery. Today I’ll take a look at a few of the Baron Fig products I’ve added to my daily kit over the past year or so.

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Pictured from left: Squire Rollerball in “Sheath” Pen single pen sleeve; “Lock” Brass limited edition Squire (check out that patina!) and my getting-worn-in slim bifold wallet. All of these products are sitting on top of a Mastermind desk pad.

Squire Rollerball Pen. Baron Fig’s Squire is my preferred iteration of the retractable rollerball - I like the teardrop shape, they’ve kept the design clean, and now there’s even a compatible Uniball Jetstream Refill that you can use to turn your rollerball into a fine-tip hybrid gel/ballpoint. Over the past year, Baron Fig also has backed away from a quarterly “limited edition” release schedule in favor of a wider range of standard colors and materials. The most recent release has been a Squire in brass, which is one of my favorites and which I’ve had the pleasure of using as part of the “Lock and Key” limited edition set that was released about a year ago. Today, my brass pen sports a gorgeous patina. I’m glad to see brass join stainless steel and copper as part of the regular Squire lineup.  

Confidant Notebooks. The Confidant lineup also has expanded over the past couple of years, with both new sizes and new colors now available as part of the regular line. The limited or special edition Confidants that were being released on a quarterly basis have apparently been replaced by special-purpose notebooks designed in partnership with various writers and designers. These include the new Clear Habit Journal (designed to accompany the book Atomic Habits by James Clear), the Wander Dream Journal, and the Show & Tell Notebook (designed in conjunction with Dribbble design showcase). Of these three, the Clear Habit Journal is probably the only one that might find its way into my regular rotation - and I have one on the way to review - but I love that Baron Fig has branched out and released these other products. I know several people who have enjoyed using the Wander Dream journal, and the Show & Tell will appeal to those who like to combine lined pages for writing with blank pages for sketching, doodling, or diagramming.

Workspace Accessories. In 2018 the Mastermind Desk Pad remained my most used stationery item. I probably churned through a dozen of these things, far outpacing my use of anything else in my kit. Though the Mastermind is not intended for writing on both sides of the page, the paper quality holds up with fountain pens, especially with respect to feathering and dry time. One of the things I love about Baron Fig paper is that it’s slightly absorbent, so it dries relatively quickly and doesn’t get all over your hands and wrists if, like me, you keep a Mastermind notepad underneath your keyboard. It also comes available in an “Mini” size, and Baron Fig subsequently released a narrow “Weeks” version to help you plan.

Bags and Leather Goods. Last but not least, I’ve found Baron Fig’s leather goods surprisingly impressive in both their looks and durability, especially at the price point. I’ve periodically posted that I’m carrying one of their slim bifold wallets in Charcoal, which is actually a very light gray that ages into an almost khaki color. I’m very hard on wallets, and this one has held up well. Other Baron Fig leather goods in my regular repertoire include the leather “Sheath” pen case for the Squire, as well as the “Guardian” notebook covers.  

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You can say I’m a fan of the Squire…

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Baron Fig is one of those brands that I’ve enjoyed getting to watch grow over the past few years. One thing I appreciate is that despite their rapid growth and introduction of new product lines, I’ve not had significant quality control issues, even as they’ve managed to keep their pricing reasonable. The stuff just “works,” and allows you to get down to doing your work, whatever that may be, with a minimum of fuss.

You can purchase any of the products featured in this post through the Baron Fig website, and they’re even starting to expand into retail streams. Our sponsor Vanness Pens currently carries a range of Baron Fig products, including the Confidant and Vanguard notebooks.

Disclaimer: This post contains links to paid sponsors and affiliates. Baron Fig provided me with certain of the products pictured in this review free of charge for review purposes, though others (like the gray squire pen and the Mastermind desk pads) were purchased with my own funds for my own personal use.

Italian Leather Notebook Covers from The British Belt Company

More excellent leather goods to show and tell! A couple months ago, The British Belt Company reached out and requested that I review one of their leather notebook covers. Not having purchased from this company before, and always looking for new manufacturers and retailers entering the stationery space, I of course agreed.

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I opted for the pebbled burgundy leather option. At least nine different color options are available.

Immediately upon handing this notebook cover, I knew that it would be a hit. The cover is made from thick, full grain leather, with nicely finished edges and a suede interior. It feels great in the hand, and smells even better. (Yes, I smell all my leather.) The British Belt Company was kind enough to emboss my initials in the lower right-hand corner of the cover, which I always do if I have the option.

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This notebook did ship with a lined, A5 refill, but it’s not the most fountain-pen friendly paper and devoted fountain pen users will probably want to swap in something else. A Seven Seas Writer from Nanami Paper fits perfectly, and I suspect that another A5 notebook like the Taroko Design Enigma or the Hobonichi Techo Cousin would also work.

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My A5 Nanami Seven Seas Writer snug in its new home.

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A comparison shot of three leather notebook covers that find their way into my daily rotation: The British Belt Company A5 (bottom), a custom One Star Leather Baron Fig Confidant Cover (middle), and the Gfeller English Kip leather cover for my Nanami Paper Cafe Note B6 (top).

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Based on what I’ve seen so far, The British Belt Company makes high quality leather goods, and I can add this notebook cover to my list of recommendations, alongside One Star Leather and other quality makers. You can purchase this product, along with a wide range of leather belts, bags, and other accessories, directly from The British Belt Company via their website or via their Etsy shop (which has slightly lower prices). The Italian Leather Notebook Cover, plus refill, is currently priced between $80-90, which is about standard for a leather notebook cover of this size and quality. I’ve also decided to include this product in the TGS 2018 Holiday Gift Guide. Be sure to check it out, especially since many of the retailers featured in the guide will be running Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales in the coming days!

Disclaimer: The British Belt Company sent me the notebook cover featured in this review at no charge, for review purposes. This post contains affiliate links.

Leather Goods from Baron Fig: The Guardian and The Sheath

Baron Fig has recently supplemented their accessories lineup to include a whole slew of new colors. While I’ve written much about Baron Fig’s pens, notebooks, and paper, I’ve never reviewed any of their leather products. Here, I’ll take a quick look at two that I recently received.

“Guardian” Confidant Cover

The Guardian is a high-quality leather cover for Baron Fig’s flagship product, the Confidant notebook. Available in two sizes, “Flagship” and “Plus”, the cover adds some protection to the Confidant’s cloth cover, which will come in handy if, like me, you tend to use your notebooks over a longer period of time and need the covers to hold up. If you’re a planner person, and you’ve chosen to go with the Baron Fig Confidant Planner for 2018, I’d definitely recommend investing in a leather cover to ensure that your planner survives the full 12 months. A smaller Guardian is also available for the pocket-sized Vanguard softcover notebook, which seems as though it could double as a wallet.

Pictured here is a Baron Fig Confidant (Dot Grid) in the "Plus" size. (Squire and Sheath for scale.) 

I appreciate that the Guardian doesn’t add much bulk to your notebook. Initially, the cover is a tight fit, and for the first week or so the front cover of the notebook may not lay completely flat when the notebook is closed. Eventually, the leather stretches out a bit, and it’s no longer an issue. The Confidant still lays flat when the notebook is open.

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There is no branding on the front of the Guardian cover. The only Baron Fig branding is an imprint on the back inside flap, which makes for a very clean design.

“Sheath” Pen Sleeve

One of the more practical accessories that Baron Fig offers is the “Sheath” pen sleeve, tailor-made to fit the Squire. I advise against carrying liquid ink rollerball pens in your pocket or loose in a bag - if the tip of the pen accidentally makes contact with fabric, it can ruin your clothes. A close-fitting leather pen sleeve not only protects the pen, but protects you from your pen! (Or from yourself, whichever it may be.)

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I do wish Baron Fig had omitted the “sword” motif from the front of the Sheath, and left the Guardian as a more minimal leather sleeve. While I can live with it, and I understand that their brand is based on adding a bit of whimsy to the otherwise staid stationery industry, I can’t help but feel that the imprint cheapens the look of the product a bit.

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The Sheath features the Squire's "sword" logo on one side, and a Baron Fig imprint on the other. 

The Sheath is a straightforward product. You slide the Squire (here, the Brass "Key" edition) into one end of the leather sleeve/pouch. It's a tight fit, so no worries about the pen sliding out. 

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Overall, I’m impressed with the build quality of Baron Fig’s leather goods, all of which are made in the USA. My favorite aspect, however, is the range of available color choices. Rather than your ordinary brown, black, and natural leather options, Baron Fig decided to go with something completely different, offering both the Guardian and the Sheath in Fig Wine (a burgundy-ish red), Charcoal (pictured here on the Sheath), Blue Slate (self-explanatory), Yellowgold (pictured here on the Guardian), Rose Quartz (the recently released pink option), and Light Brown (the conservative “tan” option). I know, for someone who talks so much about “work appropriate” products that won’t turn heads at the office, who would’ve thought that I would opt for the bright yellow leather notebook cover?

You can order the Guardian Confidant cover and the Sheath pen sleeve directly from Baron Fig, via their website. The Guardian starts at $79 for the standard A5-ish “Flagship” version, and $109 for the larger “Plus” version. The Guardian Vanguard is $45. The Sheath pen sleeve costs $24. While these prices aren’t cheap, they’re well within the range of reasonableness for leather goods of this quality.

Disclaimer: Baron Fig sent me the Guardian Confidant cover for review purposes, free of charge. I purchased the Squire Pen Sheath with my own funds, for my own use.

Notebook Review: Central Crafts Handmade Leather Journals

I was recently contacted by Central Crafts, a UK-based retailer of notebooks, journals, and photo albums, as well as other quirky handmade goods from around the world (such as these amazing animal-themed ceramic coffee mugs). Central Crafts is a family run business located in Hertfordshire, and "passionate about finding and making handmade, quality, ethically sourced products for our organically grown customers which now reach across the globe."  

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The company carries a wide range of leather notebooks and journals from Italy, India, and Thailand, and I selected a notebook to review from their Italian Artisan Journals line: the "Cortona" handmade leather bound journal in the "large" (A5-ish) size. The cover is a smooth leather that is very soft to the touch, and feels like the leather on a high-end briefcase or purse. There's a reason for this: the Italian journals sold by Central Crafts are handmade in Florence, Italy under the "Leatherkind" mark by a small family run manufacturer with over 50 years of experience. They apparently use the same "Spazzolato" leather that is usually reserved for high-end designer handbags. More information can be found on the Central Crafts website.  

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What drew me to the Cortona journal was the two-tone color scheme. I love the contrast between the black leather cover and the light brown edging and stitching. I opted to have my initials embossed on the cover, for which there is a slight upcharge.  

The Cortona contains lined ivory paper, which appears to be the only option available for this particular notebook, but it looks like there may be a blank paper option available in the other sizes. I know, many people would prefer a graph or dot grid option, but for a personal journal or commonplace book - which is what I think I'll use this notebook for - lined pages will work just fine. The paper itself handled most inks very well, including liquid-ink rollerballs and fountain pens.  

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I had no serious issues with feathering or bleedthrough on the paper. With one of my extremely wet Montblanc medium nibs, I experienced some minor feathering that you would have to stare pretty hard to see, as well as some pinpoint bleedthrough/show-through on the reverse side of the page. Neither rendered the page unusable, and I'd compare the paper to that used in the Leuchtturm 1917 notebook or early versions of the Baron Fig Confidant.  

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Takeaways/Where to Buy

I've been using my Cortona as a "commonplace book" for reading notes, and I've enjoyed having this item on my desk. The only drawback is that a journal this nice is non-refillable, so once you use it up you have to purchase another one. That said, the price is reasonable (£29) for an item of this quality, and refillable journals are also available if you prefer.

Fans of leather notebooks and journals should definitely check out what Central Crafts has to offer. In addition to the more traditional Italian line, they offer what they refer to as Indian Rustic Journals, as well as a line made in Thailand out of sustainably sourced tree bark. They also carry a range of home goods and other handmade products from around the world.

Many thanks to Alma and the team at Central Crafts for making this review possible! 

Disclaimer: The product featured in this review was sent to me free of charge by Central Crafts for review purposes.