Notebook Review: Nina Cosford Sketchbook and Rediscovering Blank Notebooks

May 18, 2022

I’ve never been a huge user of blank notebooks, always opting for at least a dot grid, which to me offers a good balance of flexibility with some minimal structure for notes. As I mainly use my stationery for taking notes or journaling, I’ve never really needed a “sketchbook,” per se, but I do keep one or two blank notebooks lying around to test pens and inks, especially with crazy nibs. When Nina Cosford, a well-known illustrator based in the U.K., reached out and asked if I’d like to review her sketchbook, I was in the middle of a “make-an-inky-mess” project and thought this looked like an intriguing thing to review, even if it’s a bit outside-the-box in terms of what I normally write about. I’m glad I took this particular project on, as this sketchbook features excellent 100gsm paper that I plan to use frequently going forward.

The Nina Cosford Sketchbook as a Project

As I mentioned above, Nina Cosford is an illustrator and lifelong sketchbook enthusiast, who, unable to find that “perfect product” - something we can all relate to - set out to create her own! The result is this roughly 7” x 9” sketchbook that contains 80 sheets of plain, slightly off-white 100gsm paper bound in a softcover vegan cover with a red elastic band. (I would compare the size to the “F2” Midori MD Cotton notebook, maybe slightly smaller.) It’s a simple, understated working sketchbook that feels durable and contains excellent paper. You can read more about Nina, her work, and the process she went through in developing this sketchbook on her website.

Nina Cosford Sketchbook Paper Test — This slightly off-white paper shows off shading nicely!

As you all know, I usually work in fountain pen ink, so when I tested the sketchbook my biggest concern was how well it would perform without bleedthrough or feathering on very wet nibs. I shouldn’t have worried - Nina Cosford is a Caran d’Ache ambassador who works in marker and other media that requires quality paper, and this sketchbook held up very well to whatever I could throw at it. The paper shows off ink properties quite nicely, including shading and shimmer.

Nina Cosford Sketchbook Paper Test (Reverse) — This sketchbook uses a 100gsm paper that feels coated, so it resists feathering and bleedthrough. You would really have to layer the ink on in order to get this paper to bleed, especially since it was designed to work with marker.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

I really enjoyed trying out this sketchbook and can definitely see myself using it in the future for ink testing and drawing/doodling with pens, inks, and other media. Honestly, I’m trying to expand my repertoire to include more creative journaling, since I feel that all I do is work lately and I really want to get back to playing around with my stationery “just for fun.” You can purchase the Nina Cosford Sketchbook directly from her website, priced at $16, which is quite reasonable given the quality. If you enjoy sketching or journaling in mixed media, and especially if you enjoy using fountain pens or markers, this sketchbook makes for an excellent option whether you use it for art or writing or both.

I was provided this sketchbook free of charge, as a review sample. I was not otherwise compensated for this review. The Gentleman Stationer is supported entirely by purchases from the T.G.S. Curated Shop and the T.G.S. Patreon Program.

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!

Stálogy Paper: My Thoughts, Two Months In

September 22, 2021

You can’t really evaluate a new paper until you’ve used it regularly for a couple of months, and since July I’ve been putting a Stálogy notebook through the wringer as my daily work notebook. I’ve never used this paper before, and I can see this brand easily forming a part of my daily rotation going forward. If I had to sum up Stálogy in a single sentence, it would characterize it as extremely thin, versatile Japanese paper that makes a great daily driver or work notebook, especially if you value quick dry times. That said, if you’re looking for thin paper to showcase pooled ink like Tomoe River, this may not be the notebook for you. While Stálogy doesn’t feather, and the ink looks great on the white paper with the grey ruling, you may see limited pinpoint bleed through with wider nibs and/or wetter inks, as thin, absorbent paper has its limitations.

(You may recall that I wrote a piece back in July discussing how you can customize notebooks by cutting them down to size, and that’s exactly what I did here. Stálogy notebooks don’t come in “Traveler’s Size,” - I made this one myself so a half-year version would fit in my Standard Traveler’s Notebook.)

Stálogy covers come in a range of colors other than black, including yellow. light blue, and red versions.

Style and Build Quality

I love the Stálogy aesthetic. The flexible leatherette cover feels sturdy without adding unnecessary bulk to the notebook, which would only detract from the key selling point of paper this thin. I’ve been carrying this notebook in my briefcase or car on a daily basis for two months (albeit in a Traveler’s Notebook cover), and so far the binding has held up well.

The Stalogy pages feature grey rulings with a header allowing you to label the month, day, and date.

The other thing I am truly enjoying is Stálogy’s light grey, 4mm grid ruling. Those who find bold rulings obtrusive, but who are still looking for more structure than a blank notebook offers, should give the Stálogy system a try. The grey lines essentially disappear under your writing, and 4mm is a great size for those of us who write small.

Every two lines are subtly numbered along the left-hand margin of each page, providing a 24 Hour layout for scheduling and logging.

Layout and Performance

In addition to the minimalist, almost industrial “leather book” aesthetic, people love Stálogy for the subtle date/time layout in the header and margin, allowing you to use this notebook for notetaking or journaling, or as a planner. The left-hand margin is subtly numbered 1 through 24, for a full 24-hour layout if you want to use your notebook as a planner or log book. Across the top, you can select the month, day, and date, which is always useful, no matter what your use case might be.

A handful of writing samples on Stálogy paper. As you can see, the ink looks great on the white paper with grey ruling, and I had absolutely no feathering even with some very wet pens.

Which brings us to the big question: what about the paper? It’s quite good. That said, paper is all about trade-offs. Those who love really thin paper know that in order for a thin paper to handle a lot of ink without feathering or bleed-through, you typically have to coat the paper and accept a longer dry time. Stálogy takes a different approach. This paper is more absorbent than something like Tomoe River, so you have a (much) shorter dry time. (Several friends who are lefties LOVE Stálogy for this very reason.) The paper also has a nice texture that lends a pleasant, tactile feel as you write. The trade-off might be some slight, pinpoint bleed-through with wet inks and wider nibs, though most fountain pens still work very well. While I absolutely did not experience anything that would keep me from using this notebook as a daily driver, I am overly cautious in labeling something as “fountain pen friendly” because that’s become a loaded term that has different meanings for different people.

The reverse side of the same page. You see some slight “pinpoint” bleeds on especially wet writing samples (i.e., stubs and ebonite feeds with wet ink), but nothing that prevents me from using this paper all day, every day. For how I use paper, the quick dry time is absolutely worth the trade-off in a work notebook.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

With future availability of Tomoe River Paper in question, the focus has turned to other options for extremely thin paper that allows notebook makers to pack a high page count into a compact size. While it’s not absolutely “ink proof” like Tomoe River, Stálogy paper is a very good alternative, especially for those of us who need a thin notebook and value more absorbent paper with better dry times. Personally, I’ve been using Stálogy every day for the past couple of months and love both the paper feel and quick dry performance.

My favorite color? The light blue (though the yellow really pops).

Stálogy notebooks are available in a range of sizes, including A5, A6, and B5, in both “365 Days”/“Year” (368 Page) or “180 Days”/”Half-Year” (192 Page) versions (also referred to as “year” and “half-year”). Currently, the T.G.S. Curated Shop stocks the A5 notebooks in both 365 and 180 Days, with the grid ruling. Dot grid is also available, which I hope to stock soon. In addition to the classic black cover, Stalogy has released brighter pastel versions, such as the light blue shown here, as well as periodic special editions. Half-Year notebooks are priced at $20, and 365-Day versions at $28.

The T.G.S. Curated Shop is an authorized retailer of all brands sold, including Stálogy. For more information on paper recommendations, I would check out this post on “Fountain Pen Friendly Paper” and how I categorize different brands.

Notebook Review: Staples TRU RED Starter Journal

May 15, 2021

You may have noticed that Staples.com has been actively promoting a new range of notebooks, journals, and office supplies from the “TRU RED” line, which I first reviewed a couple of years ago. I’ve been seeing these products featured everywhere, and as expected, they eventually reached out and asked me to take a look! While my review package contained a couple packs of standard rollerball and gel pens, what truly caught my eye was the large hardbound journal dubbed the “Starter Journal,” from the TRU RED “Expert Notetaking Collection.” It didn’t disappoint.

The front cover of the Starter Journal includes a slot to hold business or index cards.

Quality hardbound (or casebound) notebooks are relatively difficult to find, especially at an accessible price point. While some people dislike them because they don’t lie flat, I appreciate the format because they offer a reliable, not to mention attractive, way to archive your notes and journals long-term: alongside your books on your bookshelf. When I saw that the Starter Journal actually included a peel-off sticker that you can use to label and organize your notebooks for posterity, I was intrigued.

Other features include a sturdy elastic band to keep the notebook closed, as well as another loop to hold folded paper, tickets, etc., and a pen loop.

The journal/notebook itself measures 8” x 10” (in-between A5 and traditional “letter”), and the grey textured hardcover is thick and has a nice “hardback book” feel to it. The Starter Journal also includes various elastic straps to keep the journal closed in your bag and secure loose papers and a pen, and contains 192 pages of what is described as narrow-ruled “premium heavyweight paper” (more on that below) which alternates every five pages between perforated to-do lists and sketching pages. It’s a useful format that strikes a nice balance between structure and flexibility.

It’s no secret that we at T.G.S. are big fans of notetaking, and especially enjoy getting into the nitty gritty (some would say “minutiae”) of notetaking techniques and methodologies. The promotional material provided by Staples.com alongside this review sample therefore grabbled my attention when they indicated that the team at TRU RED “spent two years studying note taking techniques of the most brilliant minds like Leonardo da Vinci and Charles Darwin and innovators like Richard Branson.” Now does this mean that the same notetaking techniques that worked for some famous person will automatically work for you? No, of course not, but I enjoy products that make an effort to teach something, or at least offer some guidance with integrated tips and tricks that might encourage more efficient and useful notetaking. In addition to the Starter Journal, the TRU RED “Expert Notetaking Collection” includes three additional styles (Pocket, Expert and Mastery) all tailored to complement different styles of note taking.

So how about the paper? Honestly, it performed much better than I would have expected from a mainstream notebook at this price point. What TRU RED describes as “premium” paper will work best with gel and ballpoint pens, though I had absolutely no issues with TWSBI fountain pen ink, and Iroshizuku Ajisai had only some minor “pinpoint” bleed through that wouldn’t prevent me from using both sides of the page. I would offer a caveat to this evaluation: My experience has been that TRU RED paper can be inconsistent with how it handles fountain pens. One product might work fine, others not so much. That’s to be expected in a larger line where the paper is likely not obtained from a single source or milled by the company directly. In short, I wouldn’t purchase this journal/notebook expecting to be able to use it with every fountain pen ink out there - especially those that are extremely wet or super-saturated - but standard inks should be ok. (In my experience, rollerballs bleed through pretty much everything. This paper performed better than most, and while there was some slight bleed - moreso than with fountain pens - it again would not prevent me from using both sides of the page.)

Takeaways and Where to Buy

TRU RED has made a very nice hardcover journal/notebook. Though I personally would not use all of the various notetaking features, those who attend a lot of collaborative brainstorming sessions, sketch in their notebooks, and regularly have to summarize action items and talking points may find this to be a helpful addition to their workflow. I’m certainly glad to see this level of creativity coming from larger, “mainstream” office supply companies like Staples and Staples.com.

Currently priced at $17.99, the “TRU RED” Starter Journal (and all of the TRU RED products, for that matter) strike a nice balance in terms of price and quality. If you’re interested in reading further and trying out one of these notebooks, check out Staples.com. Select items from the TRU RED lineup may also be available in stores.

Disclaimer: This product was provided by Staples.com for review, free of charge. I was not otherwise compensated for this review. This post does not contain affiliate links and The Gentleman Stationer does not earn from any referrals.

Last Call for "Old" Tomoe River? The Galen Leather Everyday Book

January 9, 2021

Over the summer, the pen community learned that the company responsible for manufacturing Tomoe River paper was changing its manufacturing processes, which would result in the “new” Tomoe River having a different feel than the current version of the ultra-thin, fountain pen friendly paper that many of us have come to know and love. For the record, I have not had the opportunity to compare the new paper side-by-side with the old, but if you’re interested in reading about the differences, I would refer you to these posts by Yagan at Macchiato Man and Daryl from Atelier Musubi. From what I can tell, Tomoe River paper will continue to be fountain pen friendly, but with a different texture (more tactile), a slightly thicker page, and a less pronounced tendency to showcase sheen on certain inks.

Each Everyday Book comes packaged with a leather blotter and writing guides, which can be used to create a ruled page by placing the guide sheet behind each page of Tomoe River Paper.

That said, as the title of this post implies, it’s still possible to get your hands on the old version of Tomoe River paper. Both Galen Leather and Atelier Musubi have large stocks, and have indicated that they will continue to use the old version until their supplies are exhausted. Today, I will take a look at Galen Leather’s leatherbound “Everyday Book,” a 200 page/400 sheet notebook that features the blank, 52gsm white Tomoe River variant and is an excellent choice for those looking for an unlined Tomoe River notebook or journal.

For pretty much every Galen Leather product I have owned, I’ve opted for the brown “Crazy Horse” leather. I love how brown distressed leather looks as it ages, especially on a book. The leather cover manages to be thin without feeling flimsy, and the flexibility allows the notebook to open and lay flat. While the Everyday Book contains blank pages, it ships with lined and grid writing guides, as well as a leather blotter in case you need to close your notebook before the ink dries. (Tomoe River paper is known for its relatively long dry times.)

Tomoe River paper is beloved for its thinness, demonstrated here by comparing the 200-sheet Everyday Book (middle) against two other notebooks (Write Notepads Hardcover Notebook and Life x Kleid Noble Note) that contain around 100 sheets of differen… — Tomoe River paper is beloved for its thinness, demonstrated here by comparing the 200-sheet Everyday Book (middle) against two other notebooks (Write Notepads Hardcover Notebook and Life x Kleid Noble Note) that contain around 100 sheets of different paper.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Galen Leather has rapidly expanded their product offerings from leather notebook covers and accessories to include notebooks, desk accessories, and portable writing boxes/desks. I’m a huge fan of Galen Leather, including this notebook, and have used their products for years. You can purchase the Everyday Book (or “Everyday Blank Notebook” as it’s sometimes called) directly from the Galen Leather website. The A5 leather notebook starts at $36, with A6 and B6 sizes also available for $24 and $29, respectively. Some colors and sizes are currently sold out, possibly due to a run caused by those stocking up on old Tomoe River products before vendors have to move to new stock.

A Note on Tomoe River Paper Alternatives

Personally, I won’t be stockpiling “old” Tomoe River paper. It doesn’t sound as though the new paper will be any different for my purposes, as I actually prefer slightly thicker, more tactile paper, and don’t pay much attention to ink sheening or shading. For those interested in reading further about other fountain pen friendly papers that I enjoy, be sure to check out my series, “Best Paper for Everyday Writing.”

Disclaimer: Galen Leather sent me the notebook pictured in this review free of charge, for review purposes. I have not been otherwise compensated for this review. This post does not contain affiliate links.