Nov 9, 2022·edited Nov 9, 2022Liked by Mark Dykeman
GREAT POST! Mark, we're notebook kindred spirits - I agree with all of your preferred notebook features apart from stickers (I don't use them) and perforated pages (ditto).
I need ribbon bookmarks, and I adore the Leuchtturm 1917 Bullet Journal notebook (the original, not edition 2, which I won't touch with a bargepole) because it has three of them - the standard Leuchtturm 1917 has only two. I use one for the page where I keep track of all my diabetes hardware activities (dates of cannula changes, cartridge and battery changes, applications of new sensors) because I need to flip to this daily, one for my monthly log and one for today's page. I'd really struggle without those. Muscle memory and the fact that they're each a different colour make them really easy to use. Pen loops would get in my way! No thanks.
My preferred ruling is dot grid - I don't get on with blank pages because I like to write straight, lined pages remind me of school (bad!) and squared pages remind me of maths lessons (even worse!). Dot grid for me! And dot grid (okay, and squared, and plain, I suppose) means that I can use the pages either way up - ie I can turn my A5 notebook 90° whenever I want a portrait-sized A4 chunk of real estate, and also that's the only way I can sensibly use my passport-sized Traveler's Company traveler's notebook.
(I know I've said this before, but if anyone reading this would love to keep a small notebook in their pocket for on the go but you don't do so because you find it too small to practically use, just try turning it 90° so that the fold is in the horizontal, not vertical, plane. You'll never look back!)
LOL - only cos we're both such fans of Leuchtturm! And thanks! I do often feel quite awkward that I never seem to be able to rein in my garrulous nature in comments - I think it's because I type as fast as I think (NOT an advantage, trust me). 🤣
It depends on what I’m using it for! Overall, I also prefer hardcovers, but I like spiral bound for my work notebook, which is always open and used as a kind of catch-all jotting space. For my journal, I like a proper sewn binding and a ribbon bookmark. If it’s for writing, I need lines. If it’s for drawing or painting, it’s a notebook specific to those needs / and binding doesn’t matter, as long as it lays flat and has the proper paper weight.
As a lefty, spiral-bound anything is Of The Devil. One reason I've never used padfolios is because the notepad is on the right side. I never found the lefty versions commonly available so I never bought into them.
Nov 9, 2022·edited Nov 9, 2022Liked by Mark Dykeman
I'm still searching for the ideal notebook, honestly. I do love the Leuchtturm 1917 Bullet Journal notebook for, you know, a bullet journal. That one's good. I have a pile of unlined sketchbooks I use for free writing for stories, and those are fine. Just ok. The paper is too thick, I think. Current one is a Canson Mix Media 7x10 inch. I do like spiral notebooks for free writing because I often write while sitting on the couch, and not-spiral-bound books can get floppy, especially on the right-hand page.
The one I've really been searching for is for morning pages. To find one that's the right size (8.5x11) and has good paper and doesn't have weird margins or no margins or bad line spacing or a 3-inch box at the top where I'm supposed to write my daily agenda, has been hard. I have written my way through a lot that I don't love.
For morning pages have you tried Rhodia? It's not cheap but they do have options in the right size. One thing I've noticed with some sketchbooks is that the paper is rough in addition to being thick, which I don't like.
Nov 9, 2022·edited Nov 9, 2022Liked by Mark Dykeman
I haven't tried Rhodia! I like that they're usually orange. Which isn't really a factor. Last week I was looking at the Rhodia display and got totally distracted by these teensy weensy notebooks they had, like half the size of a Field Notes notebook, and I for sure have no need for a notebook with paper the size of a postage stamp, but they were so adorable I almost bought one. Anyway. That's why I didn't buy a Rhodia for morning pages. Because they distracted me with their cute somewhat useless tiny notebooks.
And yes, that's how I feel about sketchbooks: the paper is too rough and too thick.
You can buy the Rhodia Webbie (hardcover black A4) at https://appelboom.com/. I only know this because I mistakingly ordered an A6 and A4, instead of an A6 and an A5.
Your requirements are basically my own. After years of using moleskines for my regular journaling, that expectation of hard cover, lined, pocket in the back, and good paper. For my journals I am happy to use just regular ballpoints to avoid feathering issues and pencil crayons or reliable fineliners for color. Line or blank for regular writing (I find blank more freeing, actually.)
If it's more than just a journal (if it's a bullet journal or if it's one of the notebooks I use for creative stuff), then I'm bumping it at least to a Leuchtturm (multiple ribbons, better quality paper), or even something really sturdy (and beautiful IMO) like a Hemlock and Oak notebook or one of Archer & Olive's offerings, so they can stand up to fountain pens, water-based markers, and other strongly pigmented pens. Bullet journals must be dot grids.
Sakura Micron pens are great with moleskines or the fancier models, have a dark line, variety of thicknesses available, don't smudge, and can be archival quality. (But it feels like I have a million pens of all kinds of varieties haha.)
And STICKERS. If I use a Leuchtturm for a bullet journal, I do use the spine stickers to show off the date, but every notebook (except those with a textured, linen or faux leather cover) gets a cover sticker. I am weirdly obsessive about this. It's gotta match the color, too. I have a PILE of stickers of my favorite media/genre/loves that I order from Red Bubble, and let me tell you, the notebook isn't ready until the sticker is placed on the cover. Then it's go time!
My goodness, you've given me a lot to explore in your comment! I'm a fan of spine stickers but I also have a labeler which works very well for that task.
I'm also a Dingbats fan. I only use a notebook for work (taking notes during meetings, to-do lists, etc.) and my current book is the first one I've tried with a dot grid -- I'm enjoying it but find I have to write a bit smaller than I'm used to because the spacing is a bit narrower than lines are. Not a bad thing, but it makes me glad I have a fine nib on my fountain pen -- a medium or broad would be too cramped, I think.
My fave are the Leuchtturm ones as well. Have used them for a while and will continue to do so! I like the dot grid and definitely prefer paper that doesn’t bleed when I doodle.
I like them dotted or ruled and I like them to have an elastic band to close it. I have never used Leuchtturm, my preferred ones are Moleskines or Brügge notebooks.
I love Moleskine, but other brands too. I have tried digital notebooks extensively, where you write with a pen but then transfer your notes to a computer via an app. Moleskine Smart Pen and Notebook was absolutely brilliant, because (a) it was the best of both worlds and (b) you could actually search your digital notes even though they were all in handwriting.
Note the verb 'was'. Moleskine decided to improve the app by making it unusable.
My favourite kinds of notebook are (a) plain, for drawing, and (b) squared for notes. I fell in love with squared notebooks when I discovered them in Los Angeles, in 1980.
The writing implement is super-important too. My preferences are, in no particular order of importance:
The off-white paper of Moleskines has always felt pleasing to me - I used to use their hardback pocket notebooks. When I wanted to size up, though, the size drove me CRAZY - I guess I'm used to European sizes. Moleskines always felt like the wrong size - are their medium ones half-letter size? Very different to A5.
I'll use just about any notebook.; I've been a somewhat consistent journaler since sophomore year of college (2015), but I've been writing/using notebooks regularly since a decade before that. I'm not great at keeping my handwriting neat or uniform without lines, though I've tried. I think Moleskines as a brand are overrated, but the style of notebook is what I like the best. Any cover is okay as long as it can lay flat. I don't like anything much bigger than A5, and I won't use anything smaller than A6 because I write slowly and small pages make my hands cramp faster. Ghosting isn't a huge deal to me, but I need decently thick pages. I don't need a bookmark but I really like elastic closures, especially when they get full. Honestly I think nice notebooks should be more affordable; it's paper, not a government document.
I used to be a square grid notebook loyalist, but recently the grids have started stressing me out (maybe they're too overwhelming on the page? Am I in need of more generous negative space?). I just bought a new lined notebook this week, but am interested to dabble in the world of dotted pages sometime soon (they're also a bit intimidating for me at the moment).
One thing I do find with the dotted pages is that it's not so easy to align everything in a straight line, at least for me. But I like the flexibility in case I do want to doodle or make a quick table, etc..
I love dot grids - I'd never come across them until three or four years ago, but they're great. With dot grids I feel I have the convenience of squared paper but without the overwhelm of heavy-looking actual gridlines. And still very convenient if you like to vary where your margins go - not quite so easy with lined paper.
I've been on the lookout for the perfect notebook since I started journaling as a teen. I agree with most of your conditions, though I don't mind semi-softcover and I always prefer blank pages because my writing is large and unwieldy and I feel cramped by most lined pages. I often alter/decorate the front in some way. The paper definitely needs to be sized enough that there's no bleed and my fountain pen can glide easily across the surface. I also prefer 8.5 x 11 or 9 x 12, again because of the size of my writing I think. I look for notebooks/journals whenever I'm in a new city, and my favourite two were both found in Amsterdam in the 1980's! Oh to go back in time.
I also keep a separate notebook for art and writing ideas, where I make separate sections with makeshift tabs for Feed the Monster newsletter ideas, my Life's Work visual memoir project, and ideas for my website. I also just use these books for random ideas or reminders of things I want to explore. For those notebooks I've been using the Fabriano EcoQua for the last few years, because I start a fresh one for each new year.
I'm planning to write a post soon about the trajectory of my journals from torn pieces stored in a large vat to an installation as part of my last art exhibit last summer—I mentioned this in a comment on your post about harvesting. I'm happy to have found other people who are nerdy about notebooks and paper!
For journaling, the Leuchtturm A5 is nearly perfect for me. If only I could get it with white paper!. It took me awhile to warm to bookmark ribbons but now I'm a fan, but one or two is not enough, so I supplement them with bookmark stickers. I don't care about perforations or stickers. Gridded and numbered pages are required and I prefer (good) elastic bands. Currently I'm working in an Endless A5 and I've liked it well enough, although it's cover could be a little more substantial and still no white paper. For a work notebook, I really like the Rhoda Reverse gridded square notebook. The paper is so nice and plays well with my fountain pens. And if the spiral binding is annoying me, I just turn it 90 degrees with the rings to the top. For more ephemeral jottings, I keep a stash of cheap composition notebooks and don't even try to use the back of the page.
Sketchbooks are entirely a different thing and I've been struggling to find what best suits me. Lately I've been happy with the Canson XL Mixed Media as it lets me easily switch between pencil, pen and ink, and some watercolor. I only use one side of the page in my sketchbooks, so I turn them upside down to draw, putting the spiral binding out of the way of my left hand.
Nov 9, 2022·edited Nov 9, 2022Liked by Mark Dykeman
I enjoy writing in Rhodia and Leuchtuurm1917 notebooks, but not the format/size options for either, because... Years ago, I bought a leather cover for notebooks that fits the large Moleskine format (5" x 8.25"), so I have stuck with that size because I really enjoy my leather cover and I can't find the shop I bought it from to get a new one in a different size... ;-)
I have switched to the no-name/Amazon version of the large Moleskine for cost savings and have not noticed any difference in quality (that said, Moleskine is not the quality it once was).
A few of my preferences:
-Available in multiple options (lined, squared, dot, plain)
-Decent-enough quality paper - so ink doesn't bleed through the pages (I sometimes use fountain pens)
-hard cover, but not spiral/coil binding for any serious journals, I just can't get into them for that
-ability to lay flat
-Page marker
-Pocket
Numbering and an index would are nice, but I normally just add them myself when it doesn't come with them pre-printed.
I’ve settled on the Minimalism Art hardcover B5 size notebook. Nice size, great paper quality, numbered pages, just checks all the boxes for me. This is what I use for morning pages.
For years I used Pierre Belvedere 'large' (A5) notebooks. I loved that they were sewn hardcover notebooks _with_ perforated pages. I also appreciated that they had an attached bookmark. Whether I was sitting in a chair or at a desk, they were perfect to write with.
As they haven't been sold in years, I've been on the constant hunt for 'my unicorn'. I tried other highly recommended brands, but none of them were what I was looking for. It would either be a coil ring with perforated pages...a little overkill... or a hardcover notebook without perforated pages. Nothing satisfied.
A couple of months ago I locked eyes with Dingbats when I was Bookmark in Halifax. We've been inseparable ever since.
Although I don't use them often, I also appreciate the addition of the pocket and the penloop that's large enough to comfortably hold my MB 146.
GREAT POST! Mark, we're notebook kindred spirits - I agree with all of your preferred notebook features apart from stickers (I don't use them) and perforated pages (ditto).
I need ribbon bookmarks, and I adore the Leuchtturm 1917 Bullet Journal notebook (the original, not edition 2, which I won't touch with a bargepole) because it has three of them - the standard Leuchtturm 1917 has only two. I use one for the page where I keep track of all my diabetes hardware activities (dates of cannula changes, cartridge and battery changes, applications of new sensors) because I need to flip to this daily, one for my monthly log and one for today's page. I'd really struggle without those. Muscle memory and the fact that they're each a different colour make them really easy to use. Pen loops would get in my way! No thanks.
My preferred ruling is dot grid - I don't get on with blank pages because I like to write straight, lined pages remind me of school (bad!) and squared pages remind me of maths lessons (even worse!). Dot grid for me! And dot grid (okay, and squared, and plain, I suppose) means that I can use the pages either way up - ie I can turn my A5 notebook 90° whenever I want a portrait-sized A4 chunk of real estate, and also that's the only way I can sensibly use my passport-sized Traveler's Company traveler's notebook.
(I know I've said this before, but if anyone reading this would love to keep a small notebook in their pocket for on the go but you don't do so because you find it too small to practically use, just try turning it 90° so that the fold is in the horizontal, not vertical, plane. You'll never look back!)
Your comment is as good as the original post!
LOL - only cos we're both such fans of Leuchtturm! And thanks! I do often feel quite awkward that I never seem to be able to rein in my garrulous nature in comments - I think it's because I type as fast as I think (NOT an advantage, trust me). 🤣
I haven't found a perfect brand but I do know it has to have two qualities: dotted paper and it has to lay somewhat flat.
For some reason, the closest notebook I've found is a $2 spiral dotted notebook at Walmart.
That's my kind of price point! 👍
Thrift!
It depends on what I’m using it for! Overall, I also prefer hardcovers, but I like spiral bound for my work notebook, which is always open and used as a kind of catch-all jotting space. For my journal, I like a proper sewn binding and a ribbon bookmark. If it’s for writing, I need lines. If it’s for drawing or painting, it’s a notebook specific to those needs / and binding doesn’t matter, as long as it lays flat and has the proper paper weight.
My main beef with spiral bound is that I invariably will ruin the spiral but it's also great if you want to rip out pages!
As a lefty, spiral-bound anything is Of The Devil. One reason I've never used padfolios is because the notepad is on the right side. I never found the lefty versions commonly available so I never bought into them.
I'm still searching for the ideal notebook, honestly. I do love the Leuchtturm 1917 Bullet Journal notebook for, you know, a bullet journal. That one's good. I have a pile of unlined sketchbooks I use for free writing for stories, and those are fine. Just ok. The paper is too thick, I think. Current one is a Canson Mix Media 7x10 inch. I do like spiral notebooks for free writing because I often write while sitting on the couch, and not-spiral-bound books can get floppy, especially on the right-hand page.
The one I've really been searching for is for morning pages. To find one that's the right size (8.5x11) and has good paper and doesn't have weird margins or no margins or bad line spacing or a 3-inch box at the top where I'm supposed to write my daily agenda, has been hard. I have written my way through a lot that I don't love.
For morning pages have you tried Rhodia? It's not cheap but they do have options in the right size. One thing I've noticed with some sketchbooks is that the paper is rough in addition to being thick, which I don't like.
I haven't tried Rhodia! I like that they're usually orange. Which isn't really a factor. Last week I was looking at the Rhodia display and got totally distracted by these teensy weensy notebooks they had, like half the size of a Field Notes notebook, and I for sure have no need for a notebook with paper the size of a postage stamp, but they were so adorable I almost bought one. Anyway. That's why I didn't buy a Rhodia for morning pages. Because they distracted me with their cute somewhat useless tiny notebooks.
And yes, that's how I feel about sketchbooks: the paper is too rough and too thick.
James Baldwin used Rhodia legal pads, so you’d be in good company if you gave them another try! My next newsletter is all about him:)
Oooo, I can't wait to read it! There is a delightfully analog image I have in my head of James Baldwin writing on a legal pad.
The other notebooks I tend to go back to are from Cognitive Surplus. The covers are gorgeous and the paper is perfect.
Another new find!
https://cognitive-surplus.com/
You can buy the Rhodia Webbie (hardcover black A4) at https://appelboom.com/. I only know this because I mistakingly ordered an A6 and A4, instead of an A6 and an A5.
Thank you for this tip! (How cute is "Webbie" as a notebook name???)
Your requirements are basically my own. After years of using moleskines for my regular journaling, that expectation of hard cover, lined, pocket in the back, and good paper. For my journals I am happy to use just regular ballpoints to avoid feathering issues and pencil crayons or reliable fineliners for color. Line or blank for regular writing (I find blank more freeing, actually.)
If it's more than just a journal (if it's a bullet journal or if it's one of the notebooks I use for creative stuff), then I'm bumping it at least to a Leuchtturm (multiple ribbons, better quality paper), or even something really sturdy (and beautiful IMO) like a Hemlock and Oak notebook or one of Archer & Olive's offerings, so they can stand up to fountain pens, water-based markers, and other strongly pigmented pens. Bullet journals must be dot grids.
Sakura Micron pens are great with moleskines or the fancier models, have a dark line, variety of thicknesses available, don't smudge, and can be archival quality. (But it feels like I have a million pens of all kinds of varieties haha.)
And STICKERS. If I use a Leuchtturm for a bullet journal, I do use the spine stickers to show off the date, but every notebook (except those with a textured, linen or faux leather cover) gets a cover sticker. I am weirdly obsessive about this. It's gotta match the color, too. I have a PILE of stickers of my favorite media/genre/loves that I order from Red Bubble, and let me tell you, the notebook isn't ready until the sticker is placed on the cover. Then it's go time!
My goodness, you've given me a lot to explore in your comment! I'm a fan of spine stickers but I also have a labeler which works very well for that task.
I'm also a Dingbats fan. I only use a notebook for work (taking notes during meetings, to-do lists, etc.) and my current book is the first one I've tried with a dot grid -- I'm enjoying it but find I have to write a bit smaller than I'm used to because the spacing is a bit narrower than lines are. Not a bad thing, but it makes me glad I have a fine nib on my fountain pen -- a medium or broad would be too cramped, I think.
So far I'm working through my first Dingbats* notebook which is unlined. Looking forward to the second one (I believe it's dotted).
My fave are the Leuchtturm ones as well. Have used them for a while and will continue to do so! I like the dot grid and definitely prefer paper that doesn’t bleed when I doodle.
Dot grid is so flexible.
I like them dotted or ruled and I like them to have an elastic band to close it. I have never used Leuchtturm, my preferred ones are Moleskines or Brügge notebooks.
Interesting, I'm not familiar with Brügge, I should investigate.
I love Moleskine, but other brands too. I have tried digital notebooks extensively, where you write with a pen but then transfer your notes to a computer via an app. Moleskine Smart Pen and Notebook was absolutely brilliant, because (a) it was the best of both worlds and (b) you could actually search your digital notes even though they were all in handwriting.
Note the verb 'was'. Moleskine decided to improve the app by making it unusable.
My favourite kinds of notebook are (a) plain, for drawing, and (b) squared for notes. I fell in love with squared notebooks when I discovered them in Los Angeles, in 1980.
The writing implement is super-important too. My preferences are, in no particular order of importance:
Moleskine roller ball
Parker roller ball
Parker fountain pen
Cross ballpoint pen
Moleskine pencil.
I've not been a great fan of Moleskine's paper but otherwise they're a fine product.
The off-white paper of Moleskines has always felt pleasing to me - I used to use their hardback pocket notebooks. When I wanted to size up, though, the size drove me CRAZY - I guess I'm used to European sizes. Moleskines always felt like the wrong size - are their medium ones half-letter size? Very different to A5.
The moleskine version of A4 is smaller than A4 and so more convenient. Ditto their A6 size, which fits in jacket pocket
I'll use just about any notebook.; I've been a somewhat consistent journaler since sophomore year of college (2015), but I've been writing/using notebooks regularly since a decade before that. I'm not great at keeping my handwriting neat or uniform without lines, though I've tried. I think Moleskines as a brand are overrated, but the style of notebook is what I like the best. Any cover is okay as long as it can lay flat. I don't like anything much bigger than A5, and I won't use anything smaller than A6 because I write slowly and small pages make my hands cramp faster. Ghosting isn't a huge deal to me, but I need decently thick pages. I don't need a bookmark but I really like elastic closures, especially when they get full. Honestly I think nice notebooks should be more affordable; it's paper, not a government document.
I used to be a square grid notebook loyalist, but recently the grids have started stressing me out (maybe they're too overwhelming on the page? Am I in need of more generous negative space?). I just bought a new lined notebook this week, but am interested to dabble in the world of dotted pages sometime soon (they're also a bit intimidating for me at the moment).
One thing I do find with the dotted pages is that it's not so easy to align everything in a straight line, at least for me. But I like the flexibility in case I do want to doodle or make a quick table, etc..
I love dot grids - I'd never come across them until three or four years ago, but they're great. With dot grids I feel I have the convenience of squared paper but without the overwhelm of heavy-looking actual gridlines. And still very convenient if you like to vary where your margins go - not quite so easy with lined paper.
I've been on the lookout for the perfect notebook since I started journaling as a teen. I agree with most of your conditions, though I don't mind semi-softcover and I always prefer blank pages because my writing is large and unwieldy and I feel cramped by most lined pages. I often alter/decorate the front in some way. The paper definitely needs to be sized enough that there's no bleed and my fountain pen can glide easily across the surface. I also prefer 8.5 x 11 or 9 x 12, again because of the size of my writing I think. I look for notebooks/journals whenever I'm in a new city, and my favourite two were both found in Amsterdam in the 1980's! Oh to go back in time.
I also keep a separate notebook for art and writing ideas, where I make separate sections with makeshift tabs for Feed the Monster newsletter ideas, my Life's Work visual memoir project, and ideas for my website. I also just use these books for random ideas or reminders of things I want to explore. For those notebooks I've been using the Fabriano EcoQua for the last few years, because I start a fresh one for each new year.
I'm planning to write a post soon about the trajectory of my journals from torn pieces stored in a large vat to an installation as part of my last art exhibit last summer—I mentioned this in a comment on your post about harvesting. I'm happy to have found other people who are nerdy about notebooks and paper!
Great ideas. I believe I've tried Fabriano, pretty decent.
For journaling, the Leuchtturm A5 is nearly perfect for me. If only I could get it with white paper!. It took me awhile to warm to bookmark ribbons but now I'm a fan, but one or two is not enough, so I supplement them with bookmark stickers. I don't care about perforations or stickers. Gridded and numbered pages are required and I prefer (good) elastic bands. Currently I'm working in an Endless A5 and I've liked it well enough, although it's cover could be a little more substantial and still no white paper. For a work notebook, I really like the Rhoda Reverse gridded square notebook. The paper is so nice and plays well with my fountain pens. And if the spiral binding is annoying me, I just turn it 90 degrees with the rings to the top. For more ephemeral jottings, I keep a stash of cheap composition notebooks and don't even try to use the back of the page.
Sketchbooks are entirely a different thing and I've been struggling to find what best suits me. Lately I've been happy with the Canson XL Mixed Media as it lets me easily switch between pencil, pen and ink, and some watercolor. I only use one side of the page in my sketchbooks, so I turn them upside down to draw, putting the spiral binding out of the way of my left hand.
Great thoughts and tips!
I enjoy writing in Rhodia and Leuchtuurm1917 notebooks, but not the format/size options for either, because... Years ago, I bought a leather cover for notebooks that fits the large Moleskine format (5" x 8.25"), so I have stuck with that size because I really enjoy my leather cover and I can't find the shop I bought it from to get a new one in a different size... ;-)
I have switched to the no-name/Amazon version of the large Moleskine for cost savings and have not noticed any difference in quality (that said, Moleskine is not the quality it once was).
A few of my preferences:
-Available in multiple options (lined, squared, dot, plain)
-Decent-enough quality paper - so ink doesn't bleed through the pages (I sometimes use fountain pens)
-hard cover, but not spiral/coil binding for any serious journals, I just can't get into them for that
-ability to lay flat
-Page marker
-Pocket
Numbering and an index would are nice, but I normally just add them myself when it doesn't come with them pre-printed.
Sad about Moleskine then. Is the paper the part that's not as good as in the past?
Yes. I find it is not as high quality as it was in the past. More bleed with fountain pens mainly.
I’ve settled on the Minimalism Art hardcover B5 size notebook. Nice size, great paper quality, numbered pages, just checks all the boxes for me. This is what I use for morning pages.
Great article! I completely agree!
For years I used Pierre Belvedere 'large' (A5) notebooks. I loved that they were sewn hardcover notebooks _with_ perforated pages. I also appreciated that they had an attached bookmark. Whether I was sitting in a chair or at a desk, they were perfect to write with.
As they haven't been sold in years, I've been on the constant hunt for 'my unicorn'. I tried other highly recommended brands, but none of them were what I was looking for. It would either be a coil ring with perforated pages...a little overkill... or a hardcover notebook without perforated pages. Nothing satisfied.
A couple of months ago I locked eyes with Dingbats when I was Bookmark in Halifax. We've been inseparable ever since.
Although I don't use them often, I also appreciate the addition of the pocket and the penloop that's large enough to comfortably hold my MB 146.
I interviewed one of the co-founders of Dingbats* last month https://howaboutthis.substack.com/p/creator-spotlight-mo-bekdache