The joy of a new notebook

[MyMachineAndMe]

I'm surely not the only one? I was telling dh that I've almost finished my current notebook and that it's exciting because it means I get to start my new one. It's a beautiful notebook - it has a gold, shiny cover - and I've got the nice gold shimmer ink to use in it.

When I said all this, Dh looked at me like I've got two heads, as did one of my dc (the other has a better understanding of all things stationery).

Light-hearted question obviously, but do you get excited by new notebooks?

Me too!

Washi tape looks like sellotape made of paper but I don't know what it's for.

I like to use both sides of the paper @Heyhoherewegoagain because I feel like I'm half using the book. I like looking at a good double page spread of lots of tiny writing! It only works with decent paper though and using a fountain pen means I don't have to put pressure on the paper to write, so don't make dents on the other side of the page.

Yes, this! I fear what I add to the beautiful notebook will let it down.

I feel sorry for the unused ones that have to watch their friends being taken from the shelves and written in as they just sit there :(

I do however have more ink than I can ever use in my lifetime and wonder if what I write is special enough to warrant the beauty of the ink, especially if it's a shimmery one.

This is so me!!

I don't use them any more, though if I did I think I would feel the same as the OP.

I haven't had a lovely notebook for years as I don't really write much any more, but I used to love getting a new one. Stationery shops were the best places. The promises I'd make to myself/the new book that I would only write in my best handwriting etc Yeah, that lasted a few pages then it was all scribbles and pages torn out

🙋🏼‍♀️

I absolutely love note books. Even my work ones. I only write with a particular type/colour pen and have about 30 of them scattered around. I really love my writing 😂😳

My son bought me a Smythson notebook but it’s so nice, I haven’t quite brought myself to start using it.

I'm the same with diaries. I buy 3 a year...each one lasts me about 4 months due to crossings out

Does anyone else have multiple notebooks on the go?

One for the garden
One for the course I'm studying
One to record exercise and sports
One for general stuff

I LOVE notebooks and stationery and like others, have lots of plans how they will change my life etc, but then when it comes to using them, I have a complete blank! Apart from work ones, which are filled with to-do lists.

Please inspire me, what do you write in your notebooks?!

I have loads of notebooks, I can't resist them but when I get a new one I start using that so I have lots of half filled books. I really need more discipline. I'm the same with most stationery though.

I have washi tape but apart from marking my favourite pages in some recipe books, I never know what to use it for. I'm not very creative so get jealous of all the lovely bullet journals etc online.

Incidentally there is a great stationery subscription called Ink Drops. I think it was set up by two MNetters. I get a delivery around 15th of each month and it is my best day!

I can never bring myself to tear out pages of a book. If I make a mistake I have to cross it out neatly instead.

Yes, I also have notebooks for different reasons on the go at the same time: one for general notes, one for work days and appointments, one as a journal or daily diary and one for notes for the mass obs directives. All of them pretty.

Does anyone else start each new book with the same info?

Incidentally there is a great stationery subscription called Ink Drops. I think it was set up by two MNetters. I get a delivery around 15th of each month and it is my best day! That just be like Christmas every month just for you!

Does anyone else also reduce the book's lifespan by only writing on the right hand page, BTW?!?

This would be me, I write on the right hand page and sometimes stick notes or a card or something on the left hand page.

My work life is quite bitty in that I have a day job, a freelance gig and a private business - each one has its own notebook.

I love stationery but go for a less is more approach. My Lamy fountain pen was £200 and an absolute joy to write with. And my diary is this one and only half way through so will last a good few more months.

What do you all write in your notebooks? I love notebooks but they are sat there more or less empty. I need inspiration!

I use mine as an old fashioned diary and dump whatever my brain is thinking onto paper. It helps me to process my thoughts and make sense of the day.

Working from the back pages I track my weight loss and note life goals.

I get obsessed by new notebooks to the extent that:

I wore black armbands and went into a deep depression when Paperchase closed (not really but in spirit)

When I did a recent sort out at home I had 45 new notebooks and a further 18 that I had started and abandoned

They just don't understand!
I need ALL. THE. STATIONARY.
And then I'm scared to use it because it looks so pretty and I don't want to mess it up x

I bought myself a handwriting book recently as mine has become appalling since mainly using smartphones and computers.

I'm going to practise on lined A4 before ruining a nice notebook!

I found this useful

Oh this is me! I love stationery and using a fountain pen 🖋 My writing is always better than with a biro!

I use my notebooks to do a form of bullet journaling - loosely based on the idea, not at all like the ones on Pinterest 😆 i don't do the indexing thing, I start lists at the back and keep day to day stuff at the front.

I discovered Diamine shimmer inks and haven't looked back, love trying their different bright colours - no blue or black for me! Often swap colours when I start a new month 😃

New notebooks have to be stroked and sniffed to be appreciated, before using 🤣

Oh yes absolutely love a new notebook. The strange thing is I have a stack of beautiful notebooks, mostly given as gifts and i haven't written a word in them as i don't want to mess them up. Ridiculous really and i need to get over it.

For anyone who scores out a lot, some of my favourite pens are Pilot Frixion as they're erasable. My uni notes look so much nicer with them.

They're not as pretty as fountain pen ink, but they come in a range of colours and because I don't have scribbling out every few works I can actually reread my notes much more easily.