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?

@GalileoHumpkins do you hold the pen at a funny angle? I've found that fountain pens only work if you hold the pen in a specific angle from the paper and with the nib facing outwards. If you get ink on your fingers, it could be because you're holding it too close to the nib

I do actually! I never thought that might be the problem, I also tend to hold a pen very tightly when I write.

I do-and so does dp. He's a keeper.

I ordered this this morning: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B08R95ZSK9?ref=ppx_pt2_mob_b_prod_image
I've never tried bullet journaling and don't think I will use the actual system but I do like flexibility and the idea of setting up something for myself, tailored exactly to my needs, appeals to me.

I've started writing in my gold book - finally finished the blue one! It was only small (A5 I think) so only took 2 months to fill; the gold one is larger so will last longer.

Wow, can’t believe so many people use notebooks! Other than having one on the go for work scribbling I don’t use one at all. And I just use the ones that are in the office, I think they’re jotta- not remotely fancy 😂
I just use my phone for taking down anything important, lists etc because I always have that with me and I rarely take a bag anywhere.

My new notebook and fountain pen arrived today after the discussion yesterday!

@dizzygirl1 that is ace 😍 purple is my favourite colour!
@TheChosenTwoI never remember anything if I just put it as a note on my phone so have to write everything down.

@ChicoryDip I'm also looking for a fountain pen to try the beautiful Diamine shimmer inks that @MyMachineAndMe posted earlier.

In the picture that I posted with the gold writing, I used my Waterman & Black fine for the thin lettering and my Noodler's creaper with flex nib. It works well with the flex, which really brings out the colour and sheen, but would work even better with a more expensive one. Mine is a cheap pen and railroads quite a lot, which is annoying af.

This is a lovely thread - I also love a notebook and like a filofax as well and get very excited when it's time to order my new pages so I can choose a theme for the year. I once had a lovely notebook that had squared paper inside, and that was surprisingly satisfying to write in. I think it might have been from Muji. I intend to go shopping for a lovely notebook this week now.

For cheap notebooks, Muji is surprisingly good.

@hilariousnamehere I signed up after you mentioned it on the stationery thread that got deleted. The middle of each month is always a bit boring and rubbish so the Ink Drops delivery always brightens things up. You guys are awesome.

How do you fill a fountain pen with a syringe? That sounds interesting.

My people!

It has been proven multiple times that writing in pen has a very different impact on the brain/learning than typing. I feel this very strongly - its not happening/won't sink in until I've written it.

I shop on Papersmiths or The Journal Shop. I also have an obession with Japanese stationery- they really understand the 'beautiful things' element to paper and pens.

Thanks to this thread I've had a wee search through the loft and found this unused bullet journal and my beloved fountain pen, had to dust off both of them. The pen needs more ink but I'll probably stick to cartridges right now. I know I'll be tempted to look into inks later though, the pen is a Parker so I assume that should be easy enough to find a refillable cartridge for.

All these different notebooks and shops recommended - this thread is telling me I need to buy more ...

My current fav notebooks are Conceptum A5 squared notebooks - I prefer them to the Lechturnm ones I've had, lovely paper to write on with an ink pen. I was (internally!) chortling with glee when I found some heavily marked down in TK Maxx.

I was actually in there for a saucepan 😁

Pan / pen... Easy mistake to make 🤷

I had to give a load away as I knew I would not use them all -lots are too pretty to use. One was a soft white cover - that would have looked grubby as anything after 5 mins with me!

Currently I like a4 metallics range with plastic dividers (project books?)
Use them for my course admin -tracking what needs doing when fir each subject. And questions to follow up for each part of the module.

Plus also use as a massive work todo list -rewriting each month -as I have lots of ongoing projects

Then a general day to day one -some todo lists but others more "renew sky -current deal /new customer offer" then notes on outcome. Was happy to use that notebook for random lists as it has orange flowers on it so I didn't care much about it (someone on my local Facebook group was GIVING THEIR STASH AWAY!!!)

I love a good notebook but I am very specific about the sort of notebook I can write in. So far I’ve only found the right kind from paper chase (soft backed, narrow rule).

I use my phone for some things, e.g. Christmas lists as I can include links to websites or noting down what I've bought as I have a budget spreadsheet for Christmas so it calculates how much money I have spent. However I find that my phone is rubbish for general notes and just not the same as having a proper notebook and nice pen.

I have one notebook for recipes that I've tried and liked so I don't have to search through multiple cookbooks. It is a bit of a mess though with some scribbled down and lots of crossing out so I have a grand plan of copying it all out again nicely into a smarter notebook that will be passed down to DDs after I'm gone..... they'll probably just bin it but I can dream 🤣.

I have another one for the garden. Noting down what variety that rose I planted was, what time of year to do certain jobs like clean and sharpen the tools or overseed the lawn. I also note down varieties of vegetables/seeds I've used that have done well or varieties to avoid.

Finally I have a notebook where I just copy out phrases I've read in books that I've liked, or perhaps a poem that I've particularly enjoyed. Maybe something funny that the children have said or just some words that have come to me and I want to remember. I used to love creative writing at school but have never done any since but I still like copying out phrases or words that mean something to me.

Such a shame that Paperchase has gone. They always had the best notebook range. And the best Christmas tree ornaments!

There used to be a small paperchase in Leeds railway station and when I used to go to university in the train I'd always stop in the and have a nosy, especially on my way home. It was next to wetherspoons iirc.

@MyMachineAndMe look at the old bullet journal / BuJo threads in stationery addict. They can give you lots of ideas as there is so many ways to do it.

There was also a bigger one in the city centre, I spent many a happy hour in there.

My dp is kicking himself that it was my birthday yesterday and he's only just this morning noticed that I'm reaching the end of my notebook! I've pointed out that I am not adverse to an unbirthday present!

@RumNotRun oh no I didn't realise that one got deleted - hopefully not because of anything I said 😳

Syringe refilling was a random but glorious accident, found a set on cultpens (which is a dangerous but wonderful site) with empty long standard cartridges and two syringes. You can also use the short cartridges once they're empty - and you just suck up the ink and put it into the cartridge then stick cartridge back in pen. It's a tiny bit messy but I've got better with practice 😂 means I can use some of my shimmery inks with broad nibs which makes my weird little heart very happy.

On the notebook front I've picked up way too many recommendations from this thread and have been very inspired by the pp who said they shouldn't lurk without purpose. Have just chosen two from my shelf to take out with me over next couple of weeks 😁

And massive yes to multiple notebooks on the go! I have found my people 😍

Do any of you lovely lot also use filofaxes as organisers or notebooks or both? I have four on the go for recipes, work, home organising and inspiration!

Another pen and paper fan…but I have read all the thread and still don’t know what washi tape is for in a notebook? Can someone please advise, thank you 🙏