Notebooks are fun! I’m still in the process of finding the best tool to do the job; it was a great adventure and a grand opportunity for learning. This is a story about one of those tiny notebooks and about my journey to find a proper paper.
Different paper plays differently based on the ink you use. Smudges, bleeding, feathering, everything depends not only on the particular ink but on the paper as well. An excellent writing combination is all things combined – great paper, stunning ink, exceptional pen, and, most importantly, steady skill.
But let’s get back to unboxing!
This cute small box holds an anniversary edition of the traveller’s notebook: a minuscule, five centimetres tall version.
Smells nice, once you open it.
Inside you can find the notebook itself, wrapped in exactly the same way as its bigger cousin, the passport-sized traveller’s notebook, a little charm, and a stack of paper. This notebook doesn’t come with pre-made paper notebooks, it’s more of make-it-yourself thing.
Tiny and cute.
The paper itself is the traditional midori stock, feels smooth, plays well with my inks of choice. I attached this tiny notebook to my bigger one – to be used as a name tag. I’m considering switching to traveller’s notebook for all notes now, leaving field notes brand behind. I absolutely love field notes notebooks, but the ink shows heavy feathering on those, and flex nibs spill enough ink to bleed through the page, leaving smudges on the next one. Sadly, a huge no-go.
Midori’s paper, on the other hand, works perfectly. Even the ‘thin’ brand of their notebooks can withstand massive amounts of ink. It takes slightly longer to dry, which I can tolerate – by writing slower and more mindfully.
The leather has a unique scent. Some people say they don’t like it, I find it lovely. It wears quickly, so I expect it to be all scratched in a few weeks. Something I never care about, it’s functional, and ageing is a way to add more charm. These tools should show the personality of their owners, and, so far, the traveller’s notebook is matching mine perfectly.
