Since the beginning of the year, the pockets of my planner have become filled with an assortment of stickers, postage stamps and washi tape. I’ve gotten into collaging on my daily pages so having a few stickers to add along the way is a great option.

I am still loving the B6 size for my planner. It’s not as small as an A6, which I often felt like I needed more than one-page-per-day, but not as intimidating as an A5 which always seemed like too much space and too large a notebook to tote around everyday. If you haven’t tried B6 yet, I highly recommend it as the Goldilocks of notebooks.

This image above shows that I’ve filled about 2/3rds of the Stalogy daily planner and evidence of collage-y bits can be seen from the edge.

I added the Midori pen clip to the back of the Stalogy at the beginning of the year and have managed to keep it for six whole months without losing it. Good news since my rare Sailor ProGear Slim Stargazer has been riding around in the loop all year.

I mark my place each month and each day with the Midori gold Chiratto Index Clips ($8.50 for 8 clips). It makes getting to my current spot fast and easy.

I’m getting some mileage with the monthly pages to keep track of silly holidays like Graham Cracker Day (July 5), travel, pen shows and birthdays and such but I am not using the week-on-two-pages like I thought I would.

I had thought I would utilize the page on the right of the week-on-two-pages in the Midori for work-related tasks and notes but I have ended up keeping a notebook at work for these tasks and the pages go largely unused. Its extra sad because I really like the paper in the Midori Pocket Planner and the little illustrations throughout are cheery.

The only creature in my house that uses the ribbon bookmark is Apple. He thinks it’s delicious.

In the Stalogy, on days without a lot of activities (like a Sunday when you discover you have Covid-19), I have started adding collage elements with washi, stickers and some rubber stamps. I also bought a Polaroid Mint mini-printer to add the occasional photo to my planner.

I often treat my planner more like a log book of what I did, what I ate, where I went, who I saw, what I read, watch or listened to, etc. so adding photos in is a good way to log activities. If you want to be able to add photos to your journal or planner, many people recommend the Canon Ivy which is currently available. The Polaroid Mint has been discontinued. Both the Mint and the Ivy use Zink 2″ x 3″ printer paper. The color output is not great but the printer uses instant film technology and the printers don’t need ink cartridges making it a little easier to use. So, it makes fun, little retro-looking images that add some much-needed personality to my planner.

Usually, on Sundays, I try to pre-decorate a few pages. Since I am doing a (sort of) page-a-day for my planner/journal/logbook I just add a few decorative elements to add some interest for the week but I am not locked into using a whole page for one day. Some days, I might use two or more pages. I’ve found this open method so much easier for me since there is no pressure from day-to-day. Some days are super busy and active, and some days I skip altogether.

I don’t know how to solve for the largely unused Midori Pocket Planner. I thought about removing the monthly pages and pasting them into the Stalogy but I would want the whole year’s worth of calendar pages so where doe I put them? In the back altogether? At the beginning of each month but what about later months?

I would like to streamline a little bit but I haven’t figured out the best way to do that. As it is right now, the book is quite chonky so I suspect I will try to reduce the bulk I carry on a daily basis a bit.

How’s your planning/journal/notebook set-up serving you? Have you needed to switch it up?

Bonus helper photo:

Apple insisted on hanging out with me while I photographed this post so he wanted to put his paw stamp on this post. It’s “Apple-approved.”

The post Mid-Year Planner Review appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

While at the California Pen Show, I was able to score a few samples from the Traveler’s/Plotter table. Not that I needed any Traveler’s Notebook samples. I’ve been a loyal fan of Traveler’s for …. hmmmm… over a decade now! But it was a delight to revisit some of the classic refills. Because Traveler’s is part of the Midori product family, much of the paper included in the refills is Midori but I often forget that. This particular sample, a “Refill for a Short Trip” in Passport Size. This insert only include 32 pages compared to the regular Passport inserts that feature 64 pages but features the same high quality Midori MD paper in the cream color.

The Midori MD Cream paper has a slight tooth to it making it good for all around use and it stands up to pretty much any pen you can throw at it.  I had no issues with feathering, even with my Pilot Custom 912 with the FA nib.

It’s a thinner paper so there is some show through but no bleed through at all. I have a soft spot for the Midori MD Cotton and Midori MD Light, so much so that I had forgotten how good the standard Midori MD paper was. Honestly, I don’t think there’s much more I can say about Midori MD paper that hasn’t been said already but its nice to take another look at the classics. They are classics for a reason. Thanks for the sample, Traveler’s Company, and for reminding me that I love this paper!

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were provided free of charge by Traveler’s Company USA for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

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The elastic on the notebook cover is the same color as the cover.

The cover fabric is soft and flexible but there is some stabilizing material between the cover material and the lining to help give the cover more stability. It feels a little sturdier than a softcover notebook cover.

The branding tag is a translucent paper wrap around the back cover. It’s easy to remove and reveal the subtle gold foil logo on the back cover.

The gold tone pen that’s included is a standard 1.0mm ballpoint pen and the refill is similar to the Cross threaded refill. It’s a little shorter than the Cross style refill in the Ferris Wheel Press Scribe. As for the gold pen, I don’t know how easy it would be to swap out the refill but as an extra for this notebook cover, its charming.

Oh, the interior fabric!!! This is really what sold me on this cover. The interior includes a secretary pocket and a gorgeous burgundy fabric printed with stylized leopards. The back cover has a long slash-style pocket as well to help collect bit of ephemera.

Inside there are two possible elastics for enclosing notebooks, similarly to the Traveler’s Notebook.  The bonus is a matching elastic loop to hold a pen along the edge of the notebook.

Testing the Notebook:

The notebook cover is an ivory, parchment cardstock cover with gold foil lettering, the paper inside is a soft white with gold lines. It has sewn binding. The line spacing is about 7mm.

While I purchased the cover specifically to use with my vast collection of A5-slim sized  notebooks that I already own, I thought I’d go ahead and test the notebook that shipped with the cover.

Most standard style pens work fine on the paper included in the notebook cahier but wider fountain pen nibs did bleed and show through to the back side of the paper. Some of the liquid inks did show through a little bit but pencil, ballpoint and gel pens seem to be good on this paper. That said, I didn’t buy this cover for the notebook insert.

Compared to Traveler’s Notebook:

When I completed the testing, I pulled out one of the many Traveler’s Notebook covers that I have to compare to the Designworks cover. I noticed that the Designworks cover was ever-so-slightly smaller than the standard TN. Oh no!

So, I immediately tried to put a standard A5-Slim insert into the Designworks cover. The cover is the EXACT same size as the notebook refills. Unlike the notebook included with the Designworks cover. It is about a half an inch shorter and 1/4″ smaller in width. So, the actual A5-slim notebook inserts come right to the edge of the cover.

Depending on how many inserts that are added to the cover, how close the inserts are to the edge might not bother you. I wouldn’t try to put more that four inserts into the cover as they will start to hang over the edge.

I really wish Designworks would have made this cover large enough to accommodate A5-slim notebook inserts but I love the color and the lining and the cover is very reasonably priced. So, I would definitely buy this cover again, even knowing its a bit smaller than an average “regular” Traveler’s Notebook.

On the topic of the Scribe, it matches the pink cover almost exactly if you want to coordinate your stationery.

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were provided free of charge by Vanness Pens Inc. for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

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Many folks will already be familiar with the Traveler’s Notebook but for anyone not familiar with the system, here’s how they work. Instead of rings or discs and holes in your paper, the Traveler’s Notebook is a leather (fabric, cardboard, or other heavyweight material) cover with a series of elastics running the length of the spine on the interior of the cover. These elastics allow for smaller cahier notebooks (thinner notebooks of 64 pages or less, usually) to be slipped under the elastics to hold them into the cover.

Unlike ringbound or discbound planners, the TN-style planner is organized by booklet. You can have a calendar booklet and then a blank booklet for notes and so on. For people looking to combine a bullet journal system with a more traditional planner, the TN/fauxdori system may be a great option. Some people have a notebook with lined paper for journaling, one with grid paper for project planning and then a sketchbook paper booklet for drawing, collage or art making.

The Covers:

The original TN leather covers are just a piece of leather punched along the spine for elastics and punched in the back for a horizontal elastic to secure the cover closed. Very simple, minimal and unfussy. Since the launch of the original Traveler’s Company covers, many leatherworking companies and makers stepped in to make covers that include interior pockets, more elastics along the spine and even non-leather options.

Etsy is a sea of options for covers as well as popular makers like Galen Leather, Curnow Bookbinding & Leather and Chic Sparrow. My favorite non-Traveler’s Company fauxdori cover is from Bassy & Co on Etsy.

The Sizes:

Originally, the TN covers were only available in “Regular” size and “Passport” size. The “Regular” size is now widely referred to as the A5 Slim size. (approx. 9″ x 5″). The Passport size is the same proportions as a passport (approx. 4.8″ x 3.5″).

Common sizes available for covers:

• Regular A5 Slim (original Traveler’s Company size)
• Passport (original Traveler’s Company size)
• Pocket (approx 4×6″)
• A5 (approx. 6.25 x 8.75″ — cover sizes will vary to accommodate various numbers of inserts)
• A6 – to hold a Hobonichi or similar
• B5 (approx. 7.85 x 10.5″)
• B6 (approx. 5 x 8″) – will hold Stalogy or Wonderland planner or similar

and many other options…. check sizes before ordering a cover to be sure your notebooks and inserts fit.

The market immediately noticed the need for other options and quickly, leather workers added A5, A6, B6, Field Notes-size and many more.

My Bassy & Co B6 Fauxdori cover with custom stitching color.

Insert Options:

Unlike discbound or ring bound systems, there is no need for additional equipment to add notebooks to your TN. Just loop them under the rubber bands. You can of course print your own custom inserts from the myriad of options available on Etsy but there are some nice options from TN Co. directly including super lightweight paper, watercolor paper and an array of plain papers (lined, graph, blank, etc).

Some people, myself included, will also put full-sized notebooks into a fauxdori cover. I keep a Stalogy B6 notebook in my cover and use multiple elastics to keep it steady and secure (one looped under the front cover and one looped under the back cover).

For pre-printed inserts, there are several companies I recommend.

• Traveler’s Company
• Yellow Paper House (on Etsy)
• Good INKpressions (on Etsy)
• Taroko Shop (on Etsy)
• Galen Leather
• Curnow Bookbinding & Leatherwork (via Facebook)

There are probably dozens of other options but the companies listed above are all tested and approved by the Desk.

A few printable options I really like are:

• Marcy Penner Printables (via Marcy Penner)
• Paper Penguin (via Etsy)

If you are willing to print and bind your own inserts for your TN/fauxdori, there are hundreds of downloadable PDFs available via Etsy or individual web sites. Binding your own booklets requires either a stapler (sometimes a long-arm stapler will be needed) or skills in simple stitched bookbinding (a three-hole method is easy and instructions for binding can be found on YouTube or via a Google search).

Accessories:

TN notebooks can quickly be customized with plastic pocket inserts, pen loops or leather wallet inserts and more. Traveler’s Company has also been releasing annual special edition covers with various special add-ons like stickers, rubber stamps, charms and more. The 2022 theme was actually four different covers: Music (passport Size), Hotel (standard A5 slim size), Airplane (standard A5 slim size) and Train (passport size). These sets are very limited edition and tend to sell out quickly. Last year, the theme was B Sides and Rarities and offered a wide selection of special paper inserts including Lightweight and Washable options.

Traveler’s Company also offers other add-ons like their own bullet pens and pencils and even fountain pens. If you like the notebook covers, you don’t need the branded writing tools but they are pretty cool. Like any part of the stationery hobby, you can go DEEP if you want to.

The Elastics:

The original TN covers only include one elastic but offered an accessory pack of add-on rubber bands with a lovely little instruction sheet about how to add more notebooks to your cover by using the bands in creative ways. YouTube has lots of TN set-up videos that will show techniques for layering rubber bands and various inserts for the most stuffed TN/fauxdori possible.

Conclusion:

Some people find the standard A5 slim size to be awkward or too narrow to use while others find it to be the sweet spot between portable and functional. If you are not certain about the original Traveler’s Notebook size, I recommend purchasing an insert first before investing in a cover and trying it out. Choose a paper you like and get accustomed to the size. I find the Passport size to be useful as a wallet allowing me to keep paper handy along with cards, receipts, cash and other detritus. I use the fauxdori A6 and B6 sizes for notebooks and journals for various purposes. I keep an original TN for ink testing and swatching. This year my constant companion was my bullet journal in a B6 fauxdori. While I wouldn’t say that I would never switch from a fauxdori planner, I do seem to have more TN/fauxdori covers and inserts than any other binding system.

Do you use a TN/fauxdori? Would you consider one now?

The post A Deep Dive into Elastic Planner Systems (AKA Traveler’s Notebooks/Fauxdori) appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

For many years, the Curnow handmade journal inserts were one of the few ways to get Tomoe River paper but as the availability of Tomoe River increased and then the subsequent changes to the paper quality, Curnow has been leading the way in the search for other papers that are unique and fountain pen friendly.

This year I picked up two 3-packs of A5 notebooks. One is the Ayush Paper and the other is Kraft paper (both are $20 per 3-pack). All Curnow notebooks are available in an array of common notebook sizes: Field Notes (Backpocket-Pocket), Passport (Backpocket), A5, A6 and traditional Traveler’s Notebook (A5 slim). Curnow will also create custom sizes on request. The Ayush (and Neenah) paper options are available blank, lined, music, 5mm dot-grid, 5mm cross-grid, 5mm grid, 2.5mm grid and knitters’ grid. The Kraft (and Tomoe) are only available blank

The Ayush Paper Inserts:

I don’t have a lot of details about this particular type of Ayush paper. It’s 29lb cream/ivory paper and is made in India. The paper was created for use with fountain pens and my experience thus far is that it lives up to the claim. Each of the three notebooks included contain 60 pages.

I tested an assortment of pens on the Ayush paper, using a guide sheet under the page to maintain (relatively) straight lines without having to have lines printed on my paper.

The Ayush paper didn’t show any signs of feathering and handled rollerball, gel, fountain pen and marker with no issues.

When paper performs this well, I always throw in the alcohol-based Sharpie marker because that pen bleeds through EVERYTHING. So, when I flipped over the page, I was delighted to see that the Ayush paper did very well with everything I threw at it. Even the Sharpie just had show through, not bleedthrough. There is a little show through along the spine edge where I had colored in the boxes but it is not so visible that I wouldn’t be able to use both sides of the paper.

The texture of the paper is slightly toothy. On the sliding scale of paper smoothness with Rhodia on the smoothest end and Col-o-ring on the toothy end, I’d put Ayush in the middle of the range, maybe a bit on the Col-o-ring side but closer to the middle.

Overall, I am quite pleased with this paper and I am looking forward to putting these notebooks to work over the next few months. That way I’ll know if I need to stock up in SF.

The Kraft Paper Inserts

The Kraft paper inserts won’t be of interest to everyone but if you’re looking for a fun paper for pastel or glitter gel pens, paint markers or other drawing tools, look no further.

Curnow doesn’t list the weight of the Kraft paper but I’d guess its maybe 60# text. If you have the Field Notes Sweet Tooth edition, the paper weight feels similar. The Kraft notebooks are blank and the paper is too opaque to use a guide sheet underneath so they are definitely better for drawing, sketching, doodling or collage. A lot of colored pencils also worked well on the paper.

Posca paint pens, brush markers and opaque gel pens are so fun on this paper. I also think using the kraft notebooks for collage would also be fun. The paper is heavy enough to support layers of additional paper and some glue adhesive. Gouache might be fun too.

I wouldn’t recommend watercolor painting. I don’t think the paper would show the color of watercolor with much effect and the paper is likely to buckle/waffle from the water. But you do you.

When I flipped the paper over to see how much of the paint pen and brush marker showed through, I was truly blown away. Not even a bit of show through. I’m speechless.

Final Thoughts:

The Curnows are such kind people and such great craftspeople that I delight in supporting their creative ventures. I hope you have an opportunity to try some of their products and meet these delightful folks.

The post Notebook Review: Curnow A5 NEW PAPER Inserts appeared first on The Well-Appointed Desk.

The Features:

There are some fantastic details beyond the darling ink bottle pattern Angela created for the cover. There is a metal slot detail on the cover with a slot to keep the elastic in place. The cover itself is made from a PU material (vegan-friendly!)

Inside are two plastic card holder sleeves, one is all card slots and the other has a zip pouch to hold miscellaneous ephemera. The cover itself only has one elastic  stitched into the cover but it ships with an extra extra-thick elastic to loop around the notebooks and attach to the cover elastic.

The cover comes with two notebook inserts: one graph and one dot grid. The covers of the inserts are warm kraft cardstock with ivory paper. Dots and grid are printed in a blue-grey color and the inserts have 72 pages each.

The Paper Quality:

When I bought the cover, the inclusion of notebooks was a bonus. I had intended to load the cover up with custom inserts but I thought I’d go ahead and test the paper just to see how it performs.

With my flex nib Pilot Custom 912, I did get some feathering and show through with some of my wetter, wider nibs and even some of the rollerball pens. For everyday work notes where I might be jumping back and forth between gel pens, pencil and fountain pen, the paper isn’t terrible. Sadly, it’s just not great.

The Bad News:

The inserts are 190 x 105mm (7.4375″ x 4.25″). This is an unusual size which came as a surprise to me when I started doing my research. This cover is not a standard size like A6, B6 Slim or classic Traveler’s Notebook . The images here show the cover and inserts compared to a standard Traveler’s Notebook insert from Galen Leather which measures 210 x 110 mm.  The difference in width is negligible but the height difference is disappointing. A Midori MD B6 Slim is 174 x 106 mm so it’s about the same width but a bit shorter. The B6 Slim size would probably fit better but I could not find my B6 Slim notebooks to show a comparison. If you have A5 notebooks you’d like to use with this cover, they would need to be trimmed to fit.

Final Thoughts:

I really like this cover and would love to find a way to make it work with paper that I genuinely like so I’m going to try some Cosmo Air Light in B6 Slim ad see if it pairs well with the cover. I love the idea of a non-leather cover designed by an artist I truly want to support.

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were purchased with funds from our generous Patreon subscribers for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

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