A 2012 Moleskine Planner And That Paper Issue

Last week the European Paper Company sent a Moleskine Weekly Notebook Diary/Planner 2011-2012 that I won in a giveaway. How could I not give it a test spin for Inkophile readers?

Moleskine Academic Planner for 2011-2012

The planner comes with a supple, soft cover and two page layout. On the left side is a weekly calendar and on the right a lined page. There are lots of extras at the front of the notebook including a monthly calendar, schedule of international holidays, map of time zones, dialing codes, chart of measures and conversions, and more. The back has a pocket with a sheet of stickers. There is a ribbon bookmark and the whole package stays together with a neat elastic band. All to the good and fitting with the Moleskine brand and price.

Moleskine Academic Planner for 2012 - Interior Pages

As always Moleskine looks great and feels wonderful in the hand. The planner paper is thin which allows space for a huge number of sheets in a notebook a mere one centimeter thick. The good news is that the acid-free (pH neutral) paper feathers much less with fountain pen ink than the last time I tested a Moleskine. The bad news is that the paper shows significant bleed-through though less so with Noodler’s Kiowa Pecan, Zhivago, and Red-Black inks. Since both sides of the paper are necessary for the diary’s format, this could be a deal-breaker for fountain pen users.

Moleskine Academic Planner - Written Sample

Moleskine Academic Planner for 2012 - Written Sample (Reverse)

Other writing instruments worked better but still there was a little ghosting. With such thin paper, this is to be expected. Years ago I used a Parker ’51′ Aero Special with a fine nib and Noodler’s Black ink in a Moleskine journal with good results. Pendemonium‘s Noodler’s Legal Lapis worked well as did J. Herbin Poussière de Lune. I suspect all would be good with this planner as well.  The Sharpie Pen and the Zig Millennium 05 were well-suited to the narrow line-spacing. In fact due to its fine point, the Sharpie will be my first choice for the Moleskine when I don’t have the ’51′ with Zhivago to hand. When I need color the Millennium with Pure Violet ink will do.

One of these days I’d like to test a recently manufactured regular Moleskine journal to see if the bleeding is an issue. Writing on one side of the page would solve the problem though it would be a less than economical use of the journal. There have been enough remarks on Fountain Pen Network from people who have no issues with Moleskine to make me think there are pens and inks that suit the paper beautifully. If you have had that sort of experience, the Moleskine Weekly Planner should be just right. If not, then expect to test and experiment until you find a suitable match. If you love fat juicey pens, I wouldn’[t recommend the Moleskine. Switch your pen or find a different planner, one known for tolerating fountain pen ink.

Parker '51' With J. Herbin Vert Empire In An Old Moleskine

Some non-fountain pen ink tests from DIYSara.

Links To Enjoy With Your Sunday Coffee

Actually, I like Earl Gray tea first thing but I’ve already used that one.

• Sharpie Blog: Ready, Set, Jet (Yes, I’m a Sharpie fan.)
• Okami explains why you should join the PCA
• July Carnival of Pen, Pencil and Paper hosted by Notebook loves Pen
• The 19 Most Hated Companies In America (No surprises here.)
• The ultimate goal of HSUS? “We have no problems with the extinction of domestic animals.”
• If you live in California, check out the new laws effective July 1, 2011.
• News from the French perspective at FRANCE 24
• International Pen Friends
• WSJ: The Handwriting Is on the Wall
• A Google Plus Directory—Introduce Yourself!
• Zoobotics: A new generation of animal-like robots is about to emerge from the laboratory

Pens, Dogs, Crayons, and Moleskine Links

• Oregon collector amasses the largest Crayola collection in the country via ShopWritersBlock
• Urban Sketchers: Some more San Antonio in the Moleskine
• No experience with it but looks promising: Paperback Swap
• Correspondence  deserving of a wider audience from Letters of Note
• Full-flavored Sharpies
• Top 13 Most Expensive Pens in The World via Amateur Economist
• The job: Nib Grinder and Tester via HisNibs.com
• Way off-topic but terribly cute: It Takes Two and Crazy Sheltie

A Variation on the Levenger True Writer Theme

Fountain pens remain my first choice for writing and often for drawing but sometimes they just won’t do. On my desk are some gorgeous journals with paper that isn’t fond of  fountain pen ink. So to give them a chance and possibly even make them useful, it seemed only fair to look beyond fountain pens for something suitable. With lots of help from my Inkophile friends, I found just the thing.

The comments to my original post on the subject, When A Fountain Pen Just Won’t Do,  started my research. Eventually I settled on a fiber tip or fineliner as the second best writing instrument for my personal preferences as well as to test paper.

Thanks to the generous Inkophile reader Peggy Love who saw my When A Fountain Pen Won’t Do, Part 2 post, I now have three Levenger True Writer Rollerballs loaded with Levenger Fiber Tip refills. The pen colors are Water Lilies, Mosaic, and Starry Night. From past experience with True Writer Fountain Pens, I knew I would like the size but that was just the beginning.

Levenger True Writer Rollerball

Water Lilies is a true standout next to my simple black pens. With its variety of blues and dabs of green and lilac, this pen invites playful interaction. Starry Night is far more subtle as well as much darker than the other two. The amount of light striking the barrel can turn it from blue-black to a melange of blues and violets. It lacks the swirls of mineral green and the yellow stars of the Van Gogh painting but it is still handsome on its own. Mosaic is a violet affair with a mix of swirls and hatch strokes. In terms of ink colors, it has hits of Diamine Violet and J. Herbin Violette Pensee but J. Herbin Poussiére de Lune is the predominant shade.

It didn’t take long to discover that just like a fountain pen, the Levenger fiber tip takes a light touch. It isn’t as smooth as a True Writer nib but the ink flow is very consistent. That steady flow of ink did produce some ghosting on the back of absorbent paper but just with the broad tip. The extra-fine had less trouble. In fact that nice chunky broad line will make me reach for the TW instead of a Sharpie when I’m out and about. The line isn’t as wide as a Sharpie but the pen looks far more more upscale and professional. The black ink resists water if imperfectly. However, it is odorless unlike the Sharpie. That alone makes it a winner!

The downside is the limited range of ink colors for the fiber tip refills. Black and blue are just too ordinary for someone accustomed to a range of fountain pen inks. Levenger could add a blue-black and red at least but other colors would be welcome, too. The True Writer comes in such a variety of colors that it is a pity the ink can’t keep up with the promise of the pens.

The fiber tips are available in extra-fine, medium, and broad so that’s a bit more interesting. According to the package, they measure 0.8 mm, 1.0 mm, and 2.0 mm. The broad tip doesn’t really produce a line that wide unless you bear down hard and that would spoil the tip. Still it is considerably wider than the extra-fine so if you like a bold line, go for the broad size.

Bored at your board meeting? Doodle away with that fiber tip or take notes in two sizes to keep things interesting. You can do this with a single pen by varying the angle. Unlike a fountain pen nib, the medium and broad fiber tips have a huge sweet spot. A 90° angle to the paper yields the tips finest line. A 45° angle produces a much wider line. An even lower angle will make a line three times the width of the finest line. Writing isn’t workable at that angle but it’s great for bold underlining or a stout moustache on that caricature of your boss.

Now that I’ve seen how pretty it is, I really want the Water Lilies fountain pen plus a second one for my daughter. My pen wish list is getting long, very, very long. But you already knew that.

When A Fountain Pen Just Won’t Do

Have you got a minute? I need your advice.

Several companies have sent new paper products for review that are terrific looking but not so friendly with fountain pens. It’s a shame the paper isn’t accepting of bottled ink but it’s hard to begrudge companies catering to the larger share of the market. Well, not much anyway.

Still it would be fun to put a few of these handsome journals to use. That means finding something other than a fountain pen to pair with them.

Are you shocked? Heh, so am I.

Well, here’s another shocker. The Sharpie Pen crept into my arsenal last year. It works on any paper and unhesitating delivers a consistent if uninspired line despite weeks of neglect. It makes a great pen for my handbag while my pampered fountain pens remain safely at home.

However, gorgeous binders deserve something more upscale. Understated to let the journals take center stage and under $20 are my basic requirements.

So pen friend, what would you suggest as a non-fountain pen solution to complement a very attractive journal?

What Do Old Pens Wish For?

What do old pens wish for in the afterlife? A second life with The Pen Guy and His Mercedes Pens Art Car.

So What’s On Your Desk?

Really, what is on your desk? Piles of pens? A pyramid of ink bottles? Stacks of crisp new journals or better yet, well-worn filled ones? Is it neat, orderly or eclectic?

I’ll be honest. Mine is a converted 3′ x 5′ breakfast table that has seen better days…much better days. It is always cluttered with a monitor, keyboard, two external hard drives, card reader, speakers, small TV, clock radio, lamp, phone, flashlight, books, several pairs of glasses, a dozen bottles of ink, stacks of correspondence, journals, notebooks, at least a dozen fountain pens, four Sharpie Pens, and a couple of Pentel pencils. Oh, and a mug of something, always a mug of something. Whew!

Now that you’re out of breath from reading more than anyone should ever know about my desk mess, take a look at the real world, well-used desks at Desk Space. Lots of inspiration as well as ingenuity on display and who couldn’t use a shot of both on occasion? Sheesh! Don’t answer that. It was rhetorical.

The Rhodia Webnotebook vs Moleskine Journal Showdown

Many journal devotees would agree the Moleskine A6 journal has cachet to spare. So can a newcomer called the Rhodia Webnotebook (a/k/a The Webbie) best it? With certainty in one key category it does but is it enough to make you switch?

Rhodia Webnotebook vs Moleskine Journal

When it comes to form, Moleskine is exactly what a journal ought to be. The cover is thin but sturdy, the perfect little black book. The ribbon marker is durable enough and the pocket tucked inside the back cover is convenient for all manner of uses. The elastic band closure fits just right and helps keep goodies tucked tidily between the pages. The cream colored pages with pale gray lines are easy on the eyes and discreet. The Moleskine is a classy-looking journal in every respect.

The Rhodia Webnotebook is similar and certainly gives more than a nod to the venerable Moleskine. Unfortunately, it misses in some small ways but puts the Moleskine to shame in the most important one. More later about that.

Addressing form differences first, the Rhodia cover is thicker, sturdy, rigid, and smooth. The elastic band is tight and left permanent indentations on the front and back covers of the sample I received from Exaclair. There is a pocket attached to the back cover just like the Mole.  The inside cover is black with no place to write a name or offer a reward should the journal meet with misfortune. This omission could easily be remedied with a bookplate sticker. The Rhodia does not initially lie perfectly flat like the Moleskine but with use the spine will relax enough to make that less an issue.

The paper is a whole ‘nother subject and in this the Rhodia excels. The images tell the story. The Moleskine paper feathers in places with fountain pen ink but does well with pencil, gel pens, roller balls, and Sharpie Pens (not markers). There is show-through and bleed-through from every fountain pen I used. As one would expect, the finest nibs worked best. Although I didn’t have them on hand to test today, Noodler’s Black or Legal Lapis in a dry Parker ’51′ extra-fine are the best fountain pen and ink duos I’ve ever found for a Moleskine. The Pilot Prera fine nib tested best of the lot this time.

Moleskine Journal - Front

Moleskine Journal - Reverse

Now for the challenger. The darker cream/gray lined Rhodia paper is thicker, smoother, and absolutely loved nearly everything I threw at it. Finally, double-sided writing is feasible in a small, black journal. No feathering, no bleed-through except with a Sharpie Marker and only the very faintest show-through with anything else.

Prefer fountain pens? This is a match made in heaven at least with the new 90g version. Depending on the ink and pen, drying time can be longer than with the Moleskine but I think it is worth the few-second wait. A piece of blotter paper should eliminate any smearing if that is a concern.

Rhodia Webnotebook - Front

Rhodia Webnotebook - Reverse

For anything but fountain pens, both the Moleskine and the Rhodia work well. The Sharpie Pen was particularly nice. It didn’t even leave an indentation. For compatibility with fountain pen ink though, the Rhodia Webnotebook easily came out tops. Every pen on my desk worked well including the stub and the free-flowing cursive italic, just the sort of versatility that is perfect for an inkophile.

Update: One of the comments below states that the line spacing is larger in the Webnotebook. A side by side comparison of the 9 x 14 cm sized journals used in my test showed no difference between the two.

Note: Another Rhodia Webnotebook review at Rhodia Drive and Peaceable Writer.

Don’t Hate Me Because I Cheated

Are you shocked to learn I’ve been cheating on my fountain pens and with something as mundane as a marker no less? Yep, that ubiquitous writing instrument, the Sharpie, has wheedled its way onto my desk.

It started when a few letters never arrived at their destinations. Not a huge loss but fountain pens traveling around the world are another matter. Enter the Sharpie.

At first only parcels received the benefit of permanent ink. There’s nothing like good, thick lettering to inspire confidence that there will be no confusion about the destination. But soon I was addressing everything with these simple but colorful markers in hopes the envelope would arrive even if rainwater devastated the letter inside. At least my friends would know I was thinking of them even if they didn’t know what I was thinking.

Sure, there are other options. Two options are candle wax and Micro Glaze each thinly layered over ink. A little odd-looking but better than naked ink.

Then there are inks that can endure a water bath and come out looking much as they went in but they also need to be used regularly to flow well. Organization flies out the window when life gets hectic and a special-needs ink could easily get forgotten leaving a terrific nib clogged with a nasty mess. Too much trouble in my book.

By contrast the Sharpie will wait patiently until needed and never complain should it lay neglected for a significant period of time. That’s perfect for my lifestyle.

So I’ve adopted a couple packets of Sharpies for addresses and a few other special purposes. They may do nothing to improve my letter forms, especially in the way a stub or flex nib can, but it is the best solution to a quick bit of permanent writing.

Shhhh. Don’t tell my fountain pens though. A hissy fit from a sputtering nib is not a pretty sight and an awful mess to boot.

Sharpie Markers Invade Fountain Pen Territory