Reccomend a high quality/handmade moleskine?

[Tamu8104]

So looking for a gift for my wife. She love moleskines and similar type journals. She appreciates a good book on quality paper. Can anyone reccomend the a handmade equivalent to the bikes we follow on this thread? Something high quality and with a personal touch that would make a good gift for someone who appreciates this type of thing. Honestly I'm clueless in this realm... Thanks in advance!

[spopepro]

If she appreciates the notebooks because she enjoys writing and/or sketching, Japanese stationary is usually a good bet. I have not used these notebooks myself, but I have used paper for photography projects from awagami, and it is fine stuff indeed: Wacho Notebooks

[j44ke]

Not so aware of the handmade versions.

But how about a nice pen?

The Namiki Falcon is a really nice writing and sketch pen I think. The nib is nicely flexible (think about the line required in making kanji) and the Iroshizuku ink that Pilot makes is very good.

Also the Pilot Vanishing Point might match the idea of a carry-along notebook a bit better. The nib retracts into the pen allowing nearly a ball point or roller ball type convenience for carrying the pen around.

My favorite fountain pen, however, is the Pelican 215. Very durable, nice nib and seems to never clog. I've had mine for 10 years without ever having to battle a clog or any flow problem. Nice size too.

And then of course you might want to add in some sort of foldable leather pen case.....

edit: These look very cool - might need some myself. 365notebook

[spopepro]

Another option is to order from Yoshino-san: Design.Y, Handmade Leather-bound Notebook, Journal Workshop

The paper he uses is thin, but very, very smooth. Fountain pen nerds really like it. He hand binds it in leather.

[andrew flowers]

easiest option is a midori traveler's notebook

leather binding and you can buy various inserts for it

if she likes day to thing the hobonichi techno planner is the best available, and has about a thousand different coverings if you import from japan

the hobonichi uses tomoe river paper, which in my opinion is the best in the world

jetpens.com stocks a ton of japanese stuff, and if you have any further questions I'm happy to answer

[Tamu8104]

Thanks, for the replies!! These are some great ideas that I'll dig into further.

[dashDustin]

easiest option is a midori traveler's notebook

if she likes day to thing the hobonichi techno planner is the best available,

when i start nerding out on pens and notebooks, these two get mentioned in the various stuff i read more than anything.

[vertical_doug]

I have a 30 yr old Smythson Address Book and the pages are still white from the quality of paper.
If she is writing a journal she will keep, I'd get a bound Smythson notebook with the gilt edge paper.
Leather Notebooks | Luxury Stationery | Smythson - Notebooks

Attachment 99471Attachment 99472

If you want fine quality paper then Cranes Cotton Loose sheet. Can't be beat.

[11.4]

In my experience, when someone has picked a notebook they really like and they use it, they don't want to stray too far from the original concept. Now Moleskine is a bit of a fad-past-its-prime product among those snotty enough to really be picky about it (yeah, I know, I said it). A really superb comparable book is the Leuchtturm: Notizbucher online bestellen. There are plenty of others. If you want to go into a good Velocipede overload, check out: Pens, Pencils, Notebooks, and Notebook Covers | EDCForums

Another possibility is that if she likes her Moleskines, give her something nice to put them in. If you'd like to remind her, in a subtle way, that you exist, think about a Bedouin Foundry shoulder bag. Unbelievable quality that puts all other shoulder bags and messenger bags to shame, and their standard lining is a beautiful cycling motif that one doesn't even notice at first. They also do short runs with various linings that artists develop for them, and you might find something there you like better. It's more money, and not necessarily right if she is dedicated to a particular purse, but then after she's tried it for a while to show she's grateful you can appropriate it for yourself. Check out their bags, especially their big messenger -- they are the Dario of messenger bags.

Anyway, check out that edcforums link. You can read about every notebook option invented by man. There's also more on Carryology | Exploring Better Ways to Carry.

[andrew flowers]

when i start nerding out on pens and notebooks, these two get mentioned in the various stuff i read more than anything.

For good reason

Pen wise it depends on what she likes/how she likes to use it

[j44ke]

Jetpens is one of those black hole sites for me. I can spend hours looking at pens and paper. They were the only place I could get AG Spalding pens for a while. I had an addiction to AG Spalding ball points. Then Kaweco pens, both the fountain pens and the roller balls. The Classic Sports - nothing fancy, which is what I like about them. Now I am using a lot of Muji's cheapest stick pens. The ink is great, and the ball is really smooth.

I might need a new Kaweco though. :-)

[andrew flowers]

Jetpens is one of those black hole sites for me. I can spend hours looking at pens and paper. They were the only place I could get AG Spalding pens for a while. I had an addiction to AG Spalding ball points. Then Kaweco pens, both the fountain pens and the roller balls. The Classic Sports - nothing fancy, which is what I like about them. Now I am using a lot of Muji's cheapest stick pens. The ink is great, and the ball is really smooth.

I might need a new Kaweco though. :-)

fountain pens are a deep hole to fall into, as even the same pen can change noticeably with different inks. depending on what she plans on writing with my recommendation will change. Something like tomoe river paper (ie a notebook or hobonichi day planner) will show shading and sheen from an ink that you wouldn't believe, but you need a worthwhile ink to really take advantage of that. If she simply writes with basic ball point pens, the paper in itself will matter less, and I'd focus more on the layout and aesthetics of the notebook in question.

[Tamu8104]

I had no doubt VSalon would come through. Jetpens has a lot of options and Hobonichi planners look cool as well.

[andrew flowers]

if you decide to go hobonichi, consider going japanese domestic market for the cover, ie Techo Lineup - Hobonichi Techo 217

there are some wild ones out there; my girlfriend has one done in collaboration with mother, which was the design studio behind the EarthBound video games

[Tamu8104]

I gave her the Hobonichi Techo and a cover from Japan yesterday. It was a big hit!! Many thanks my friends!

[andrew flowers]

perfect

I got one for 2017 after lusting after my gf's for too long

[ericpmoss]

Too late, and not hand-crafted, but nice and cycle-related: https://silca.cc/collections/the-new...euchtturm-1917