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Fingers Were Meant to be Inky

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March 31, 2018 / Ken Crooker / Paper, Reviews / 3 Comments

Rosetta Notes Pocket Notebook Review

The Rosetta Notes pocket notebooks mixed three-pack fanned out: Wine (DotGrid), Chocolate (Blank), and Black (Ruled)

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This is Part 7 of my Mega Monster Review series on pocket notebooks. You can visit the main Mega Monster Review page for a listing of all the notebooks reviewed in this series. You can also open the massive Master Spreadsheet to see all the aggregated data on these notebooks. Note: This is a work in progress and will take several weeks to complete.

Rosetta Notes Pocket Notebook

Introduction & About the Company:

Rosetta is the house brand of the fine folks over at iPenStore. Although currently an online-only stationery dealer, iPenStore is a fourth-generation family business that first opened in Chicago in 1932 as the Evers Office Supply Company. Over the past several years, iPenStore has released a number of products under their Rosetta name, including pens (fountain, rollerball, and ballpoint), pencils & leadholders, and… Read More

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January 27, 2018 / Ken Crooker / Paper, Reviews / Leave a Comment

Scout Books Pocket Notebook Review

An image of the three Scout Books pocket notebooks and brand card from one three-pack of notebooks

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This is Part 6 of my Mega Monster Review series on pocket notebooks. You can visit the main Mega Monster Review page for a listing of all the notebooks reviewed in this series. You can also open the massive Master Spreadsheet to see all the aggregated data on these notebooks. Note: This is a work in progress and will take several weeks to complete.

Scout Books Pocket Notebook

Introduction:

This series is all about the collision between the Fountain Pen and EDC worlds, and finding the notebooks that are most appropriate for fountain pen users who want to write on the go. The perfect pocket notebook handles ink well, never feathers or spreads, showcases shading and sheen, dries immediately, and is durable. That notebook is hanging out in Imaginary Land with Sasquatch and Nessie… Read More

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December 11, 2017 / Ken Crooker / Paper, Reviews / Leave a Comment

Kokuyo A6 Systemic Refill Notebook Review

A photo of the Kokuyo Systemic A6 Notebook Refill, showing the front cover, thickness, and binding

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This is Part 5 of my Mega Monster Review series on pocket notebooks. You can visit the main Mega Monster Review page for a listing of all the notebooks reviewed in this series. You can also open the massive Master Spreadsheet to see all the aggregated data on these notebooks. Note: This is a work in progress and will take several weeks to complete.

Kokuyo Systemic Refill Notebook A6

Introduction:

I know, I know. I’ve already heard from some of you that A6 shouldn’t be considered a “pocket notebook.” I have pretty average-sized pockets, and an A6 fits in almost all of them. The only ones it won’t fit into are the shirt pockets with a built-in, stitched pen pocket…but Field Notes doesn’t fit in there, either, so I say A6 is fair game. And that’s a good thing, because this unassuming little notebook is quite the… Read More

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October 15, 2017 / Ken Crooker / Paper, Reviews / 4 Comments

Fabriano EcoQua Pocket Notebook Review

Two four-packs of Fabriano EcoQua Notebooks, one in warm colors, one in cool colors.

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This is Part 4 of my Mega Monster Review series on pocket notebooks. You can visit the main Mega Monster Review page for a listing of all the notebooks reviewed in this series. You can also open the massive Master Spreadsheet to see all the aggregated data on these notebooks. Note: This is a work in progress and will take several weeks to complete.

Fabriano EcoQua Pocket Notebook

Introduction:

Despite the dearth of decent options available in most US office supply & big-box stores, there are actually a ton of companies out there producing interesting, high-quality paper products in a range of shapes and sizes. Some companies are very prominent and well known (Rhodia, Clairefontaine, Leuchtturm), while others fly under the radar. One of these lesser-known gems is Italian stationery wizard… Read More

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October 8, 2017 / Ken Crooker / Fountain Pens, Paper / Leave a Comment

Weekly Pen Mail Call for 10/8/17

A small but spiffy slate of pen mail this week. Hot on the heels of the latest Field Notes edition, the Fall 2017 Write Notepads “Fingerprints” edition quietly arrived. And all the way from Japan, my Platinum #3776 Century Nyhavn came in like a yellow ray of… Read More

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September 23, 2017 / Ken Crooker / Paper, Reviews / 4 Comments

Nock – DotDash Pocket Notebook Review

Three Nock Co. Nikko Blue DotDash pocket notebooks, fanned out.

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This is Part 3 of my Mega Monster Review series on pocket notebooks. You can visit the main Mega Monster Review page for a listing of all the notebooks reviewed in this series. You can also open the massive Master Spreadsheet to see all the aggregated data on these notebooks. Note: This is a work in progress and will take several weeks to complete.

Nock DotDash Pocket Notebooks

Introduction:

Nock Co. is a small company in Atlanta, Georgia: a collaboration between bag/everyday carry (EDC) designer Jeff Bruckwicki and pen blogger/podcaster Brad Dowdy. Although Nock is mostly known for their (rather awesome) pen cases, they also produce a small range of paper products intended to be both great for EDC and friendly for fountain pen users.

In this review, I’ll be taking a look at their Nikko Blue DotDash pocket notebook. One thing to note… Read More

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September 16, 2017 / Ken Crooker / Paper, Reviews / 2 Comments

Field Notes – Original Kraft Pocket Notebook Review

Mixed three-pack of Field Notes Kraft notebooks, fanned out, with the belly band on top.

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This is Part 2 of my Mega Monster Review series on pocket notebooks. You can visit the main Mega Monster Review page for a listing of all the notebooks reviewed in this series. You can also open the massive Master Spreadsheet to see all the aggregated data on these notebooks. Note: This is a work in progress and will take several weeks to complete.

Field Notes Original Kraft Pocket Notebooks

Introduction:

When it comes to pocket notebooks, Field Notes doesn’t really need much of an introduction. They’re basically the gold standard against which other 3.5″ by 5.5″ notebooks are measured. Field Notes began as a partnership between graphic designer Aaron Draplin and advertising designer Jim Coudal back in 2007. They were inspired by the hundreds, if not thousands, of small, promotional memo books distributed to farmers by agricultural and farm equipment companies throughout American history.

Although Field Notes has their permanent production editions of pocket notebooks, they really made a name for themselves with their

… Read More

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August 30, 2017 / Ken Crooker / Paper, Reviews / Leave a Comment

Story Supply Co – Edition 407 Pocket Notebook

Three pack of Story Supply Co. Pocket Staple Edition 407 notebooks with the belly band. Side Shot.

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This is Part 1 of my Mega Monster Review series on pocket notebooks. You can visit the main Mega Monster Review page for a listing of all the notebooks reviewed in this series. You can also open the Master Spreadsheet to see all the aggregated data on these notebooks. Note: This is a work in progress and will take several weeks to complete.

Story Supply Co – Edition 407 Pocket Notebook

Introduction:

Story Supply Co. is a small stationery manufacturer in York, Pennsylvania, founded by Vito Grippi and Gabriel Dunmire. Initially they set out to develop a line of pocket notebooks that were fountain pen friendly and filled some gaps in the larger notebook market. But knowing that there were a million companies already making pocket notebooks, they knew that they needed to… Read More

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What’s Next?

You may have noticed that I haven't posted anything in a really long time. Sorry about that. Once we started up the St. Louis Pen Show and the St. Louis pen meetups, most of my free "pen time" started going into those activities.

My goal was always to write very thorough reviews with lots of great pictures, and that takes a ton of time. The writing, editing, and photo editing for one review took up a full weekend, and that doesn't take into account actually using the pens and taking notes along the way. With all I have going on, it just wasn't sustainable to keep this site going on a consistent basis.

Will I ever come back and start doing reviews again? Maybe. But not anytime soon. I am still around, though. You can catch me at the monthly St. Louis Area Pen Meetup & Eats (SLAPME) events, the St. Louis Pen Show, and a handful of other pen shows around the country.

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