Monthly Archives: September 2014

Leaf Binder and Alphabet Notebook

28 Sunday Sep 2014

Posted by in my journal collection

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I wanted to share a couple of notebooks I picked up recently.

I bought this leaf journal on ebay from a seller called Fairmer. He/she has a large selection of journals and alot of them are ring binders, which is interesting for scrapbooking or adding punched ephemera to your journal.

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The cover feels like a thick and flexible vinyl, very smooth. I really enjoy the leaf pattern which is engraved on the cover, and the leaf charm on the leather tie is a lovely touch.

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The inside is a soft brown suede-like material. I thought I might take this journal with me on my recent holiday so I put the “travel notes” sticker on the first page. The journal comes packed with the unlined brown paper shown, and there was so much paper I could barely turn the pages. I had to take some out to start writing.

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I wouldn’t call myself a list maker, except for when I’m travelling. Things to take with me come to mind at the oddest time so a book like this comes in handy to list everything. And I used my Lamy Safari with De Atramentis William Shakespeare ink to write the list. You can see the paper takes fountain pen ink beautifully.

Then I was in Suzie Q Beadworks and picked up this Antique Alphabet Notebook by Fringe Paper Goods.

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The inside is lined and has a place for the date in the upper right corner of each page.

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I haven’t done an ink test for this one but will do so when I start to use it regularly.

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The back cover has a folder to stick loose papers or stickers.

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And the back cover. I really enjoy Fringe Paper Goods; they have such a vintage feel and the quality is great.

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642 Things Thursday: Menu for My Last Meal

25 Thursday Sep 2014

Posted by in 642 things to write about project

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This week: The menu for your last meal.

Well this is kind of morbid but here goes:

Appetizer: Steamed PEI Mussels with garlic butter

Main: Lobsters and Pan-fried Scallops

Dessert:  Blueberry pie

Notice a theme? All of these products are available in the Maritimes. And if I had to have a last meal I would want to have it there. Then I could die happy and with a full belly.

Next week: ?? The book is at home!

This is the latest exercise in my 642 Things to Write About Project. Click on the link to find out more, or click on the category 642 Things to Write About Project to read past exercises.  🙂

Journal Writing Wednesday: 8 pages

24 Wednesday Sep 2014

Posted by in journal writing wednesday

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Journals I’m currently using: the Paperblanks Blue Filigree and the Winnable Leather Journal

Total pages written since last JWW post (Sept 17): 8

Total pages to date since project inception (Dec 11/13): 604

Total pages written in 2014: 549

Total number of notebooks/pens/ink bought since self-imposed spending freeze observation experiment (it’s not much of a freeze these days!) (Jan 1/14): 28

  • 1 pen + 1 bottle of ink = 2 items in a gift set on Jan 14
  • 1 bottle of KoninginneNach-Blauw from Akkerman on Feb 5
  • 1 Visconti Rembrandt Calligraphy set in Red = 2 items (pen and ink bottle) from Goldspot on May 15
  • 1 bottle of J. Herbin Bleu Pervenche from Goldspot on May 15
  • 1 bottle of De Atramentis Heather Violet from Goldspot on May 15
  • 5 pens, 4 notebooks, 3 tins of ink cartridges from Reid’s on June 14
  • 1 Jinhao X450 from ebay; received on June 19
  • 1 bottle of De Atramentis William Shakespeare ink from Goulet Pens; received on June 25
  • 1 Winnable Leather Notebook on July 10
  • 1 Wreck This Journal on Aug 2
  • 2 ink samples from Private Reserve: Avacado (sic) and DC Supershow Blue from Wonderpens on Aug 31
  • 2 Leuchtturm 1917 notebooks, grid and lined from Wonderpens on Aug 31
  • 1 Kaweco Sport Ink Roller Demonstrator from Wonderpens on Aug 31

Some topics covered this week:

  • I have some really amazing friends at work. I arrived as usual at 7:30 am and was confronted by a balloon-encrusted, candy-strewn, feathered, bannered and disco-balled workstation. And then I was spoiled even further with presents and a London Fog! I am truly blessed; thank you – you know who you are!
  • I’ve already posted about the beautiful birthday treat my sister treated me to, but the rest of my family showered me with love as well. It makes turning 44 not such a big deal; thank you.
  • Our holiday is exactly what we needed. Everything is perfect and well, private. 🙂

Until next week, happy writing!

Travelling with Your Journal

20 Saturday Sep 2014

Posted by in events, journal writing

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I started thinking about this blog post yesterday and I am finally writing it. We fly tomorrow and I am determined to fly light. We are checking one suitcase between us so I am looking at everything I want to put in my carry-on very closely. And I am unsure as to what journal to take. Do I take my Blue Filigree or the Winnable? Both are rather large but I want to continue internal conversations in each of them, along with my thoughts and feelings as the week away unfolds. I want to take my Filofax Flex so should I just add another notebook and use that?

I’ve also thought a lot about having a dedicated journal for travel. I do have the Road Trip Journal but I wanted something more detailed. I imagine flipping through all our previous trips when I am an old woman and can’t travel any more. But here’s the problem: there is no such journal. I can’t just grab it and go on a new adventure and write about it. I tend to start a new journal for each trip. I made a custom journal for my trip to London (the journal featured in the picture for this blog) and another custom journal for our last trip to Halifax. And I am tempted to start a whole new journal for this little adventure, even though we are only gone for a week and not travelling that far, relatively. What to do??

I think I will go with the Winnable, as it is large enough for my brain to spread out and light enough to not weigh me down too much. And even if I wanted to bring the heavier Blue Filigree I can always throw it in the checked luggage. We are on the plane for about an hour and a half so really, how much writing will actually occur? I think I will survive with a book and some bad reality tv in the back of the seat in front of me.

And then there was the question of the pen. I do have quite a number to choose from so it can be a problem. I have decided on my two Primas and my Parker Urban. I topped each off with their respective inks and hopefully they won’t explode on the plane (urban myth I expect but you never know).

The theme of our week away is definitely relaxing, reading and writing. David will write songs and I will write in my journal. I haven’t been organized enough to have all the posts written, scheduled and ready to go for next week but I will try to post each day. Lazy days ahead so who knows! 🙂

Halley is determined to be one of my carry on items. halley on my suitcase

Journal Writing Wednesday: 5 pages

17 Wednesday Sep 2014

Posted by in journal writing wednesday

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Journals I’m currently using: the Paperblanks Blue Filigree and the Winnable Leather Journal

Total pages written since last JWW post (Sept 10): 5

Total pages to date since project inception (Dec 11/13): 596

Total pages written in 2014: 541

Total number of notebooks/pens/ink bought since self-imposed spending freeze observation experiment (it’s not much of a freeze these days!) (Jan 1/14): 28

  • 1 pen + 1 bottle of ink = 2 items in a gift set on Jan 14
  • 1 bottle of KoninginneNach-Blauw from Akkerman on Feb 5
  • 1 Visconti Rembrandt Calligraphy set in Red = 2 items (pen and ink bottle) from Goldspot on May 15
  • 1 bottle of J. Herbin Bleu Pervenche from Goldspot on May 15
  • 1 bottle of De Atramentis Heather Violet from Goldspot on May 15
  • 5 pens, 4 notebooks, 3 tins of ink cartridges from Reid’s on June 14
  • 1 Jinhao X450 from ebay; received on June 19
  • 1 bottle of De Atramentis William Shakespeare ink from Goulet Pens; received on June 25
  • 1 Winnable Leather Notebook on July 10
  • 1 Wreck This Journal on Aug 2
  • 2 ink samples from Private Reserve: Avacado (sic) and DC Supershow Blue from Wonderpens on Aug 31
  • 2 Leuchtturm 1917 notebooks, grid and lined from Wonderpens on Aug 31
  • 1 Kaweco Sport Ink Roller Demonstrator from Wonderpens on Aug 31

Some topics covered this week:

  • Looking forward to our holiday but so much to do before we can relax! Lots of lists in my journal.
  • I was feeling down one day and my husband posted the following on my wall on Facebook: Just in case no one told you today: Good morning; You’re beautiful; I love you; Nice butt. He always knows how to make me smile. 🙂
  • My troublesome back has made it’s presence known again, this time through incredible pain in my right leg. Last year it was the left leg. So I’ve been seeing my Chiropractor regularly because I really want to be able to walk when we are on vacation. Fingers crossed!

Until next time, happy writing!