Word Intergalactic Notebook Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter.)

Word makes some of the prettiest pocket notebooks out there. I've found myself accidentally collecting these lovely books, and this new Intergalactic design is one of my favorites yet.

They're a standard-size pocket notebook at 3.5" x 5.5". They have a cardstock cover with rounded front corners and are staple bound with 48 pages of white 89 gsm paper. The pages have 6mm line spacing with a unique bullet-list margin.

There's a key for suggested uses for the list format inside the cover. I've found it to be really handy for list-making, but it's unobtrusive enough that it's easy to ignore the bullet points and use the page as a regular lined notebook page.

All 3 notebooks in the pack have identical covers. So while it lacks the pack variety and design excitement of Field Notes, that makes them (at least for me) easier to dive in and use. I don't have that nagging inner-notebook-collector warning me that if I use it, it'll be gone. There are two more just like it! And by the time I've used two, there's usually a new pack out for me to enjoy.

The paper quality, like many pocket notebooks, isn't wonderful. It does very well with pencil, ballpoint, gel pens, or extra-fine and dry fountain pens. But wet rollerballs and medium or broader fountain pens bleed through quite a bit. That hasn't interfered with my enjoyment of the books. Because I'm using them for quick notes and lists, I'm usually grabbing the nearest writing instrument--which is often my oldest son's school pencil, my youngest son's crayons, or the Fisher Space Pen in my pocket.

I do wish, given the bullet list format, that at least a few pages were perforated. I don't just make lists for myself, so sometimes I need to hand over a page to a partner-in-crime.

If you love pocket notebooks and lists (are there people who don't?), I definitely recommend giving these a try. There are lots of pretty designs to choose from, and I can't wait to see what the next one is. Designs are usually limited editions, so grab the ones you like while you can!

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on May 4, 2017 by Sarah Read and filed under Word, Notebook Reviews.

Callifolio Bleu Pacifique Ink Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

There might be something wrong with me, because I can't stop trying turquoise inks to save my life. There's just something about the bright blue shade with hints of green and happiness that I can't get enough of. The latest in this obsession? Callifolio Bleu Pacifique.

Callifolio is made by l'Artisan Pastellier in France, and feature a wide array of colors and properties. With over 30 inks on offer, it's hard to narrow down the list.

Bleu Pacifique is inspired by the calm blue of the Pacific ocean on its best days. It's a light shade of the turquoise family, but still stunning. While not waterproof, this ink still has many positive attributes that make it a solid contender in the wide world of turquoise blue inks.

Depending on the nib you use with this ink, dry time can be pretty fast. In my testing with this EF TWSBI nib, it typically dries completely in about 8 - 12 seconds. That's fast, but it's a small nib. In other nibs, it takes around 15 - 20 seconds to fully dry. Still, not bad at all.

Perhaps my favorite thing about this ink (besides the color) is the shading properties. Like the body of water it's named after, it shifts between a light blue green and a darker blue with only a hint of green under the surface. The entire range of shades is beautiful, and I never get tired of looking at it and watching it morph between the strokes.

The ink flows really well, although it is a bit dry. In the short list of pens I've used with this ink, it wasn't a problem, but those pens are known to have fairly good flow to begin with. Only keep this in mind if you intend to use this in a pen that has known flow problems or tends to write on the dry side.

One area where this ink does not excel is when it comes to less than premium papers. If you use this in a standard Field Notes paper or anything similar (or worse), you can expect some significant bleeding, feathering, and show-through. Even in the EF nib on the TWSBI, this ink feathered like a river in my Field Notes book. But, anything with a coating on the paper or with better GSM will hold up spectacularly well with this ink. As such, I would only recommend this if you intend to use it with papers like Rhodia, Clairefontaine, Leuchtturm, Tomoe River, etc.

Cleaning out this ink is as simple as it should be. No complaints, hitches, or issues.

At the end of the day, I don't need any more turquoise inks in my collection, but I'm really glad I added this one. It's similar to everything else in the turquoise spectrum, but it still shades differently, has a lighter tone, drier flow, and fairly quick dry time compared to the others I have. It's a fantastic ink, and I highly recommend it if you're in the market for a great turquoise ink.

JetPens now stocks all 36 Callifolio inks, including Callifolio Bleu Pacifique, of course.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, which I am very grateful for.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!

Posted on May 3, 2017 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Callifolio, Ink Reviews.