Active Bunko Book Sticky Notes 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.)

Sticky notes can be harbingers of doom--symbols of anxiety. They're left in strategic locations, like nagging ninjas, to remind you of things you'd probably rather not do. Things you would normally forget in an act of self-preservation. So it's important, for your sanity, to keep cute sticky notes around. Something that will take the sting out of that unwanted task. And they don't come much cuter than these ones.

Active Bunko Book Sticky Notes are inspired by the Japanese Bunko Books--small, inexpensive paperbacks for light reading. The cover is firm, textured cardstock with colorful stamped designs. There's a fine elastic closure band to keep it all tidy. The book contains 60 sticky notes--this set has an adorable panda clutching some flowers on ivory paper with a light floral pattern. The book design makes it easy to carry in a bag or pocket, so they're always handy.

The adhesive isn't super powerful. It will stick to a clean surface like a computer, book, white board, etc. But it isn't sticky enough for many removal-and-resticks, and some surfaces don't work well with it at all. The trade-off for that is that the paper itself doesn't become tacky with glue residue, so it's actually very nice to write on. It even works with fountain pens--from fine to double broad. I was expecting the smearing and beading I usually get writing on post-it notes, so this was an awesome surprise. Pencils, gel pens, rollerball, ballpoint, liquid inks--all worked great on this paper, with no bleed-through or feathering.

In addition to pandas, there are cats, birds, and bows in this style of note. They're pricey at $5.25. You can get tons of plain, boring sticky notes for that price--and perhaps you should--but if you need a nice note, these are a good choice. Next time you need to leave yourself a reminder for something dreadful (make that dentist appointment!), or ask a loved one to do an unpleasant chore (please pull the weeds!), say it with a cute panda in your favorite ink. Or just use them to leave happy notes everywhere. Either way, these are a real pleasure to use, and very practical.

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

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Caran d'Ache 849 Fountain Pen Review

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

If you've been to a pen show, you've no doubt seen the iconic Caran d'Ache ballpoint pens floating around. They have a unique and striking design with a range of subdued to loud colors available. The Caran d'Ache 849 ballpoint pens are a classic, so it's no surprise that there's also a fountain pen version of this beautiful pen.

The Caran d'Ache 849 collection is a minimal fountain pen from Switzerland. The hexagonal body is captivating and simple, and when paired with the beautiful colors, you find yourself taking a second look without realizing it. They're unique, and they're hard to put down because the writing experience is equal to their good looks.

The fountain pen versions are available in EF, F, and M nib sizes, and the EF model that I have is a fantastic example of the lineup. Even though it's a small nib, it's smooth and produces a very crisp line. I wasn't sure what to expect given the price range, but I was definitely impressed upon first using the pen. The ~$50 range of pens can sometimes be challenging when it comes to big brands, but the Caran d'Ache does an excellent job with this model. The nib is plain and simple, but it does its job well. It would appear that all the design and aesthetics went into the body on this one. The grip section is undeniably cheap, slim plastic, but it feels great in the hand when writing. In this way, it's very similar to the Retro 51 fountain pens, but I prefer the feel of this plastic grip section over the Retro 51 models.

The pen accepts international short cartridges, but will also accept a converter. I chose to use a blood orange ink in this pen, and I think the red on white combination is stellar. The ink flow is fantastic, even though it's a small nib. I haven't had issues with skipping, spitting, or hard starts with this pen, and it can last about two weeks in storage without having any issues starting again. Despite being small and plain, this steel nib is a great performer.

The body, which is a simple hexagonal shape, is simultaneously angular and soft. Given the light weight, it gives the pen a more airy feel than I imagine a heavier steel version of this pen would have. The cap connects crisply to the pen and stays put securely. You can post the cap, but it makes the pen a bit long and it's also a tiny bit wobbly. I don't post this pen when I'm using it, but I rarely post anyway.

The clip isn't super strong, but it gets the job done. It's also easy to remove if you prefer the clean look, but I prefer the look of the clip against the body. Apart from the Caran d'Ache name, a small "849" stamp, and an equally small "SWISS MADE" stamp on the cap, there is not branding on the pen. The top finial has a Caran d'Ache logo, but no words. The same logo is found on the nib along with the nib size indicator. Despite the minimal branding, this pen is instantly recognizable.

The length of the 849 is very similar to a Lamy Safari, but the diameter of the pen is similar to the body of a Kaweco Sport (not the cap). It's slim, but still comfortable to use due to the length.

When it comes to picking and using a pen, it all comes down to how well it writes and how it makes you feel. For me, I'm delighted by the aesthetic of the pen and then equally pleased by the writing experience. It's a great match that can sometimes be difficult to find. If you like the look of this pen, I'm sure you'll also love how it writes.

There are several colors available, along with EF, F, and M nib options. They retail for about $65, but you can usually find them for $10 cheaper.

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

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TAGGED MEMO PAD: A Waterproof Pocket Notebook

(This article was first published on Mai-Bun. Written by Takuya Takahashi. English translation by Bruce Eimon.)

You know that little tag that is stapled onto your your clothes when they come back from the dry cleaners?

Did you know that those tags are stapled onto your clothes BEFORE they get washed? If you think about it, it makes perfect sense - if it was done afterwards, they would have no idea which shirt belonged to whom. But think this through all the way.. The washing machines used by dry cleaners are no slouches. They are heavy-duty industrial strength machines that give your clothes a thorough wash. A tag that can survive such a thorough beating is not just waterproof - it is a special kind of paper that is literally classified as “washer-proof” paper. TAGGED MEMO is a pocket notebook made out of this washer-proof paper.

This unique design gives you a very comfortable grip.

Its soft cover allows it to easily conform to the curvature of your pocket.

The entire notebook is made out of the washer-proof paper, so it can take a beating, easily withstanding any rain or your wet hands. Even if you drop it in a puddle or put it through the washer, just dry it out in the sun and it will be ready to use again. (A video of how the paper weathers 8 hours of being soaked in water: https://vimeo.com/152410499) Just be careful, though. The paper may survive, but any kind of water-soluble dye based ink may wash out when it is immersed in water. The Fisher Space Pen or the Unibal Power Tank may be good companions for this notebook.

Most “water-proof” paper out on the market is heavily coated, giving it a slick and glossy feel. This paper is quite different. It is slightly toothy and has a fibrous texture that feels quite nice to write on, especially with pencil. With fountain pens it feathers a bit and feels a little scratchy. Then again, this is not meant to be written on with water soluble inks. Each page is perforated, and you get 100 full pages.

This is one sturdy pocket notebook that will last you a very long time. With extended use it even takes on a nice worn look, like a nice pair of broken-in jeans. No need to be dainty with this one. You can take it anywhere!

Recommended for:

• People who like the outdoors.
• People who have painful memories of ruining their notebooks in the rain/pool/sprinkler.
• Meteorologists and reporters who spend a lot of time chasing storms. :)

Information: TAGGED MEMO PAD｜HI MOJIMOJI