Tuesday Toolset, Desk Pad Edition

I have my own desk space in the house, but it isn’t - and never has been - a great workspace. I’ve been working on it over the past month to be more useful, starting by adding a monitor, mouse, and mousepad to use with my laptop. The additional screen real estate is exactly what I was looking for, and is allowing me to use my desk for actual work, not just storage of things.

Since this tiny transition took place, my desk has been my work home, as opposed to the couch or a chair, and therefore, I’ve been putting a few desk notepads to use. Here are my favorites:

— Nock Co. DotDash Spiral Pad: BIAS ALERT! Yes, this is a product I helped design for a company I am part owner of, so it should be exactly what I want in a notepad. It is, and is a favorite of many others as well. Graph is my favorite page layout, and the top-bound spiral perforated page handles all pens and inks well.

— Rhodia DotPad Notepad No. 16 A5: A5 is the best desk notebook size, and top-bound is the best binding. Rhodia makes some of the best fountain pen paper, so if that is your primary pen use, then this pad should be on your radar. I’ve burned through several of the DotPad version, although I’m currently using the Ice Pad. This is one case I prefer dot over grid, and will be moving back to the DotPad once done.

— Studio Neat Pano Book: Need a wrist rest for your keyboard? Need more vertical space to take notes or sketch? The Panobook is your favorite A5 pad, turned up to 11. The form and feel of this notebook is unique, and one of my favorites. I tend to use it in portrait mode for drawing, and landscape mode for reviews.

— Life Writing Bank Paper A5 Pad: I’m not always a fancy man, but when I’m feeling it, I reach for Life Bank Paper. It’s not cheap, and not everyone’s favorite, but it has a certain air about it that I appreciate.

I’m living that top-bound life for my desk notebooks, although I could be talked into a few side-bound spiral notebooks where I can fold the cover all the way around the back easily. Hard cover notebooks need not apply.

Tuesday Toolset, In The Pines Edition

In honor of today’s giveaway, how do you pick a favorite from your favorite? Write Notepads make some of my favorite pocket notebooks, especially their Limited Edition releases. What’s my favorite one? Well, it was my first …

— In The Pines: I think what surprised me the most with my first foray into Write Notepads Limited Editions is how the simplicity allows for the quality to shine through. These are extremely well made notebooks, and do you know what the best part is? The paper has improved in newer releases over what was already good stuff. This is a classic edition I’ll never tire of.

— The Goldfield: In the Pines was released for Winter 2016, and The Goldfield followed on year later. This release had everything: Style, story, design, quality, extras - everything. I’ll get some arguments, but I think this is the prettiest edition they have ever made.

— Sakura: Ok, maybe this one is the prettiest. They are all pretty! Sakura was the first Limited Edition to use saddle stitching (aka staples) for the binding, as opposed to Write Notepads traditional PUR binding. The letterpress cherry blossom cover is a knockout.

— The Deep: Not that I saw any of these previous designs coming, but The Deep really caught me off guard. Why, I can’t really say, but it knocked my socks off. The silver letterpressed octopus on the deep blue cover gets your thalassophobia turned up to 11.

Ask me again tomorrow and I could probably come up with four more choices I could argue ahead of these. But these are great, and have definitely spent more time on my desk and in my bag than other Write Notepads notebooks. What is your favorite?

Tuesday Toolset, Forgotten Edition

I use a lot of stationery, and because of that, what was hot in my hands months ago may get pushed to the side in favor of the flavor of the month. I don’t have to rewind too far to find some favorites I need to get back into the rotation, so let’s take a look:

-- Diamine Christine Iridescink: I’ve had four of the Cult Pens + Diamine Iridescink cross my desk, and Christine is my favorite so far. So why haven’t I used it recently? That’s a great question, and I am open to answers! I think it boils down to the number of fountain pens I keep inked up, which hovers around six. I need to make room for this ink soon.

-- Stylo Art Kinpaku: Like the Sailor Zuisei I posted on Instagram recently, this is a very beautiful and very expensive pen that I haven’t been using. Again, I must ask why? This one has a better answer. The Kinpaku is such a pretty pen that my wife has been using it as a photography accessory. I need to reclaim this one stat!

-- Caran d’Ache Swiss Wood Pencil: O Stinkwood, Stinkwood, wherefore art thou Stinkwood? I use a lot of wooden pencils, and I could still make an argument for the Swiss Wood pencil as my favorite. And I haven’t used it in months. The Tombow KM-KKS has seen a lot of action, as have a few random Blackwings, but this chocolate soy sauce scented masterpiece has not.

-- Uni-ball Jetstream: Any color, any tip size. But mostly, the micro tip sizes. The Slim Multi 0.38 mm was one of my favorite pens of 2019, and I need to toss it in my pocket and carry it with me more often. I also need to get a hold of the new 0.28 mm model that has released.

In case you didn’t notice, I’m moving the Tuesday Toolset post back to the main site. I did have it mixed in to the Newsletter feed, which sends all posts on the blog to your inbox, but after some great feedback, I’m returning it to its original home. Look for a new Tuesday Toolset every(-ish) week!