The Pen Addict Podcast: Episode 427 - Nobonichi

Hypnotizing.

It is Hobonichi Season once again, but will I be participating? It doesn’t look like it for 2021, but that’s not because what Hobonichi does isn’t awesome. Myke and I go over some of their offerings for the upcoming year, discuss upcoming and ongoing projects, and share our big raffle for St. Jude.

Show Notes & Download Links

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Clairefontaine Neo Deco A5 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. And check out her latest book, Out of Water, now available where books are sold!)

I think I changed my mind five times about what notebook I would use for my class lecture notes this semester. It's an important decision! If you're reading this, I know you get it. I finally landed on these Clairefontaine Neo Deco A5 notebooks. Whether I made a definitive decision, or if school started before I could change my mind again, will remain a mystery. But I've been writing in these daily for a week now, and they're working quite well for the purpose.

These are A5 sized books with a matte-coated cardstock cover that comes in a variety of gorgeous Art Deco patterns. There are pastels and jewel tones, all with a touch of gold foil shimmer to them. The geometric patterns are particularly stunning. The cover is sewn all along the spine, which gives the pages a secure join. The cardstock is firm enough and the binding thorough enough that the notebook feels a lot more substantial than many softcover notebooks do.

Between the covers are 48 sheets, or 96 pages of 90gsm ivory lined paper. It is very smooth, with almost no tooth to it, but the thickness of the paper creates a slightly cushioned writing experience. Clairefontaine paper has always been a favorite for fountain pen users because of its liquid-ink-friendly properties, and this thicker sheet is even better than the more basic cahiers. Even the broadest, inkiest writing is invisible through the page. Sharpie shows through, but doesn't actually fully bleed through. The paper shows fun ink properties very well, with both shading and sheening standing out.

I do have one criticism of the paper, and that is dry time. Any paper this impervious to bleeding will have a long dry time, but for this paper, you either need to walk away from your page for a while before turning it, or invest in some blotting paper. Even when taking slow notes, I ended up with some ink splotch transfers across pages.

The lines on these pages are also quite widely spaced at 8mm. It's great if you have large handwriting, and sometimes my notes are more legible if I write bigger, but I prefer narrower lines. Better yet, I'd prefer grid patterns. Unfortunately, I can only find these available in wide-lined versions.

Clairefontaine has some of the best paper for the best value in their simple cahiers, and while these cost a bit more than those, they're still a great deal at $8.50. They're nice enough and priced reasonably enough to snag a few of your favorite patterns. I've already stocked up to use them again next semester. If I don't change my mind again.

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

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Colorverse Office Series Blue Black Ink Review

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

I've been on quite a blue black ink kick lately, and the latest contender in this list is from Colorverse. Part of their Office Series, their take on Blue Black is what I consider to be a traditional, middle-of-the-road interpretation of this classic color. In short, I love it and think it's something you should try out if you're in the market for a blue black ink for your favorite pens.

When it comes to blue black inks, there can actually be quite a bit of variation and differences of interpretation in terms of color. Some blue black inks may be so dark that you can barely make out any blue, while others take on a dusty blue or denim hue. Those are two opposite ends of the spectrum, but you can also see hints of purple or gray in some inks, as well as some red sheen in some cases. This is great in terms of variety, but it can also be frustrating if your idea of a blue black ink doesn't match up with the ink manufacturer's vision.

Colorverse's blue black is what I consider to be a definitive example of a true blue black. People will surely disagree with this statement, but that just goes to show that colors are incredibly objective perceptions that vary across all human beings. This blue black ink has a dark and luxurious tone while also being obviously blue. You don't have to look too closely to detect the deep blue, and it also doesn't have any stray colors that creep out in the light strokes and bright light. It's true to itself and the name given to it. It's not the most exciting color, but it's a beautiful example of a classic ink color.

So, getting into the specifics of this particular ink, the first thing I noticed when using this ink (besides the color!) was how smooth it feels on the page. I've been really impressed by all of the Colorverse inks I've tried before, and this one is no exception. Ink flow is smooth out of the nib, and it lays down evenly on the page without letting too much out at a time. And, even the ink flows easily, it doesn't go crazy on more absorbent papers and feather out across the uncoated paper fibers. It's well-behaved, and I feel comfortable using it on any kind of paper — fancy or ordinary.

There isn't any visible sheen with this ink, and there also isn't a lot of variation in color or shading. It's a no-nonsense ink that works well and doesn't offer any frills. There's a reason that Colorverse included this in the "Office Series," and that's totally okay. There's a place for vibrant, loud inks in the same way there's a place for more subdued and "boring" colors. This ink will fit in great at the workplace (remember when we were around other people and could talk about pens and inks?) but also looks great in a Field Notes or bullet journal. There's enough visual interest in the color and ink properties to make it better than other similar inks.

One area where this ink really surprised me is the dry time. In most cases, and even when using it with a wet medium cursive italic nib, the ink was dry by around 12 or 15 seconds. Larger glops took a little longer (in the 20-second range), but on average there wasn't much time involved before the ink was smudge resistant.

I've really enjoyed using this ink, and it's quickly raced to the top of my list of favorite blue blacks. If you're curious in trying out a blue black ink, this is an excellent place to start. At $13.50 for a 30ml bottle, it won't break the bank, and you can even order a 4ml sample vial to try out if you're not sure you want to commit to the full bottle. Give it a shot in your next order with Vanness!

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

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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, for which I am very grateful.

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