Posts filed under Mark's

Mark's Storage.it 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 her latest book, Root Rot, is now available for pre-order!)

You would think, with all the notebooks I have going at all times, that I'd never need to just grab another notebook, but you'd be so wrong. Sometimes a project comes along that doesn't fit into any of my existing project books, and I need another word-dumping container. Nothing fancy. I'm not selecting it for the aesthetic or the writing experience--I just need some paper. So I grab a notebook off the "just paper" pile, and I'm pleasantly surprised.

The Mark's Storage.it Notebook looks pretty plain at first glance. An A5 notebook refill in a clear PVC cover with a zip pouch and some pockets. But the design of this has really worked well for me, and the paper quality was better than I expected.

The cover is formed of a vinyl sleeve that's clear on the front and has an opaque backing that comes in several muted colors. This one is a slate grey-blue that is very lovely. The front cover is a zipper pouch with a plastic slide that allows you to carry pens, notes, slim accessories, or even add decorations. The pocket extends far enough past the edge of the notebook so that the zipper slide doesn't become a lump under the writing surface--but anything you add to the pocket could be an obstacle. A pen is a good choice, as you'll likely take the pen out of the pocket to write in the notebook, but you wouldn't want to put rolls of washi or a pair of scissors in there and then try to write over the topography.

The back cover has several folder-like pockets, three card slots, and a pen loop. It's a great place for business cards, wee notes or lists, and all the random scraps of paper that follow us around like confetti at a parade.

The PVC cover slides onto the covers of the notebook insert like a pocket-plentiful jacket. It would fit a variety of A5 notebooks, but the one it comes with is quite good.

The paper is very smooth and holds up well to a variety of inks. Only the Sharpie bled through, though there is some ghosting with darker liquid inks. But my favorite thing about the paper is the layout. It has 5mm dot grid on the left (back) side of each page, and a 6mm dotted line on the right, with added vertical dot guides, if you want to create columns. It's fantastically versatile--dot, grid, line, and column all in one. And the ink is faint enough that you can ignore it altogether. I even found myself taking some notes diagonally across the page this week. Order and chaos existing in harmony.

There are a few things I don't love about this notebook cover. One, the heat-pressed PVC seams feel a bit flimsy, as does the plastic zipper slide. While the cover is refillable, I wonder how many insert rotations it will realistically survive. I also don't care for the huge branding on the front cover. And I wish it had a bookmark.

These small issues are easy to ignore, considering the notebook comes at a decent price. The cover and notebook together are $17, and the refills are $9.25, which is considerably less than many similar products. There are some less expensive options with even better paper (Clairefontaine, Kokuyo Campus), but they don't have this unique layout that I've come to enjoy a lot.

Last week I just needed some paper, and I ended up with a treat. It's wonderful when our stationery tools can take a menial task and elevate it by being extra pleasant and useful.

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

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Posted on February 1, 2024 by Sarah Read and filed under Mark's, Notebook Reviews.

Mark's HiBi Weekly Notebook Review

Did your schedule just become insanely complicated? Or are you, perhaps, having to rely on a deeply buried reserve of self-discipline as you begin working from a home office? Or are you suddenly planning to catch up on some long-neglected tasks around the house? Are you suddenly a teacher? You may find yourself needing a new format for your to-do list, in any case, as plans and planners fly out the window.

This Mark's HiBi Weekly Notebook works as a slim book, or can be unfolded into a tent-style standup calendar. Each page shows a weekly spread with room for memos on the bottom of the page. There are 45 sheets and both sides of each page are usable, for a whopping 90 weeks of tasks in this small book. The twin spiral binding makes it easy to flip pages and use both sides--though the paper is not very friendly to wet inks. Pencil, ballpoint, and gel pens work well, but rollerball, fountain pens, and markers all had some bleed-through.

I like the simple format and layout of this. There's just enough room for a reasonable list of tasks, and the empty date boxes mean you can start it on any day. Its small size, about 4.5 by 8.25 inches, makes it great for placing somewhere where the whole family can reference it, or it can perch on a small corner of your desk to help you stay productive.

If your abrupt change of plans leads to an abrupt change of planners, no one will blame you. While this wee book isn't enough to replace a planner altogether, I think it's a great week-at-a-glance to help get an overview of the tasks we're all tackling together, but separately.

(This notebook was purchased at Goods for the Study at full price.)

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Posted on March 19, 2020 by Brad Dowdy and filed under Mark's, Notebook Reviews.

Mark's Velessera A5 Notebook Cover 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!)

Even though I am a very dedicated notebook user, I still accumulate an alarming number of small scraps of paper of extreme importance, and various other detritus that I need to keep track of for weeks or even months. A notebook cover with lots of compartments is probably my most essential stationery item, and I'm never more than a few feet from my kit. I'm always excited to try new designs, and this is one that caught my eye right away.

The best thing about the Mark's Velessera A5 Notebook Cover is all the pockets. It can hold an A5 notebook OR a notepad, with slots for either style of cover. Or both, if they're not too bulky! It also has a folder slot on the other side for loose papers...or, you know, another notebook. There are also two small card slots that hold a decent stack of cards, and one pocket on the outside that can hold additional items (or, you guessed it, another notebook). There's also a generously sized pen loop inside the spine, which I think is a much better position than on the edge. It's wide enough to hold just about any clipped pen, but it is not elastic, so pens without clips will not stay in the loop.

The case closes with a zipper that has a good-sized pull tab. The zipper fabric is not as hardy as the synthetic leather of the case itself. The inside of the case is lined with textured fabric.

It's a well-made case, and a good design, but there are a few things I didn't like about it. There isn't much extra space at the edges, so my notebooks that have tabs or ribbon bookmarks interfered with the zipper closure. The zipper even shredded the ribbon for my planner. That lack of space also affects my ability to really use all of the pockets. I know this case isn't meant to hold three notebooks, but even with one medium thickness notebook (my planner), if I put things in the other pockets, I felt like I was straining the zipper when closing it, and the soft fabric around the zipper doesn't feel like it would weather much strain. Overall, I would say that the case is great for light use, but it doesn't suit my needs, as far as being a rugged carry-all that gets dragged everywhere.

For what it is, though, it's a good case and is very reasonably priced at $32. It comes in navy, gray, blue, and pink—all in muted, marbled tones. I think if all you're carrying is a (one) notebook, a pen, some business cards, and a few stray papers, this is a product you'd enjoy.

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