I was inspired by two events—pulling out my old fountain pen, and realizing I don’t have very many people to talk to around here at the moment—to take up writing in my paper journal again, which is partially why I’m not writing so much here.
I’ve been doing a core-dump into the book, just writing down whatever’s coming to mind. Not even so much getting to the therapeutic aspects of keeping a journal—I’m just…kibbitzing. Hey, how are you doing, here’s what up.
I also haven’t done any serious writing for months, and this is taking the place of that for right now.
It’s fun to write by hand again. I highly recommend it. It’s physically involving in a way that typing simply cannot be.
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For anyone who keeps a notebook on hand for any reason, be it keeping a journal, keeping a nature diary, writing, or just taking notes about day-to-day life, I definitely recommend using a Moleskine notebook. The small ones fit in your pocket, the larger ones are a good enough size to tote around easily.
They’re hardbound, they lie open flat (if you’ve ever picked up one of those cheapie blank books you know how hard it is to get them to stay open), they have a sewn-in bookmark, and they have an envelope in the back to hold…whatever. I put in our tickets from the SF Zoo. The paper is also high-quality and the ink from my pen doesn’t bleed through (unless I get a huge puddle of ink, as happened on one page—c’est la vie). And there’s an elastic belt that keeps the book firmly closed when you’re not using it—if you’ve ever had your notebook open in your bag and get some other object wedged into it, you know what a feature the elastic strap is.
I’m having to stop myself from buying every fountain pen that strikes my fancy these days. I’m enjoying writing by hand but there aren’t enough hours in the day to use all of these pens.
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I was thinking recently that maybe I should transfer all of my old online journal entries (1996-2000) over to Movable Type. The period where the entries would most like be commented upon is gone, of course, but it would be nice to have the entries sorted by category. If you have any thoughts on the matter, drop me a comment.
You know, after your comment about the Moleskin journal’s pockets . . . I had to go look at mine. I NEVER realized that there was one there. NEVER. Um. DUH. I agree with everything you said about them, they ARE fabulous, but I think next time, I will get the large rather than the pocket size.
I love handwritten journals too . . . I do something a little different than you mentioned, though. I also COLOR in my journal. My DD16 got me a beautiful leather journal without lines for my 40th birthday, and in addition to writing, I like to COLOR.
I use Prismacolor watercolor pencils, and they look just fabulous! It’s amazing . . . and even if my drawing looks ‘gross’ to my eyes, I can blur the whole thing by writing over it with ink. Works great.
That particular journal, I’m writing ‘to’ my daughter, since she gave it to me (Books I’m reading/love, what I think about current political situations, the war, etc. – I figure her kids will get a kick out of it when they get old enough – to see how stuff was in “olden days”. I use my moleskin for daily stuff. I’m glad to have a link to get them on line. That will be MUCH easier!
Love your blog!
Also, here’s a great link/info on keeping a nature journal, just in case you are interested. I think it’s going to be a summer project next year, with the kiddos!
http://www.sierraclub.org/education/nature_journal.asp
Thanks for the referral for the paper journals Diane. I’ll have to check these out. I’m always on the hunt for the “ideal” on the go notebook to journal in with enough space to write, draw or stick mementoes but is small enough to stick in a pocket or purse.
Today I was really bored and went to Google.com wondering if there was something to be looked up. Then I typed “Anything” and stumbled across your website. I am finding it a little tough to understand all the lingo. But I must say its an awfully refreshing website! (I love handwritten journals too!). Do keep up the good work!
Hey,
I’m from Toronto and I’m looking to get a Moleskin journal but I don’t know where to find one. Do you know of any places either in Toronto or London…I went on yahoo and searched ‘moleskin’ and your online journal poped up…any help would be great!
thanks!! 8)
s.
Hi Sarah —
Here are some sites I’ve found on the Web to buy Moleskines: , , , . However, I HAVEN’T ordered from any of these places, so I can’t vouch for them. I just have their links on hand should I need to.
I’m sure you can find a Toronto or London location using Google!
thanks diane! however for some reason, i can’t see the sites you suggested.
Cheers!
Isn’t THAT embarrassing. Sorry ’bout that. I probably have HTML turned off or something (and at the moment my iBook is DOA, so I don’t have as easy access to fixing my blog.
Try: moleskineus.com or
http://www.quincyshop.com/moljour.html or
http://www.shiptheweb.com/shiptheweb.storefront/EN/catalog/1297.
Really good art stores usually have them too — call and see.
And look: a blog for Moleskine fanatics!
http://armandfrasco.typepad.com/moleskinerie/
The Web is a weird and wonderful place.
Hi Sarah,
Laywine’s in the Yorkville area of Toronto sells the Moleskine journals (at least they did the last time I was there). They are on Bellair St. and sell fountain pens, inks and other stationary stuff.
Cheers.
As an artist – illustrator, I’ve been secreting all my observations and doodles for years on anything from 4″ x 6″ cheap white paper pads held in ziplocs, graph paper Rhodia & Clairefontaine engineering books, Moleskine Notebooks and sketchbooks to artful Italian journals. I even rip my own fine art papers and make small watercolor travel books sewn with twine.
I stash them in cracker tins, old fashioned hard board portfolios with ribbon ties, and wooden crates stacked as shelves. My miniature museum and notes in hand. What I call “my fOllyfOliO”.
These spontaneous ink and color drawings, anagrams and writings have become a large body of work for me. 1000’s of pages of conceptual work and observations: verbal and visual.
When my thoughts run dry or my hand fears the next line – I reference my stash and have working drawings and ideas to refresh me. Ready to develop by traditional media or transform through computer graphics.
After much anxiety, decided to design a site and start an online store for all these idea tools and eventually add my experiences, drawings and the work of others.
http://www.fOllyfOliO.com.
Hoping all of you with the same obsession join me to build my site with your ideas, and patronage. Why go to the big store guys when you can get personal with another devotee?
Come visit – tell me stuff you’d like. Stay silly and serious both! Looking forward to making new friends.
Maybe someone can teach me to set up a blog.
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a grandfather of the ‘idea’ : Marcel Duchamp.
see the “Green Box” mostly scraps of paper that record his thoughts of The Bride Stripped Bare . . .The Large Glass
http://www.toutfait.com/issues/issue_1/News/GreenBoxNote.html
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I was just googling for moleskin journal stuff and ended up here. I love mine, and was wondering if anyone else got as much enjoyment out of theirs… I guess so! Funny.. it’s just a little book! But it is great!
Hey,
I came across these moleskin journals while browsing at the Art Gallery of Ontario gift shop… alas, when I went today, they have ceased to sell them! Thanks for the toronto-based leads in those last posts… I’ll have to take a stroll to Yorkville soon.
I was just wondering if anyone knew where I could find handwritten journals to buy, I love to read them and have a small collection of them built up so far, but they’re really hard to find, thanks!
Just came across your blog! I did not know there were many others who enjoyed the Moleskin notebooks like I do! Small world!
Now here’s one for everyone: How do you carry your moleskin? In the back pocket? Front pocket? Do you find it a tad heavy for shirt pocket carry?
I completely agree with you about Moleskines. The binding is incredible, and the paper quality can’t be beat. Because they’re so sturdy, this year I decided to get a Moleskine agenda. There’s this shop in Toronto called Midoco Art & Office Supplies (www.midoco.ca) that has an awesome collection. I also use moleskine sketch pads: they work great with copics and prismacolor markers.