LEATHER JOURNAL Writing Notebook - Antique Handmade Leather Bound Daily Notepad For Men & Women Unlined Paper Medium 7 x 5 Inches, Best Gift for Art Sketchbook, Travel Diary & Notebooks to Write in https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01E9HP1SU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_i1E6Ab936PR4R
They've got some cool ones on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01E9HP1SU/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_e9GbAbR8QHWAW
I've found a few more on Etsy from time to time that are smaller, but they've been hit or miss on the quality.
Actually here is the one I have, looked it up on my amazon orders
Not sure if the source is legit but try here
I had a Devil of a time getting a notebook together recently. I thought they were totally normal and was amazed when I had trouble finding the book and the zip up cover. When I finally found them a friend who is an army vet called me out for being a Jarhead lol.
I've had good luck with black and red notebooks as they use Optik paper. The downside is they are slightly glossy and some inks can take a while to try. Amazon carries them:
Composition books and mechanical pencils have worked for me for 35 years of GM'ing. They are pretty sturdy yet low profile for transport and long-term storage, exactly the amount of room I need for a one-year campaign, and at about $1.50 each they are basically disposable (which is a key feature for my self-hating writing process).
> Leuchtturm 1917 A5 dotted
Io uso questo, non mi trovo male, la puntinatura è la cosa migliore.
Su Amazon. IMHO meglio della Moleskine.
I use Black n Red Notebooks and they’ve worked out really well as cheap but smooth paper. They’re rated for 90 gsm (feel smooth) and I didn’t have any bleed through issues with my Pelikan M805 B nib or my Lamy 2000 M nib. Amazon has them for 7 bucks a notebook (96 sheets each): https://www.amazon.com/Black-Red-Casebound-Hardcover-Notebook/dp/B00015YOR4/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=black+n+red+notebook&qid=1577651893&sprefix=black+n+red&sr=8-3
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01E9HP1SU?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
I got this off Amazon - not sure where you'd be able to find it offline. It's a bit pricy, but it's very beautifully made - the binding is strong, and the pages are thick and just so satisfying to write on. Mine was also delivered with a free earbud holder. :3
10/10 recommend.
Black and Red Notebook with optik paper has bright white paper and dark rule. Unfortunately, the ruling is legal (narrow). It comes in side double ring binding or case binding.
You could get a Black n' Red for that price - Amazon are having a good deal on letter sized hard bound ones right now, and price fluctuates wildly, so I wouldn't wait:
So a lot of picking out a "good" sketchbook is really going to boil down to personal preference. A lot of my friends really dislike spiral-bound sketchbooks, but some of my friends prefer them. Some prefer sketchbooks with smooth-finish paper, some prefer paper with a rougher finish. What you're probably going to want to do is buy a few different types of sketchbooks to see what kind of format you prefer, and then use that to inform your purchasing decisions later.
Everything from here downwards is just my own preference. You might not feel the same way.
I like the paper quality on the Strathmore 400 series sketchbooks, but my absolute favorite so far has been this one.
The paper quality is actually kinda shitty and it falls apart and sticks to your eraser if you try to erase anything, which was the worst when I first started using it. Eventually it grew on me-- being forced to not use my eraser helped me adapt to work more loosely and confidently at the same time. It sits in this odd sort of space between nice and shitty, so I don't feel like I'm "wasting" it with sub-par drawings, but it looks nice enough that I feel good about the nicer-looking pages. Plus it's actually pretty durable, and carrying it around makes me feel like a wizard.
As far as size goes, 13x21 cm is a pretty good size, I think. There's plenty of space to draw, but it's small enough that you can very easily carry it with you anywhere without being cumbersome.
For sure recommend the black n red or one of its other offerings then!
Any of the pens you mentioned are great places to start. I'm relatively new still, but have used some higher end things, and still really enjoy my Safaris and Eco as much as anything. With the Safari, don't forget to budget the converter. You'll definitely want to use bottled ink. For ink, I'd suggest picking up samples on goulet or vanness if you're in the US. Buy several different ones of the colors you think you'll like, and pick up a couple colors you're not sure about. Leave enough in your budget for a bottle of your favorite.
Notebooks are a huge subject, but for beginners, I think Rhodia A5 notebooks are great. I've also heard good things about the ones at the link, but I've not tried them myself. https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00015YOR4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_ZKZQN82K27ASKQ5KP3Z0
Whatever route you take, good luck! It's a fun hobby, and had gotten me writing so much more.
I found it! It’s from Blueline. Really reasonably priced for what it is, honestly.
Blueline Business Notebook, Quad Ruled, 9.25 x 7.25 inches, 192 Pages (A9Q) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FH1OQ2/
Amazon have some types of Oxford optic notebooks and pads, incl. the Black'n'Red ones. Oxford Campus notepad The British Amazon definitely have the Oxford brand. What the shipping costs are, is another question.
Reminds me of this one but a traveler's journal style:
​
Bought this same journal on Amazon, it's really nice for those interested. I'm filling it with my own wildlife drawings though. LEATHER JOURNAL Writing Notebook... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01E9HP1SU?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf
It's the Shine Bright productivity journal. Here are some links for Amazon US and Amazon UK
The grid is about 4mm instead of 5mm so not quite as small as you're looking for. Index built in, numbered pages, one ribbon, back pocket and stickers included. Paper quality feels very thick, but haven't actually used it yet so can't comment on bleed.
I recently purchased this journal by Moonster and I absolutely love everything about it! The smell has to be my favorite part, haha! The pages are thick, blank cotton which is a joy to write on and makes for a very pretty off-white background. The quality is also impressive. I'm pretty sure I could run this thing over repeatedly for an hour and it'd be fine lol.
https://www.amazon.com/LEATHER-JOURNAL-Writing-Notebook-Sketchbook/dp/B01E9HP1SU
It says it isn't refillable, but with patience you can. You just need to purchase refillable paper and stitch it to the spine.
Black & Red make several square-cornered notebooks. https://www.amazon.com/Black-Red-Casebound-Hardcover-D66174/dp/B00015YOR4/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1528431350&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=black+and+red+notebooks&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/Shine-Bright-Productivity-Journal-Chronicle/dp/1452168245/ref=nodl_
I got this one at Barnes and Noble. I think it’s really fancy and the pages are quite thick. I def recommend.
These Mini Pantone Notebooks have really teeny dot grids inside of them. I've seen them in person at Urban Outfitters if you've got one close by, but the price is better on Amazon.
Edits because I can't type when I'm sleepy.
It's Blueline notebook I picked up at staples for about $7. It's 7 1/4"x9 1/4", which makes it a bit of an odd duck in the paper industry. It seems like a pretty useful size to me.
I found this one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rhodia-Webnotebook-Dot-Grid-Inches/dp/B006CQSRDS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487849523&sr=8-1&keywords=rhodia+webnotebook+a5+dot
It's a bit bigger than mine though, not to mention way more expensive. I think it's called "Rhodia Webnotebook Dot Paper"
I use notebooks, but I wait until there is a summer $0.10 deal to buy about 200, otherwise they are super expensive. Here are composition notebooks for about $1 each. I you really want them then buy them out of pocket, if not, just put the district person in contact with the school person and make them figure it out.
I've had a lot of luck with "Black n' Red" hardcover notebooks. No feathering or ghosting with any inks I've used so far. Also theyre pretty cheap and you can get them online or at most office supply stores.