Getting Along With Bad Papers

I bought these papers on sale at a consignment place—four packs of three for $7. Standing there pondering, I looked up the brand, and everything I read said they were fountain pen friendly.

Sold.

I got home eager to put some ink to paper, only to discover that, (1) they were lined, and (2) here and there the nib was scratching. For someone who is trying to pay attention to fountain pen nibs and how they behave on different papers, that was a definite no-go.

Nope.

As much as it was a bummer, the rollerballs and ballpoints came into play. There is always a solution. After all, it is just a notebook. But…

These notebooks are A5 and look beautiful in my Paper Republic XL. They actually fit the XL which is a different size. They’re green-bound leather-like with red edging, and they are just so classic looking which I adore. But being a fountain pen user 99.9% of the time, I was definitely taken aback by the paper.

After getting over my disappointed mood, I reached into my pen case for the rollerballs and ballpoints.

Of course, my Montblanc Le Grand Rollerball came through like it always does. It’s a little juicy and practically writes by itself. I love it.

My favorite ballpoint is, again, my white Montblanc PIX. I have different-colored refills for it, which is perfect when I want to get a little more creative with my writing. It all works out.

Most of my other rollerballs are kept in black ink—and there’s a reason for that. I always carry a rollerball, along with my fountain pens. I only need one. It’s my backup for those moments when fountain pen ink just doesn’t work: restaurants, forms, receipts, or anywhere I need to put down a quick signature.

So, because I use all my papers, these notebooks will absolutely get used in the olive colored XL cover. They’ll look beautiful in there. I’ll just be a little more selective about which fountain pens I use. Nothing larger than a Fine or Extra Fine nib, and definitely my rollerballs will get some time on this paper.

Because these were tied together, I was unable to take a peak at them and I couldn’t see the paper itself. Made in Italy and a good price, I took the bite. After opening it, I discovered these notebooks were intended more for schoolwork, but the look of the leather-like green cover with those red edges are hard for me not to like. I can’t remember having a school notebook this pretty. I just remember the old composition books.

And now the beauty of the notebook discovery is now I’m thinking about the elastic on my Paper Republic. It came with a red elastic, which I changed to brown. I am more neutral, but seeing these notebooks together has me thinking I might change it right back to the original red. Simple thoughts and for me, I like the creative part of this.

That’s the beauty of a modular system: nothing is set in cement. I can change it, rearrange it, swap things out, and make it feel different whenever I want. And…they come in many sizes to suit your needs.