Review: Le Typographe Fine Paper Writing Bloc - A5 Beetle Chamois @NoteMakerTweets

ABOUT

Size: A5
Color: Chamois
Ruling: Blank
Sheet Count: 200
Paper Weight: 120 gsm
Price: $49.95USD
Where to buy: NoteMaker

APPEARANCE

This gorgeous MegaPad is huge. It's heavy, pretty, and is basically a massive stack of heavy paper. It comes in a cardboard box that houses the pad safely. It has a flap that secures it in place with a Beetle sticker in chamois color - the same color as the paper. The pad has 200 pages of 120 gsm paper in a matte chamois color. It has sharp corners, but if you keep it in the cardboard box, the edges will be safe.

I took mine out of the box after awhile and keep it in a drawer, and so far, it's been pretty safe. The paper seems to be thick enough to handle some movement without the box. The unlined pages have a gold beetle letter pressed into the top middle of each page. The beetle is adorable! The pad is glue-bound at the top with contrasting gold glue, complementing the pad really nice.

PERFORMANCE & FEEL

The paper is nice and smooth, but not shiny, glossy, or coated.  At first, I found fountain pens a pleasure to use on this paper. The paper has the slightest amount of feedback, which offers a nice writing experience that isn't scratchy, but it's a nice feeling. It doesn't catch nibs either, even find ones. There was no show through, bleed through, or feathering. Inks would shade well and there was a little bit of sheen visible, although some ink colors were masked by/subdued by the color of the paper. It's possible to use both sides of the paper, which is great, once the sheet is removed from the pad.

What's interesting is, as I continued to use the paper, I found fountain pens would start to skip a lot as I reached further down the page. This paper makes skipping/hard starts more pronounced, but it also sucks up oils from hands while writing, so it's a good idea to use something to protect the page from oils (such as a Brown Protector).

I was really disappointed by the sketchy performance as I moved further into the pad. I don't know if it was that I was just smearing oils everywhere, or if it was the paper. I tried many different pens (and sent really ugly letters to people as a result of it).

I like the size of the paper. It's a lovely alternative to fully customized stationery. It's attractive and unique, and nice paper.

PROS

• Huge stack of paper.
• Glue-bound, easy to tear off.
• Nice alternative to customized stationery.
• Fountain pen friendly.

CONS  

• Sucks up oil very easily - use something to protect the paper from oils!
• Color of paper subdues ink shading and sheens, as well as some ink colors.
• It seems the paper was hit or miss in terms of optimized fountain pen ink flow. Very confusing and since I've only used one pad, I can't really comment on the whole range, just on this one pad. 

OVERALL 

This is a cool MEGAPAD. And it's definitely a mega pad. It does well with fountain pens, once precautions are taken to protect the paper from oils. It doesn't have to be for corresponding only - it's encouraging to use because it's so nice. With other utensils (non fountain pens), there are no issues and it was less frustrating to write on.

Disclosure: I received this item free of charge for the purposes of this review. I was not compensated monetarily for my review. Everything you've read here is my own opinion. 

Review: Le Typographe Pocket Shopping List Notepad - Ruled @NoteMakerTweets

Thank you to NoteMaker for sending this notepad over! Super cute. They have spoiled me.

ABOUT

Size: 9 x 14 cm
Color: Anise Green & Pink
Ruling: Lined
Sheet Count: 30
Price: $12.12 USD
Where to buy: NoteMaker

APPEARANCE

This is without a doubt the nicest shopping list notepad I've ever seen or tried. Usually I just write my grocery list on scrap paper, the back of junk mail, etc. Nothing wrong with that, of course. I don't like making digital lists so much. I also find it easier to keep a running list around - it's easier to add to.


 Le Typograhe's pocket shopping list notepad is cute - it has a semi firm front and back cover - they are pieces of thick cardstock in anise green. The front cover has a cute, dark green shopping cart pressed into it. The paper is a soft pink with wide margins and a lined ruling. Both covers and notepad have sharp corners. The pad is bound with green glue that complements the rest well.  The notepad is tasteful - simple and cute! The pages are lined with dotted green lines. Each page says SHOPPING at the top.

PERFORMANCE & FEEL

First of all, the pages are easy to peel off individually - no bits of glue sticking all over the place, or worse, sticking so much that you end up tearing the page. Each page is thick, like cardstock. They are 300 gsm! I won't waste this paper on ballpoints so I only use fountain pens with it. This is a shopping list notepad that can handle fountain pens really well.

There's no show through, bleed through, and no feathering visible to the naked eye.

For the thirty pages, you can use both sides. The paper is smooth but not coated. I was surprised to find ink and sheens are visible.

PROS

• Front cover flips open and can be folded behind the pad to use it easily.
• Adorable and portable.
• Easy to tear off pages.
• Fountain pen friendly paper.
• Since the sheets are firm, it makes circulating a busy grocery store with a list much easier. The list doesn't flop around when you're trying to look at it and it's easier to cross things out or make changes on the go. At first I thought this was an insane luxury, and... well. I was right. It's an insane but amazing luxury. 

CONS  

• Expensive.

OVERALL

This is pretty much too classy to be a shopping list notepad. It's adorable, small, portable, and convenient. It's also fountain pen friendly! I think this is a great gift to spoil yourself or a family/friend with - it would make a great housewarming gift for those stationery lovers! Or anything. Also great for pen show lists!

Do you use shopping list notepads or digital lists?

I received this item free of charge for the purposes of this review. I was not compensated monetarily for my review. Everything you've read here is my own opinion.