Cristina Gomes Leather Cover

Few months back, I decided to invest in a A6 leather cover.

Why A6, many people asked?

At first, I wasn't a great fan of A6 notebook as I very much preferred something smaller, but not too small. Passport size is too small, and A6 is slightly too big, so I choose Field Notes.

But I realized, A6 size is actually a very comfortable size to write in.

After much consideration on if I should get another leather cover, I decided to get one.

After browsing around, I discovered Cristina Leather on Facebook.

A business card as reference.

Changes never stop...

It was this before......  and now a Change. 

Like I mentioned in the previous post, Changes Never Stop, one should never be contented. 

The only constant thing is Changes.

I have tried to keep my EveryDayCarry (EDC) pocket book simple, and I couldn't quite make up which to use?

I have been carrying my black Midori Traveler's Notebook passport size for many months, but somehow, I find there's a lack in something. 

My Midori Passport size TN.

After years of wanting and waiting, 

I have finally got myself a Midori Passport size Traveler's Notebook in Brown leather.

As I am carrying a Black Midori Traveler's Notebook as my Every Day Carry,

I decided to convert it into a card holder.

Leather cover for the Standard Memorandum

Recently, Craft Master of Second Kings, Mr Josef Chow, surprised me with a customized leather cover for the Standard Memorandum 2015.

On the first look, it looks like an ordinary leather cover.

Standard Memorandum, a pocket planner full of memories.

This Standard Memorandum has been with me all the time since the start of Year 2014. 

It is a small planner, but it serves a great purpose. 

My Collections of Traveler's Notebook.

Not sure if you know, but I started my first Midori Traveler's Notebook back in Year 2008. 

Back then, traveler's notebook like this (leather cover with interchangeable notebooks) was not as popular today. 

As I remembered, there aren't many people using Midori Traveler's Notebook back then.

Searching for inspiration on how to enhance my Traveler's notebook can only be done on Flickr.

In the recent years, I have more exposure to other traveler's notebook through the Facebook / Instagram. From there, I realized that I can get a customized Traveler's notebook in other colors

I can also get a leather cover that holds different types of inserts, particularly, Field Notes size.

My collections for FN size (3.5" x 5.5') fauxdori expanded with the opening of Blank and Write Shop. 

Let's see, what I have in my collections:

A love for Brass pen - another one into collection.

I have been a lover for brass pens (my very first was a Midori Traveler's Notebook Brass pen), 

and I usually lost my temptation to beautiful brass pens. 

Few month back, Anachronistinc (now known as Yellow Birch Outfitter) introduced his first brass pen, and it immediately caught my attention.

It is an art piece.. and certainly it is. 

This is a customized brass pen with an 'A' on top of the pen, and together, it comes with a leather cover.

The brass pen:

It is a bolt action brass pen, which holds any Pilot G2 refill (or something similar). 

All brass pens are heavy - of course they are - but this piece is lighter than my Karas Kustoms Brass Bolt. 

But still, my hand gets a little tire after writing a page on my Muji notebook. 

The leather pen holder:

Its a beautiful piece of leather pen holder, and it holds the brass pen nicely. 

This pen holder can be attached to the regular size MTN by looping the elastic cord into the holes on the leather.

Alternatively, I can attached strings to it and wear it around my neck - as a landyard pen holder.

By looking at the craftsmanship, I can tell that Jay (the man behind Anachronistinc) pays alot of attention to details, and he ensure that each piece of work is beautifully done.

A cheaper alternative - Muji Notebook

I have been using Field Notes (FN) size (3.5 x 5.5 inch) notebooks for close to 1 year - Field Notes & Word. Notebooks, and I find notebooks of this size very suitable for me - It's handy and easy to bring around. 

Eventually, I have all my leather covers made FN sizes.  

But there is one problem: 

These notebooks aren't cheap, and the local stationery stores don't carry notebooks in this size. 

But lately, I found out that 1 of Muji notebooks is close to FN size, 

and I decided to give it a try (replacing my Field Notes Shelterwood edition). 

Measuring 5.75 x 3.65, it is slightly bigger than FN size notebook. But it still fits nicely inside the FN size leather cover.

With its binding method, it is hard to find the centre-fold for this notebook. 

Over a period of a few days, the elastic cord of my leather cover cuts into the binding, tearing the binding apart.

It doesn't look good; I have to apply tape on the external spine,

as well as the inside the notebook. 

Even with tapes applied, the elastic cord still managed to cut into the notebook. 

Paper quality wise, it's not too bad  ; 

at least, my fountain pen ink doesn't bleed through. 

I should do another review at a later date to see how the notebook last.

My 2nd Hero Fountain Pen - Hero 372 (Part 1)

Recently, a friend shared with me that one of the biggest retailers in Singapore is selling Hero fountain pens, and she got some at a really good price. 

As a lover for cheap fountain pens, I decided to explore the place. 

And to my surprise, they offer quite a handful of Hero fountain pens, and the prices are reasonable. 

I left the shop with 8 pens, of which, 7 were sent to Unit Kingdom, and one for myself. 

The pen does not come with any beautiful packaging or box - just a pen inside a plastic cover, sealed with a Hero company sticker (it doesn't bother me at all). 

Pen: Hero 372 Fountain pen 

Leather Cover: Rugged black and brown leather riveted pocket notebook cover (from E2 Field Gear)

Here's what I feel about the pen:

- The weight is well balanced. 

- The extra fine nib writes smoothly.

- It comes with a convertor, but I am not too comfortable using the convertor; I used a Kaweco ink cartridges instead. 

- Aesthetically, it doesn't portrait  itself as a cheap pen. 

Card Holder sleeve on MTN passport size

It has been busy at work, and this post has been delayed for a while. 

Jac Drow, a fellow MTN user, bought the card holder sleeve, and put it into her passport size Midori Traveler's Notebook (MTN).

And this is what she shared:

"Finally, my set up with the card holder sleeve I got from Justin. I use it in combo with my mini coupon folio. It fits in my Midori Passport which has become my EDC portable brain. On the day i go shopping/Run errands I put a envelope corresponding to the shop or location I will be stopping at that day. The envelope contains a list, cash and/or gift card that I intend to use at that location. I have found  this keeps me on track, cuts down on my impulse buys and gets me in and out much faster. My Errand day just got shorter and more manageable. Thank you Justin!"

Photos courtesy of Jac Drow

The card holder sleeve.

For the past months, I had been sending card holder sleeves to different part of the World.
And it got many people curious about the card holders that I've been sending.

So here's a little introduction about the Card Holder Sleeve.

There are 5 slots on each size.
Personally, I put 2 business cards into each of those slots (as seen on the left),
and the necessary cards on the right.

Just want to write and coffee

Writing, is a very important habit. 

And to make writing an enjoyable process, it has to be done with a cup of good coffee. 

A parcel that took a long way.

Photo courtesy of Vijay Mistry.  

Few months back, I sent out 2 card holder sleeves to United Kingdom, and only a week later, I discovered that the Post Office staff had sent the items by sea freight. 

Yesterday, the parcel arrived safely at Vijay Mistry's hand.

In the picture:

On the left, shows the 2 card holder sleeves; 1 in white, the other in blue. 

Each card holder sleeve can hold up to 10 cards. 

What's inside the leather cover for my EDC notebook?

Here are the items inside the leather cover for my EDC notebooks:

A new leather cover for my EDC notebooks.

Starting 1 July 2014, I will be using a new leather cover for my Every Day Carry (EDC) notebook and planner. 

Leather cover: Made by Monique Vanmeulebrouk, from The Netherlands (Here's the shop link)

Pen: Zebra F-701.

Details of the contents will be shared in the next blog post.