Monday, June 20, 2011

Monsieur Notebook Review and Giveaway

It's nice that every once in awhile we bloggers get sent products we sometimes blog about in an effort to review and promote the items being sent. Who doesn't love a blank journal made of supple leather that opens up, lies flat and waits for your stupendously brilliant thoughts to flow from your head to your pen to the paper?
The Monsieur Notebooks are the flagship brand of Hide Stationery, Ltd. They are brand new and currently only available in the UK, but are planning for expansion later this year. On the Monsieur website, these journals are described as:
"These covers are made from one single piece of thick vegetable-tanned leather. These have the scent and touch of leather, unlike inferior ‘bonded’, ‘recycled’ and processed ‘genuine’ leathers. Because of this our books have an authentic feel unachievable in mass-produced notebooks. Our books’ understated beauty only improves as they get used, battered and bruised."
 I sampled the small black notebook (below) with my lovely aquamarine Lamy Safari (medium nib).
The flow of the pen on the paper was ultra smooth and I was very pleased to see no feathering of the ink.
I was also very pleased to see there was no bleed-through on the back side of the page.
 The journal opens flat, but doesn't stay flat unless you hold one end down. I prefer journals with the stretching rubber binder that helps hold the journal closed, so was pleased to see that this journal has that.
Overall, I was very happy with the quality of the paper and the overall appearance and functionality of the notebook.
One of you can compare for yourself how these notebooks hold up under scrutiny by winning the large brown journal shown above. Tell me what general or special purpose you would like to use this journal for and either leave a comment (include your email) or send me an email to Jackie (at) lettersandjournals (dot) com. Giveaway ends 6/23/11.

21 comments:

Eric said...

I would use it for taking notes

Rational Coder said...

I always keep a journal with me. I love the idea of a common book, just to keep notes on interesting things.

joey

David said...

This would be fabulous as a vacation journal or as a triP journal for my family!

Jackie said...

I would use it as a daily journal, I love that it lies flat and is leather.

Randi said...

I use a lot of journals as devotional and prayer journals. This journal would be a lovely one to use!

Marco said...

I am hiking through the Appalachian Trail's on the weekends this summer. I could use the journal to document my hikes. It's large enough for a printout of the hike and for my notes.

Pappers said...

If I was lucky enough to have this journal, I would show it off at our PTA meetings and use it to help me organise the PTA events for our school

KatyjeanMachine said...

I use journals from everything to a capture device in my purse, to prayer journals, journals to my daughter (I'm a noncustodial parent), ways to vent my thoughts, etc....I have thought about starting a gratitude journal, and this one would be nice for that. Thanks for considering me :)

titancia said...

I would use the journal to journal. I keep one with me at all times--I move it from my nightstand in the morning, to my purse, back to my nightstand at night.

Meredith said...

They look like great notebooks. I'd definitely make use of one.

The Pen Thief said...

I would love it to document my hiking trips that I take this summer and fall!

Okami said...

I would love to try out this notebook.

Sarah O said...

My husband and I found out a couple of weeks ago that we're going to have a baby, and I have been looking for a new notebook to use as a pregnancy journal. This looks like it would be just the thing. I'd love to try it out!
My email is sarah4980 at gmail dot com

Bridgett said...

I would use it to collect quotes. I always have a quote journal going and am in need of a new one. bridgettt [at] me [dot] com.

Lyndon said...

So I checked out the Monsieur site and discovered that there is a retail stockist [Martell Ltd] just a three minute walk away from my home. So I went, I saw. I bought an A5 lined job in brown. It is all that you said it would be and it even still smells like real leather. Haven't used it yet of course,but it Monsieur will certainly give my Rhodia Webbie and Leuchtturm1917 a run for the money! Thanks for the info Jackie!

Jackie Flaherty said...

Hi Colin, Thanks for the great feedback! I totally forgot to mention the great texture of the journal. Glad you checked them out. Thanks for letting me know.

syocom said...

I love writing in a journal but never seem to have one with me. I would put it in my office so i could have something there to write down my thoughts.

ikkinlala said...

I'd most likely use it as a garden journal.

Seanna said...

I've been looking for a journal to make into a steampunk themed journal. This brown leather one looks like it'd be great to decorate and use for just that theme; in it I'd put my favorite steampunk book reviews, lists of steampunk music/bands, journal of steampunk movies I've seen, etc. Thanks!

Cat said...

What a beautiful journal!! I would use it as an art journaling resource book--list my favorite blogs, new techniques, new products, my wish list etc. Thanks for the opportunity to win!!

cathrynanne1952@aol.com

maddy said...

I love blogging. You all express your feelings the right way..love your work!

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