Winner of the Monsieur Notebook

Olivia L from CA was the selected winner (#33) of the Monsieur Notebook as featured in this blog post.  Loved seeing all of the comments and emails about what people would do with this notebook should they win. Olivia said that she's an avid journaler and is about to finish her current journal so will start anew with her winning journal.

I neglected to mention the iconic mustached man with the monocle as pictured below (from the Monsieur website). This character is featured on the back of each journal. If you didn't want one before, you probably do now, I  imagine.

I should note that Tom from Monsieur Notebooks emailed to clarify that with use, the notebooks will lie flat. Mine is just too new and not yet broken in. I should go write a few notes in my journal now. Excuse me...

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.