(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter.)
Have you got something fancy to write, or something boring to write that needs a little spice? Definitely check out the Tsubame notebooks. These flew under my radar for a while, and now the oversight seems scandalous. These are great notebooks.
The cover is sturdy cardstock, and the single signature is secured with sewn binding. With a bit of training, it lays open flat. The spine is protected with a lovely, rustic bit of gauze tape that adds strength and texture.
Inside, there are 32 sheets of cream-colored, acid-free, 7mm lined, 83.5 gsm paper. This paper shouts "luxury" and "workhorse" at the same time--a rare but noteworthy feat. The paper is crisp with great tooth, but feels smooth. There is a subtle watermark to it that is most apparent when it is held up to the light. There are also grid dots along the bottom, to assist with any vertical alignment you might need with your text, if you're using it for notes or outlines.
This paper handles ink like a boss. I threw all kinds of things at it, and the only thing I could get to bleed at all was sharpie. Nothing, not even my dribbly flex nib, feathered. The back side of the page shows hardly any ghosting. It's a bit more absorbent than more heavily-coated papers, so it doesn't show quite as much sheen, but there is still some. And, due to that cushy paper, it dries more quickly, too.
Overall, I really like this notebook. The 32 sheets leave me wanting more, though, and I wish there were other sizes. It does come in graph and plain varieties as well, which is very nice. Each notebook is $8.50, a bit steep for something I could fill in one sitting. Because of that, I won't be collecting these, but I will be enjoying the one I have.
(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
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