Paperblanks journals review

 

I have a bit of a secret stationery fetish, whether that be funky pens, pretty folders or stylish notebooks. I know that for many people these days, if you say "notebook" they'll think of a laptop computer and all manner of electronic gadgets but I'm an old-fashioned girl at heart and still get more excited over a funky pen and a posh notebook ! As a teacher, I get to indulge in my stationery passion on a pretty regular basis but, nevertheless, I was still very excited when Paperblanks offered to send me through one of their notebooks to review.

I received the "Wind Flowers Slim" notebook that is second from the left in the top picture but a photo just doesn't do it justice. I took this picture at an angle to show how the light plays on the vivid, almost metallic-looking colours of the cover. Paperblanks explain : "If your mum loves nothing more than spending her time pottering in the garden, The Laurel Burch Blossoms Collection (£10.99) will flourish next to her growing flower assortment. Laurel Burch was a self-taught artist and flower child who sold handmade jewellery on the streets of San Francisco in the 1960s. Later on, she continued to rely on her intuition and passion, speaking from the heart with an unmistakable style that was the manifestation of her love of life and strong imaginative nature. From her fertile imagination, she created brilliantly coloured, vibrant and moving themes with paint and paper, exquisitely embellished with gold and silver."

 

If that's not your thing, they have journals to suit all tastes though, so you may prefer the understated, muted colours of the Embellished Manuscripts range, drawing inspiration from some of the greatest writers, thinkers and artists of all time. These reproductions of excerpts from original manuscripts, letters, scores and drawings provide a glimpse into the creative process of figures such as William Shakespeare, Wordsworth, Dickens and Blake. Now if that doesn't get your creative juices flowing, nothing will !

I love the Oriental-looking Rose Garden collection, inspired by the miniature lacquer paintings that adorned fine books in 16th Century Persia.

Young fashionistas, teens and tweens will love the quirky, bold designs of the Fabulous Footwear range, which will make you smile every time you pull it out of your bag, even if you're only jotting down a quick shopping list !

For the epitome of elegance and style, the Silver Filigree range is the way to go. These look utterly gorgeous and very chic.

It's not just a pretty (type)face though. Having researched the company a bit more, I'm very impressed with what I learnt. They say : "Having produced journals for twenty years, the Paperblanks collection now includes around 400 different styles. Available in a selection of sizes, each exquisitely crafted journal takes inspiration from great artists, writers and textiles from the past and present. Conscientious bookmaking, innovative design and careful handiwork all go into the production of Paperblanks. The laid paper used in Paperblanks is specially manufactured to the highest quality, with improved opacity to minimize the see-through nature of the page. Paperblanks advocates social and environmental responsibility, by utilising acid-free, sustainable forest paper and 100% recycled binder boards. Striving for carbon neutrality, the company also supports like-minded organisations that use environmentally friendly materials for their products.Whether being used to record thoughts, ideas, stories, poems or another craft, Paperblanks journals' perfect combination of imagination and art inspires a unique writing experience. In short, Paperblanks make your notes noteworthy."

As far as I'm concerned, they certainly have more aah-factor than any electronic personal organiser ! They are expensive, compared to many paper journals, but they are very luxurious and high quality which makes them perfect as an extra-special gift.

star rating : 4/5

RRP : £10.99 for a Laurel Burch Slim journal

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