Exacompta Basics Gold Edged Sketchbook With Madeira Cover

[dizzypen]

Note: For more pictures of this Journal and for more reviews please click here

 

I was in the market for a new journal when I sent a question to Karen at Exaclair about one of their other Exacompta blank journals. She informed me that it was not very fountain pen friendly and suggested that I might like the Basics journal. Within a couple days of that conversation I received the journal reviewed here as a sample. Thank you so much for the excellent customer service! (I am not otherwise affiliated with Exaclair.)

First Impressions:

 

Upon receiving this journal I was immediately impressed by the quality and vibrancy of this journal's cover. I just looked at it and handled it for a couple minutes before even opening it up. Then, when I opened it up, I was again impressed by the high quality of the paper.

 

Appearance:

 

The journal I received has the red Madeira cover. "Sketch Book" is conspicuously impressed on the front of the cover. This cover can also come with "Journal" impressed on the front rather than "Sketch Book." I'd much prefer one that said "Journal" since that is what I will use this for, but either way, I'd just like it to be plain. As a general rule, I do not like embossed or impressed leather or leather-like covers. I always feel it takes away from the appearance of the journal unless it is a discreet personalization. YMMV

 

The cover is not leather, but it sure feels like it. Faux leathers usually feel cheap to me, but Exacompta has gotten this one right. It's is soft, supple, and smooth with just a bit of light texturing. The stitching on the cover is also quite excellent. It is obvious that some serious thought went into the design of this cover. Very well done.

 

This journal is gold edged, but I also understand that it comes with silver edging if you'd prefer that. I'm not so fond of the gold edging though it does add to the "up-market" feel of this journal.

Construction/Dimensions/Design:

 

The Basics Journal is the perfect size: 8" in length, 6" in width, and 1" in depth. AND, it lies flat! This is invaluable!

 

The excellent quality of this journal continue on the inside. The pages are stitch bound and taped. There is a very functional tri-colored bookmark. The end papers aren't very stiff but certainly do their job. My only quibble is that they are printed all over with the Exacompta logo. It takes away from the overall feel of this journal YMMV.

 

Of course the cover is refillable. The refills are called Exacompta Basics Sketch Book or Journal. You have the choice of lined or blank pages. I prefer blank. You can use the refills without the Madeira covers and save yourself a few bucks. The refills offer a simple tan or black cover stamped with a small picture and the words "Journal" or "Sketch Book." As I mentioned earlier, you also have the choice of either gold edging or silver edging.

 

Paper:

 

This is the most important part for me. The paper in this journal is superb! The Basics journal contains 100 g, off-white, 25% cotton content laid paper. The paper takes fountain pen ink exceedingly well. There is no bleed through, no feathering, and show through is nearly non-existent. This paper is just about perfect. It reminds me of G. Lalo Verge de France .

 

Now some people have issues with laid paper. They feel as though their nibs get "catch" on the texture. I do not have this issue even with my extra fine nibs. YMMV.

 

Cost:

 

The Writer's Bloc has these listed at $20 regular price. The refill by itself runs $11.40 for either the lined or the blank pages. I think this is an excellent price for what you get.

Conclusion, A-/B+:

 

I really like the Basics Journal. It is very well made. The cover is excellent, the size is ideal, it lies flat, and the off-white laid paper is a dream to write on. I only have a couple quibbles: I don't care for the "Sketch Book" impressed on the cover and I'm not fond of the gold edging.

 

I would definitely recommend the Basics Journal (with or without the Madeira cover) to anyone who is looking for quality, function, and affordability.

 

Thanks again Karen!

 

ETA: Sorry, forgot to enable HTML. Picture in the next post.

Edited October 23, 2009 by dizzypen

[dizzypen]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2487/4037474492_ae3af79309.jpg

 

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3484/4037474882_3b75c33f1a.jpg

[limesally]

very nice review and I too really love this journal/sketchbook. I'm in the process of reviewing this myself, by which I mean I'm still trying out some different pencils, etc on it before I finish writing it, but so far, I am in love with it.

[stevlight]

These are the sketchbooks I use now and LOVE them--great paper--they take light watercolor beautifully --I got a cover made from Gfeller casemakers --it is my everyday companion!!

[HDoug]

The larger version of the sketchbook was my "ideal" journal. Until they discontinued it! But I love the paper. And as far as I can tell, it's the same as Lalo Verge de France except without the watermark. Thanks for the review! I'm using a stash of A4 Lalo cahiers which use the same paper. Of course, those have been discontinued too...

 

Doug

[BillZ]

I second the motion on the quality of the customer service provided by Karen and associates!!

[Ghost Plane]

+1 on the journals, Karen, and the Writer's Bloc for a favorite place to buy. I go with the silver edge myself and picked up a stack the last time they were on sale. Excellent performance with the wettest, broadest nibs.

[Northwoods]

It looks like a nice journal and looks like it will fit the Oberon Design cover I have, but unless I messed it, they don't have a lined version, no? Pity, that. Unlined is OK, but I do prefer (lightly) ruled pages.

[limesally]

It looks like a nice journal and looks like it will fit the Oberon Design cover I have, but unless I messed it, they don't have a lined version, no? Pity, that. Unlined is OK, but I do prefer (lightly) ruled pages.

 

There is definitely a lined version. It's labelled "journal" rather than "sketchbook". But my understanding is that it has the identical laid paper.

[dizzypen]

Of course the cover is refillable. The refills are called Exacompta Basics Sketch Book or Journal. You have the choice of lined or blank pages. I prefer blank. You can use the refills without the Madeira covers and save yourself a few bucks. The refills offer a simple tan or black cover stamped with a small picture and the words "Journal" or "Sketch Book." As I mentioned earlier, you also have the choice of either gold edging or silver edging.

 

As noted in the review you can get a lined version of this journal. http://www.shopwritersbloc.com/exacompta-basics-gold-or-silver-edged-journal.html

[tawanda]

Does anyone know if we can get these in the UK? I did a quick search but nothing came up. Can someone tell me how to get in contact with Karen?

 

Cheers

[Ghost Plane]

Check your PM

[drawline]

How do these compare to Paperblanks, for people that have used both?

 

Reading your (HDougs and dizzypens) respective review and summary and looking at the pictures, are these untypically "paper hump"-free? I hate feeling like I'm potentially butching up the paper of the drawing I just completed when turning to a new spread and having to pin it down, even if the covers lie flat (this with Moleskine, and otherwise wonderful - but pricy - Paperblanks, which I still wouldn't want to change if it has anything to do with paper quality).

[dizzypen]

How do these compare to Paperblanks, for people that have used both?

 

Reading your (HDougs and dizzypens) respective review and summary and looking at the pictures, are these untypically "paper hump"-free? I hate feeling like I'm potentially butching up the paper of the drawing I just completed when turning to a new spread and having to pin it down, even if the covers lie flat (this with Moleskine, and otherwise wonderful - but pricy - Paperblanks, which I still wouldn't want to change if it has anything to do with paper quality).

 

I am not an artist so I won't even begin to comment on how useful these are for drawing. However, these do lie flat and stay open under their own power. Take a look at BiffyBeans review. She is an artist and uses this for drawing and painting. Also, you might want to send a PM to FPN Member Stevlight (if he doesn't reply to this himself) he is an artist and uses this book as his sketch book.

 

Having said that, this book does not lay as flat as Paperblank Handstitched sketchbooks.

[limesally]

How do these compare to Paperblanks, for people that have used both?

 

Reading your (HDougs and dizzypens) respective review and summary and looking at the pictures, are these untypically "paper hump"-free? I hate feeling like I'm potentially butching up the paper of the drawing I just completed when turning to a new spread and having to pin it down, even if the covers lie flat (this with Moleskine, and otherwise wonderful - but pricy - Paperblanks, which I still wouldn't want to change if it has anything to do with paper quality).

 

Paperblanks seems to have changed a lot, or else they have different paper than the ones Biffybeans recently reviewed. The ones I've had (I've tried three) were not fountain pen friendly at all, either bleeding OR, alternatively, beading up. However I am tempted to try one again soon based on the recent reviews.

 

The exacompta basics, however, seems to be able to do it all. So far I've tried fountain pen ink (regular and bulletproof), pencil, watercolour pencil, watercolour crayon, just plain watercolour , rapidograph pen, brush pen, and pigment pens. It works great with just about everything you throw at it, and as dizzypen points out (here or his blog, can't remember) it stays open, without the hump in the middle. This evening I was doodling in it with Noodler's BB, and could see that it was taking a while to dry (tends to happen when I haven't used the pen in a while) and I just left the book open so it could dry, and it stayed that way quite nicely.

 

I'm just waiting for a decent day with good enough light that I can take pictures so I can finish my review. But so far, it's been great with just about anything you can think of using in it.

Edited October 25, 2009 by limesally

[Ghost Plane]

The old Paperblancs had annoyingly slick paper. I remember thinking they must have really changed, too, after reading Biffy's review. Which is why she's so darned useful - I hear about stuff I wouldn't otherwise.

 

If people have the old Levenger's covers from their lousy paper journals, I've found these Basics seem to fit in the leather ones, even if it's not an exact fit. So times I'm going to abuse them on travel, I can slide them in for protection.

[drawline]

I've actually used a handstitched Paperblanks journal so i'm just a basket case

They must have. My experience; takes Hod out of a music nib beautifully for example, highly saturated black, no feathering, no bleedthrough. Quick drying. Try the unlined paper to be on the safe side. I had a lined mini that I bought sometime early this year in Blackwell (I think? big book shop), in Oxford, and the paper was ok but not as exciting but good enough for me to want more. More spongy and lines not coming off as crisp.

 

I'm also interested in a UK or possibly better yet other more mainland european source for these. Googled Exacompta and Basics and mainly got organisers and filing solutions.

[drawline]

And just to add; this thread is not about Paperblanks, but just because it should be said at the same time, the bad is the price. If you dont get them from a major retailer they can go for as much as an unreal 30 dollars~ for a smithesewn ultra, or atleast from where i'm at locally. Something I wont pay again I think.. These seem like a great alternative atleast if not replacement, and bulk solution. Shipping is still the major issue though

[Ghost Plane]

Try typing in Exacompta, Basics, and Journal. The Writer's Bloc is one of my favorite places to buy as they run periodic sales, but I'm not sure if they'll do international shipping.

 

If in doubt, find the Exacompta distributor for the UK. Our US distributor will help us find sources, which is why we love her so.