Stay for reviews of dot grid notebooks used for bullet journaling that include an in-depth analysis of the journal's construction, packaging, features and paper. I am one of the only reviewers investigating the company behind the journal, including their approach to environmental and social responsibility.
I use all these notebooks for my own journaling practice, which helps me keep track of things, express my creativity and manage my mental health. Along the way I've explored new ways to decorate my journal and have fallen in love with washi tape art, so this is often a feature of my videos.
My RU-vid channel works alongside my website TheUsefulJournal.com, where you can compare features of dot grid notebooks to find the one that best suits you, or view all the themes I've used in my past journals.
I'd love to hear your feedback on my reviews, your questions and which journals you would specifically like me to review. If you use my creative ideas, I love seeing pictures!
I just asked ChatGPT: Notebook Therapy is a stationery and lifestyle brand that focuses on offering aesthetically pleasing, minimalist designs inspired by Japanese and Korean culture. Here's a breakdown of key information about the company: 1. Location and Headquarters: Notebook Therapy is an online business that markets itself as a global brand. While the company primarily operates online, it is often assumed to be headquartered in East Asia, given the inspiration from Japanese and Korean stationery culture. However, there is no concrete public information explicitly stating the exact physical location of their headquarters. 2. Manufacturing Locations: The products offered by Notebook Therapy are generally manufactured in China, which is common for many stationery and lifestyle brands due to cost-effective production. Their designs are heavily inspired by Japanese and Korean aesthetics, but the actual production tends to be outsourced to Chinese manufacturers. 3. Company Structure and Organization: As a global e-commerce brand, Notebook Therapy operates primarily through its online platform and uses social media for customer engagement and marketing. The company structure is likely to follow the typical model of e-commerce operations with: Design and Creative Team: Focused on developing their aesthetic stationery collections and collaborations. Logistics and Supply Chain Management: Handling the manufacturing and shipping from China to international customers. Marketing and Customer Service: Engaging with customers via their website, Instagram, and other social media channels. The company relies heavily on influencers, affiliate marketing, and user-generated content, indicating a strong digital marketing strategy. Although it is hard to find specific details about their organizational setup, the brand appears to operate efficiently as a smaller, niche e-commerce business focused on delivering curated stationery items with an emphasis on design quality and cultural inspiration.
It’s so wonderful that you take us outside with you for these videos. It’s really wonderful to see the landscape there. Love this video too. Very useful.
This was so cute. I got inspired to create some similar spreads ❤ Hope you made your weight loss goal, and if not, that's okay. It took me 3 years to go from 103 to 65 and it was worth it!!
Thank you for another useful video. It’s so lovely to see the gorgeous landscape there and how much your dog enjoys it all. Finding a square dot grid notebook isn’t easy! Thank you for rounding them all up in one place. I am so grateful for your expertise and this resource.
@@theusefuljournal I have that same impulse. I do wish there were some with off-white or cream pages though. Or even that My Mellow Days would make a square notebook. We can dream.
Doh! I somehow missed Citrus Book Bindery 😣 customisable in B5 with a range of paper colours and paper weights from 100 to 160 gsm. You can even choose the size of your dot grid to be either 3.5 mm, 5 mm or 7mm!
How cute was that little echidna? They're so funny - they're pretty blind, but as soon as they hear you they tuck their nose into their belly. They're like a baby who covers their eyes and thinks you can't see them any more 😂
Thank you for recognising my effort. It took a surprisingly long time to trawl through the internet, and I still feel like there's more I've missed... I live in a beautiful area with lots of natural places - I love it ♥️
That April layout was lovely! Very creative and I really like artwork. The June with ladybugs and leaves is also splendid; the washi tape art is inspiring. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Thank you so much! I really like some of the layouts in my current journal. April with the pipes and June with the bugs took so long to create but it was totally worth it because I love how they turned out too 💚 There’s going to be lots of washi tape in October as I’ll be doing daily washi art for Peachtober!
Ah sorry I wasn’t clear. It’s the finish on the thick cardboard cover. It’s covered with a paper (glued to the card) that has a pearly finish - so not glossy (shiny) and not matte (dull).
@@theusefuljournal It was one of your videos that turned me on to them. I have been using Leuchtturm journals and planners until I tried my first Hemlock & Oak and they have become my favourite now. I find the paper to be better for the fountain pen and ink combinations that I use and I really like the "front matter" in their planners for goal setting, etc. I also really appreciate their corporate philosophy, leaving as small a carbon footprint as possible. Small company with a very big heart.
Yay! Just have fun with it. Some ideas don’t work that well (I’ve had a few), so you just try something different the next time and you learn what layouts you like best ❤️
There are endless ways we can use journals that complement our hobbies and interests. Jump in and give it a go. Worst thing that can happen is you don’t keep the journal going and that’s not the end of the world 💛
@@theusefuljournal Thanks for the encouragement! And so true, not continuing with a journal is not the end of the world. I don’t grow if I don’t try new things. Appreciate the inspiration.
Your Game Night journal is wonderful! It is inspiring and I’m now thinking about starting a new journal, not about games (but sounds so fun) but including some of my monthly activities…Bunco, Zentangle, weaving, etc. Thank you.
I have used the Primrosia journal and I didn't enjoy trying to use it with watercolor markers (their brand) watercolor paint on the other hand I have had much better luck and results with that. I have also used a moleskine watercolor journal I had the worst time with the paper quality but it's not a dot grid so it's not ideal to use as a journal. I wish there were more options out there for dot grid watercolor journals.
I think watercolour markers are a convenient compromise on actual paints but you’re never going to get the same results. I’ve never heard anything good about any Moleskine products - I don’t even want to waste my money to review one. Archer and Olive have dot grid watercolour notebooks but the paper is hot pressed - I haven’t tried one yet. I’ll keep an eye out for others.
I let my primrosia sit for about a year and when I went to use it I couldn't watercolour at all as it's sizing had gone bad. You couldn't move any paint around at all and the paint would spread outside the working area and went straight through the pages. Deeply disappointed by it. I've had plenty of other watercolour journals that have sat even longer without the sizing going bad at all. Also I had 3 of them and sadly they were all affected. OK for drawing but watercolour certainly doesn't work at all any more. I wish I could recommend them but unfortunately I just can't. Might be ok if you use it up quickly but it certainly doesn't store well.
Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry for you. I wonder if it was a bad batch? I’ve had mine for a couple of years and the beetle I painted at the time of this review worked fine. I’ll be sure to keep mine out of the sun in case that affects it.
@@theusefuljournal maybe a bad batch I guess, mine have been stored where there is no natural light in climate controlled conditions. Still sad about it as I actually love the covers and feel of them, still using them for sketching, just don't take water well.
@theusefuljournal they did work well with no problems when I first got them, it was only after sitting around a while before I had problems. Maybe they were somewhat old when I got them, and the extra sitting time just ruined the sizing. I know most sizing does have an expiry ,I think I caught the end of this process. I forgot to note they are ok for acrylic painting and guache if you don't use too much water though even with the problems, so I can definitely still use them, just not for what they were originally intended for.
Oh my goodness - hate to say it but lots and lots of practice! I've been journaling for five years now. My first attempts at calligraphy were awful. I often still have to write in pencil first to get the shapes right 🙄 I love practicing writing lettering. I participate in two lettering collabs on Instagram each month, and in a couple of my journals (games and outdoors), I do a different font as the heading on each entry. It's just practice... Good luck!
Hi Ruby. I have a Neapolitan A&O journal which I love. I rose to the creative challenge each day that the different paper provided. The different coloured pages allowed me to use supplies I wouldn’t have used otherwise.
Happy to see your review of this unique, and very desirable, journal. Thank you. For fountain pens, it may depend a lot on the ink. I’m using Diamine ink in my Primrosia and I don’t😊 get any feathering at all. Looking forward to getting the Reverie journal soon and comparing.
Thank you. And yes you're right, different inks behave in different ways. I try to test several different brands of ink with different degrees of 'wetness' in my pen tests now, but if even one feathers, I have to mention feathering because someone might buy the journal and then be disappointed when they use their favourite ink and it feathers. I love Diamine inks! I've only recently begun using them, and they perform so well! I'm glad you found one that works for you. Hope you like the Reverie journal - they really are quite similar. Did you see my comparison video? ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-lNuwEaBR9-c.html
@@theusefuljournal Maybe mention which ink feathered, specifically? Then the rest of us know to forge ahead with pens and ink! Yes, I saw your comparison video which is how I found both journals in the first place. Thank you!
Wonderful….so enjoyed following this “many fences” spread. I just tried my first Dutch door spread. Thanks for all your spread ideas….i look forward to trying more of them.
How fun is this! 🎉. Just found your channel and am enjoying watching your thoughtful, useful, and creative videos. Thank you! Do you use watercolor pencils or inktense or watercolor brush pens much, in your journaling? If so, what’s your favorite watercolor brush pen?
I do use watercolor pencils sometimes (Faber-Castell and Derwent) but just normal ones. I don't have any Inktense pencils or watercolor brush pens. If you're talking about the ones you can fill with normal watercolour paint, I'd probably prefer to use a paintbrush, but if you're talking about actual brush pens (markers), I've always been tempted to try some but I suspect I'm happy enough with the supplies I have!
Thank you for a very helpful video! I was wondering about the differences between the paper in these two journals and you told me exactly what I needed to know. So very grateful. Have you ever used Inktense in these? I wonder how that would work.
I haven't got any Inktense pencils, but I did test normal watercolour pencils from Derwent and Faber-Castell and they worked fine. Inktense are pretty different though - sorry I couldn't help!
Love this idea! I have so many almost finished projects - no knitting! - but I have about 12 needlepoint canvases that are ready to be blocked and sewn into pillows - something I know I have the capability to do - but I am scared to do it and overwhelmed by the process - I could take somewhere to have done but they charge hundreds of dollars and I cannot justify spending hard earned money for that. I am going to try this method of writing the process and documenting - like you said, it will make process more manageable and I will just follow my steps - wish me luck! Note: making a needlepoint into a pillow is nowhere near to the scary of cutting into your knitted sweater! 😱 - do you ever watch Arne & Carlos - they recommended experimenting on a thrift store sweater find if you were really terrified
Not a bad idea to test it on something else. I think I'm okay though. I'm going to have a go at it tomorrow! I think it's the same with any big problem. Break it down into smaller parts and it's a lot easier to do. Good luck with your needlepoint!
Rêverie actually sounds understable and pretty with the english pronounciation, because only the sound of the R changes. Sometimes, english pronounciation changes drastically french words and makes it difficult to understand, but not here. Maybe they chose the name because of that, since they're a french-american couple? I like it, anyway, and I believe they're a respected company in the french stationary community.
That looks unexpectedly harmonious! I was thinking how to find a way to do fast layouts for september (it's the school year beginning for my kid, and this year is going to be intense), and I think that if I simplify your idea (no drawing and cutting little doors for me in the next 2 months unfortunately 😅), I can still have the same effect of pretty, harmonious, but also simple and not too heavy... I think I'll reference your video doing this, because I like how cute and NOT overwelming your month looks!
As a student 12 years ago, I choose TN because I can make the insert myself. All my money is gone buying just the cover 😂. Having a TN is such a everyday luxury for me. 2 of my TN been through life with me. Uni years, pregnancy, being a mother and I hope to hand it down to my child.
I think people might be dedicated to it exactly because it is not **too** remarkable. Thus avoiding any kind of decision paralysis over whether to actually use it, as opposed to really good paper notebooks of very high quality which might inspire reticence to actually use it out of fear of wasting such good quality paper on low quality writing/sketching/water colouring/whatever. As for me, personally, I like them a lot simply because they are good enough quality for my needs (saying this as a fountain pen user) and easily available in a range of lay-outs, paper thickness, colour of covers, and so on. I started with the hardcover ones, but tried out the softcovers at some point, which I now prefer; only my official Bullet Journal is still hardcover, on account of no softcover versions being available. BTW, love the headband!
That's a really good point. I've never had that problem, but I've heard so many people say they're too scared to use an expensive journal. Leuchtturm are pretty good, and I really like my Bullet Journal version with 120gsm paper. My main problem with them is that the quality of the binding, which for such a big brand could be better. I like softcover notebooks too, especially for journals I'm going to be carrying around a lot. Thanks for the comment!
