Review & Giveaway of the Clairefontaine Large Vintage 1951 Notebook



The 1951 is a portable sized, staple-bound notebook with the snazzy vintage look of the original Clairefontaine notebook.  Last week, I received two of them from Exaclair.  I'm keeping one for myself and giving the other away to one of my readers.  Giveaway information is at the end of the page.

Specs:
Size: 5.75 by 8.25 in/14,8 x 21 cm (also comes in a 3.5 x 5.5 in size)
Cover: textured cardboard
No. Pages: 48 sheets/96 pages
Paper: Clairefontaine
Paper weight: 90 gsm
Format: Lined
Binding: Stapled
Colors available: black, blue, green, pink, purple, red, turquoise


Look and feel:
The paper in the 1951 is satiny smooth.  The lines are a purplish-gray that guides the eye but won't compete with your writing.  

From photos I'd seen, I thought the 1951 was cloth-bound, so I was a little surprised to find the covers are cardboard.  The design is a classic hatched diamond pattern, with a cream-colored box that has plenty of room for labeling with names, dates or themes.

The binding is stapled.  You have to look closely to notice that because the notebook is squared off as though it were sewn.  You can easily fold it backwards, and the pages are securely fastened even towards the center of the book.






Performance:
Clairefontaine is noted for being fountain pen friendly, and the 1951 is no exception.  The pen glides across the paper.  No ink bled through to the back when I tested it, and there was little show through. 
Drying time is slow, so lefties such as myself have to be extra careful not to smudge.





Fountain pen drawing
I decided to really lay down the fountain pen ink, and used my Preppy and Lamy Safari to color portions of a zentangle®-inspired piece.   I used a gray Fabrico marker pen for the shading and a Micron pen for the line work.

Do you see the ruled lines?  You probably do now, but had you noticed them before I asked?

This is the back of the page.  There was a little bleed-through where I really saturated the paper with the Diamine Chocolate Brown. I wouldn't hesitate to draw or write over it.


Water-soluble markers
I had started writing on a previous page, and then realized my pen was almost out of ink.  I decided to color over the writing with Distress markers.  These markers can be blended with water, but are fairly 'wet' even if you don't.   I've found the colors with these markers are quite different according to the paper used.  In the 1951, they are bright but not brilliant.  With the first layer of color, you do get overlapping lines.  These can be avoided by using circular motions, or by applying a second layer of color.

White gel pen was used for the highlights.  

Below, you can see that there was almost no show-through and only a few tiny points of bleed-through.



Gel Roller Ball pen

This was done while sitting while I was waiting for my mother at the dentist's.  I used Pentel Energel X Roller Ball pens.  I was holding two coats and two purses in my lap, while holding a baggie full of pens, and balancing the 1951 on top of the purses.  Proof that this notebook is light and flexible enough for on the go work in less than excellent conditions.  

Overall:
The 1951 notebook is heavier and sturdier than it looks (to my eye, anyway).  I like the heft and feel of it, and find myself holding and flexing it absent-mindedly.  The motion makes a flapping noise when you do that, so my husband has given me the evil eye for doing it, lol!   Am I the only one who is drawn to a notebook because of the way it feels in hand?

The ink-drying time is a bit slow, and I'd recommend choosing a pen with quick drying ink if you intend to write quickly, as in taking notes.  

There is no drag or jittering as you write or draw, which means less work for the hand.  

The cover is elegant without flash, and would look equally at home in the office, on a school desk, or in the art room.

Giveaway:


First off, an apology.  Due to the recent increase in postage rates, this giveaway is U.S. only.  I'm really sorry about that, but international postage costs more than the giveaway items!

I'm giving away one of the 1951 notebooks that I received from Exaclair, Inc.  I'm adding a Rhodia Uni-blank top-stapled sketchbook and a set of three Micron pens.


Giveaway starts midnight PDT 3/25/13 and end midnight PDT 4/1/13.  Winner will be announced on 4/2/13.
To enter, just leave a comment below, that includes a method of contact.


You can find a list of Clarefontaine Retailers at the Exaclair website.

Comments

  1. Love your artwork! It's fabulous.

    Marilyn
    mcgoo4(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  2. You make the simplest things just pop! Beautiful work, as always. Would love a chance to win the above items. One can never have enough surfaces to draw on!!!
    Jean C
    jeanchaneyazatgmaildotcom

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  3. Your work is stunning! What a wonderfully detailed review. Many thanks for the chance to win! You are quite the inspiration.
    Sue Brailey
    wahini97 at yahoo dot com

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  4. i love your work wish i could do the same.

    chunsan _at_gmail_dot_com

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  5. Love love love your zentangle work.....awesomeness!!!
    Crystal

    bowlergirl61(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank you for doing another give-a-way. I love coming to your site and looking at your art work. The colored one you did today is glorious.

    My email is thunderheart45@hotmail.com

    Joyce

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  7. Sandra, you are simply amazingly awesome! I love your artwork. I love your reviews. I love your giveaways. I love you! Thank you so much for all you do for all of us! What would we do without your inspiration?!
    angie g
    createdbyangie at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  8. This is my first visit to your blog. I'll be honest - I came for the giveaway! But don't worry, I'll be back!
    LesleyS-G
    l.scottgillilan at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Yay! Thanks for the great giveaway and review! Wow, I love that Cheetah image you drew. Love all the colors! :D

    etherealvoices (at) gmail (dot) com

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  10. As always your work is awesome Sandra! I would love to win one of these notebooks, especially the 1951 book.

    barbaramoore28@yahoo.com

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  11. You write such great reviews. Thank you for sharing them with us. You are the queen of giveaways. Aloha

    Lois

    stokesatlavadotnet

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  12. I only buy notebooks that feel good in the hands...that's part of the experience! Thanks for the chance to win one :o) -tanglebucket at gmail dot commm.

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  13. great fun...kayred at cox dot net

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  14. Sandra, thanks for another chance to win a great giveaway!!

    webster@harbornet.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi Sandra! Looks like a good little journal! Would love to own this!
    Janice H
    cojanzen(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  16. Hello Sandra, the paper sounds nice and smooth for doodling on. You're right, in your doodle drawing, I did not notice the lines of the paper and the fact that it hardly bleeds through with markers, nice! :) Really great giveaway! Thanks for sharing!
    artfrenzy68atgmaildotcom

    ReplyDelete
  17. cool giveaway! pinkijj@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I love your reviews and thanks for the chance to win!

    rabbitsthree@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. WOW. I love the drawing you did with the gel pens!! It has a kitty :) Thank you for the chance to win :)
    azizah.asgarali at gmail dot com

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  20. I really like Rhodia notebooks. Always love a new notebook for drawing! Thanks for keeping us up to date on the cool stuff out there! texasdoxiemama@yahoo.com

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  21. Thanks for the giveaway, Sandra. Your work is always inspiring!
    craboin -at- chartermi -dot- net

    Cari

    ReplyDelete
  22. Sandra, you are so generous to share your bounty!

    Thank you for the reviews and inspiration!


    ____ Anet (knittingnetty@gmail.com)

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  23. great review as usual! would love to win.

    shirleymccarty57@yahoo.com

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  24. Thanks for a great chance to win and an even bigger thanks for sharing all that you do! LOVE your artistry and everything you share. kaborus@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Wow, love how the lines do seem to disappear....thanks for the opportunity to win!

    Jennifer at thestampaddict dot com

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  26. Nice looking notebook! If I am lucky enough to win (fingers crossed) please feel free to leave one of you inspiring doodles on any page! I love your work! cathycusson54@gmail.com

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  27. Sandra you do the most unique things with pens and ink, markers and other colorants and you are an amazing artist.
    Thank you for this generous giveaway which I would Love to win.
    If the paper is a silky in the 1951 journal then I would love to draw and zentangle in that, or journal, or whatever looks good in there.

    Thanks again for the giveaway.
    Dorothy
    craftydr@mindspring.com

    ReplyDelete
  28. I'd love to win this awesome journal. I'm fairly new to Zentangle, but I've doodled for a long time, and find that it is so very relaxing and fun at the same time. Thank you for the awesome giveaway!

    Carrie Lynn
    angwife73@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  29. Awesome review! Your artwork is amazing!

    Thank you,

    Terri Brown
    brown2936@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. You inspire me...constantly. I have to admit, I stalk your blog, lol! Would love in on this giveaway!
    ps...thanx for the lead on the Tangle 'notebooks'...ordered 4 and they are awesome...other tanglers are coveting my new discovery!
    Regards
    Nicki
    nicki_sew@msn.com

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  31. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  32. So glad to see I am not the only one who gets excited by notebooks and pens. LOL. I love your cheetah.
    eunique53@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  33. Fun giveaway but I loved your post and the story about waiting for your mother at the dentist's office. I love those pens for journaling and adding color to doodles or Zentangle tiles. Thanks for your generosity! minette@minetteriordan.com

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  34. thanks for the chance...!! eclairre(AT)ymail(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  35. Thanks for a chance to win these goodies Sandra! My contact info is crotnem@gmail.com
    I have a feeling you'll pick me!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Thanks for all the work you put into the reviews. I really love the journal and the micron pens. cherokee410@kc.rr.com

    ReplyDelete
  37. Thanks for all your reviews - many times they hit just as I am preparing to make
    a selection - so glad you take time to review the products. aztangler@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  38. Thanks for inviting. This is my first time doing this. Your work are Awesome!!!

    ReplyDelete

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