Want to join the ranks of Van Gogh, Matisse or Hemingway? The first step may be to get yourself some inspirational Moleskine notebooks, designed for artists of all stripes.
Pocket-sized, these notebooks are beautiful in their simplicity. The covers are bound oilcloth with a durable thread binding and with fine Italian acid-free paper pages inside. The last 16 pages of the notebook are detachable and there is a large pocket in the back to hold notes, etc.
Because they are so lightweight, they are easy to pack as travel journals or for note-taking at conferences. The notebooks will also proudly hold your creative meanderings whether they are story ideas, drawings, or just random thoughts. They are so nifty even using them for grocery lists raises shopping to a new level.
I learned about these notebooks from Suzie, my artist friend, who gave me one of the new cahiers which come in a set of three. Moleskins in various sizes and types are available at most bookstores and through the Internet by searching for moleskine.
By Teresa K. Flatley