Starting off, my true favorites are Clairefontaine Basic Notebooks. I love the leatherette cardboard covers and am thrilled with the new colors. I started off using the black lined ones many years ago after a visit to Pendemonium in Fort Madison, Iowa. I count Sam and Frank as personal friends and they have enlightened me on many things over the years. Not the least of which is a wonderful line of French made paper.
Many of the Basic Notebooks one will find in stores or websites will be lined paper. Last year I made a trip to the campus art store at the University of Illinois and found the large brown covered one you see in this picture with blank paper. I bought four of them as I knew they were a rare commodity.
My favorites in the Basic line are the small pocket notebooks. Their size is: 9 X 14 cm or 3 1/2 X 5 1/2 in. and have 92 pages/48 sheets. They so easily and conveniently fit in a pocket or small bag, perfect for fanny packs. I can't even begin to tell you how many different uses they have been put to in my life. You will most often find me with one of these on me. They are now being marketed and sold in a two pack and labeled Clairefontaine Basics - Life. unplugged
In my house there is always an assortment of Rhodia and Clairefontaine notebooks nearly anywhere you look. The dining room table, my desk, beside the bed, on the ottoman, stacked on the floor, or standing up in front of the bookshelves. Each and every one with a different use or subject. More of the spirals will start back to use very soon as I'm going to summer school this year to see if I can finally figure out how to do Algebra!
From the smallest No. 10 note pad to the giant No. 38 note pad there is always a need for paper in my life. Just can't beat the quality and consistency in these papers.
There is a really good comparison and explanation of the various papers used in these products on Rhodiadrive.com/2010/04/22/
