Sooo I have an update into the sticker-fp friendly mystery!!! I concluded that the Moleskines that come with that blue sticker AND with that calligraphy type of motif on the sticker are the fountain pen friendly ones! The ones that are the same color but have different motifs are not. The absolute horrendous paper quality is with the stickers that have a motif with straight lines (not plant motif, not calligraphy motif etc). I'm not sure if the calligraphy motif comes in other colors though and if it means the same as the blue !

sock knitting is so satisfying. The wool socks I knit are my favorite to wear.

I love your rambly videos. It's like catching up with a very good friend.

One of the things I do with my Notebook, if I am making a notebook of poetry, is the backside of the page is for the poem, and the front side of the page is what triggered my thoughts when making the poem, that what I can remind myself of the symbolism I am trying to invoke, and see if I was successful or not.

I learned to knit top down socks from a YT series of videos from Simply In Stitches called Beginner Sock Tutorial English Knitting Tutorial on KZfaq on 9" Circulars. It's 9 parts. She uses a free pattern from The Unapologetic Knitter called My Favorite Vanilla Socks and it's such an awesome pattern. My husband and I both love it. The heel is reinforced. I'd recommend a german twisted cast on (Andrea Mowry on YT has a great tutortial.) The only part of socks I don't like and why I eventually want to learn toe up is kitchener stitch. It's my knitting nemesis.....😂

Winter lima Bean vs. summer string Bean! I've bought multiple covers from Strideridge, and every single one is lovely. As a seasoned knitter please let me encourage you to knit socks and gloves. They're really not hard, and you'll be so happy to have socks and gloves that actually fit properly!

Thanks for sharing your life with your viewers. We appreciate everything you do

I wonder if we all want to be you, sharing our journals, pens, bags, Knives like you do. So fun. Also, I checked my Moleskin journal which has been fountain pen friendly & sure enough, BLUE Sticker!!! Merry Christmas.

Hello, love your videos. I stumbled upon one of them and have enjoyed watching some of your other videos. I love bags, backpacks, reading, writing and knitting/crocheting. I was so happy to see someone that thoroughly enjoys paper and pens and just notebooks and journals in general. Love to see that i’m not alone. Please keep doing your videos…❤love them all. You seem like a kind gentle spirit and that is just what the world needs 😍

I have really enjoyed so many of your videos around fountain pens and then journals. Now I find your love of knives and wow! So grateful to have found your channel!

You are just so cool. I’m always so inspired after watching your videos!

You’re a perfect example of how being interesting and curious about the world is the most attractive characteristic.

Ooohh sock knitting is so addictive. I started over 5 years ago and haven’t looked back! KZfaq videos are super informative to get you started.

Aaaaand another book I put on my virtual TBR pile. :')

You should definitely take that sock knitting class. Since you already rock the double needles, have them teach you to use 2 circulars for socks. I find it much less fiddly than all those double points. It also makes trying on the socks easier as you’re working them. I will, many times, do a full pair of socks at one time using this method. Happy knitting 🧶

This reminds me I've been meaning to make a video about my own backpacks lol. I love bags, too, and was very wary of switching from my trusty crossbodies to backpacks, but now that I'm about a year in with just wearing backpacks, I find it incredibly difficult to wear anything else. Backpacks are just so convenient, can hold more, and are TOTALLY out of the way when I'm out and about. Love them! Have a happy holiday and new year!!!

You're very resourceful and informative. I continue to attend the University of AdventureDenali. All the best.

What a fun video! Seemed like a good wrap up for the year. Love Strideridge! I have a notebook cover and a pen case by them. Such nice quality leather. I also really like some of the Ferris Wheel Press inks (lots of CanCon in this video! Both of those companies are from the Toronto area.) Winter bean is an adorable floof. The recipients of those gifts are very lucky... Happy Holidays!

I love the Winwick Mum Sockalong as a detailed sock knitting tutorial!!

Sock knitting is great! All of my winter socks are hand-knitted and colorful, warm and comfy. They make great presents. You can get 4-, 6- and 8-ply sock yarn and most are even washing machine friendly. I knit with 5 double pin needles. It was weird at first, but it’s really easy.

Oh, Alicia, you are going to LOVE knitting socks! Turning a heel the first time feels like magic and you wonder why it ever seemed to difficult and mysterious before you did it. Full disclosure, though: when I knit socks I use teeny double-pointed needles, a set of 4 or 5 depending on ow fiddly want to be. I never learned Magic Loop or knitting socks with 2 short circulars or knitting two socks at once. You may prefer one of those methods. But do give the lessons a try!

I discovered Dingbats this year. I had no idea how fountain pen friendly it would be, and they’re an eco-friendly company.

I have three Strideridge covers in that color and I love them - one for the Stalogy B6, an A6 and a Hobonichi Weeks.

Ha I’m feeling the ‘winter bean’ vibes myself this winter! I like to think by summer I’ll be string bean ready! 👙😂

Merry Christmas to you, too, Alicia! -- loved the "stories" of string Bean and Winter Bean. I had no idea they'd change that much. I've avoided Moleskine because of the uncertainty. It'll be interesting if the blue tags are a reliable clue; of course, even that doesn't help if they're tucked inside the back pocket and sealed inside a plastic cover. Nice knives!

I love knives. I carry one of my collection in my purse that the vendor told me was enough knife to skin a moose. I’m not into that but I carry the knife for it’s function, beauty, and pack-around ability. Have a great 2023!

I don’t actually know if you’ve done a video like this, but can I suggest a bean video? I’d love to see you hold him more because it’s adorable! And see what he gets up to in a day. Watch him eating and other “bean” things. I’d love that! Thank you so much ❤️ Happy New Year! ✨🐸🍄

Fun video. I think you will really enjoy knitting socks. I live in a cold climate and have lost count on how many pair I have made, fun to knit and even better to wear😊. A note for you since you love to camp, if you are going to put your feet near a fire, be sure there is no nylon in your sock yarn. Nylon can melt to your foot.

Merry Christmas to all those you love. I hope you stay warm these days. News about the cold getting down even to southern USA have spread even in Europe. I hope, you'll be fine and have a good time during Holydays.

Wait until you get to Ytterby in Sweden! I used to carry a Fox Rambler knife on my watch strap when in the military or out hiking as it was always easy to access when I just needed to cut something small quickly. My nephew who is a ski instructor now puts it to good use. And Merry Christmas!!

Happy holidays to you too! Thank you for all the videos this year, one of the highlights of my week.

I love knitting socks!! Not hard once it clicks in your head. When you turn your first heel you'll be amazed at the magic!!!!

I started following you after your pen and ink reviews, because I like to journal and hike. Now I realize you also collect knives too! I’m just starting that journey as well. Super interesting

I love you rambles. Merry Christmas to you and Brian and Happy New YEAR BLESSINGS

Lovely rambles 👍thanks for sharing

Merry Christmas! Enjoyed seeing Bean and some of your favorite things!

First time I have seen Bean. He is so adorable!

I love my TWSBI pens for their smoothness and ink capacity, but I adore my Kaweco pens for their size, portability, and effortless writing. I now have a syringe and have started refilling cartridges with bottled inks. I’ve never heard of cartridge plugs though.

Blessed Christmas Alicia!!! Love your ramblings cause they are so personal and also informative!!🤩🤩🤩

I've heard you say it before, but I'm still surprised you don't use the backsides of the pages! Like, what? I've always used the backside of all the pages in all my journals, and now I'm wondering if it's just me who's the odd one. Happy new year!

I love these rambling videos so much! I also ❤️❤️ the winter Bean! Merry Christmas to all of you!🎄🎄

I'm getting the sense you either already are, or are working towards being, a "renaissance" person -- pens, inks, papers (all of a one), knives, hunting, knitting etc.!

I’ve also returned to knitting after taking a break. Knitting hats is one of my faves, it’s easy and gratifying, whether you make it as a gift for self or others! Lovely video.

The book, pen and other collections are magnificent, thank you for sharing!

Merry Christmas to you and your family!!! It’s been a great year. Looking forward to the adventures of 2023!!!

You really are one of my favorite humans, Alicia. ❤ Even with your random rambles, it just feels like catching up with a dear friend. Wishing you all the very best in 2023! Thank you for sharing the Etsy seller too. I'm just finishing my current Leuchtturm and wanted to try the expanded moleskine next. Even more so now that there's a cover to be had! Thank you as always!

I've been bingeing your videos while I work this afternoon. I found you because I was looking at Kaweco videos. It's lovely to have made your acquaintance on here! I enjoy your style, and we have a lot of stationery crossover!

My daughter knits socks for me for every holiday. I have a collection of beautiful socks. I’m hoping a hat is coming soon. ❤ I always love your videos. I’m still using my Maverick A5 I bought after seeing yours a few years ago. I also love knives and own several with lovely blades and handles. Thanks for sharing so much! Happy 2033!

When knitting hats and things in the round I discovered the magic loop method. I find it to be much easier than double pointed needles. Happy holidays and happy new year. Love the random ramble.

I love your videos! And Rambly's my middle name so you're in good company! 😄 As someone who loves slouchy beanies and has somewhere in the vicinity of 30-ish, yours is fantastic! I'm sure the recipient loved it/will love it! I deal with cold hands too (not sure why because the rest of my body has always gotten warm very easily - too much at times!). Anyway, I recently purchased some fingerless gloves from Barefoot Dreams and they're wonderful! Thanks so much for taking the time to make these videos. Wishing you & Brian a fantastic 2023!

Merry Christmas to you! Very interesting about the quality control sticker on moleskine expanded. Mine is gray and not fountain pen friendly so your friend seems to be on to something! I love mine and use it daily.

Very enjoyable video! Happy Holidays Love and Memorable Wishes Alicia, Brian, Bean, Fig, & Dot X 🙏🎅🤶🎄⭐🎁

I just found your channel and what a delight! I’m so happy it popped into my suggestions feed. Like so many others have said, you will love sock knitting! It was one of the first things I learned to knit and is so totally addicting. I’ve found knitting the toe up method with a magic cast on is the way to go. You can size the socks as you work up the foot and never have to worry about running out of yarn before they’re finished. The height of your sock is dependent on the amount of yarn you have. Good luck to you. I’ll be looking forward to following your progress.

"I made a video on the ink carrying capacity of pens" I thought, omg, this lady is kinda weird but in a nice way. I subscribed. :)

A Renaissance woman. Thank you, and, Happy New Year!

Ok, had to stop it at 5:05 to say: a) If I had to pick just one pen to keep forever, it would be my Kaweco AL Sport rose gold. I totally get what you mean about the tactile experience. The weight of it and nib are just wonderful in my hand! Just have to remember to check the ink level regularly so I don’t get stuck at work with it running dry (not that I don’t have at least one other FP with me at most times 😂) b) I too refill cartridges and NEED to find those brass stoppers so I can carry them around. Fantastic! P.S. Always have my small pocket knife with me at all times. Super helpful in so many situations, except the times I have forgotten to take it off my key ring before heading to the airport for a flight (which has happened more than once 🤦🏻‍♀️)

Oh bean...you floppy weasel..haha your videos are always soo cozy and calming...after a crazy few days and many troubles regarding the weather..I think I can finally relax a little.

I love that you collect knives as well as pens. I also have a collection that I'm now inspired to share. Moleskines I agree are nostalgic and I will always use them no matter what papers I have in rotation because I enjoy their history. Take care, thanks so much for sharing and happy holidays!!!

your writing is so beautiful, I love your Ferret and your hair! just discovered you and I can't wait to see all your other videos

The moleskine quality is inconsistent but when you get a good one it is AWESOME

I love "The Disappearing Spoon." It is a great book and it doesn't require that the reader be a scientist or engineer. On the topic of knitting in the round... Have you ever tried using two circular needles instead of double points? That's what I use for socks, mittens and hats. There are a ton of YT videos on how to use 2 circs for projects. On the journal/fountain pen topic... I used Moleskine notebooks for years until I started using fountain pens. I have tried all sorts of notebooks since. The ones I found that I like the best are the Dingbats notebooks. They are very fountain pen friendly. If you haven't tried them, I highly recommend them. Anyway, thanks for an enjoyable video to watch on a day when it's only 2°F outside at the moment.

Fun video! I love Damascus Steel, but the closest I own is a Rainbow cap on a Parker 61. I also enjoyed your backpack discussion. I found a great backpack as far as size, but it only lasted a few months as far as zipper. I haven't found what I'm looking for (sounds like a song!).

Kaweco and Opinel! I think we could be friends, and this is my first time watching your video (the title tickec all my boxes: journals, pens, knives, backpacks, plus random rambling 😅) 😄

Very positive energy you have. Also, you have a contagious smile. It really is a fantastic smile. Never change it. :)

Oh! For a bigger hiking backpack check out the REI ruckpack. Or Millican smith roll pack (british brand). They have some nice earthy plain colours you might prefer than the usual hiking bag aesthetic.

Merry Christmas to everyone! I have a Moleskine expanded, I prefer the soft cover and wear it in my Writer's Bank Bag from Galen Leather for now, because as you said: who knows how the next one will be? I can't remember, if it had had the blue mark, but it behaves wonderful with all my EF and F nibs and with all my Diamine Inks (and I have a lot of them:) even with the shimmery ones). BUT ! Big issues with stub nibs, Noodler's and Pelikan Edelstein inks. Leuchtturm1917 stays my all-time favourite. Stay safe and happy new year!

I have the exact StrideRidge Moleskine Expanded cover! It's really nice. I believe StrideRidge Leathers is in Ontario? It's my new little buddy in my backpack 😀

You: “I made a video on this bag years ago...” ... “I thrifted this bag years ago...” Me: “Wow. Have I been watching you for THAT long?!?” 🤯 I’ve lost most of my concept of time in the last 8 years and it always shocks me whenever a KZfaqr says something like that and I’m sitting back saying, “Yeah, I remember that video. Wait... That was from 3 or 4 years ago?!? I thought it was from... like... the beginning of THIS year!!!” 🤯🤯🤯😅🤷🏻‍♀️💙💙💙

All very vice >>>> Thank you

You inspired me to get a leather cover for a pocket Moleskine size- I always use their pocket diary (whereas I switch journal brands sometimes). Bought from an independent seller in Ukraine - feels good to give them my business even though it will take longer to arrive.

Another female knife lover! I have the same Opinel and I absolutely love it so much that I have two of them. One I carry with me pretty much all the time, the other is in my camping tool kit. I’ve also inherited several Damascus blades from my dad, all made by a knife maker he knew.

I'm really glad you shared about the blue label thing in the moleskines. I recently bought a Sojourner cover secondhand from Mercari for only $40 and it's meant for the expanded moleskine. Here I was figuring I would just cut down some A5 journals to fit since I exclusively use fountain pens. You may have given me more options now that I may be able to find a moleskine for it.

18:55 - well said!

Most of my knives stayed behind when I moved because the knife laws here in the UK are stricter even than NYS. My favorite flipper is legal here, though I don't carry it. It's a Kaizer Contrail. It's a cute little sheep's foot blade that has the most satisfying feel and sound when you open it. The one that gets carried is my Leatherman Squirt. I've had that one going on 10 years and it has been a constant companion. It flips out into a tiny pair of pliers that have seen lots of use. I have tried knitting before and gotten most of the way through a sock before losing interest. You are braver than I am, not using caps on your needles. I am more of a crocheter, and one of my purchases with my Christmas money is a kit to make my first plush.

Thank you for all your content, Alicia. I have two Moleskine notebooks at home. One with a blue sticker, which works ok with fountain pen inks. The other one has a orange sticker and the paper is aweful. Also this one unlike the other one does noch unravel at all.

Oh bean 🥰🥰🥰🥰 0:39

I found you because I was a teen who loved your BJD’s on Insta. I didn’t know you had a YT channel and you love all the things I love. It was a sweet winter surprise now that I am an adult. It brought back some fond memories and I’m so happy to see how beautiful and happy you are ❤

Have a wonderful Christmas

I love Opinel and Sarenmu knives.

Such a good video. I bought 3 moleskines hoping to get a fountain pen friendly one and didnt have any luck. Orange and gray quality control tags. Do you have any advise on how to get the blue tag? Or is it all luck? They are expensive for luck.

New to your channel, love the product reviews. In regards to your knife collection, have you ever heard of Myerchin knives. If not, you might like to check them out. I have been using a gen2 rigging folder as a general utility/work knife for decades. It holds an edge well and the spike is amazingly useful.

Love this video and love the coach bag!!! Is it a brown or black leather? Hope you have a wonderful holiday too ☺️

Merry Christmas Alicia! May God bless you and yours!

happy new year

I love winter Bean

One of my cats does the “winter weight” thing, by about half a kilo!

The hat you're making is lovely! I love the colors - and what a great idea to make it in blocks of color like that. It looks so good. It looks like you are twisting your stitches - was that intentional? I say this because the ribbing seems to be biasing somewhat, and that's common for twisted rib. I've never made this pattern before, so I have no idea what kind of ribbing it uses. :)

“A couple of hunts”???

You got a new sub

Opinel are great knives. The no. 7 and no. 8 are a great size and very inexpensive.

Ohh knives! Could you recommend one for mushroom foraging? :)

Hi, thank you for your lovely channel. This is my first time commenting and as i sit here knitting a hat I wanted to suggest using the magic loop method instead of double pointed needles. This may feel less clunky for you 🙂.

Do you know what the catalygraphy nib is called that I think might be brass but it's kind of shaped like a bullet

Have you tried magic loop for when you’re knitting smaller in the round?

Great summary of the year! I especially loved the bags, I love the quirky “basket” bag. Do you care to share your favorite KZfaq channels of the year?

But... How do you know it's a fountain pen friendly moleskine before you buy it and unwrap it?? Is there some type of marking on the label? Or do you just buy one and hope it has a blue sticker in it?

The blue sticker may be accurate, but I'd like to know why different Moleskine journals have different colored stickers? Are they put on according to the country the paper comes from? Moleskine outsources its paper to at least three countries, and some say four countries. I suspect that's how you know which ones are fountain pen friendly. If I had to take a wild guess, with nothing much behind it, my guess would be that the Moleskine s with paper from Vietnam are the good ones. The only reason I say this is that I've used some very cheap highly fountain pen friendly paper that were made in Vietnam. I would love to know if blue stickers and Vietnam match up. I've never heard the Opinel called a "picnic" knife, but it doesn't surprise me. It's said to be the only knife owned by kings and by peasants. I've had the 8 for years, but I own the carbon steel version because carbon steel just works best in the wilderness. You strike a piece of flint with it, and sharpen it on a river rock. Two things you hope never to have to do, but when in the wilderness, you just never know. All my knives except my Swiss Army Knife are carbon steel. I carry the Swiss Army around town, and it plush a large Case XX Stockman when in the wild. And a Ka-Bar belt knife, a tomahawk, and a pocket saw. The holy trinity of the wild, a knife, a axe/hatchet/tomahawk, and a saw. In more civilized settings, my belt know is a folding Buck 110. In the shortest way I can explain it, the difference between camping and bushcraft is that in bushcraft you learn to start a fire with flint and steel, with a bow drill, with a hand drill, etc. You also make many things with a knife, ranging from a spoon to a pot hook, and all sorts of other things. You also learn to make shelters, learn the things that are good to eat, and those that are poison. One of the simplest facts that's good to know is that pine needle "tea" is extremely high in vitamin C, and I like the taste. A lot of fun, and good skills to have.

how is your zorali backpack?

🤓👍

Aw, I checked all of my used Moleskine (~10), none of them had the blue quality control sticker...!!! 😩 Where are these batches?! Hahaha I like the paper either way, however, so I keep buying more 😆