Grass Padrique | The Fabulous Scientist
In early 2023, I visited a museum, only slightly aware of fountain pens, and left completely changed, now excited by a newfound love for stationery that I never knew I needed!
At that time, I owned exactly one fountain pen: the Pilot Petit. It was cute. Pocket-sized. Innocent-looking. But I barely used it because it felt too small in my hand and wrote a little too dry for my liking. It was more “novelty” than “necessity.” Even my youngest son who enjoyed writing with fountain pen find it too cumbersome to write with.
Then I met a fountain pen connoisseur. She happens to be a fellow geologist’s daughter who visited the museum I was working in at the time with his family. I complimented her fountain pen and that started a conversation that was gonna put me into this rabbit hole.
We chatted (as pen aficionados are known to do in a slightly odd sort of way), and she launched into a passionate monologue about why fountain pens are her jam — the silky glide, the quirky characters of nibs, and how inks magically perform a color dance on premium paper. She playfully suggested I dive into some beginner-friendly brands and inks that wouldn’t leave me broke enough to start a GoFundMe. She even tossed out names of popular pens and inks made by local wizards. Little did I realize, I was already being “penabled,” as the geeky saying goes!
After that serendipitous encounter, I bought my first “proper” beginner fountain pen: the Lamy Vista with medium nib.
Reader, that was it.
The transparent body. The smooth steel nib. The generous ink flow. I was hooked.
One pen became several.
One ink bottle became… a drawer.
Eventually, I started writing reviews about the pens and inks I loved here on this blog.
But as every fountain pen user quickly learns: the pen is only 1/3 of the equation. The trifecta of handwriting involves: pen, ink, and paper.
Paper plays a significant role in the experience of handwriting, particularly when using a fountain pen; choosing the wrong type of paper can lead to disappointing outcomes. I understand how frustrating that can be, so today, I want to share the most affordable yet beautifully designed notebooks perfect for your journaling needs that will surely complement your favorite fountain pens.
My Current Favorite: IFEX Notebooks & Planner
I discovered about the International Fine Paper Exchange (IFEX) a few years ago during my first dive into watercolors as they are an official distributor of Canson and Fabriano papers. I have bought my watercolor papers and Winsor and Newton watercolor palettes from them. Last year was when I first tried their Paper Bar notebooks and planner when someone gave me these as raffle prize. I was so happy when I discovered that the pages were suitable for fountain pens! This year I’m particularly fond of their Florals and Verses planner and notebook series. They’ve become essential for my writing routine. The colorful designs inspire me, and the well-designed pages give me plenty of space for my thoughts. Every time I use them, I feel organized and inspired to write. The combination of style and practicality makes each writing session enjoyable, helping me plan my projects effectively while expressing my ideas freely!
Why I Bought Them (Let’s Be Honest — The Covers)
The Florals and Verses collection features watercolor artworks by local artist Jenny Flores. Soft florals. Watercolor textures. Elegant layouts.
If you love stationery that looks like it belongs on a café table next to your iced latte, these are dangerously collectible.
I’ve actually been collecting IFEX notebooks since last year because they regularly collaborate with Filipino artists. Supporting local creatives and feeding my stationery addiction? We call that cultural patronage.
This year, I got the entire Floral and Verses A5 and A6 notebook sets and one premium planner.
No regrets.
The Cover: Surprisingly Tough for Something Pretty
The planner is designed with a textured Starlin book cover that provides a satisfying tactile quality while maintaining durability. Despite being constructed of paper, it doesn’t wear easily. My previous IFEX diary withstood the rigors of travel, enduring extensive packing in bags with minimal wear. There was no peeling or bent corners; it remained in excellent condition. The A5 notebooks feature a thick frosted plastic cover and a double ring spiral binder. One of the floral notebooks paired so well with my Jinhao 20 retractable fountain pen (photo below).
The Real Test: Fountain Pen Performance
Now we get serious.
The premium planner’s pages are made of 100 gsm super ivory paper. They’re smooth — but not glassy. There’s just enough feedback to make writing satisfying without feeling scratchy. I’ve tested them with nibs ranging from:
- Extra Fine (EF)
- Fine
- Medium
- Broad
- Double Broad
And here’s the verdict:
✔ No ghosting
✔ No bleed-through
✔ Minimal to no feathering
✔ Beautiful ink shading
Even my juicier double broad nibs behave well. The ivory tone also adds warmth to ink colors, which makes everyday writing look slightly more intentional — almost like you meant for it to look aesthetic.
How I Use Mine (Why I Own So Many)
If you’ve ever walked into my workspace and wondered why there are multiple A5 notebooks stacked like I’m running a small stationery store — here’s why.
I assign one topic per notebook:
- Blog drafts and outlines (because my articles don’t just come from thin air)
- Future (or dream) business ideas to prepare myself for retirement (it’s a long time from now but let’s face it, it will happen someday, I need to be ready)
- Notes from scientific journals that pique my interest (learning doesn’t stop, not for me)
- Random thought spirals that show up at inconvenient hours
The A5 size is perfect: portable, but spacious enough for structured outlines and mind maps. On days when I just want to carry a small bag, I carry the A6 size notebooks that IFEX is selling for a set of 3 (image below). I like that these notebooks are thin and fit my small bags easily. I use this size for writing haikus, lists, and quick notes.
Because the paper handles fountain pen ink so well, I never hesitate to grab whatever pen is inked at the moment. No switching to a ballpoint “just in case.”
That small detail actually makes me write more. Below was my post in my IG account the day my first batch of notebooks arrived. Because the notebooks are so pretty, I bought all the other designs in the Florals and Verses series.
The Floral Premium Planner versus Starbucks Planner 2026
The premium version of the planner offers valuable features, including stickers that enhance junk journaling and improve the appeal of weekly spreads. Initially, I considered using my Starbucks planner for this year; however, I soon realized that its pages are too thin for effective fountain pen use. While it includes an aesthetically pleasing case and a practical ballpoint pen, the daily space provided is inadequate for my writing needs. As someone who often writes extensively, I frequently found myself running out of space in the Starbucks planner. Consequently, I now use it solely for brief highlights of my workday, while my Floral planner accommodates my more detailed personal planning and reflections.
Availability & Price (The Best Part)
IFEX notebooks are:
- Affordable – planner is on-sale now at only Php 260 while the A5 notebooks are less than 120 pesos each
- Available on major online selling platforms such as Lazada and Shopee
- Stocked in bookstores and art stores locally like the National Book Stores, Art Bar, and Pulp and Pigment, to name a few
For fountain pen–friendly paper at this price point, they’re honestly hard to beat.
No importing specialty notebooks.
No waiting weeks for shipping.
No anxiety about whether your ink will bleed through.
The planners and notebooks are currently on-sale when I checked IFEX’s Facebook page. I got my notebooks through Pulp and Pigment store and also via IFEX’s Lazada store. Below are photos of the current sale price of the notebooks and planner mentioned which I grabbed from the Facebook page. You will also see that these come in different sizes featuring watercolor florals by Jenny Flores, as mentioned. For the planner, I got the Lorie.
Final Thoughts
My fountain pen journey started with a tiny Pilot Petit and a random museum conversation. It deepened with the Lamy Vista. But it became sustainable when I found paper that could keep up.
A good fountain pen feels magical.
But a good notebook keeps you writing.
Right now, IFEX’s Florals and Verses series checks all my boxes:
- Local artist collaborations
- Durable covers
- Fountain pen–friendly paper
- Affordable and accessible
And if a well-designed notebook can survive my double broad nibs and at such an affordable price?
It deserves permanent desk space.
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