Notebooks, more and more!

Now Kokuyo Camlin has entered the Notebook market with a range of colourful notebooks, in two different sizes. 29.7 x 21 cms and 24 x 18 cms. The paper is 70 gsm, single lined. The bigger notebook has 164 pages while the smaller sized one has 124 pages.  The pages have margins and space for page numbers and dates.

The paper is decently smooth for writing.  Using fountain pens would probably make the ink bleed on the reverse though.

They are priced at INR 90 and INR 60 respectively, slightly steeper than other notebooks.

What I specially liked, are the rounded corners!!

My daughter will get to use the smaller version and I get to use the bigger ones!

Camlin Kokuyo, well done!

Glue Tape - Camlin Kokuyo vs. Fullmark

I discovered the joys of glue tape. It's just like correction tape, but instead, it's glue... very neat, easy to use, no mess at all and the best part is, sticks well forming a strong bond.

I used the Camlin-Kokuyo Glue Tape Roller, also called Dot Liner - it's a very cute little compact thing - can fit easily into a handbag or a purse, so it's very handy to use when on the move. 
This one retails at INR 50 but if you browse online you can find it for a lower price. I found mine on Firstcry.com for INR 40. Unfortunately, Amazon.in sells it for INR 50 + a whopping INR 90 for shipping. A bit ridiculous, I'd say.

When this one was out of stock in my favourite local store Warden, I looked for it elsewhere. No one had the Camlin Kokuyo one, but a store at Kemps Corner had Fullmark's Gluey Tape. This was a bit more expensive, at INR 65, but it gives 1 meter more of tape.
This one is not as good as the Camlin Kokuyo one, but it is still better than using a gluestick. Does the job.

Overall, I definitely prefer the Camlin Kokuyo one with it's very neat nicrodroplets of glue. But it's worth having the Fullmark one around, just in case you run out of the Camlin one.

Drawing Pencils - Camlin and Apsara

In India, I don't know if other pencil companies make drawing pencils - pencils of different grades, but Camlin and Apsara are two born-in-India companies that do. Apsara has been making them for as long as I can remember; I don't recall when Camlin joined in.

Camlin has the advantage of packaging - 6 different grades HB, 2B, 3B, 4B, 6B and 8B - in a cute cardboard box. Now that Camlin has merged with Japan's Kokuyo, the combined name is visible, but that's about all the difference. Good quality remains.

Apsara drawing pencils have always been fabulous; we used them in school for art work 30 years ago too. I don't think the pattern or colour of the lacquer has changed in all these years. I've not seen different grades available in a box; we have to buy them loose or buy a box of the same grade. That's a slight negative.  I love writing with the 4B - smooth and dark.