What’s in my The Superior Labor Utility Leather Case? | stationery essentials long-term review ep. 2

[@jartecus]

I appreciate these long term reviews! It’s always so nice to see something that a person has used and gotten familiar with before doing a review ^^

[@LittleCocoStudio]

Thank you! 💗 I enjoy watching them as well! It’s a really nice reflection exercise to see how it’s changed over time and it helps me appreciate it even more by the time I’ve finished trying to articulate my experience. 🥹

[@valeriemartin3506]

This utility case and the pen wallet are simply delicious! My favorite smell in the whole world is the smell of leather! It's really a shame that they are rarely ever in stock. BTW...your scissors are darling and very antiquated looking. Have you considered a small leather sheath to protect the point (and your case?) If you would rather look at a more contemporary pair, I would highly recommend the Cutter Bee (titanium blade if available) they are small, EXTREMELY sharp and precise (perfect for fussy cutting) AND the have a hard snap on cover to protect both the point and anything else. I have had my original pair (not titanium) for almost 20 years.

[@user-qj4dx4fc3n]

A much cheaper option might be the Lochby Venture pouch. it is a bit larger--long enough to hold unsharpened Blackwing pencils, which is a big plus for me. The Lochby is made of tough waxed canvas.

[@LittleCocoStudio]

Ooh! I just looked it up - they look nice and durable. I love the minimal design and I love the brown and navy colour ways. The black is nice, too. 😅 I’d feel comfortable tossing it around in my bag without stressing about marking the outside. Really nice that they fit Blackwing pencils as well!

[@user-qj4dx4fc3n]

@@LittleCocoStudio I can fill the Lochby with dozens of pencils, including Blackwings; a pencil sharpener, eraser, Muji scissors, a glue stick; two Caran D'Ache mechanical pencils; a sharpener for lead holders; a box of Montblanc ink cartridges; a short ruler; a Swiss Army pocket knife...and there's still room for more. Now, I personally keep my fountain pens in a separate pouch. I see the Lochby as one for pure utility. It is not as elegant as the Superior Labor, but more capacious and rugged.

[@LittleCocoStudio]

@@user-qj4dx4fc3n wow - that’s a lot!! 😍 Rugged and utilitarian sound like the perfect words to describe it. Sometimes, it’s nice to have things we don’t feel we have to stress over using it. I imagine it’d be pretty easy to clean as well if it’s primarily made with canvas!

[@user-qj4dx4fc3n]

@@LittleCocoStudio Probably easy to clean. The wax canvas texture is wonderful. The pouch can be used on a camping trip or at a European cafe. I love it. I like the leather of the Superior Labor too, don't get me wrong, but I've had a hard time justifying the price, especially because it falls just a little short of the size that I need for my Blackwings.

[@LittleCocoStudio]

@@user-qj4dx4fc3n I hear you! I had a bit of sticker shock when I bought it. I love it and don’t regret it, and - I would have benefitted from seeing it in person and maybe testing out a few of my taller pencils/markers. 😅

[@yureliplans]

Thanks for making these videos, this case is on my wishlist 🤩

[@LittleCocoStudio]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you are enjoying them. It's such a great case. Taking the time to slow down and "review" it has brought on a new appreciation for it. 🥰

[@shelbseroo]

I have the scissors that are "pen like" - super easy to use and are great because they don't take up a lot of space. I'd say theyre comparable in size in the hand to the ones you already have.

[@LittleCocoStudio]

Ooh! May I ask where you got those scissors? Apart from seeing a few other creators with them, I haven’t done proper research into where I can get them and how much they’d cost. ✂️

[@shelbseroo]

I got them at Amazon Japan, but I'm sure they're a million places - I got the Kokuyo Saxa Poche style. I liked the look of them slightly more than the Midori compact scissors. You can also find nice sets that come with a cover as well if you'd like to keep a regular pair of scissors but would like the blades covered. :)

[@LittleCocoStudio]

@@shelbseroo thank you so much!! This is helpful for getting me started. Down the rabbit hole I go 😅🐰💗

[@ladyamalthea85]

I've got scissors in my knitting supplies that have a lid and they're pretty easy on the fingers. Maybe have a look at sewing/crafting supplies to see if you find scissors like that. It does look like a very sturdy case. I have such a big collection of pouches 😂

[@LittleCocoStudio]

Thank you!! Find scissors with a lid would be amazing. I’ll show a look at sewing and crafting supplies. Thank you so much! I have collected my fair share of pouches over the years as well 😅😂

[@b1rdeee]

the pencil case i've used for years is the tsuki pop-up by a brand called notebook therapy, and i'm a big fan! it's definitely smaller than the utility case, but it's made to stand up on your workspace and i've found it to be super sturdy! I got mine as a gift, but looking online it seems like they have a lot of fun designs as well! My only real complaint would be that because the top part of mine is the pure white faux leather it has gotten pretty dingy over time. But structurally it's holding up great after years of use, and it's a relatively affordable alternative!

[@LittleCocoStudio]

Ooh! I have seen that style of pencil case before - it looks so functional! I love the muted colour options from the Tsuki / Notebook Therapy site! 😍 It would be really convenient for my markers, actually. 😅🤔 It’s impressive that it’s held up over the years, despite the top getting a big dingy!

[@b1rdeee]

@@LittleCocoStudio if you're ever in the market to try something new out I'd totally recommend it! I keep mine packed to the brim and it takes the abuse like a champ lol. The tallest markers I have in there right now are about 7 inches long and fit with room to spare, I think it would probably max out around 7.5", especially if you're filling it exclusively with things that size.

[@LittleCocoStudio]

@@b1rdeee thank you for the recommendation! It really does look like a fabulous option and I will keep it in mind if I’m looking for a taller option for my small (but not insignificant) Tombow collection. 🤔

[@LepantoLemonade]

The inside zipper pull isnt like the exterior knotting. It has more of a Tie loop which has one tail doing all the "work" looping.. which will make it slightly longer Im sure theres a knot name😅

[@LittleCocoStudio]

Ooh! Thank you! I’m going to investigate and try to find out what it was and how I can try to redo the knot. Now that you mention it, I remember it feeling like I was only pulling one tail, and it slipped out of the zipper. That’s what I wondered if I snapped it.

[@user-qj4dx4fc3n]

I keep going back and forth with this case. Is it really worth 240 smackers? I know that value is relative, but still...

[@LittleCocoStudio]

I don’t blame you for questioning its value - it is a pricey case! I think whether it’s worth it depends on what you value most, what you’d be using it for, and whether this need could be fulfilled with something else that you like just as much or better. 😅 If function as at the top of the list, I think it functions just as well as other cases except maybe it would last longer than other cases with lower quality hardware, material, etc. For how well it was made, how well it has held up, and my intentions for this to be the one case I use (I have no plans to swap it for something else, but I acknowledge things can change over time!), I didn’t mind splurging on it. If I thought there was a chance I’d get bored of it in less than a year and would likely switch cases around, I’d probably hold off. It’s a bit too much to spend (for me) if it were only going to be used occasionally. 😅

[@tamaralangenbach71]

Thank you for the review. I really love your videos. 🥰What colour is the pen wallet from Wonderpens?

[@LittleCocoStudio]

Thank you so much for your kind words! 🥺 The pen wallet is light brown!! 🤎

[@tamaralangenbach71]

@@LittleCocoStudio thank you for taking the time to answer! I wish you a lovely weekend 🥰

[@FountainPenNews]

I love Ali video days!!

[@LittleCocoStudio]

Ahh, thank you!!! I appreciate you! 🥰💗