Handwriting Makes You Smarter

MS Handwriting Extinct 1

In the September 2013 issue of Martha Stewart Living, there was an article title “Is Handwriting Becoming Extinct?” written by Joanne Chen. The article dives more deeply into the psychological, brain development and creative benefits of writing than I would normally expect from a newsstand magazine usually focused on home decor and recipes. It discusses several scientific studies that researched the advantages of writing on cognitive development, memory and comprehension.

What we here all know, that writing helps us think, organize and remember (“I’m writing it down to remember it now”), is clearly a scientifically proven fact, one that we should help to nurture in ourselves and in others. Digital doesn’t solve everything and might be making up even more forgetful.

I would love to share a link to the article but I could not find it on the Martha Stewart web site. Maybe when the October issue is published, they will post the article on their site. In the meantime, the September issue is on newsstands (the article is on page 158) as well as being available from the iTunes newsstand for $3.99. The issue is the How-To edition with lots of organizational tips which might appeal to you as well.

MS Handwriting Extinct 1

Ballpoint Showdown Follow-Up #2 (Giveaway winner and comments)

First, I want to thank everyone who commented and posted questions.

Debmohn2013 asked for a comparison of the blue ink versions of these pens so I’ve added that to my to-do list. Look for that in the coming weeks.

Phillip Kallenburg asked why I didn’t talk about the feel of the barrel in my hand. Phillip, since these pens are available in a multitude of different configurations like multi-pens, silicone barrel retractables and even as refills, I decided that it was a very mutable aspect. The Vicuna, Acroball and Surari were all almost identical retractables with a “padded” grip style. The Acroball uses a ridged silicone which was the squishiest. The Surari has a firmer rubber grip but still felt nice in the hand. The Vicuna is more of a matte textured plastic with undulating ridges in the grip area and the hardest of the three. The Jetstream I used is a plain, smooth plastic barrel. Does that help?

*Wisher*, remember the Acroball does not dry quickly on coated postcard and greeting cards stocks but works great on plain papers.

Zoe, I didn’t like ballpoint pens either. I mean I REALLY didn’t like them. These pens changed my mind. I think you should definitely try them out. If you don’t like them, you can make a friend or co-worker happy by passing them along.

And finally… the winner of the $25 Gift Certificate from Jet Pens is…

Screen Shot 2013-08-24 at 12.13.17 PM

Screen Shot 2013-08-24 at 12.16.22 PM

And its Jackie from Addicted to Pens And Paper! Congrats! You should receive your gift certificate via email this weekend.

Thanks again to everyone who entered and if you haven’t seen the advertisements for each brand of pens, check out yesterday’s post!

Kaweco Fantasie Fountain Pen

51406

There is a new Kaweco fountain pen to ogle. Its called the Fantasie Fountain Pen. There’s a ballpoint option available as well and the refill is actually listed as a G2 and looks like a standard Parker-style refill. It’s designed with a raw brass body designed to accept decorative FIMO dough to the exterior. I love the raw brass and suspect that in its natural state, the pen should patina beautifully but I’m intrigued about the idea of wrapping a pen with FIMO dough (a type of polymer clay that can be hardened in the oven). It would give the pen a very different feel in the hand and would be one-of-a-kind.

The Kaweco Fantasie Fountain pen retails for $54.50 and the ballpoint for $40.50.

51408

Video: Hybrid Ballpoint Follow-Up

After writing my reviews of the hybrid ballpoints, I found an ad for the Pilot Acroball that sort of horrified my senses. So then I had to look further to see if Pentel, Uni Ball or Zebra stooped to similar stereotypes. So I’ve collected them all for you here.

Seriously? This is another Bic For Her travesty (read the reviews for entertainment). Shame on you, Pilot.

This Uni Jetstream video just sells the pens and stops trying to stereotype all women as shopaholics with a penchant for matching their pen to their outfits.

Both Surari and Vicuna features ice skating as a metaphor for the pens’ smoothness. Points to Surari for weirdness of the ice skating zebra.

Judged entirely based on the promotional videos, I give the lead to Zebra Surari. Runner-up is Uni Jetstream but they lost first place because of the goofy music.

How would you rate these? Are you more or less compelled to buy any of these pens?

Poppin 18-month Planner

Poppin 18-month planner

Poppin has introduced a new line of 18-month planners in the classic A5 (5×8.25″) size. The books feature the same flexible leatherette covers, orange ribbon bookmark, gusseted pocket in the back and paper stock as their journal notebooks. What makes these different is the 236 pages of planning pages printed in a graduated ink color. The first pages are printed in bright cyan blue and the color slowly shifts as you got through the months to citrus green. This color shift is accented by the coordinating end papers — cyan in the front, lime in the back.

The planner starts with a list of US holidays and then features a 2-page monthly calendar followed by week-at-a-glance pages, starting with Monday. The right hand page features lines for note taking. Towards the back are extra pages including lined, a dotted line grid (not grid and not dot grid but a hybrid of the two), a map of the US, a celestial map, and a few pages with a “face grid”.

Poppin 18-month planner

Lightly debossed on the cover is the dates “13 14” and the Poppin logo, all very subtle. The planner is also available with Pool Blue covers like my notebook and back. All planners have color coordinated elastics.

Poppin 18-month planner, inside view

18-month planners are $15 each and available directly from Poppin.

I’m mid-planner right now but am seriously considering buying a Poppin planner for 2014. Its been unwrapped from the cellophane but is unused. How about if I give this one away to a lucky reader? Someone just headed back to school or hoping to get organized before 2014?

Tell me how you’d get organized with this spiffy planner in the comments to be entered to win.

FINE PRINT: All entries must be submitted by 10pm CST on Sunday, August 25, 2013. All entries must be submitted at wellappointeddesk.com, not Twitter, Tumblr or Facebook, okay? Winner will be announced on Monday. Winner will be selected by random number generator from entries that played by the rules (see above). Please include your email address in the comment form so that I can contact you if you win. I will not save email addresses or sell them to anyone — pinky swear. Shipping via USPS first class is covered. Additional shipping options or insurance will have to be paid by the winner. We are generous but we’re not made of money.

Link Love: The Gossip Edition

The Gossip:

  • There’s been some big news around The Pen Addict and a soon-to-be-launched Kickstarter project under the name Nock Co.
  • There’s rumors that following the success of the RETRAKT, Karas Kustoms might be making something fountain pennish. You didn’t hear it from me.
  • Field Notes 18-month wall calendar is available and it won’t be long before the #20 in the Colors Editions will be announced. Find out more about Field Notes and its co-creator Jim Coudal on this week’s CMD+Space podcast.
My darling friend Sandi did this fabulous sketch and kindly included the pens she used -- the ever handy Sakura Pigma Microns
My darling friend Sandi did this fabulous sketch and kindly included the pens she used — the ever-handy Sakura Pigma Microns. 

Now back to our regularly scheduled program: