The Well-Appointed Desk

Notebook Review: Princeton Architectural Press Observer’s Notebook: Weather

I have obtained notebooks over the years for various reasons – interesting paper, a beautiful cover, an interesting size or shape, a great sale, review purposes, gifts. I need very little convincing to pick up a new notebook that catches my eye and I was enchanted when I came across a new line of notebooks from Princeton Architectural Press called the Observer’s Notebooks.

Please excuse the stained cover – I’ve had this notebook for four years so far and it’s seen plenty of miles!

This is the Weather notebook. Other notebooks in the line up include Trees, Astronomy, Birds, Butterflies, and Home.

I purchased this notebook back in 2017 from Amazon (Princeton Architectural Press Observer’s Notebook: Weather ($18.95)). It is a bit of a strange size – 7.25 inches by 9.25 inches. It’s a hard cover notebook but still slightly flexible.

The paper ruling was what first caught my eye – the notebook is separated into several sections with each section using a different paper ruling.

Overall there are 10 uniquely ruled paper sections throughout the notebook – the last four pages are a ruling for weather observations:

Sections are separated by card stock dividers, each divider a print that somehow relates to weather.

While the illustrations delight me, the paper was a huge disappointment. Every fountain pen ink feathered terribly and bled through the page. Colors looked dull and even gel pens performed poorly although I did eventually find that Platinum Carbon Black worked well on the pages in an extra fine nib.

So what do you do with a notebook like this?

Crossword puzzles.

I have a lifelong obsession with crossword puzzles. It started with helping my father with them when I was only old enough to read the clues to him. But seeing his answers helped me to figure out the way the answers worked. I would try to solve the puzzle then check the answers the following day to learn even more. Eventually the practice started to pay off and I got into the habit of keeping the finished puzzle alongside the answers.

But a pile of old crosswords isn’t exactly something that keeps nicely long term. However, notebooks look great when used for storage.

The Observer notebook was a perfect for that collection of clipped crosswords with the answers kept in the back using a bit of glue. The hard cover is a welcome support for writing, the paper becomes a backdrop for doodling and I still get to enjoy the color prints between notebook sections. This notebook has been on my desk now for nearly four years and gets more use than many of my fountain pen friendly notebooks.

The lesson I learned throughout this process – I should think a bit bigger. There are plenty of gorgeous notebooks that are useless for fountain pens that still deserve love and attention. I’ve started trying to think of more uses for my unused notebooks – magazine photos or articles, art work from kids that doesn’t fit on the fridge, old birthday cards or recipes.

I hope you can find further creative uses for some of the stationery products that might have been disappointing once they were used!

DISCLAIMER: The item in this review include affiliate links. The Well-Appointed Desk is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. Please see the About page for more details.

In Link Love

Link Love: I’ve Been Training For This My Whole Life!

AnaMarch 17, 2021March 17, 2021

Hello all! Laura here to tell you about the event I’ve been training for my whole life. I’ve joined the Knit for Food Knit-A-Thon, a 12-hour knitting event on April 11, 2021. The purpose of the event is to raise awareness for food insecurity, and all the money raised will be donated to Feeding America, World Central Kitchen, No Kid Hungry and Meals on Wheels. If this were a jog-a-thon, I wouldn’t be much of a team mate, but knitting for 12 hours straight? PSHAW…. BRING IT ON!

If you’d have a few dollars to spare support my effort, or the project, you can find more details on the campaign and how to contribute here. What started as a goal to raise $20,000 is now up to over $81,000+ and we can’t wait to knit all day long!

We need each other. Please support our sponsors and affiliates. Your patronage will let them know you appreciate their support of the pen community. Without them, and without you, we could not continue to do what we do. Thank you!

In feature

Fountain Pen Review: Pilot Capless LS Matte Black Fountain

Laura CameronMarch 16, 2021March 16, 20213 Comments

For a long time I didn’t see the appeal of the capless pens from Pilot (also know as Vanishing Points). But I wrote about my changed opinion when I purchased the Raden Stripe Vanishing Point for my 40th birthday gift to myself. So when Appelboom offered us the chance to review the Pilot Capless LS Matte Black Fountain, I knew I wanted to compare and contrast the two!

The Capless LS Matte Black Fountain pen is the newest iteration in Pilot’s Capless series that started back in the 1960’s. The LS stands for Luxury and Silent, which is how they describe the new retractable mechanism they’ve developed for this model. The difference is that now the mechanism is a click to expose the nib, and a twist to retract it, whereas previous models had a click for both functions. This means that the knock and the end pieces have been somewhat redesigned.

The LS has a few other areas where it differs from the more “standard” Vanishing Point line (I use standard in quotes because the Raden editions are already more premium models as they contain the fine abalone work in the body, but the body design itself remains the same as the base level Vanishing Points.)

The LS weighs in at more than the Raden – the LS is a hefty 40g whereas the Raden is 31g. The LS is also a smidge longer at 5.75″/14.5 cm versus 5.5″/14 cm. Both models feature Pilot’s 18k gold nib and ink converter unit. Nibs are available in Fine, Medium and Broad and amusingly enough both the LS I reviewed and my Raden are M nibs. I find the Medium Pilot nib in both the LS and my Raden to be quite wet, and capable of putting down enough ink to get a good shade or sheen depending on the ink used.

Finally there are differences in body and trim. The LS is a matte black resin body, with a black clip whereas the Raden is a black lacquered body with the Raden stripes, and rhodium trim.

Functionally, the pens write very similarly. If weight is an issue, then some might find the LS heavy to hold, but I found it well-balanced and I do like the feel of a slightly weightier body (though I love my Sailors, I also adore my Retro 51 metal bodied pens so I’m used to a variety). Vanishing Points and the LS are the larger pen in Pilot’s “capless” offerings (if you’re looking for something with a slimmer line, try the Decimo). If I’m honest, I admit that even my Raden Vanishing Point is a bit wide for me to hold comfortably for long writing sessions, but it is one of my favorite pens in my collection so I still pull it out and use it. However, my discomfort is because I have fairly small hands, so if you’re not afflicted with that curse, size alone shouldn’t keep you from enjoying this one.

The LS, for its Luxury and Silence, comes at a premium price of €413.22 (or approximately $493). The base models of the Vanishing Points start around $200, and yearly Limited Editions start closer to $300. The Raden Vanishing Points are in more limited supply these days and run anywhere between $550 and $800, though I found mine in a screaming eBay deal and paid right around $400.

If you like capless fountain pens, there’s no one who executes it better than Pilot and the LS is no exception.

Paper: Write Notepads Dot Grid Steno Pad ($14)
Pen:Pilot Capless LS Matte Black Fountain (€413.22 or approximately $493)
Inks: Birmingham Pen Co. Emerald View Park Oxidized Brass

DISCLAIMER: This pen was loaned to us by Appelboom for the purposes of this review. Please see the About page for more details.

In Art of the Day

Ink Overview: Papier Plume Irish Channel Green

AnaMarch 15, 2021March 15, 2021

Papier Plume has released a suitably festive ink just in time for St. Patrick’s Day: Irish Channel Green ($12 for 1 oz/30ml). This ink honors the Irish immigrants who helped build New Orleans and lived in the neighborhood called Irish Channel in New Orleans.

Papier Plume will be donating $4 per bottle sold to Special Olympics Louisiana and St. Michael Special School of New Orleans.

The timing for this ink couldn’t be more perfect — not just because St. Patrick’s Day is just a few days away. This weekend I read the first book in the Molly Murphy mystery series by Rhys Bowen which is set in New York during St. Patrick’s Day. Of course its set in the late-19th century/early-20th century and the main character has just arrived in New York from Ireland. So, I was clearly in the mood for an Irish green ink.

Irish Channel Green is a lovely shading ink. No sheen.

(From top to bottom, left row: Papier Plume Ivy 108, Colorverse Sea of Tranquility, Papier Plume Irish Channel Green, Birmingham Pen Co. Field Tourniquet. Right row: Pen BBS #342 Green Matcha Ice Cream, Tacci Uguisa and Sailor Jentle Waka-Uguisa.)

When compared to other green inks in my vast collection, the closest colors are Birmingham Pen Co. Field Tourniquet and Colorverse Sea of Tranquility. Field Tourniquet (old formula) is slightly more yellow and Sea of Tranquility is slightly brighter, grassier green. Sailor Waka-Uguisu is the same value but, again, more yellow.

This ink is limited edition so don’t delay! If you want those Irish Eyes to smile, you better order now.

Tools:

Paper: Elia Note A5 Blank Notebook (Currently out of stock) with 6mm guide sheet
Pens: Kaweco SP dip nib holder with Zebra G titanium nib ($33.50 per 10-pack)
Swatches: Col-o-Ring Ink Testing Book ($10) & Col-o-ring Dipper ($5)
Ink: Papier Plume Irish Channel Green ($12 for 30ml bottle)

In news

Breaking News from the Stationery World: Paper Source Files Bankruptcy

AnaMarch 6, 2021March 17, 202124 Comments

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Lisa Krowinski (@saplingpress)

I was all ready to turn off my laptop and take a much-needed 7-day siesta when an extremely urgent bit of news crossed my desk. So here goes…

Paper Source, the Chicago-based stationery shop goliath, has faced its fair share of challenges during the pandemic. Paper Source closed 11 stores in the past year.

However, many small stationery makers (card creators, printers, designers) have recently received unprecedented orders from Paper Source in the last three months. Some makers were surprised by the large orders but, in the wake of slow sales in 2020 due to the pandemic, they were inclined to believe that the large orders were a sign that the economy was improving so they rushed to fill the orders. Many of those orders came with requests to urgently ship product to the Forest Park, IL distribution facility as recently as two weeks ago.

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A post shared by The Card Bureau (@thecardbureau)

Then, Paper Source filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Sitting in their warehouse is all this newly acquired inventory and what most expect is absolutely no intention of making good on the outstanding invoices.

A search on Instagram or Facebook for mention of “Paper Source bankruptcy” and dozens of small makers and manufacturers can be found commiserating and regaling the sleazy way that Paper Source has chosen to essentially rip-off these small, struggling businesses in order to fund their bankruptcy. We found references to outstanding invoices from several small stationery creators to the tune of $10-20K each that Paper Source owes them. For a business like ours (Well-Appointed Desk or Skylab) this would mean we would have produced 1000s of units which would have cost us in time, materials, labor costs and more. I am sure it is the same for all the other card makers and stationery product creators who fulfilled orders for Paper Source with their “net 60” payment schedule only to realize now that the money will never come. If I were out $10K in merchandise to a wholesaler, I would be close to financial ruin. (We have not sold any product to Paper Source but if we did, this would suck big time! And it has for many of our friends.)

All of these underhanded dealings look like they were clearly set-up to cook the books for an impending equity buyout in the next 90 days that is supposed to create a “more productive store base and more liquidity to support the brand’s omnichannel growth strategy.” Omnichannel? FU, Paper Source, you money grubbing shits.

Why am I telling you about this?

To convince you to no longer spend even a cent at Paper Source. Ever again. Makers are very unlikely to see even a penny or cents-on-the-dollar for the outstanding invoices so as much as our instinct is to buy goods from Paper Source so they make good on their debts, it’s unlikely that they will actually pass any profits on to the makers.
To encourage you to support small, local stationery shops (like CW Pencil Enterprise, Wonder Fair, Baum Kuchen, Little Otsu, Yoseka Stationery, Omoi Zakka, Greer Chicago, etc, etc.) and small online shops (see sidebar for some of our favorites).
If you found something you genuinely loved at Paper Source, continue to support those makers by buying direct from their Etsy or online shops.
Write an email or letter (Paper Source 125 South Clark St. Chicago, IL 60603) telling them what you think of their business practices. Tell them if they can’t pay their bills they should return the merchandise to the makers. “Liquidating assets” you never paid for is stealing.
Pass the links in this post on to others so that no one will unknowingly spend money with Paper Source.

I realize that stationery and paper goods are not the most important thing in the world but for many (myself included) this is their livelihood. So many small businesses have been adversely affected by the pandemic, many owned and operated by women, POC and minorities, and stationery makers are no different. Large corporations continue to thrive or find ways to “beat the system” which only widens the gap. The only weapon we have available to us is our wallets. Use it wisely.

For more information, check out the posts below that provide more nuanced coverage and not an opinionated rant.

(Side note: Apologies for the plethora of Instagram links. I wanted to connect my lovely readers directly with some of the posts from makers who were directly affected by Paper Source and be sure that the posts were properly linked and credited. If they show up as empty boxes, I apologize. Instagram does not always show images from people if you are not already following them.)

In Tools

Eye Candy: Hightide Metal Book Rest

AnaMarch 5, 2021March 5, 20211 Comment

Joe at Gentleman Stationer sent me the Hightide Metal Book Rest ($12) in the perfect shade of turquoise. It matches my kitchen perfectly. But the best thing about the Metal Book Rest is that it is totally freakin’ useful.

My other mother has one (bright red!) in her kitchen that she keeps her iPad propped on for quick access to chat messages, recipes, the occasional urge to doodle and more. I’d always admired it so I was tickled to have my own and give it awhirl.

The Book Rest packs flat so it would be easy to transport with your books or fold and store on a bookshelf with your cookbooks. There are three notches on the base to allow options in the angle at which your book is held.

The bar in the front is hinged to help keep pages down and helps to stabilize the stand when there’s a book held in the Book Rest. I have read several books utilizing the Book Rest and the bar helps keep the pages flat as I moved from the front of a book to the back when the pages may not lay as flat. Hardback books layflat more easily than softcover trade paperbacks but I just cracked the spine a little and everything was fine.

The bar can also be laid flat when the Book Rest is used with a digital device and access to the screen is needed.

I was also able to use the Book Rest with my notebook/planner as a way to quickly review my notes and to-do list while I was working and check things off throughout the day.

With so many of us working from home, this handy little Book Rest serves a lot of purposes, is sturdy, nice looking and very reasonably priced. What are you waiting for?

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were provided free of charge by Gentleman Stationer for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

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