Is there a replacement for the Tiny Tot staples?
I’ve had a red one most of my life and only have a few bars left. Please help it is the best thing for my small desk.
Oh, I’ve got you covered! I too collect vintage TOT staplers and discovered that JetPens stocks staples from Japan No. 10s that fit perfectly. They even come in colors. You can also do a search on the internet or Amazon for No. 10 staples and find other options.
Kimmar asks:
Are Koh-inoor Magic erasers available in the US?
Sadly, I’ve not found a source for Koh-i-noor Magic erasers in the US but there are vendors on Ebay that will sell them from Europe and ship them over. That’s how I acquired my last batch. Andy from Woodclinched placed an order and sent me a few. Maybe you can find a few other pencil/eraser enthusiasts online to go in on an order with you? Maybe through the Pen Addict Slack channel, FPN or other social network?
UPDATE: Our good friend Greer Chicago does stock Koh-i-noor Magic erasers but does not have many in stock currently. Grab them quickly or check back and I’m sure they will restock soon.
Jairo asks:
I was wondering if you know a good pen holder (i.e, retro 51, Karas Kustoms Render K, ti2 tech… etc) for the refill of a uni-ball signo UM-151 0.38?
it does not have to be all metal, but an improvement over the actual body of the pen 😉
The UM-151 sized refill is the same as the Pilot Hi-Tec C so there are some options available for a good pen holder. Should you need to later refill the pen holder, that refill is listed as a Uni-Ball Signo UMR-1 or UM-151. UM-153 and UM-100 will also fit.
What led me to fixate on Rose Gold this week is the rampant internet fervor around the recent release of the Kate Spade Wellesley planner in metallic rose gold leather. It looks absolutely beautiful! Sadly, this item is only available through the Kate Spade Factory Outlet stores. Many folks are reselling them (often at greatly inflated prices) on Ebay. The retail list price on the tag is $165, so shop for this coveted item accordingly.
And I can’t really think about rose gold as the metallic-sheen-of-the-day without mentioning the new Rose Gold iPhone 6 and 6s.
Caran d’Ache 849 Ballpoint in Brut Rose $54.50 (via Anderson Pens)
Faber-Castell GRIP Sparkle Metallic Red Pencils (Box of 12) £18 (via Stone Gift)
Ban.do Rose Gold Everyday Bobbi Hair Pins $12 (via Amazon)
In the same way that I love pens and pencils, I also love watercolors and watercolor sets. So I was really excited when JetPens started stocking the Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolor Palette sets. The sets are available in a 12-color box ($17), and 18-color box ($23.50) and a 24-color box ($29). I got the 18-color set which is a lovely set. The set comes in a green, fabric covered box (almost like a chocolate sampler box in size and shape) with gold foil lettering on the cover. Inside, are extra large pans of watercolor paints.
Like all watercolors, you really need to swatch the colors to see what the colors will look like. In my swatches, you can see that the colors offer an array of three reds, an orange, a yellow, a yellow ochre, three shades of green, a turquoise, four shades of blue, a violet, black, white and a burnt sienna. This is a great assortment of colors that can be mixed to create even more colors. The most unusual color in the palette is the cornflower blue which is not usually a color I see in basic watercolor sets. I need to play with the colors a bit more to see how they mix and blend but the colors are all bright and vivid.
The individual pans of color are loose in the box so they can be removed and rearranged as you’re using them. The Gansai Tambi have some of the largest pans I’ve ever seen in a watercolor set. Most starter sets feature what is called a “half-pan” which is about the size of a cellophane wrapped caramel (my husband says “like a mini marshmallow”). The Gansai Tambi pans are about 1″ x 2.5″ – which is substantially larger, so you get a lot more room to swirl your brush and can dip a much larger brush into the pan without accidentally picking up other colors. The downside is that the Gansai Tambi box is that its not particularly portable. Its definitely a desk-sized set of watercolors. It also does not have any built-in mixing areas so you may want to add a mixing dish (something like this might work) to your supplies if you are using your Gansai Tambi set regularly.
The Gansai Tambi paints are described as “traditional Japanese watercolors” and, in use, they do seem a little different from other watercolors I’ve used. If you’re new to watercolor, what I can say is that the colors are slightly more opaque than other watercolor paints – not as much as gouache (which is a type of watercolor paint used mostly be designers and illustrators that can be very opaque and very matte in finish). The Gansai Tambi watercolors will dry with a slight shine to the paint if applied heavily.
In an effort to get a better feel about the difference between the Ganasi Tambi watercolors and other watercolors, I decided to find similar colors in my stash and do a side-by-side comparison. I used an array of Winsor & Newton, Sennelier and Daniel Smith watercolors, both tube and pan colors to make a close match. The swatches on the left are the :regular” watercolors and the swatches on the right are the Gansi Tambi set. Does this help show how the Gansai Tambi are a bit more opaque? I noticed it most with the black (#20 on the Gansai Tambi palette) which on the left is a lighter grey rather than a deep, solid black. I’m not saying one is better or worse, just different. And in being different, it makes the Gansai Tambi set a good investment for me. Its not just “more of the same” with this set of watercolors.
I marked my other watercolor samples as SEN for Sennelier, DS for Daniel Smith and W&N for Winsor & Newton. Overall, there is a lighter hue with the other watercolors than the Gansai Tambi. I couldn’t really match the #34, my closest option was W&N Opera Rose which is practically fluorescent.
The colors were quite similar with the exception of the #61 sky blue, I substituted it with one of Daniel Smith’s PrimaTek paint with a mica chip in it to be as funky as the pale sky blue.
The last comparison I did was with the opaque white. Most watercolorists don’t use a white but a lot of designers and illustrators will add opaque white as a final detail or touch up. I compared the W&N Titanium White with Gansai Tambi white. I laid down a layer of black gesso to see how opaque these whites are. The Gansai Tambi is a nice white but the W&N Titanium White is much more opaque, especially when dry.
Now, this comparison is probably largely unfair because a lot of my professional grade watercolors cost over $10 per pan or tube. So, two pans or tubes cost the same as the whole tray of great big pans. But I thought it would be a good chance to see if the colors in the Gansai Tambis were as clean and vivid as more expensive brands. I think it did a really good job for someone just getting started with watercolors. It may not behave exactly like traditional watercolors but I think you’ll have a lot of fun using them.
This week’s Link Love artwork is a lovely deskscape drawn by Staci Crews Horst in her Midori Traveler’s Notebook. She both showed her favorite tools and drew them in her notebook. Thanks so much to Staci for sharing her work with us! See more of her skatchbook artwork by visiting her Instagram.
Shoutout to Azizah for the drawing articles from her Sunday Reads this week!
Submit your Link Love art: To be the featured artist on an upcoming Link Love, write, draw, photograph, or doodle an original “Link Love” image. It can be lettering, calligraphy, your own interpretation of Link or anything else you think might relate to the weekly list of pen/pencil-centric blog links. Email your submission to me at chair @ wellappointeddesk.com. Please include any link information you’d like in the image credit (your name, Twitter handle, Instagram, blog, etc). Also include any information about inks, tools, paper, etc used in your creation. Please let me know that I have permission to publish your work in Link Love and that the image is your original piece.
Have you heard about the Karas Kustoms EDK yet? The EDK is the latest machined pen from Karas Kustoms. As the name implies, this is pen designed to be your next everyday carry (or would that be “karry”?).
This is Karas Kustoms’ smallest pen to date. It uses the same whisper-quiet retracting mechanism as the RETRAKT. The EDK is just over 5” and the pen is just under 0.5″ wide (not including the clip). When held with the clip up, the pen is quite comfortable in the hand. The grooves in the body provide extra grip and give the EDK a unique look when compared to other pens in the Karas Kustoms line-up. The most notable difference is the pre-weathered, tumbled finish is the EDK. It looks like its been in your pocket or in the bottom of your bag for years from the minute it arrives.
The EDK will be available in Aluminum, Brass and Copper combinations with prices ranging from $55-$105 depending on materials. The brass and copper models are a smoother finish, the aluminum is the only model that’s tumbled (or if there are aluminum sections in the model you choose).
The EDK compared with (from left): Karas Kustom 2-Tone RETRAKT, Karas Kustom INK, Karas Kustoms Render K, the EDK, Kaweco Sport in aluminum and a Kaweco Liliput
The EDK ships with a Schmidt P8126 refill, a standard Parker-Style refill and capable of taking most G2-style refills if they are trimmed down to fit which gives you a whole slew of refill options.
The EDK will be available through MassDrop on Oct. 26. You can vote now and be notified the moment these become available.
In the meantime, if you’d like a chance to win this EDK, leave a comment below and tell me where the EDK will go with you.
FINE PRINT: All entries must be submitted by 10pm CST on Sunday, October 25, 2015. 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. If winner does not respond within 30 days, I will draw a new giveaway winner. 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. US Residents only.
DISCLAIMER: This item was sent to me free of charge by Massdrop for the purpose of preview. Please see the About page for more details.
After my love affair with the large set of Staedtler Triplus Fineliners I decided I needed more! So I decided to grab the Stadetler Triplus Fineliner Pastel 6-color set ($7.50). The set comes in a clear plastic case like the larger sets and are the same triangular shape and 0.3mm tips as all the other Staedtler Fineliners. The colors are water-soluble so plan accordingly.
In this set was a Light Carmine (pink), Peach (orange), Lime Green, Delft Blue (blue grey), Lavender (lilac purple), and Silver Gray. The only color that was a duplicate of the previous set was the grey which I was particularly disappointed about since the grey was so light in the original set. To clarify, the grey included in both of my sets was the silver grey not the standard grey pen (which is presently sold out on JetPens). The other colors can also be purchased individually for $1.30 per pen on JetPens if you want to pick and choose your colors.
However, the other colors more than made up for my disappointment in the grey. Particularly, the Lavender and Delft Blue colors. The Lavender is a smoky plum orchid color and is just lovely. The Delft Blue is a blue grey color and totally usable for writing or drawing. The Lime is a tiny bit too light for writing but would be fun for coloring in or underlining. The Peach is actually a punchy orange color and the Light Carmine is a soft dusty pink that is quite pleasing and not too My Little Pony pink.
Overall, I’m pleased with the set. The Delft blue and Lavender colors made me giddy because the colors were so unique in the world of colored markers. All the other colors in the set are fun pastels with the exception of the grey as well. I have a feeling I’ll just pull the grey out and replace it with a black Fineliner and then this set will make a great little travel pack.
DISCLAIMER: This item was sent to me free of charge by JetPens for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.
There are a bunch of planner-focused, paper goods subscription services available to help you fill your planner, notebook, or journal with colorful additions. I thought I’d give a quick round-up of the options I’ve found. I’m sure there are many others but these are the ones I either subscribe to or know someone else who does.
The thing with kit subscriptions is that you will either have to check back regularly to sign up for the kit (there’s usually a specific window when you can initially subscribe) and/or you will need to make a minimum commitment of 3- or 6-months. In exchange for this enthusiasm and/or loyalty, you can receive a variety of products from planner inserts to stickers, rubber stamps, dashboards, washi tape and more, often at prices discounted below regular retail.
Studio Calico: Studio Calico is a scrapbooking company that is now offering planner subscriptions. You can purchase a month-to-month ($24.99/mo) or commit to a 6-month ($22.99/mo) or 12-month ($19.99/mo) subscription for better per kit pricing. They list out all the items that will be included in the kit. I ordered this kit but only received one of the two mini rolls of tape. I don’t know if it was a packing oversight or if I ordered so late in the month that they ran out of one of the rolls of tape. The tab stickers included this month were a perfect match for my dark aqua Filofax Original. The kit also came is a nice little zip pouch that can be reused for toting supplies to and from work. Overall, it seems like a reasonable deal but its definitely a better deal if you’re willing to commit to a full year.
Get your first month’s subscription for $1 + FREE shipping!. Use promo code: WINK1DOLLAR (only valid for 6-month or one-year subscriptions)
Planner Addict Box: The Planner Addict Box is an assorted box with a reasonable price — $15/mo plus shipping. Each kit comes with an assortment of stickers, sticky notes, clips, pens and washi. The upcoming November box is already sold out but you could probably get on the list for the December box. There is no time requirement as long as you cancel the subscription within their time frame so you can essentially subscribe for one month. For a wider representation of the products in each kit, check out their Instagram to see previous kits.
Brimbles Box: This kit comes from another well-known YouTube planner celeb, Mrs. Brimbles. The kit includes a variety of products that would appeal to anyone who enjoys decorating their journal, planner or other memory keeping book. Past kits have included cards, stickers, washi tape, pens, rubber stamps, etc. These kits ship from the UK £15.00 / month plus shipping. Mrs Brimbles also offers a Happy Mail Box for letter writers and postcrossers and custom themed boxes like the upcoming Geek Box and an Advent Washi Tape box. There are several unboxing videos available if you’d like to see the types of products that have come in previous boxes.
Happie Planner Kit: The Happie Planner Kit comes from the Happie Scrappie web site and is the cutest of all the kits– as in Kawaii, cute overload sort of way. If you want cute, fun, silly, kawaii, then this is the kit for you. Personal-sized kits start at $12.99 plus shipping and A5 and Fauxdori kits are $15.99 each per month plus shipping.
The Planner Society Kit Club: This kit was developed by indie multi-media artist Christy Tomlinson (AKA Scarlet Lime). Kits are designed to accommodate personal- and A5-sized planners. Kits include a selection of decorative papers, clips, washi tape, stickers and embellishments. There is a specific window in which you can subscribe to be a member of the kit club in order for orders to be fulfilled. Many of the items are custom designed for the kits. Planner Society will be open for new subscriptions starting Nov. 1 for December kits. There is an email sign-up list to be reminded when subscriptions are open again. The standard Planner Kit Club costs $24.95 plus shipping per month and this month they introduced a new Sticker Club. Sticker Kit Club is $13.95 per month plus shipping for just the Sticker Kit or $11.95/mo with free shipping for Planner Kit Club members.
Cocoa Daisy Planner Kit: Cocoa Daisy is another scrapbook company that has moved into planners and planner kits. They offer three options: the standard planner kit ($25.99, available in A5-, Personal-, or regular Midori/Fauxdori-sized), an Add-On kit ($15/mo) for those who can’t get enough paper goodies and a Planner Pages Only Kit ($8.50/mo). The Planner Pages Only Kits are available in all three sizes as well. The nice thing with the Cocoa Daisy planner kits is that each month, you will receive fresh week-on-two pages planner pages that are printed in full color on good quality paper. If you get the full kit, it will include a variety of embellishment items that coordinate with the pages. With the A5-sized inserts, you can choose 6- or 7-hole punched or no holes. With the Personal pages, you can choose standard 6-hole punch or no holes as well so if you are retrofitting the pages to a different system, you are not locked into holes you don’t want or need. The DaisyDori kit includes a monthly bound booklet to kit a standard Midori/Fauxdori notebook plus embellishments. Passport sized inserts are available as a printable.
Reset Girl Listers Gotta List: While the Listers Gotta List Kits aren’t specifically for planners. The Reset Girl developed the kits to compliment her monthly list-a-day challenge often done in Midori or Fauxdori notebooks. The contents of the kits include rubber stamps, stickers, decorative papers and washi tape that all work great for journals and planners. This kit does not require a subscription but there is a limited number of kits available. Current kit sells for $36.
Mister Ghost’s Highly Enviable Monthly Parcel of Simple Yet Amazing Wonderments: A Monthly Parcel of Evil Paper Goods: Each kit includes a 9″ x 12″ art print, two 32-page, pocket notebooks, two and two small stickers. Kits are available as a subscription or as a single purchase. The current kif is #007 and is available for purchase through October 31. The kit will ship out in late October or early November. And while not specifically a “planner” kit, the elements included are perfect for the planner with a humorously dark side.
Ali Edwards Story Kit: The Story kit is not specifically planner-related but more like a scrapbooking or Project Life-style memory keeping kit. However, the products included in The Story Kit ($24.99 for month-to-month, $21.99/mo for 6-month subscription and $19.99/mo for a year’s subscription) include many of the same items found in planner kits and are beautifully designed. There are small decorative cards, stamps, stickers, clips and embellishments — all things found in most planner kits. Story Kits include free shipping in the US and a $2 surcharge for international shipping). Themes are revealed on the 15th of the month.
If having new things to embellish and decorate your planner or journal will help you stay excited to fill in that next entry or new month, then it may be a small price to pay to join one of these kit clubs. Please be sure to read all the fine print before you sign up and verify that shipping is available to your country and just how much it will be.
So far I’ve signed up for three different kit clubs but I’ve only received materials from one of them. While I don’t feel like any of these are necessarily a big discount from buying proudcts individually, they offer a nicely, curated collection of themed materials and a little bit of joy in my mailbox each month. And with some of the kits, the materials in the kits are exclusive to the kits.
