In Link Love

Link Love: Get Organized & Get Inked (but not with a ballpoint)

Author AnaPosted on 7 Comments

LinkPost of the Week:

This article, while the title is very much an attempt to be click-bait, takes an interesting perspective on the decline of cursive writing. While I may not agree entirely with the author’s point and the comments are grumbly and sometimes downright mean, I found the perspective interesting, particularly about how modern ballpoint pens require being held at a more upright angle than fountain pens which change the pressure and may be more or less comfortable for writers.

I found the whole discussion interesting and was surprised how many of the commenters were lefties. Handwriting or any kind is a challenge for a lot of lefties and often the tools we choose (paper and pen) can make it easier for us or more difficult so I was interested to read what folks wrote about their own writing challenges.

How The Ballpoint Pen Killed Cursive (via The Atlantic)

For a different perspective on this article, listen to this week’s Pen Addict podcast.

Pens:

Ink:

Pencils:

Notebooks & Paper:

Planning & Organizers:

Art & Calligraphy Supplies:

Other Interesting Things:

(Shout out to Tessa at All Things Stationery for the “stationery love” links!)

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.

In feature

Recap: Sketchnotes Workshop with Mike Rohde

Author AnaPosted on 48 Comments

Saturday, I attended an all-day workshop with Mike Rohde, author of The Sketchnote Handbook. The workshop had been organized by the Kansas City Coffee & Design group and held at the Sprint Accelerator space. I didn’t actually count the number of attendees but there was probably about 40 people in attendance, some who had traveled from as far away as Omaha to attend the workshop.

Sketchontes & tools
I did my sketchnotes in my Midori Traveler’s Notebook with a Magic rainbow pencil, Sai Watercolor markers and a Sharpie pen.

If you’re not familiar with Mike Rohde and his sketchnote revolution, I’ll try to distill it down but your best option would be to visit his web site or the Sketchnote Army site or, of course, purchasing his books. The idea behind sketchnoting is that simple drawings, bold lettering, icons and symbols can help improve your note-taking and thereby improve your understanding and memory retention from a lecture, class, presentation or meeting.

sketchnotes

During the workshop, Mike elaborated on the techniques included in the sketchnotes Handbook and we got to see him create his symbols, lettering and other techniques live.

As the workshop progressed, we learned that sketchnoting can also be used for documenting personal notes like travel, recipes and journaling. Mike’s teaching style is relaxed and approachable and made it easy for everyone to feel like they could accomplish sketchnoting.

Workin on the whiteboard

The attendees of the workshop came from a broad array of professions. I met designers, human resources specialists, educators, interior designers, and even a physician who works at a teaching hospital. Everyone was excited to take the knowledge they learned back to their colleagues, students and co-workers.

rohde29
Sketchnotes notes by Sarah Taylor.

If you have a chance to attend one of Mike Rohde’s workshops or lectures, I highly recommend it.

If you already have The Sketchnote Handbook, I would recommend picking up a copy of the advanced techniques book, The Sketchnote Workbook. I got a chance to flip through the book at the workshop and have ordered a copy for myself. Its more techniques for sketchnoting and ideas and tips for bringing sketchnoting into all your written work. Peachpit Press has a 35% off coupon code right now too — POP35 so you can get a great deal on some great books!

I did a short Periscope from the Sketchnotes Workshop that a few people caught. If I get a rally in the comments, I might be persuaded to repost it on YouTube.

Sketchonotes Workshop Giveaway

Oh, one last thing… I have two extra notebooks and stickers from the event that I would like to give away to readers. I’ll even throw in the pens! The notebooks were generously provided by my favorite local art supply store Artist & Craftsman and were produced by Shizen Design, a local KC paper company. Leave a comment below to be entered.

FINE PRINT: All entries must be submitted by 10pm CST on Thursday, September 3, 2015. All entries must be submitted at wellappointeddesk.com, not Twitter, Tumblr or Facebook, okay? Winner will be announced on Friday. 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. US residents only please.

In Fashionable Friday

Fashionable Friday: Be Like Mike (Rohde, that is)

Author AnaPosted on 1 Comment

Fashoinable Friday: Be Like Mike

Today’s Fashionable Friday is inspired by Mike Rohde, and having had an opportunity to peek into Mike’s daily carry supplies, I thought I would give you a peek. So you, too, can be like Mike.

  • Premium Horween Money Clip Wallet $79 (via Mitchell Leather)
  • In the custom leather cover is Mike’s Hobonichi Techo ¥2700 (via 1101)
  • Sassafrass 5-Pen Bi-Fold in the now-discontinued Mandarin/Mango colorway $20 (via NockCo)
  • Lamy AL-Star in CopperOrange (via JetPens or Pen Chalet)
  • Pencil Digital Stylus in Walnut ($59) & Graphite ($49) (via 53)
  • Retro 51 Stealth Pen (available in a pen and pencil set via Goldspot Pens for $46.95)
  • Baron Fig Confidant $16 (via Baron Fig)
  • BetaBook with Neuland fineOne whiteboard marker $30 (via Betabook)

(Illustration of Mike Rohde is from the awesome Renee Andriani’s sketchnotes from today’s Coffee & Design lecture. And I’m not just saying that because she used to be my manager.)

In feature

Recap: Mike Rohde Coffee & Design Lecture

Author AnaPosted on 3 Comments

Mike Rohde Sketchnotes Lecture

I just wanted to put a quick post up about the lecture hosted by the Kansas City Coffee & Design group. Today’s lecture was Mike Rohde of The Sketchnote Handbook fame discussing how Sketchnotes evolved and a brief overview of the technique.

There is a full day workshop tomorrow so I’ll have lots more to share then.

If you’re in KC and want to attend the workshop tomorrow, here’s a discount code for $15 off the entry fee: FRIDAY.

(Sketchnotes by Renee Andriani)
(Sketchnotes by Renee Andriani)
(my sketchnotes from the lecture this morning)
(my sketchnotes from the lecture this morning)
In Link Love

Link Love: Loving All Things Stationery!

Author AnaPosted on 2 Comments
This week's art for Link Love comes from Tessa at All Things Stationery. To find more of Tessa's great photography, check out her blog, Instagram or Twitter feeds. The items are (this could take a while…): Magic Pen, CP-10 Coloured Pencil Eraser, MT Tape (slash green), e+m black ruler, Matte black drawing pins by Nomess Copenhagen, Kaweco Skyline Sport Fountain Pen and Kaweco cartridge, Maste Cosmic Galaxy Washi tape (seen side on), 2 x vintage erasers, and some old baking string. allthingsstationery.co.uk, my twitter @tessasowry and my instagram @allthingsstationery
This week’s art for Link Love comes from Tessa at All Things Stationery. To find more of Tessa’s great photography, check out her blog, Instagram or Twitter feeds. The items are (this could take a while…): Magic Pen, CP-10 Coloured Pencil Eraser, MT Tape (slash green), e+m black ruler, Matte black drawing pins by Nomess Copenhagen, Kaweco Skyline Sport Fountain Pen and Kaweco cartridge, Maste Cosmic Galaxy Washi tape (seen side on), 2 x vintage erasers, and some old baking string.

There were two big topics covered in the penblogosphere this week: the TiScribe Pen and the TWSBI Eco. Here’s the highlights:

TiScribe:

TWSBI Eco:

Pens:

Pencils:

Paper & Notebooks:

Ink:

Planning & Organizers:

Art & Calligraphy:

Other Interesting Things:

(Shoutout to Elwin for Medium link and to Bob for the Wired article!)

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.