The Well-Appointed Desk

Did you know there is now a Letter Writer’s Alliance book club? Its true! The group is over on Goodreads and Letter Writers Aliiance members and non-members alike are welcome to join. Starting January 27, 2015 (that’s actually yesterday) we will be reading 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff and there will be a discussion live over Google on Sunday, April 12, 2015. I’ve been invited to be one of the panelists, along with Donovan and Kathy that will discuss the book on Google Hangouts live on Sunday, April 12 at 3pm Central Time.

84, Charing Cross Road is a short book of real life letters between the author, a New Yorker and a London bookseller over decades. With fewer than 100 pages its a quick read and if you feel you can’t commit to it, there is a film adaptation starring Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins that was made in the 80s as well if you want to supplement your reading.

In between your February flurry of letter writing, pick up this book and give it a read then join us in April to discuss it.

In Fountain Pen Review

Review: Kaweco Sport in Dark Brown

AnaJanuary 27, 2015May 26, 20204 Comments

Kaweco Sport in Brown

I’m hard pressed to call this a review since my love for the Kaweco Sport has already been fairly well documented but, I thought I’d share with you the latest edition of the Kaweco Sport Classic in dark brown (17,95€), which is a limited edition color. So far, I think Fontoplumo is the only place that has these in stock but, fear not, they ship fast and reliably!

Kaweco Sport in Brown with Medium Nib

Like all the other standard Sport Classic pens, the dark brown edition is plastic and is available with gold hardware only but, if there was ever a color meant to be accented with gold, it would be the deep, rich, chocolate brown of this edition of the Kaweco Sport. It reminds me of a gold, foil-wrapped chocolate heart… which makes me think, this edition of the Kaweco Sport would make a great Valentine’s Day gift.

Kaweco Sport in Brown

Compared with my black Kaweco Guilooch 1935, there is a visible color difference. The Kaweco Sport in Brown is also sporting (pun!) the classic clip where the Guilloch is decked out with the new Sport N Clip. I like the utilitarion look of the Kaweco Sport Classics with the clips for the most part. They just look “dressed” like a man with a tie on.

Kaweco Sport in Brown

I’ve had mixed feelings about the Kaweco Sport medium nib but this one worked particularly well for me. It has a crisp angle that felt almost mini-stub-like.

Fountain Pen Weights

To keep with the theme of this chocolate-y pen, I filled it with a Private Reserve Chocolate cartridge (kind regards to Lanier Pens for sending it to me) and it was a very good match. I think I’ll write some Valentine’s Day cards with this combination.

DISCLAIMER: This item was sent to me free of charge by Fontoplumo for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

In feature

Postage Frame Stamps from Anticipate Invitations

AnaJanuary 27, 2015January 24, 20155 Comments

postage frame stamps

The release of the postage frame stamps from Anticipate Invitations have been burning up the Twitter feeds of many a letter writer this week. Six frame designs are available and each is available in four sizes to accommodate the most common US postage sizes. Prices for the stamps start at $14.30 and go up to $20.46 for the largest square size. Or a set of four can be purchased for $52.38.

I would love to assemble a mixed set of four stamps to make envelopes look like a mismatched gallery wall.

In feature

February is Letter Writing Month

AnaJanuary 26, 2015January 26, 20156 Comments

letterwritingmonth

Once again, its time for InCoWriMo (pronounced as “Ink-o-rye-mo”), International Correspondence Writing Month. The goal of the project is to write one letter, card, note, or postcard everyday for the entire month of February. Just 28 little bits of correspondence.

February is also known as LetterMo, as in A Month of Letters, a project started by author Mary Robinette Kowal several years ago but whose mantle has been taken up across the blogosphere, myself included. LetterMo gives you the leeway of not writing on Sunday since there’s no postal pick-up so the requirement to complete this challenge is just 24 pieces of written correspondence.

For me, February is my chance to get all caught up on my letter writing AND even send some new letters and cards. Are you planning to participate?

With a week to plan, be sure to stock up on some stationery, postcards, note cards, stamps and, of course, have all your favorite pens and inks at the ready. This is a great chance to use up some of that paper you have squirreled away and try out ALL those inks you’ve been hoarding.

Need something for your upcoming month of letters?

Become a member of the Letter Writers Alliance
Purchase a Letter Enclosed rubber stamp (from me… shameless plug) or a Good Old-Fashioned Letter rubber stamp (not a shameless plug)
Find some great stationery including downloadable PDF designs
Get a copy of the Parcel Ghost’s Guide to Post
Purchase postage stamp frames to glam up your envelopes

(image modified from a WPA poster from the 30s available at Free Vintage Posters)

In feature

Clutter & Objects Defined

AnaJanuary 26, 2015January 23, 20152 Comments

Following my post about the organizing and de-cluttering book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, my darling friend Diane emailed me a considerably more useful list of potential clutter and object types.

Significant-Objects-cover

First, from the NYT’s Joshua Glenn’s Significant Objects project, there is sorting our non-functional objects into five categories :

TOTEMS – are from the natural world, like rocks
IDOLS – are objects of contemplation, like Buddha figures
EVIDENCE – artifacts from a public event
TALISMANS – lucky objects
FOSSILS – things that bear mute witness to a vanished way of life

Then, from Gretchen Rubin’s book The Happiness Project, she defines Clutter Types as:

Nostalgic clutter – relics of an earlier life
Conservation clutter – things I imagine being useful but aren’t presently
Freebie clutter – gifts, hand-me-downs we don’t use
Crutch clutter – things I use but know I shouldn’t
Aspirational clutter – things I aspire to use but don’t
Buyer’s remorse clutter – enough said

My husband and I had fun assigning some of our favorite items to various categories. Mechanical typewriters are definitely Fossils and are also a little Conservation clutter and Aspirational clutter (even I realize that having more than a dozen typewriters in 2015 is a bit excessive). Bob says he collects a lot of Evidence objects from travels and adventures like receipts and ticket stubs. We did have a hard time coming up with anything we thought was Crutch clutter. How about you? What categories does your clutter fall into?

Having Diane introduce me to these books from their perspective on clutter has made me want to read both volumes. Have you read them?

In feature

Target Threshold Zip Pouch

AnaJanuary 25, 2015January 23, 20154 Comments

target-zip-pouch-1

This zippered pen and pencil case is another find from Target. It’s from their Threshold line and I found in with the office supplies and binders. The case is made from a heavy-duty canvas with a deep indigo color and casual dot pattern. It has one large zipper pocket for storing tools and then a smaller pocket on the front of the case for smaller trinkets.The inside is lined with a dark navy nylon and despite the rustic look, the zipper is nicely finished on the end. Its a really nice case for not much money.

The case measure about 6×9″ which makes it suitable for an A5 sized notebook or larger. It would probably fit most snugly over a letter-sized binder or notebook but the biggest notebook I could find was my Quo Vadis Habana and its covered the cover almost completely and the elastic was tight enough to be functional. This would be the perfect case for a conference or a day of meetings. It provides plenty of space to carry tools but stays secure to your notebook.

target-zip-pouch-2

On the back of the case is a matching elastic running across the length of the case. I immediately realized that the case could be looped over the cover of a notebook.

target-zip-pouch-3

The case comfortably held a dozen or more tools. It’s defintiely long enough to hold a freshly sharpened pencil (even a Blackwing with giant eraser ferrule!) as well as most other writing tools. I tucked an eraser and a small hand sharpener in the front pocket. I was hoping the front pocket would be long enough to store an iPhone but it was a bit too short. It would hold small cards like an ID or business cards though. I was able to stick my phone in the larger pocket with my pens though with no problem.

The case cost $7.99 and is available for purchase on the Target web site.