The Well-Appointed Desk

Fashionable Friday: White Christmas

There’s only one time all year when I want it to snow and that’s the week of Christmas. I can stay home and admire the pretty, sparkly snow, dappled with holiday lights from the cozy, warm confines of my house. So, let’s revel in it while we can and imagine watching the flakes fluttering to the ground from behind our frosted windows, from our desks.

Pelikan M205 Fountain Pen in ivory, currently on sale for $97.50 (via Pen Chalet)
Pilot Iroshizuku Fuyu-syogun in Old Man Winter Grey (50ml) $28.00 (via Goulet Pens)
The Giving Notes Adhesive Memo Notes in white, 70 sheets $6.55 (via Jet Pens)
Kokuyo Kadokeshi 28-Corner Eraser pack of 2 for $2.50 (via Jet Pens)
Rhodia Ice Pad 6×8.25″ $5.50 (via Pen Chalet)
Lamy Safari Fountain Pen in white $29.60 (via Pen Chalet)
Midori Brass Bullet Ballpoint Pen 0.5 mm white with black ink
$27 (via Jet Pens)
Zebra SL-F1 Mini Ballpoint Pen 0.7 mm white with black ink $5.00 (via Jet Pens)
Kaweco Sport Skyline fountain pen in glacier mint 16,95€ (via Fontoplumo)
Lamy Dialog 3 palladium fountain pen 247,50 € (via Fontoplumo)
Delta Vintage Fountain Pen $140 (viaPen Chalet)
Noodler’s Konrad Acrylic Flex Fountain Pen – Rattlesnake & Adrenaline $40 (via Goulet Pens)
Original Crown Mill Correspondence Set in Cream and Navy $27.90 (via Goulet Pens)
Palomino Blackwing Pearl Pencil box of 12 $19.95 (via Jet Pens)
White Stapler $14 (via Poppin)
White Scissors $11 (via Poppin)

In Link Love

Link Love: Virtual Letter Writing Social on Saturday!

AnaDecember 12, 2014December 11, 20141 Comment

Post of the Week:

Saturday, Dec 13, 2014 is the day chosen by the Letter Writers Alliance to be their holiday Virtual Letter Writing Social. All day, in whatever time zone, is the day to write your holiday cards and be your letter writing self. At 7pm CST, they will have a live video feed of the social from their offices in blustery Chicago. For more details, check out this post.

Paper Pastries has created the Letter Writing Kit which goes perfectly with the social.

Link Love Link Mascot
Pens:

Kaweco Twin Nib (via Write To Me Often)
Pilot Vanishing Point (via Alt.Haven)
Karas Kustoms Ink Black ‘n Copper (via Gentleman Stationer)
Caran d’Ache Dunas (via Fountain Pen Quest)
Kaweco 14K Double Broad Nib (via Gourmet Pens)
Big Idea Design Titanium Ballpoint & Stylus (via My Pen Needs Ink)
Pilot Super Ultra 500 Fountain Pen Review (via Unroyal Warrant)
Pilot Blue Custom 74 Fountain Pen – M Nib (via Clicky Post)

Ink:

De Atramentis Black Edition – Blue (via Fountain Pen Physicist)
Caran d’Ache Ultra Violet (via Inkophile)
Kaweco Pearl Black ink (via A Fool With A Pen)
Sailor Jentle Blue Black Ink Cartridge (via The Pen Addict)

Pencils:

Perfetto Pencils by Louise Fili (via All Things Stationery)
Pencil Review: Dixon Ticonderoga Tri-Write HB (via A Penchat For Paper)
Palomino Graphite Drawing Pencils (via Pens! Paper! Pencils!)
Palomino Golden Bear (via Write Analog)

Other cool stuff:

Printable Holiday Envelopes (via Letter Writers Alliance)
Winter 2014 Holiday Gift Guide for the Fountain Pen Lover (via Ed Jelley)
Taking the pressure off: Improving the writing experience… (via A Fool With A Pen)
How to reseal a fountain pen cartridge (via Fountain Pen Physicist)
Flying With Fountain Pens (via Pens & Planes)

In Tools

Kickstarter: Click Tape Arrives!

AnaDecember 11, 2014December 9, 20144 Comments

Click Tape

Back in May, I backed the Click Tape project on Kickstarter. I pledged to receive a three-pack of tape dispensers in three colors: lime, teal and navy blue. I, of course wanted to be sure I got my “signature color” lime and I planned to give at least one Click Tape dispenser as a gift.

Each dispenser came in a simple box with one roll of cello tape. My boxes took a bit of abuse by the postal service so I didn’t photograph them but I admire the effort to package the tape dispenser and tape roll and there is a die cut hole in the side of each box placed to reveal the color of the dispenser without having to label the box in any way.

They finally arrived this past week and the Click Tape dispensers are exactly as they were described in the Kickstarter campaign. They are a smooth, matte molded plastic shape (hollow on the underside) with a round disk to hold a standard roll of cello tape.

Click Tape

The teeth are placed so that the tape tears easily but the teeth are not extended out over the edge. It makes it possible to carry this with you in a bag without impaling yourself. Very clever indeed.

The one thing I discovered when I had these in my hands is that the standard cello tape width (0.75″ wide) is wider than most of the washy tapes I own which are only 0.5″ wide. I was so hoping that the Click Tape dispensers would make great washi tape dispensers since I have about 100 rolls. I did find a couple rolls of washi tape that were 0.75″ wide and they fit into the dispenser just fine.

Is it too much to hope that Click Tape will expand their offering to include a 0.5″ sized dispenser? I’d buy a dozen of those too!

Hopefully, there will be an online store soon for folks who didn’t get in on the Kickstarter campaign.

In feature

Giveaway: Uppercase Magazines Issues 20 & 22

AnaDecember 10, 2014July 21, 201936 Comments

Uppercase Magazine recently had a $10 back issue sale and I stocked up on three issues I really wanted. What I didn’t realize was that I had already purchased two of the three issues I ordered. So, my loss is your gain!

I fell in love with Uppercase early on but became a loyal follower after the Issue 12 with the fabulous carrier pigeon illustration on the cover which is all about creative adventures.

These two issues are stunning! I photographed my copies. The giveaway copies are still safely wrapped up in their shrinkwrap.

I’d like to give two readers the chance to try an issue of Uppercase magazine for themselves. Issue 20 is focused on the theme of “broadcasting” including stories about ham radio operators, manifestos and posters.

Uppercase Pantone swatches

Issue 22 is all about color — like vintage labels, Pantone color chips and paint swatches, for example.

Uppercase Vintage Labels

Uppercase Jennifer Mercede

The GIVEAWAY: To enter, tell me which issue you’d like to try (20 or 22) or which other issue seems interesting to you (though I only issues I have to give away are 20 or 22).

The FINE PRINT: All entries must be submitted by 10pm CST on Saturday, December 13, 2014. All entries must be submitted at wellappointeddesk.com, not Twitter, Tumblr or Facebook, okay? Winner will be announced on Sunday. 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. Open to US residents only in order to ship in time for Christmas!

Uppercase Color Swatches

In feature

Winner: Karas Kustoms RETRAKT Tu-Tone Giveaway

AnaDecember 10, 2014December 10, 2014Leave a comment

Karas Kustoms Retrakt Tu-Tone

The time has come to click the magic random number generator and make someone’s day. Click….

Retrakt Tu-Tone Giveaway winner

And we have a winner!

Retrakt Tu-Tone Giveaway winner

Poor Marissa! She has no neck so she really does need a good pen to entertain her. Okay, I think the no neck thing was a typo, at least I hope it was. Either way, congrats to Marissa. I’ll contact you by email to arrange delivery.

Remember, if you are anyone other than Marissa, you can still get a good deal on a RETRAKT thanks to the discount offered by Karas Kustoms.

The DISCOUNT: Place an order at Karas Kustoms today and receive 15% off your order with the coupon code “HappyHolidays”. The offer is good on any Karas Kustoms product but you know you want a Tu-Tone RETRAKT. Maybe a RED and a GREEN to be in the spirit of the season? Offer good until the holidays so don’t delay!

In feature

DIY Planner for the Midori Traveler’s Notebook

AnaDecember 9, 2014December 8, 20142 Comments

A full how-to tutorial for making the notebook is available on the Hello Forever blog.

In my hunt this week for planners that start the week on Sunday, I discovered Marcy Penner’s Hello Forever site. She created a lovely PDF document to make your own planner calendar for 2015 for the Midori Traveler’s Notebook which is available for sale in her shop.

The PDF is $10 and includes the full calendar year in week-at-a-glance pages that can be bound into two booklets to fit a regular-sized Midori Traveler’s Notebook (approx. 5×8.5″).

Her blog includes step-by-step instructions for printing, folding and binding your booklets as well.

If you want to have rounded corners on the finished notebook like the sample, small handheld corner rounders can be purchased on Amazon for under $10 or can be found at your local big box craft supply store.

In Fountain Pen Review

Review: Conklin Duragraph Cracked Ice Fountain Pen (F Nib)

AnaDecember 8, 2014April 16, 201911 Comments

Conklin Duragraph Cracked Ice

Inside this large paper board box is a reasonably priced fountain pen treasure.

Conklin Duragraph Cracked Ice

After removing the outer shipper, there is a matching leatherette box of epic size… the suspense and tension builds.

Conklin Duragraph Cracked Ice

Opening the spring-loaded lid reveals a white satin bed that reminds me of a coffin but contains a beautiful Conklin Duragraph fountain pen in the Cracked Ice finish. Tossed into the coffin is a plastic baggie with two standard international cartridges filled with blue ink.

Conklin Duragraph Cracked Ice

Once I disposed of the coffin box, I finally get to see the Duragraph in the cracked ice finish in all its glory. It reminds me of tumbled stones with glossy black caps and silver hardware. So pretty!

Conklin Duragraph Cracked Ice

I got the fine nib with the expectation that Conklin uses the European nib sizing. The nib looks pretty fine! Engraved on the nib is “Conklin Toledo USA” and a tiny “F” on the side of the nib. Its a stainless steel nib and it does not have much flex to it.

I was able to get a two-tone fine nib which are currently out of stock at Goulet Pens. There is a black fine nib available or a two-tone medium. The 1.1mm italic stub option is available in silver tone.

Conklin Duragraph Cracked Ice

The cap will post on the end of the pen but it makes it very long — 7 inches!

Conklin Duragraph Cracked Ice

Upon opening the pen, I discovered that a standard cartridge converter was included with the pen. Pretty impressive for a pen that cost a mere $44. I filled it with some Kaweco Caramel Brown ink which I thought might look coordinated with the exterior of the pen.

Conklin Duragraph Cracked Ice writing sample

When I put the nib to paper I was totally blown away. Its a smooth, fine writer — finer than most European/USA nibs and there is a sharpness to the nib that gives it a slight italic quality, even at this fine nib size.

Capped and filled, the Duragraph weighs a substantial 26gms. Uncapped, it is just 15gms which is just slightly heavier than a posted Kaweco Sport. For me, pens under 20g,s are the most comfortable so the Duragraph is definitely in the sweet spot and being 5 inches unposted makes it long enough to be useable for me.

Conklin Duragraph Cracked Ice Writing sample

The Duragraph is definitely one of the best pen surprises of 2014. The price point is perfect for a gift, the nib sings and the looks are top notch. This is a pen that you should definitely add to your wish list and maybe even pick up one for a friend or family member. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

The Duragraph is also available in Amber and Forest Green and nib sizes are fine, medium and 1.1mm italic. I will definitely be ordering a Forest Green model too.