Want to have a simple, swanky calendar on your desk? Check out this free, printable calendar from Weekday Carnival. Print it out and clip it to a clipboard on your desk. To mix it up, try printing it out on neon paper and post on a kraft clipboard.
A Blank Book Called New Year’s
I meant to post this on New Year’s Day but I left the lettering in my scanner at work and forgot to scan it. I found it this morning. The sentiment remains true and any day can be the first chapter of your new year.
This was drawn with a flexible nib dip pen in a Tachikawa wooden nib holder using Pelikan 4001 black ink on Borden & Riley 100R Rough Cotton Rag Marker Paper (which has been discontinued). I scanned it in black and white and colorized in Photoshop.
Ask The Desk: Condensation in my TWSBI
Chris asks:
My wife bought me my first TWSBI for Christmas this year–a TWSBI Mini demonstrator. I’ve filled it with Iroshizuku Kon-Peki and carry it in my front shirt pocket, right next to my heart.
One problem: I’ve had trouble with moisture collecting inside the cap and the grip section of the pen. Initially the cap was the only culprit. Now, the condensation is found in both locations. The cap is easy enough to clear with a cue-tip, but the grip is a little more difficult.
Have you had problems with moisture so collecting in any of your TWSBIs or is there something I could do to prevent it?
I suspect the moisture is a result of condensation from the temperature changes. Especially if you are keeping your pen close to your body, it may warm up. Then when it cools on your desk or faces the arctic outdoor temperature shifts, there may be some moisture that builds up in the cap. I suspect that other fountain pens may face the same issue but without the clear cap and grip, we don’t ever notice it.
A quick search on the internet for “demonstrator fountain pen condensation” revealed that this is not an issue exclusive to the TWSBIs. It appears that most demonstrator pens will reveal some sort of condensation or ink in the cap over time.
My Mini tends to get it less frequently in the grip area unless I’ve recently cleaned it. If I don’t let it dry completely before reassembly, I get moisture in the grip section as well. With a firm push on the threaded end of the nib unit, it should pop out of the grip area allowing you to easily swab out any condensation build-up. Then reassemble it.
I have some of those long cotton swabs on a wooden stick that let me wipe away any moisture or stray ink from the inside of the cap though a standard issue Q-Tip should reach just fine.
Does anyone have advice for minimizing the condensation build-up?
Review: Apica C.D. Premium Notebook
I finally got a chance to try out the much-touted Apica C.D. Premium notebook ($18.50). I got the A6 size (approx. 4″x6″) with plain paper. The notebooks have a bookcloth-wrapped perfectbound spine and the cover is a mica-flaked dark grey paper with embossed and foil-stamped “C.D. Notebook” on the cover. Below that printed in the same silver grey ink as the decorative border are the words “Choose the paper like you would a good pen.” This paper is definitely setting itself up to be a better quality than most. The price reflects this as well.
The metallic paper cover is pretty but just doesn’t feel durable enough for the price point and the quality of the paper. Maybe its just me but at the upper end of the price spectrum, I prefer my notebooks to have a full hardcover binding, not just a flimsy (though lovely) cardstock cover.
The notebook has a healthy 96 sheets and a traditional stitched binding, the pages are not simply glued to the tape. When opened, the book lays fairly flat too.
Of course, where this notebook really shines is the paper. It is silky smooth with no noticeable tooth. I tested fountain pens, felt tip, gel and pencil and all performed lovely with no bleeding or feathering and all dried in a relatively acceptable amount of time. The paper is also fairly opaque so it would be easy to use both sides of the paper making this an even better value.
From the reverse of the test sample, you can see there is no bleed-through at all. I can see just a hint of the burgundy LePen in the middle of the page but otherwise, the Apica Premuim paper really does live up to its name. The Apica C.D. series really is a stellar quality paper product.
Now if they only offered a hardcover version it really would be PERFECT.
I received this notebook as a gift from a friend but JetPens would happily sell you one. The Apica Premium line of notebooks are available in grid (5mm), lined (6.5mm and 7mm) and blank in A6 (approx. 4″x6″) and B5 (approx. 7.25″x10″) size, $18.50 or $32 respectively. There is also an option to buy a set of three at a reduced price ($33.30 and $57.60 respectively) which is a healthy reduction to the single notebook price.
Review: Federal Supply Service Notebook
When I spied this perfect-shade-of-green, hardcover notebook with plain white, lined paper for a mere $9, I thought I may have found notebook nirvana. It is totally no-fuss. There is no pocket, no ribbon book mark, no elastic on the spine. Its just a simple green notebook.
Printed (industrially) on the cover were the words “Federal Supply Service (GPO)” and a long code. I did some internet research to discover that federal means FEDERAL. This is a notebook used by the US Government, usually purchased by contract for military troops. So that code on the cover is totally official. Which made it even cooler to me.
The book measures 5″x8″. Inside, the paper is a simple white with notebook-style blue lines. I’d compare them to American collegiate width lines (6mm). I get a warm, sentimental vibe from the blue lines. It reminds me of the spiral notebooks and loose leaf paper from grade school in a pleasing, grown-up hardback book.
What made me cry a little was that this paper was about the same quality as school notebook paper. Fountain pen ink soaked in like Kleenex. Felt tip pens blurred. Luckily, gel pens, ballpoint and pencil performed fine.
Despite the iffy ink endurance, I still like this notebook. Its sturdy, inexpensive and all-business.
I purchased my copy of the Federal Supply Service notebook for $9 at Hammerpress in Kansas City. Army Navy Surplus shops or eBay may be good sources to pick up your own copy and probably a bit cheaper than I paid.
Check out what other people have said about the Federal Supply Services notebook:
Book: New Postal Style 50
My lovely friends often bring me treasures from Japan that are office-y or mail-related which is how this beautiful book came into my hands. The title of the book is New Postal Style 50 and is filled with envelope-like folds for mail.
All the pages feature variation alternatives to the same old envelope. I was smitten until I started looking more closely at the possible durability or mailability of these envelopes. I know that anything with a stiff stick cannot be run through the standard machinery used by the US Postal Service but the envelope + folded note design might be interesting for a letter.
There are some great ideas that might be modifiable for actual mail. I know that generally speaking, the postal service does not like string or rubber bands on the outside of a package either but maybe the wrap over a box could be modified with washi tapes and glue? The trapezoid letter is super cool, as is the stamped letter design.
In the back of the book are instructions and diagrams. Even if you don’t read Japanese, the diagrams and calculations are universally useful.
This book could be ordered from Amazon.co.jp or check with your local Asian book store so see if they stock it or could order it for you.
Ask The Desk: Leather Journal
Amy recently emailed asking:
I was hoping you could help me track down a journal. I found it in a blog post on etsy (I have emailed the author of the post but haven’t heard back yet). If you scroll midway through the post, there is a tan (leather?) journal that appears to have plain pages and looks similar to a large moleskine. Do you have any idea what type it could be?
The post is here: http://www.etsy.com/blog/weddings/real-weddings-etsy-under-10000/
Thanks for your help! Happy New Year!
When I think of leather notebooks, I first think of Jenni Bick. She stocks so many possibilities including handmade one-of-a-kind options. The other option would be the Monsieur Notebooks ($32-$42) which feature a leather cover and the vertical elastic like was shown in the photo. Its not the same colors but maybe its similar?
Does anyone else have a recommendation for Amy?