Who can make even the daintiest manual typewriter look like a weapon of mass destruction? Nick Cave, that’s who.
(via Austin K Leon)
Field Notes Colors Edition “Arts & Sciences”
I finally got around to opening my Field Notes Color Edition “Arts & Sciences” notebooks.
The Arts & Sciences edition really do feel like a Hagrid-sized version of the classic Field Notes. At 4.75″x7.5″ they are substantially bigger than the standard Field Notes’ 3.5″x5.5″ size but not as large as a standard A5 (6×8.25″) notebook. They live in a happy, in-between place.
This Colors Edition, due to the larger size and slightly increased page count (64 pages compared to the regular 48-pages in a standard pocket Field Notes), came with two books instead of the standard three-pack. Everything about this edition seems to similar BUT different! And I like that.
Inside, the pages are printed on the right hand sheets. The Sciences edition is printed with quadrille graph lines and the Arts edition is printed with lines. Both are printed in a pale “Academy” grey.
Both the covers have embossed logos with metallic silver ink and a coordinating icon on the back. The red book is the Arts edition and features palette, paintbrush, ink, tape, pencil and more on the icon. The Sciences edition in the dark grey color with an icon with a DNA chain, beaker, celestial bodies, and amoeba and more. How long before someone gets one or both of these as a tattoo?
All in all, I love that Field Notes continues to experiment with each version of their Colors Editions. Now that they’ve added size as a variable, it seems like the possibilities are endless.
Remember, the Colors Editions are limited so order a set or two today ($9.95 per 2-pack). Or subscribe and receive the Arts & Sciences edition and future editions as soon as they are available.
DISCLAIMER: This item was sent to me free of charge by Field Notes for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.
Review: Caran D’ache Chromatics INKredible Colors Delicate Green
Someone recently asked me if I had a recommendation for a really good green ink. That’s such a loaded question for me. Are you in search of a jewel-toned kelly green? A green-black? A green ever-so-slightly hinted with blue? Maybe something woodsy? There are just too many variations when it comes to green to pick just one and say “THIS is THE green”. Until now.
Caran D’ache Chromatics INKredible Colors Delicate Green is, for lack of a better description, officially my signature green. It is a bright, vivid green with just a hint of yellow to keep it citrus-y. I’m pretty sure Delicate Green matches my masthead and I wouldn’t describe it as delicate. Its punchy, cheery, “spring grass” green. I had to sniff it to make sure it didn’t smell like grass clippings (sadly, it doesn’t).
The only comparable shade I could find in my stash was Diamine Kelly Green ($12.95) or Pilot Iroshizuku Chiku-rin ($28). But the Kelly Green is obviously more kelly and the Chiku-rin leans more of a mustard seed yellow-green.
Often times, green inks in this yellow-green category are often a bit too light for everyday use and get relegated to “highlighter” inks or used just for play. But Delicate Green is bright and vivid enough to be legible and usable.
This is by no means a budget priced ink. But the inks come is a sturdy hexagonal box that hides the funky angle the bottle sits on when its removed. The bottle is a thick sturdy hexagonal glass with a solid silver metal cap. At $32 per bottle, the Caran D’ache Chromatics line is definitely a “special occasion” purchase but there are nice details in not just the ink but the packaging and presentation as well. Trust me, you’ll be glad you splurged.
To see more images of this ink in action, check out last weeks review for the Monteverde Intima.
DISCLAIMER: This item was sent to me free of charge by Goulet Pens for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.
Review: Plumb Goods Notebooks
The folks at Knock Knock recently launched a new line of paper products called Plumb Goods. These are a collection of notebooks designed by artists to help inspire creativity. Every book in the collection includes a full-color card with information on the artist.
The products were each so different that this is a super image-heavy post. Every book deserved a full view so this is really a review of FIVE notebooks, not just one.
Italian Stapler Whales (made you look!)
I cannot resist the appeal of these classic Italian hand staplers. Reminds me of my own Arrow hand stapler but with zesty, fun colors. Each stapler comes with a box of 1000 staples in their own retro-cool box.
($32 each via Spartan Shop)
Link Love: Deep in the Archives
I was cleaning up bookmarks, read-it-laters and other bits of digital detritus today and found some great links I’m not sure I’ve ever shared before.
Sites:
The following are sites, shops or whole piles of curiosity I may or may not have mentioned in the past.
- The Setup: Use This interviews with internet/tech celebs who share their hardware and software set-ups.
- Bureau Direct A UK based online stationery and office supply retailer
- Bound Custom journals
- Poketo Their stationery section is a unique collection of goods. Well-curated.
- MochiThings Lots of wonderful Japanese work- and office-related items like pouches, bags, camera accessories, and more!
- Laughing Elephant Vintage inspired books, notebooks, greeting cards, postcards and more
- Tattly Temporary tattoos for big kids and little one too. Great lettering, illustrations and just plain fun
- Writers At Work Fabulous collection of writers in their work spaces (via The Cramped)
Now… back to our original scheduled Link Love already in progress.
Pens and Inks:
- Vintage Parker 45 Review (via Alt. Haven)
- Parker Jotter 60th Anniversary Ballpoint Pen Review (via The Pen Addict)
- Caran D’Ache Chromatics Infinite Grey (via Fountain Pen Quest)
- Karas Kustoms Hot Pink BOLT (via Gourmet Pens)
- Sailor Tokiwa-Matsu (Evergreen Pine) (via Inkdependence)
- Uni Power Tank Smart Series Review (via Pen Addict)
- Quiver Pen Holders (via Pen Pursuit)
- Sailor Professional Gear Pen Review (via The Pen Habit)
- Pelikan Edelstein Turmaline (2012 Ink of the Year) (via Gentleman Stationer)
- Kaweco Special Series Error Corrections (via Clicky Post)
Pencils:
- Dixon Ticonderoga History (via Contrapuntalism)
- The “Dragon” Pencil (via Palimpest)
- Albert Einstein, the Pencil (via From The Pen Cup)
- Sprout Pencils (via Pencil Revolution)
Paper & Notebooks:
- I Draw Comics Sketchbook Reference Guide (via I Draw Comics)
- My Favourite Field Notes Editions To Date (via The Newsprint)
- Rhodiarama Notebook Review (via Office Supply Geek)
- Picasso’s Sketchbook (via Rhodia Drive)
- Rhodia Side Staple Bound Notebook Review (via My Pen Needs Ink)
- My Search for a Two-Book Bullet Journal Setup (via Modern Stationer)
- Moleskine Large Soft-Cover Volant Notebook (via The Newsprint)
- Seven Seas “Writer” Tomoe River Paper Journal (Size A5) (via Scribalishness)
Penmanship, Letter Writing & Art Making:
- Learning the Art of Calligraphy (via Jenni Bick Blog)
- Illustration Lettering Process for Wedding Magazine (via Jacqui Oakley)
- Six Tips for Writing a Letter (via Cotton & Flax)
- Twelve Watercolor Techniques (via Corey Marie)
- At-Home Cards (via Crane & Co.)
- Improving Penmanship: Self-Torture or Worth the Effort? (via Pete Denison)
- Better Handwriting on Tap (via The Cramped)
Stuff to Do:
- Got some mad calligraphy skills? Enter the Uppercase Magazine “Calligraphy Auditions”. Submit a postcard showing off your mad skills to Uppercase by July 21, 2014.
- Just
EIGHT hours leftONE WEEK to enter the Pen Chalet Sailor Jentle Ink Giveaway. They are giving away three bottle of the coveted discontinued colors. Stock up quick!.
Other Stuff:
- Minimalist Travel Kit (via Penchant For Paper)
- 10 Best Headphones You Should Buy This Year (via Lifehacker)
- Nock Co. Chimneytop Pen Case Review (via Unroyal Warrant)
Please stay on the line…
… I am in the process of moving The Well-Appointed Desk to its own servers. It will probably be a little quiet around here through the weekend but hopefully by Monday everything will be back to normal. Make sure you update your bookmarks to www.wellappointeddesk.com. If you read the site via Tumblr, RSS or other service, please come back to the blog and make sure the links are properly updated.
Sorry for the inconvenience but hopefully this transition will make for a better experience in the future.
(illustration from Envisioning The American Dream)