The Well-Appointed Desk

April is National Letter Writing Month

AnaApril 20, 2014Leave a comment

(Original photo from Silvebluestar on Flickr)

While it might be a bit late in the month to bring this up, April is National Letter Writing Month. In 2001, the USPS released a statement to encourage letter writing by designating April as Letter Writing Month. We all already know and may have participated in February’s A Month of Letters or InCoWriMo but why not use April to reply to all those letters you got in February? That’s what I’m doing.

If you wrote to me in February, don’t be surprised if your reply arrives this month or in the early part of May. I’ve been spending each day writing at least one reply, usually over my lunch break in an effort to finally respond to the many cards, postcards and letters I received in February.

I did receive a few cards and letters without a return address. If you sent me a letter in February without a return address, I assume you were not anticipating a reply. If not, please send me an email using the Ask The Desk link at the top of the page and send me your mailing address so I can send you a proper reply.

There’s still more than a week left in April — plenty of time to dash off a few letters and cards.

Keep writing!

(for more info, check out the post over on the Letter Writers Alliance blog)

In feature

Happy Ester(brook) Sunday!

AnaApril 20, 20147 Comments

esterbrook-sunday

Spring is the perfect time to pull out the Esterbrooks, dust them off and see which ones need a little spring cleaning. This is my whole Esterbrook collection and I can see a gaping absence of a brown or rootbeer model as well as a need for several more pastel pocket pens to fill out my collection. And I don’t have even one mechanical pencil.

Of the eight shown, five are in full working order with nibs installed. Two have my favorite stub nib, the Falcon Fine Stub 2442, the gray on the left has the legendary 9128 flex nib, the pastel pink has the 9788, the blue has the 9550.

Of course, while I had the pens out, I felt it necessary to do a little record keeping so I created a little spreadsheet inventory of the nibs I currently have and which pen they are residing in.

nib #	description	box?	in pen?
1550	Firm extra-fine, Bookkeeping	no
2284	Firm Stub, Signature Stub	yes
2442	Fine Stub, Falcon	yes	grey pearl
2442	Fine Stub, Falcon	no	red pearl
2556	Firm fine, Fine Writing	no
2556	Firm fine, Fine Writing	no
2668	Firm medium, General Writing	no
2668	Firm medium, General Writing	no
9128	Flexible Extra Fine, Fine penmanship (Pitman shorthand)	yes	grey pearl
9550	Firm Extra Fine, Bookkeeping	no	blue pearl
9555	Firm Fine, Shorthand	yes
9555	Firm Fine, Shorthand	no	pink pastel
9556	Firm Fine, Fine Writing, Records and charts	no
9668	Firm medium, General Writing	no

Clearly, I have more nibs than pens but not nearly all the possible nib options that are available:

(image via Rick Binder) — (image via Richard Binder)

I would really like to try the 9314F Master Point version of the Fine Stub, the 2048 or 9048 “Shaded Writing” and several others. Like jelly beans, with Esterbrooks, you can’t have just one!

In photo

Spring Break!

AnaApril 14, 2014Leave a comment

The Desk is spending this week cavorting with nature, staring at the crab apple blossoms and skipping through fields of clover (… as soon as the snow stops. Stupid weather!).

Hope you are enjoying a little spring break and communing with nature yourself.

I’ll be back next Monday with lots of reviews, products and stories. Happy Easter!

(image via Bytes Daily)

In feature

Ask The Desk: ID Protection Stamps

AnaApril 11, 2014Leave a comment

Ask The Desk Header

Sandy asks:

Think this is good idea?

I assume the question regards any sort of blotting stamp for security purposes. Folks seem to like these as an alternative to paper shredders as they are smaller, quieter and portable for obscuring personal information on printed material. While shredding makes sense for a lot of papers, sometimes you just want to throw those credit card offers in the trash and the only incriminating information is your address. A quick stamp, stamp, stamp might be enough to make it possible to throw the papers in the recycle bin.

The general term to describe these stamps is ID protection stamps or ID Guard stamps. I definitely think that the Max Korkoro model, with the rolling stamp and ability to refill the ink easily makes a good option. The price for any ID protection stamp seems to be about $10 which seems reasonable.

The only thing I don’t know looking at the photos and description is whether the ink is water resistant when dry. That would be the winning feature. If its water-soluble, then someone might be able to wash the ink off reveal your address or account numbers.

So I suppose I ought to order one and put it to the test, huh?

In photo

DIY Desk from Ikea Parts

AnaApril 10, 20142 Comments

Looking to get a customized desk, try Ikea and mix-and-match a tabletop and cabinetry to create an inexpensive work area. House of Hawkes made a lovely workspace with a butcher block-style top and white cabinetry. It’s making me kind of excited about the Ikea store opening in Kansas City this fall.

(via House of Hawkes)

In feature

Link Love: Official Mascot and more catch-up

AnaApril 10, 2014Leave a comment

Link Love Link Mascot First, I’d like you to all admire my new and fully customized Link mascot thanks to my pal and co-worker Adan who, clearly, is a fabulous illustrator. I think I need Link on a t-shirt!

Now, on to the links:

Paper:

Leuchtturm 1917 soft cover notebook review (via Pen Addict)
“Stone” Paper (Da Vinci Notebook) (via That One Pen)
An Obsessive’s Guide to Field Notes COLORS Editions (via Field Notes)
PaperForFountainPens.com Tomoe River Products (via The Pen Habit)
Brügge Notebooks Review (via Notebook Stories)
Rhodia Webnotebook (A5, lined) notebook review (via Pens@ Paper! Pencils!)
Monsieur Dot Grid Notebook (via Informal Scribble)
JAWNS No. 1 Notebook Review (via The Pen Addict)

Pens:

Comparison of D1 Refills (Part one) (via Pens! Paper! Pencils!)
Visconti Rembrandt Fountain Pen Review (via Write To Me Often)
Karas Kustoms Copper Bolt (via No Pen Intended)
Esterbrook #2442 Fine Stub (via Fountain Pen Quest)
Uni-ball Signo UM-151 Revisiting an Old Favorite (via Office Supply Geek)
How Do You Clip Your Pens (via A Penchant For Paper)
Pelikan M205 and Levenger Shiraz Ink (via From The Pen Cup)
Muji Hexagonal Gel Pen – Orange, 0.4mm Review (via Ed Jelley)
The Curious Case of the Moldy Sheaffer (via No Pen Intended)
Retro 51 Tornado Lincoln Copper Fountain Pen Review (via The Unroyal Warrant)
Lamy Dialog 3 Fountain Pen – Fine Nib – Black Body (via No Pen Intended)
Pilot Vanishing Point Matte Black Body (via No Pen Intended)
Caran d’Ache Ballpoint with Rolex Branding (via Economy Pens)

Inks:

Montblanc Jonathan Swift Seaweed Green (via Fountain Pen Quest)
Rohrer & Klingner Salix Ink Review (via Ed Jelley)
Currently Inked (via Write To Me Often)
Diamine Prussian Blue Ink Review (via Ink Of Me Fondly)
Graf von Faber-Castell Moss Green (via Fountain Pen Quest)
Kaweco Royal Blue ink (via A Fool With a Pen)
Caran d’Ache Chromatics Vibrant Green (via The Pen Habit)
Akkerman Trêves-Turquoise (via A Fool With A Pen)

Pencils:

Palomino Golden Bear #2 Wood Cased Pencil (via The Clicky Post)
Palomino Blackwing Pearl (via My Pencil Draws Worlds)
New Palomino Pencil Finish (via Pencil Revolution)
The Koh-I-Noor Triograph: The Sharpie of pencils (via Woodclinched)
Faber-Castell Blackwing 602 (via My Pencil Draws Worlds)

Misc:

Dudek Modern Goods Custom “Groove” Review (via The Writing Arsenal)
Quirky Align Stapler (via Office Supply geek)

In feature

Timbuk2 Terracycle Mail Bag Messenger Bag

AnaApril 8, 2014Leave a comment

Ever wanted a bag made form old USPS mail bags? Well, now’s your chance. Timbuk2 has introduced the Terracycle messenger bag made from old canvas mail bags. Each bag is unique and this option will only be available for a limited time. They are available in small ($99) or the medium ($109) and in original white canvas or in an overdyed brown (seems more UPS than USPS, but who am I to judge?).

I REALLLLLLLLYYYYY want one.