The Well-Appointed Desk

Whitelines notebook

AnaMarch 26, 2013Leave a comment

Conceptually, I love the idea behind the Whitelines series of notebooks. The idea was to create gray paper with light white lines that would be unobtrusive but visible enough to keep your writing and notes neat.

I got the lined A5 hardcover over a year ago but it got lost in the shuffle or products to review. The cover of my volume is a smooth, matte finish paper with an orange stripe across and around the book. Looking on the official Whitelines shop, I don’t think they are even carrying this particular model any longer though its still available in the A4 size.

The inside cover and front page are bright orange with the words “Supporting Your Ideas” in white.

This particular model does not include the ubiquitous elastic but does have a bright orange ribbon bookmark to help keep your place. The paper is a pleasing neutral gray with white lines as advertised and is a decent 80gsm.

Once I started writing on it the paper seemed a bit absorbent. Fountain pen ink was particularly soaked up. The TWSBI Mini EF writing sample had the most show-through after the Pentel B100 (which is more of a marker pen) as was wider nib tools like the Pentel Hybrid Technica 05. When I switched to fine point gel pens like the Uniball Signo DX, Pentel Slicci and Pilot Hi-Tec C the show through on the back of the page was less evident but the razor fine points left some visible indents in the paper. At a distance and with a less critical eye, the paper quality issues are relatively minor. Compared to an average Moleskine, this paper is great. And the eye-easing gray paper is very appealing.

Many sizes and configurations of the Whitelines paper are available including a grid paper, pocket notebooks and wire-bound books via Amazon as well as directly from the official Swedish shop.

They are also offering an app called Whitelines Link that works with newer volumes of their notebooks that include a series of symbols at the bottom of each page. Take a photo of your note with your iPhone and then the Whitelines Link app will help you file it into either an email, Evernote or Dropbox.

FOLLOW-UP: Whitelines can be purchased in the US. Check the Whitelines US site for a location near you. Online retailers are listed at the bottom of the page.

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Dennison Bookshelf Desk Set

AnaMarch 25, 2013Leave a comment

I have been coveting one of the vintage Dennison bookshelf desk sets as long as I could remember but I could never find them complete or reasonably priced. If you’re not familiar with the Dennison bookshelf set, it is a vintage paperboard set of “books” each filled with a desk essential like paper clips, labels and hole reinforcements.

Thanks to the kindness of my friend Denise, best known as Bibliotiki, I have recently come into possession of a full set, complete with a variety of vintage supplies.

If these sets are of interest to you, scope out Etsy, Ebay or your local flea markets and antique stores. They are not super hard to find but finding a complete set can be challenging.

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Swingline Low-Force 1-Hole Punch

AnaMarch 25, 2013Leave a comment

I recently purchased a budget chrome-ish hole punch. Sometimes, I just need to punch a hole or two and, boy, was I ever disappointed. It tore the paper around the edges — even jsut one or two sheets of copy paper would get shredded. The punched-hole catcher would fly open at random intervals scattering hole-chads all over me and my desk. I needed something better. So I got serious about finding a good quality hole punch — price be damned.

In walks the Swingline Low Force 1-Hole Punch. This punch is heavy black metal with a pebbled texture and looks like it MEANS BUSINESS. The hole punch is angled and sharp so it cuts a clean hole and can easily punch a handful of paper without breaking a sweat. The chad-catcher stays closed so no loose dots floating all over your desk and the angled punch makes the chads a little convex so they look like paper Pringles.

The hole punch has a decent reach and the silver ticks on the side show exactly where the hole will be punched which is handy.

If you’re looking for a good hole punch, this Swingline is a good place to start. At just $4.99, it won’t break the bank either.

(I purchased my Swingline punch from Office Depot.)

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Ogami Stone Paper Notebooks

AnaMarch 23, 2013Leave a comment

Ogami is a line of notebook products from Italy that relies on stone to create the paper. This imbues the paper with some unique properties not commonly found in wood-based paper products.

Tree-Free – no wood pulp is used in production
Waterproof – you can even wipe it clean! Note: your ink will probably still run if it is not waterproof but the sheet of paper is not ruined.
Bleach-Free because stone is naturally white
Tear-resistant, fade-resistant and archival
Recyclable – it also breaks down naturally to return the calcium carbonate to the earth
Clean – the production and disposal of stone paper produces far fewer pollutants and toxins than wood pulp paper
Each sheet is naturally thicker than conventional papers. The paper has a smooth satin finish that does not bleed as easily if you are using liquid inks. There is some drying time for fountain pens but no feathering.

The notebooks are available in lined and unlined in a multiple of sizes with simple covers in black, gray and aqua with a stitched binding. I have yet to take one of these notebooks for a test-drive but I am definitely curious. I’d also like to see how it compares to the Filed Note Expedition Edition in terms of durability and waterproof-ness.

Ogami notebooks are available from our fine sponsor Notemaker in Australia. Discounts are still available for Notemaker products. See the sidebar for information.

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Ask The Desk: Notebook Block

AnaMarch 22, 2013Leave a comment

Following my post last week on Keeping a Notebook, reader Barbara asked:

I have notebook block. Not writer’s block, I write but on the backs of envelopes, receipts, those damn cards that fall out of magazines, etc. I own about two dozen notebooks of all types and sizes but I cannot bring myself to write in them.
Has anyone else experienced this? Any ideas for breaking through?

My recommendation for you, Barbara, is to find a notebook that you don’t think is precious. Don’t start keeping your spark book or grocery lists in a handbound leather journal purchased during a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Venice (I should know I have one still in its waxy brown paper bag wrapped by the creator).

If you think your “good” notebooks should only have really good stuff in them, buy a cheap notebook or something that is easy to replace like a kraft Field Notes, a plain black Moleskine or even a wire-bound notebook from your local office supply store. When I think I may just be writing garbage for work or doodling my way through meetings, I grab a classic composition notebook with the black marble cover. I can pick one up at an office supply store or drugstore for less than $3. Maybe tape or staple some of your envelopes and receipts into your notebook so your new book is not pristine?

If your goal is to have a notebook full of brilliant stories and observations, remember that we all have to start somewhere. I recommend checking out Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way to learn about Morning Pages and to help overcome the blank page.

Best of luck and I hope you just dive in!

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Winners Announced: J. Herbin Rollerball

AnaMarch 22, 2013Leave a comment

photo 4 copy

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway for the J. Herbin rollerball and an extra special thanks to Carolee for giving it another test drive and helping to establish that I may have been wrong about the pen. And of course, a HUGE thanks to Jet Pens for sponsoring this giveaway.

So let’s get to the winners!

Screen Shot 2013-03-22 at 7.12.35 AM

Alex S. and Nauga are the winners. I will be contacting you via email to get shipping addresses. I hope the pens work well for you. Try several different inks and let me know which works best for you!

What was truly fascinating was the huge list of inks people wanted to use:

Noodlers