The Well-Appointed Desk

DIY: Personalized coffee mug

AnaFebruary 8, 20133 Comments

I’ve been thinking that I might like to have a personalized mug at work. Something that is clearly mine. When I found this tutorial on Beautiful Mess for using a Sharpie and an oven set to 350 degrees, I thought, “ah ha!”

This means I can use a mug scavenged from the office, doodle on it with a Sharpie from the supply closet and then pop it in the toaster oven for 30 minutes and voila! Office crafts!

(There is a note on Beautiful Mess that this technique may or may not last so I recommend trying it out on a cheap mug first. Probably best to make sure its clean too.)

(via A Beautiful Mess)

In feature

Tweed-y Workspace

AnaFebruary 7, 2013

I’ll let you in on a little secret. When I’m not waxing poetic about office supplies, I’m drooling over yarn, patterns and handmade knitwear. One of my favorite knitwear designers is Jared Flood, AKA Brooklyn Tweed and his patterns and delicious tweed yarns. When his studio space was featured on Design Sponge this week, it was kismet.

Jared’s workspace combines natural colors and textures with the same elegant sensibility that he uses with his knits and yarns. Warm nubbly neutrals like a reclaimed wood worktable, plush velvety carpet, lots of natural light and of course, lots and lots of yarn.

(via Design Sponge)

In photo

Textile-icious Workspace

AnaFebruary 7, 2013

(Produced by Anita Sarsidi; Photography by William Waldron)

Textile Designer John Robshaw combines his textile love with bold bright colors to create a a bright, inspiring workspace. The space has a Middle Eastern flair that I imagine would smell of chai spices.

(via Elle Decor)

In link

Ruled Paper

AnaFebruary 6, 2013

Found while trolling the internet: a post on Wikipedia on Ruled Paper. The post goes into detail about ruled paper specifications for the US and some European countries and Japan. I notice dot-grid and Doane paper is not mentioned. Is it time to submit an addendum to the article?

Anyone ever actually seen Pittman Ruled paper? Photos please!

(via Wikipedia)

In video

How many pens does it take to sign a bill?

AnaFebruary 6, 2013

This video, from inside the White House, shows what a production it is to have the President sign a bill — including making him sign it using 22 different pens. Look closely, can you tell exactly what kind of pens he uses?

In feature

Link Love: Pens, Paper and a Beaver Pencil Sharpener

AnaFebruary 5, 2013

Pens and Pencils:

The Pilot Murex Fountain Pen Review (via Pen Addict)
TWSBI Diamond Mini Review (via Rhodia Drive)
Palomino Blackwing Pencil Review (via Guitar Salon, tip o the hat to @pencilscom on Twitter)
Vintage Flex (via Rhodia Drive)
Carnival of Pen, Pencil, Paper on Pen Addict this month
Mechanical Pencil Lead Comparison (via Economy Pens)
Lindauer Purple Ink Review (via East, West, Everywhere)
The Faber-Castell Basic Black Fountain Pen Review (via The Pen Cup)

Paper and writing:

Book of Notes Kit (via Oh, Hello Friend)
Avery Removable Label Pad (via Penchant for Paper)
Obsessive’s Guide to Field Notes (via Field Notes)
Why Email will not replace the handwritten note (via Forbes, tip o the hat to @MissiveMaven on Twitter)
You can have my notebook when you pry from my cold, dead hands (via The Digital Reader)

Beaver Pencil Sharpener (via @DerwentPencils on Twitter)

Digital:

Penultimate iPad App is now free (via @Leighpod on Twitter)

In photo

Art of The Day: Study Girl

AnaFebruary 4, 2013

Illustration by Out of Paper, an artist out of Norway

I couldn’t pass up this darling illustration of a redhead reading with a pencil at the ready. Wish it was for sale as a print. Would look lovely in my office.

(via Out of Paper)