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)
Textile-icious Workspace
Ruled Paper
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)
How many pens does it take to sign a bill?
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?
Link Love: Pens, Paper and a Beaver Pencil Sharpener
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)
Digital:
- Penultimate iPad App is now free (via @Leighpod on Twitter)
Art of The Day: Study Girl
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)
Michael Rogers Dispatches Notebook Review
Michael Roger is a line of notebook products best known for the Decomposition Composition notebooks. While in Chicago, I found this lovely kraft paper covered hardcover blank notebook called Dispatches. The airmail-trimmed belly band caught my eye and the simple look of the book really appealed to me.
Its a 5″x8″ (hello, A-5 size-ish!) notebook with a black linen book cloth along the spine and filled with 160 blank cream-colored pages. It even has a simple black ribbon bookmark. I was so excited to try this book out.
Then I put ink to paper and the wind went out of my sails. I tested a lot of different tools because the paper is a heavy weight and I thought this would be a good option for markers and stub-nibbed fountain pens. The paper seems to resist inks like the Moleskine sketchbooks do. Even a felt tip took ages to dry.
The picture says it all. My favorite Kawecos took over 20 seconds to dry completely. The 1.1mm Lamy nib never seemed to dry. Even the Pentel Hybrid Technica and a classic office supply closet staple, the Pilot Precise V5 took a lot longer to dry than on the average office paper.
Needless to say, I can’t recommend this across the board. If you prefer pencils or want something to do artwork, multimedia or collages, this might be a good option since the paper is pretty durable. But if you love writing with fountain pens, this is not the book for you.
The book is $12.95 and its also available in a lined version through the Bookbinders web site. I purchased mine at Pieritz in Oak Park, IL.
Top 10 Household Uses for a Pencil
This Old House pulled together a list of ten uses for a pencil when tackling household projects. Have you tried any of these?
I also stake houseplants that have started to lean with a pencil. But you suspected that, didn’t you?
(shoutout to Skylab Letterpress for the tip)