The Well-Appointed Desk

Field Notes: Expedition Edition

AnaDecember 10, 2012September 20, 2017Leave a comment

This is the new limited edition Field Notes Expedition Edition. It sports a high-visibility orange cover and a “polar night” back cover. These new notebooks were made with the highly durable Yupo paper and have ~~withstood~~ endured a bevvy of tests including: waterproof, visibility, wind resistance, ballistics, vacuum, tensile strength, compression, acid resistance, flame resistance, extreme temperature, electromagnetic waves and electrical resistance. No expense was spared to make these super-durable Field Notes. Don’t believe me? Check out some of the testing videos to see which tests the books survived.

And paired with the new Field Notes Fisher Space Pen, there is no challenge too tough! $23.97 per pen and available in matte black or chrome.

A 3-pack of these durable Field Notes is $9.95 or a year Color subscription is $97.

In photo

Softly Sheen-y

AnaDecember 10, 2012Leave a comment

The metallic sheen of the grasscloth wallpaper and the ashen reclaimed wood desk with the vintage mid-century brass lamp makes my heart sing.

(via The Handmade Home)

In photo

Dreaming of a better writing desk

AnaDecember 9, 20122 Comments

I’m off to write some letters and holiday cards this afternoon. Envision me like this and not the reality which is mismatched pajamas and piles of papers strewn everywhere, not to mention the view out my window is grey and leafless. I’ll try to write as if I was the dreamy Catherine Moorland of Northanger Abbey and not a twenty-first century girl living in the midwest. Dream your own big dreams today!

(image from Northanger Abbey via Le Projet D’Amour)

In feature

Winner: Holiday Gift Guide Gift Certificate

AnaDecember 9, 2012Leave a comment

Thanks to everyone who left comments and wish lists for The Pen Addict Gift Guide Rebuttal and thanks to Brad and Myke for not being too annoyed with me.

It appears that the TWSBI Minis and Pilot Hi-Tec C Coletos are very popular items this year. Rhodia pads are also popular as are Field Notes and Uni-Ball Style Fit multi-pens are getting some love too. Inks from all the major manufacturers also got shout-outs and the Retro 51 is getting love too.

If I had won the big Lotto jackpot, I would have bought all the items on the wish lists but I didn’t so we must rely on the generosity of JetPens to provide one $25 gift certificate to the winner of the drawing.

And the winner is:

gift guide winner

Screen Shot 2012-12-09 at 11.05.03 AM

Congrats, Kristina! I hope that graduate school and Christmas are both clear sailing for you!

In feature

Update: Dr. Ion and the Well-Appointed Traveler

AnaDecember 8, 2012Leave a comment

I was just doing a little holiday research (because who doesn’t want something from JetPens at the holidays) and stumbled across a most-coveted item. The Kutsuwa Dr. Ion Super Mega Pencil Case ($36) is now available at JetPens. I first saw the Dr. Ion case in action over on Felt & Wire where Jennie Hinchcliff of Red Letter Day kindly showed off what her travelling letter-writing kit included and have been lusting after one ever since. Now, JetPens is stocking not only the epically-sized Super Mega Pencil Case but also the slightly more demure Mega Pencil Case ($22.50). I wasn’t planning on adding a new item to my wishlist, but really… can you blame me?

In feature

Decorate your workspace for the holidays

AnaDecember 7, 2012Leave a comment

If you work in an office, is there any way to add a little holiday cheer to your space without just stringing some fairy lights over the cubicle walls? Pro Digial Photos added some holiday panache to their workspace that is both festive AND tasteful.

Screen Shot 2012-12-07 at 10.21.54 AM — Obscure that drop ceiling with ornaments and garland

Screen Shot 2012-12-07 at 10.22.09 AM — Tie a bow around your office chair and add a little sparkle to your desktop

62websize-600x400 — Decorative wire trees are festive without a lot of fuss

28websize-600x464 — And my favorite, hang a small wreath from the back of your chair to add a little festive flair to the workspace

I thought maybe these photos might give you some ideas. I know they gave me a couple. The key to decorating the workspace for the holidays is to be understated but festive. Nothing that distracts or inhibits work or will take too much time or effort to put up or take down. Best of luck and I hope you are getting into the spirit of the holidays too!

In video

Video: The Twenty-Six Old Characters

AnaDecember 7, 2012Leave a comment

“The Twenty-Six Old Characters” created in 1947 by the Shaeffer Pen Co. Its about 20 minute long and a little quaint but seeing pens and tools in action is a bit of a thrill. This video is from the Library of Congress Prelinger Archive and has been cleaned up and trimmed slightly. Its great that these films are being preserved. Enjoy!