The Well-Appointed Desk

I know everyone wants to see a holiday gift guide but there are so many out there right now… its just a sea of them. There are so many great gift ideas at Discover Paper and so many other places that I feel like I’d be redundant. So I thought I’d mix it up and show you some of the goodies on my wish list this year.

Wooden envelope templates from Paper Pastries $15-$20
TWSBI Mini fountain pen from Goulet Pens $50
Decole Old Desk Sticky Notes from Japanese Gift Market $8.50
Staedtler Pencil Holder from Jet Pens $29.50
Koh-i-noor Magic marble erasers from Amazon.co.uk £1.25
Letter Opener from Izola $20
E+M 5.5mm wooden pencil lead holder with sharpener base from JetPens $30
Supplies canvas zipper case from Izola $28
Wood textured notebooks from Site NYC $14 each for 6×8.5″
E+M Fluorescent Pencil Leads from Jet Pens Pack of 6 for $9.50

What’s on your wish list?

In video

Music to my ears

AnaNovember 29, 2012Leave a comment

(Link to file on SoundCloud)

This is the musical sound of “16 typewriters, 18 calculator machines, 8 accounting machines, 12 office perforators, 10 caisses enregistreuses, 8 humidificateurs-colleurs, 8 tele-scripteurs, 2 metronomes, 4 bells of signalisation, 2 entrance door gongs, 10 claxons, 16 telephones, 40 experimental signal receptors, 1 fork lift, a duplicator and a monte-charge” and it was recorded in 1964. Freakin’ amazing!

(via The Atlantic)

In feature

VSCO Camera App

AnaNovember 28, 2012Leave a comment

Pugly Pixel Coffee Mug Sampler — Sample Images by Pugly Pixel

I don’t post much about iPhone apps as there are 100s of places to get recommendations and lists out there on the web. Occasionally, though, something crosses my path that seems good but not-so-well-known so I thought I’d share one such find. The app is called VSCOCam by Visual Supply Co. and it costs a whopping 99¢. It is a much more subtle camera adjustment app than Instagram or Hipstamatic with simple tools to adjust the intensity of the effect as well.

In photo

Early American Pencil Sharpener

AnaNovember 28, 2012July 6, 20183 Comments

what-is-it-worth-pencil-sharpener-1212-lgn — Photo by Audra Swearingen

This is an early-20th century pencil sharpener from Automatic Pencil Sharpener Co. of Chicago. This design was patented in 1906. The design is made of steel, tin and cast iron and mounted on a wooden base. It has a removable bottom drawer to trap shavings.This was the best-selling pencil sharpener until 1914 when it was slowly surpassed by a side loading model.

(via Country Living)

In feature

Iowa I-80 Pen Nib Rest Stop

AnaNovember 27, 2012Leave a comment

While I was unable to actually stop here, we did pass it both going and returning from Chicago. On the eastbound trip, we missed the turn-off and on the westbound trip, the exit for the stop was only for eastbound traffic. Needless to say, I had to search online for some pictures to share and let anyone know who may have a pen fetish, that this is the must-stop rest stop along I-80 in Iowa.

The stop is at Tiffin and, according to the PDF brochure from the Iowa Dept. of Transportation, is designed to reflect the importance of literature and education in Iowa. But really folks, I just wanted my picture by the giant PEN NIB!

(photos from the Iowa Dept. of Transportation brochure)

In feature

Pieritz Office Supplies

AnaNovember 27, 2012Leave a comment

One of the best things about traveling is finding new treasures, especially of the office supply genre. Despite the fact that I was born and raised in Chicago, I did not discover the gem that is Pieritz Office Supplies until this week. Pieritz (pronounced “peer-its” but you can call is “pirates” if you want) is a small office goods shop in Oak Park, IL just off the Ridgeland Green Line stop. Pieritz has been open for over 100 years and is a family-run shop.

The selection is small but hits all the office supply “sweet spots” with a well-curated collection of pens, pencils, notebooks and various other supplies. I found a full range of Marvy LePens including the long-sought red to finally round out my full set. Pieritz stocked pencils from General Pencil Co., an assortment of notebooks from Rhodia and Clairefontaine as well as a few other lines (like the Decomposition notebooks). They also stocked some fountain pens, ink, erasers, sharpeners, and a variety of favorite rollerball, ballpoint and gel pens.

I found a bottle of J. Herbin 1670 ink but there will be more about that later.

Outside Pieritz is their pencil planter, what a great landmark!

Inside, Pieritz is one part modern office supply shop and one part vintage office supply museum. The countertop was covered in plexiglass and revealed a collection of vintage supplies and packaging. Along the walls were old signage and a huge collection of typewriters and adding machines. I was informed that Pieritz keeps a stock of typewriter ribbons, if you need some.

Pieritz is easy to visit being directly across the street from the Green Line Ridgeland L stop. If you’re in the Chicago area, it is definitely worth the trip!

In feature

Arrow Plier-Style Hand Stapler

AnaNovember 26, 2012Leave a comment

This, the Arrow Plier-Style Hand Stapler Model P-66, is not actually a vintage score. I know, its hard to believe but I picked this up at The New Dime Store in Kansas City. Genuine new old stock for a whopping $7.99. The staples (Arrow Precision Made S-66 staples) were and additional $3.99.

The packaging totally makes this! It is actually a lovely compact size, perfect for your office.

The staples are about the same width as vintage Swingline TOT staples but they are just a tiny bit longer.

Works like a champ. Keep your eyes peeled for such great vintage NOS treasures at your local shops. You never know what you might find.

Arrow no longer lists this small plier-style stapler on their web site but I have owned an Arrow light duty staple gun since college (perfect for stretching canvasses) and it still works well.