Enjoying the open shutters. This is an older picture though, before things started turning green. I thought it was cute though, so I wanted to throw it in! |
Friday, May 31, 2013
Whiskers & Paws: May 2013 Edition
Labels:
animals,
Bengals,
Cats,
Ellie,
Havana Brown,
Peaches,
Ragdoll,
Tyco,
Whiskers and Paws
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Review: Tombow Interlocking Wooden Pencil Caps - Pink @JetPens
I first saw the Tombow Interlocking Wooden Pencil Caps on Gentian's blog! They were so cute and I was so curious about them that I had to order some. Especially because I HATE keeping pencils in my pencil case unprotected because they soil the inside of my adorable pencil cases!
These are little plastic caps that fit most standard pencils. They slide on easily (and slide off easily) but won't fall off your pencils - unless you have tiny pencils. I like to use them to cover the lead of my sharpened pencils. There are little notches around the sides that you can slide together. It's a lot like LEGOs!
These are great for organizing your pencil case, or your desk, and for protecting your pencil leads and the insides of your pencil cases from said lead! Plus it makes your pencils easier to tote. Just grab the bunch and you're good to go.
Also very enjoyable is that you can buy a bajillion of these and make a monster cube!!! Or... a tiny cube. I have fantasies that they will make more colors too... *drool*
More Ippo!
Drawing With a Squirrel
Lung Sketching Scrolls
Price
JetPens - $1.65
Overall
If you use pencils, this is a no-brainer. For $1.65, you can't go wrong with the Tombow Interlocking Wooden Pencil Caps. They're cheap, cute, super easy to use, helpful and practical, and are a great item to get you to the $25 free shipping at JetPens. I love them!
FYI it totally looks like I copied this picture but I seriously did not, cross my heart. We apparently just have great minds that think alike!
These are little plastic caps that fit most standard pencils. They slide on easily (and slide off easily) but won't fall off your pencils - unless you have tiny pencils. I like to use them to cover the lead of my sharpened pencils. There are little notches around the sides that you can slide together. It's a lot like LEGOs!
These are great for organizing your pencil case, or your desk, and for protecting your pencil leads and the insides of your pencil cases from said lead! Plus it makes your pencils easier to tote. Just grab the bunch and you're good to go.
Also very enjoyable is that you can buy a bajillion of these and make a monster cube!!! Or... a tiny cube. I have fantasies that they will make more colors too... *drool*
More Ippo!
Drawing With a Squirrel
Lung Sketching Scrolls
Price
JetPens - $1.65
Overall
If you use pencils, this is a no-brainer. For $1.65, you can't go wrong with the Tombow Interlocking Wooden Pencil Caps. They're cheap, cute, super easy to use, helpful and practical, and are a great item to get you to the $25 free shipping at JetPens. I love them!
FYI it totally looks like I copied this picture but I seriously did not, cross my heart. We apparently just have great minds that think alike!
Labels:
associated addictions,
JetPens,
office supplies,
Reviews,
stationery
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Stationery Sale at Pens, Pencils, and Protein Powder
UPDATE: She's all sold out for now! Thanks for browsing folks :)
Hey readers! Fellow stationery blogger Mayra, at Pens, Pencils, and Protein Powder, is having a sale to declutter the hoard! What is this concept? ... Well, I'm not entirely sure... but if you are interested in browsing some new, unused, and some hard to find items, check out Pens, Pencils, and Protein Powder! Perhaps help fund Mayra's education a little :)
Even if you aren't looking to purchase anything, perhaps you could share the link and help spread the word? Pretty please with an eraser on top?
Hey readers! Fellow stationery blogger Mayra, at Pens, Pencils, and Protein Powder, is having a sale to declutter the hoard! What is this concept? ... Well, I'm not entirely sure... but if you are interested in browsing some new, unused, and some hard to find items, check out Pens, Pencils, and Protein Powder! Perhaps help fund Mayra's education a little :)
Even if you aren't looking to purchase anything, perhaps you could share the link and help spread the word? Pretty please with an eraser on top?
Giveaway at Write To Me Often
Zeynep at Write To Me Often is giving away a Pilot Petit1 fountain pen in blue-black! Entries accepted until Friday. Click here for details.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Giveaway at JStationery
Check out JStationery's page to enter to win a 12-color set of Pilot Juice gel ink pens! There are two ways to enter so make sure you read the page carefully and don't miss out! Click here for the details.
Labels:
gel ink pens,
Giveaway,
JStationery,
office supplies,
pens,
Pilot,
stationery
Review: Montblanc Je T'aime Love Letter Ink
This 2005 Montblanc Love Letter fountain pen ink was generously sent to me by Steven! This is the 2005 original release. Thank you so much Steven. I am honored and so excited to get to review this ink! Also, I love to sniff things and often the first thing I do when I get an ink is sniff it. How perfect, since this is scented...
ABOUT
Color: Red
Where to buy: This is not a current inventory ink so you will have to hunt around to find some, and prices will vary!
PROS
Is there anything more romantic than an ink called Love Letter that smells like rose oil? Not disgusting, artificial roses, but actual roses? It's beautiful. It's a beautiful red that is a joy to write with and is a treat for the senses. I only wish it were water resistant and that the scent of roses would last longer. Nevertheless, it's absolutely delightful. I hope Montblanc releases this ink again. I would buy it in a heartbeat. (Get it? Heartbeat?)
ABOUT
Color: Red
Where to buy: This is not a current inventory ink so you will have to hunt around to find some, and prices will vary!
PROS
- Gorgeous red, aptly described by "love letter".
- Smells like liquid roses.
- Dries fast.
- Shades nicely, especially in broad nibs.
- Well-behaved.
- Smell remains while ink is wet and will remain on the page for awhile.
- Not water-resistant.
Is there anything more romantic than an ink called Love Letter that smells like rose oil? Not disgusting, artificial roses, but actual roses? It's beautiful. It's a beautiful red that is a joy to write with and is a treat for the senses. I only wish it were water resistant and that the scent of roses would last longer. Nevertheless, it's absolutely delightful. I hope Montblanc releases this ink again. I would buy it in a heartbeat. (Get it? Heartbeat?)
Labels:
associated addictions,
fountain pens,
inks,
Montblanc,
office supplies,
Reviews,
scented,
stationery
Monday, May 27, 2013
EDC: Non Fountain Pen
No mailbox goodies today folks! (This hiatus is boring as heck.) Instead, I will show you my purse pencil case!
I like to keep pens on me. ... I guess that was an obvious statement. Sometimes I don't carry a fountain pen if I know my bag will be squished or tossed around a lot. Here's the wee pencil case that stays in my purse.
Kaweco Sketch Up Acrylic 5.6mm Pencil
Pilot Hi-Tec-C (in 0.4mm and 0.5mm), including one in a Render-K
Retro51 Natural Bamboo Tornado Pen + Retro51 ballpoint Refill
Uni-ball Jetstream Alpha Grip
I like to keep pens on me. ... I guess that was an obvious statement. Sometimes I don't carry a fountain pen if I know my bag will be squished or tossed around a lot. Here's the wee pencil case that stays in my purse.
Kaweco Sketch Up Acrylic 5.6mm Pencil
Pilot Hi-Tec-C (in 0.4mm and 0.5mm), including one in a Render-K
Retro51 Natural Bamboo Tornado Pen + Retro51 ballpoint Refill
Uni-ball Jetstream Alpha Grip
Labels:
associated addictions,
CoolPencilCase,
fountain pens,
gel ink pens,
JetPens,
JStationery,
Kaweco,
pencil cases,
pencils,
pens,
Pilot
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Sunday Reads - May 26. 2013
- Incredibly detailed drawings on styrofoam cup.
- JustDaveyB presents all 85 pens in his collection. You need to look at this gorgeous photograph.
- The June 2013 Carnival of Pen, Pencil, and Paper will be hosted by Ed Jelley - check out his post and follow his link to submit your articles for the carnival!
- Speaking of Ed Jelley, check out his review of the TWSBI Vac 700 fountain pen.
- The Well-Appointed Desk shares a tutorial on how to replace a pen sac. Perfect. I need to get cracking on doing these.
- The beauty of pollination - a stunning video that, as my dad puts it, "will make you feel inadequate about your photography skills"!
- Does This Pen Write? reviews Branch Pencils!
- This week's adorable cat is, once again, brought to you by Mr. Guilt. This is a ridiculously tiny and feisty little Black Footed Cat.
Image by. Mr. Guilt. |
Labels:
animals,
art,
associated addictions,
Cats,
fountain pens,
pen porn,
pencils,
pens,
photography,
stationery
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Modern Pen Line Up
Back when I was preparing my pens for the FPGeeks Daily Carry, I took many pictures, and here's one that I particularly liked and decided to save for a future date.
The line up, from back to front, is as follows:
Pelikan M1005 clear demonstrator + fine nib
TWSBI Diamond 540 + 1.1mm stub nib
TWSBI Diamond 540 + extra-fine nib
Graf Von Faber-Castell Anello Titanium + medium nib
Lamy Studio + fine nib
Pilot/Namiki Vanishing Point (Raden, of course) + medium nib
The line up, from back to front, is as follows:
Pelikan M1005 clear demonstrator + fine nib
TWSBI Diamond 540 + 1.1mm stub nib
TWSBI Diamond 540 + extra-fine nib
Graf Von Faber-Castell Anello Titanium + medium nib
Lamy Studio + fine nib
Pilot/Namiki Vanishing Point (Raden, of course) + medium nib
Labels:
fountain pens,
FPGeeks,
Graf Von Faber-Castell,
inks,
Lamy,
office supplies,
Pelikan,
pen porn,
Pilot,
stationery,
TWSBI
Friday, May 24, 2013
Sparkles and Stamps
I have been going through my junk boxes and trying to reorganize things because at some point, I threw everything into boxes so they weren't visible. But now I know they're in there, messy. In the process of taking everything out, I thought I would share with you my collection of sparkles and stamps! It's pretty modest (I think)... at least compared to some collections I've seen belonging to others!
I've only used the sparkles a few times to decorate cards. I'm not entirely sure how to use them actually. Do you use sparkles? How do you make use of them? There's also some beads in the upper corner there that I have no clue how to use. (Of course, you may be wondering, why the heck did you buy all of these if you have no idea how to use them? Why indeed.)
Yes, I have two paw prints. Because I'm paranoid and was worried about only having one of that particular paw print. So now I have two. |
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Review: Bags of Love A5 Custom Notebook - Blank
You may have seen reviews at From The Pen Cup and No Pen Intended of custom notebooks from Bags of Love. Here I am with a review of this nifty notebook - with the same insides but totally different covers. Thank you to Claire at Bags of Love for making this review possible!
ABOUT
Size: A5
Color: Ivory-Cream
Ruling: Blank
Sheet Count: 75
Price: $22.95 (current promo: buy 2, get 1 free)
Where to buy: Bags of Love
APPEARANCE
The Bags of Love notebook I selected was the A5 size. The process to select and place your pictures is very easy and everything is done through the Bags of Love website. The notebook has softback covers that feature glossy images of your choice. The notebook is bound like a paperback. Inside, the pages are surprisingly thick and heavy. They're ivory-cream in color - not very cream but not more ivory than just off-white.
On the front, I placed a picture of a TWSBI Diamond 580 fountain pen (inked with Pilot Iroshizuku Ku-Jaku, if you must know!), on a white background. I selected this because I wanted to see what kind of contrast could be printed. It's quite decent - lines are distinct and there is a good gradient of color.
On the back, I placed a picture of a Midori Traveler's Notebook STAR edition close up, sitting on top a Midori Traveler's Notebook in brown. I selected this picture to see what kind of detail could be printed close up and I am happy to see it printed well.
PERFORMANCE & FEEL
The notebook feels nice in hand - I LOVE the feeling of paperbacks in hand and this notebook looks and feels like a paperback book. The concern with this is the spine breaks pretty easily, especially when you're writing in it and getting into the middle of the book and have to break the spine to get to the inside of the pages. The second page of the notebook has split from the binding ever so slightly. It's still held in place by the other pages. That being said, I have been quite rough with the notebook in an attempt to push it to its limit. I think with typical/normal use, most users would be fine.
Let's get to this great paper! I am thrilled to report to you that this paper is pretty fantastic. It handles pencils, ballpoints, and gel pens like a pro.
Even better? It takes fountain pen ink like a pro as well. Writing on this paper with fountain pens is a nice experience - it offers a little bit of feedback which I like with certain pens. There is minimal show through, no bleed through, and no feathering, even with wet pens. Drying time is fast because there is no coating on the paper.
PROS
Often, novelty-type notebooks are so-so quality with sub par paper in them. This is not the case with the Bags of Love customizable notebook! They are pretty awesome notebooks with good quality paper that would make pretty awesome gifts for folks in your life since you can make them very personal!
Bags of Love provided this notebook to me free of charge to review. I was not compensated monetarily for this review. All opinions here are my own.
ABOUT
Size: A5
Color: Ivory-Cream
Ruling: Blank
Sheet Count: 75
Price: $22.95 (current promo: buy 2, get 1 free)
Where to buy: Bags of Love
APPEARANCE
The Bags of Love notebook I selected was the A5 size. The process to select and place your pictures is very easy and everything is done through the Bags of Love website. The notebook has softback covers that feature glossy images of your choice. The notebook is bound like a paperback. Inside, the pages are surprisingly thick and heavy. They're ivory-cream in color - not very cream but not more ivory than just off-white.
On the front, I placed a picture of a TWSBI Diamond 580 fountain pen (inked with Pilot Iroshizuku Ku-Jaku, if you must know!), on a white background. I selected this because I wanted to see what kind of contrast could be printed. It's quite decent - lines are distinct and there is a good gradient of color.
On the back, I placed a picture of a Midori Traveler's Notebook STAR edition close up, sitting on top a Midori Traveler's Notebook in brown. I selected this picture to see what kind of detail could be printed close up and I am happy to see it printed well.
PERFORMANCE & FEEL
The notebook feels nice in hand - I LOVE the feeling of paperbacks in hand and this notebook looks and feels like a paperback book. The concern with this is the spine breaks pretty easily, especially when you're writing in it and getting into the middle of the book and have to break the spine to get to the inside of the pages. The second page of the notebook has split from the binding ever so slightly. It's still held in place by the other pages. That being said, I have been quite rough with the notebook in an attempt to push it to its limit. I think with typical/normal use, most users would be fine.
Let's get to this great paper! I am thrilled to report to you that this paper is pretty fantastic. It handles pencils, ballpoints, and gel pens like a pro.
Even better? It takes fountain pen ink like a pro as well. Writing on this paper with fountain pens is a nice experience - it offers a little bit of feedback which I like with certain pens. There is minimal show through, no bleed through, and no feathering, even with wet pens. Drying time is fast because there is no coating on the paper.
PROS
- Customizable with your own pictures!
- Available in A5 and A6 sizes.
- Good quality printing of photos on covers.
- Thick, glossy covers.
- Fountain pen friendly paper.
- Only available in blank.
- Only available with ivory-cream colored paper.
- Spine will break and wear like a paperback book does.
- Once you bend the cover back, it doesn't want to stay flat ever again. (Just like a paperback.)
Often, novelty-type notebooks are so-so quality with sub par paper in them. This is not the case with the Bags of Love customizable notebook! They are pretty awesome notebooks with good quality paper that would make pretty awesome gifts for folks in your life since you can make them very personal!
Bags of Love provided this notebook to me free of charge to review. I was not compensated monetarily for this review. All opinions here are my own.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Review: Word Lined Notebooks - Swedish Camo
Don't we all need pocket notebooks for... well... our pockets? Or purses, or bags, or totes, or just to have on us in whatever you carry? I can't go anywhere without a pocket notebook. If I don't have one with me, I feel naked. I currently use Field Notes because they're cute and fun, and now I get to give these Word. notebooks a spin! Thank you Brenda from Word. Notebooks for sending these for me to review.
ABOUT
Size: 3.5" x 5"
Color: White
Ruling: Lined
Sheet Count: 48
Price: $9.99USD
Where to buy: Word
APPEARANCE
These Word. notebooks are in the Swedish Camo pattern. They are traditional pocket notebook sized - not big, not too small - with clean, rounded corners on the outer edges. The spine is staple bound neatly. The cover has "Word." printed on it in a little white circle, amidst the pattern. Inside, the pages are white, with really nice, easy on the eyes lines that are visible enough to serve their purpose. There are strange circles along the inside of the margins, and a little guide on how to use these on the inside of the front cover.
PERFORMANCE & FEEL
When you glance at these notebooks, surely you think of Field Notes. They share the same size and general function. The whole notebook feels sturdy and after bending it around and shoving it into my pocket and bag, it's held up well. The edges got a little wrinkly but it hasn't fallen apart - the staples have held and no pages have torn off.
The paper is neither overly smooth nor is it textured. It does not have a glossy coating on it. The paper in these pocket notebooks is quite similar to other pocket notebooks I am familiar with (such as Field Notes). It tolerates gel pens, pencils, ballpoints, and fine roller ball pens well. There is no bleed through or show through with these pens. I suspected it wouldn't work so well with fountain pens and I was right. Even fine nibs bled through the page and there is a lot of show through, as well as feathering with wetter writing.
The unique bullet point system used in Word. notebooks is explained on their product page.
PROS
The Word. Notebooks are a cute, quaint pocket notebook - priced comparable to its competitors, and sharing similar qualities to them (made in the USA, acid-free paper). They have a variety of different covers to choose from. As for its ability to tolerate fountain pens, honestly, when I have a pocket notebook in my pocket, I am not using a fountain pen with it (a fountain pen couldn't actually fit in my pocket!). I'm using a gel pen, Fisher Space pen, or pencil with it. Of course this means some people will have no interest in it and that's totally fine. I think it's a fun option for those who are looking for a pocket notebook, so if fountain pen friendly paper is not a requirement, I do recommend you give Word. notebooks a whirl!
Follow Word.
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Twitter
I was provided these notebooks free of charge to sample, play with, get accustomed to, and review. I was not compensated monetarily to write this review. All opinions are my own.
ABOUT
Size: 3.5" x 5"
Color: White
Ruling: Lined
Sheet Count: 48
Price: $9.99USD
Where to buy: Word
APPEARANCE
These Word. notebooks are in the Swedish Camo pattern. They are traditional pocket notebook sized - not big, not too small - with clean, rounded corners on the outer edges. The spine is staple bound neatly. The cover has "Word." printed on it in a little white circle, amidst the pattern. Inside, the pages are white, with really nice, easy on the eyes lines that are visible enough to serve their purpose. There are strange circles along the inside of the margins, and a little guide on how to use these on the inside of the front cover.
PERFORMANCE & FEEL
When you glance at these notebooks, surely you think of Field Notes. They share the same size and general function. The whole notebook feels sturdy and after bending it around and shoving it into my pocket and bag, it's held up well. The edges got a little wrinkly but it hasn't fallen apart - the staples have held and no pages have torn off.
The paper is neither overly smooth nor is it textured. It does not have a glossy coating on it. The paper in these pocket notebooks is quite similar to other pocket notebooks I am familiar with (such as Field Notes). It tolerates gel pens, pencils, ballpoints, and fine roller ball pens well. There is no bleed through or show through with these pens. I suspected it wouldn't work so well with fountain pens and I was right. Even fine nibs bled through the page and there is a lot of show through, as well as feathering with wetter writing.
The unique bullet point system used in Word. notebooks is explained on their product page.
...Lets you organize your tasks efficiently. Simply fill in the bullet point when writing an item on that line. Trace the circle around it when it’s important and add a slash when you’ve started work on it. Once the task is complete, simply mark down an “X” and move on to the next item on your list. It’s an easy way to keep track of all your notes.I very much like the unique bullet point system - it takes some getting used to but once you remember the symbols, it certainly helps to keep your pocket notebook tidy. (You should see my other ones... they're a disaster by the time they're full). The little circles are fun for color coordinating as well - color them in to indicate the importance or relevance of your task!
Top to bottom: Field Notes memo book, Word. notebook, Rhodiarama notebook, Quo Vadis habana. |
- Made in the USA.
- Cover is 100% post-consumer recycled materials.
- Both cover and interior paper is acid-free.
- Unique bullet point system used in Word. notebooks.
- Not fountain pen friendly. (Though they do not claim to be.)
The Word. Notebooks are a cute, quaint pocket notebook - priced comparable to its competitors, and sharing similar qualities to them (made in the USA, acid-free paper). They have a variety of different covers to choose from. As for its ability to tolerate fountain pens, honestly, when I have a pocket notebook in my pocket, I am not using a fountain pen with it (a fountain pen couldn't actually fit in my pocket!). I'm using a gel pen, Fisher Space pen, or pencil with it. Of course this means some people will have no interest in it and that's totally fine. I think it's a fun option for those who are looking for a pocket notebook, so if fountain pen friendly paper is not a requirement, I do recommend you give Word. notebooks a whirl!
Follow Word.
I was provided these notebooks free of charge to sample, play with, get accustomed to, and review. I was not compensated monetarily to write this review. All opinions are my own.
Labels:
journals,
Notebooks,
office supplies,
paper,
pens,
Reviews,
stationery
Monday, May 20, 2013
Mailbox Goodies: Prize and Parcel
This week, I received two boxes - one was a prize and the other was a parcel! The parcel was from Pentel of America and included a whole set of their Recycology products. Thanks Pentel!
The prize was from Kenro and included a Sheaffer VFM fountain pen and a bottle of Sheaffer Skrip ink. Thank you Kenro!
The prize was from Kenro and included a Sheaffer VFM fountain pen and a bottle of Sheaffer Skrip ink. Thank you Kenro!
Labels:
fountain pens,
Green,
inks,
Mailbox Goodies,
pen porn,
pens,
Pentel
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