Sep
30
(Image by steakpinball)
This photo symbolises for me the impossibility of choice.
No single one of these bright, beautiful pens would be as good on its own as they are when they’re all lined up together. I wouldn’t exactly say ‘no’ to owning one if I were offered it, but I wouldn’t feel the need to choose.
Sometimes inaccessible beauty of a shop display is more pleasing than being able to own and to use. And that’s OK, too.
Sep
29
Seductive glint of gold
Filed Under Fountain Pens, I want one!, Pens | Leave a Comment
(Image by bizmac)
I don’t own a Montblanc fountain pen, but oh how I covet it.
Not for the golden nib, not for the prestige of owning one. But for the pleasure of holding an object so beautiful and inviting.
I dare anyone to look at this photo and not desire a Monblanc pen of their own.
Sep
28
An old receipt
Filed Under Writing | Leave a Comment
(image by the incredible how (wandering))
This old receipt charmed me with the careful, steady hand in which it’s written.
There could be an entire lesson based on this. “The 19th century: when even shop assistants had perfect handwriting.”
Sep
26
Windows Vista Pen
Filed Under Ball pens, Pens | 4 Comments
(image by iogi)
I’m not posting this picture because it’s particularly great (although it’s nice enough), and certainly not because I’m suddenly overtaken with fondness towards Windows Vista merchandise. (In fact, when my laptop died in the summer, I transitioned to using a Mac, just so that I didn’t have to use Vista; that’s by the by though.)
However, I have a confession to make: I have an uncommon, unseemly fondness towards free pens.
Even if it’s kinda mediocre in use, even if it bears the name of a product I’d never use (like, cough, Vista) - hey, if it’s free, I’ll have it. And use it, often in preference to my other, nicer pens.
My friend reckons that it’s because deep down I don’t think that whatever I’m writing is worthy, and I’m loathe to use nice stationery on it. Maybe so, or maybe I’m just greedy.
Anyway, the picture up there is a symbol of my weakness.
Sep
25
Cupcake stationery set
Filed Under Cards | Leave a Comment
(Image and stationery by jelene)
I love that there are people crafty and creative enough that they can just go and make a stationery set like the one above. The stickers make it for me. I’m craving some cupcake stickers now.
Actually, some real cupcakes will probably make me just as happy. Maybe it’s baking time. Here are some cupcake recipes I found, in case you’re similarly tempted.
Sep
24
Lomo Notebook
Filed Under Notebooks | Leave a Comment
(Image by jcmedina)
At first I intended to post a picture of this book just because it’s cute: the sort of notebook that I may want to own. However, I noticed that the comments on this picture on Flickr all talked about a Lomo Notebook as special, and how other people couldn’t wait to get their hands on one.
A little bit of googling revealed that Lomo Notebooks are meant to jog your creativity: the pages aren’t simply blank, but have messages, questions and hints, which are meant to awaken your creative gland. They are sold over on a page dedicated to them, and there are some instructions about using one, too.
Strangely enough, I’m not tempted at all. Sure, it’s cute, but I don’t like my notebooks to talk to me. I like a blank canvas, or maybe a lined or a graphed canvas - but the only text on a page has to be mine.
To each their own, though, and Lomo books seem to have a loyal following.
Sep
23
The Spectacular Sticky-Note Experiment
Filed Under Random stationery, sticky notes | Leave a Comment
Office supplies triumph over office mundanity in this short, cheeky film:
I like that somewhere in the world there’s a person who looked at a packed of sticky notes, and thought: “Hey! These look like Slinkies! Let’s play with them!”
Sep
22
Watch out for the ring-binder
Filed Under Folders & binders | Leave a Comment
(Image by clicksense)
Filing stationery is normally my least favourite kind, which is probably because I’m not very organised. Doesn’t mean I don’t have too many binders of too different types.
I keep hoping I’ll find the perfect binder one day, and become magically organised and tidy, but so far it has failed to happen.
Sep
21
Eraser Heaven
Filed Under Erasers, I want one! | Leave a Comment
(Image by Agathe B)
Erasers are not my stationery porn of choice, but, as with other office goodies, they become exponentially more attractive when there are many of them.
Also: Pretty colours! The abundance of choice would send me into an anxiety attack if I were standing there, trying to pick one or two.
How on earth do people ever choose?
Sep
20
“The Klutz Book of Paper Airplanes” by Doug Stillinger
Filed Under Book reviews, Stationery Lover's Life | 1 Comment
If you love nice paper, but are consumed with guilt for wasting it, making paper planes is a tremendous way of giving your scribbled-on sheets some more life. Seriously, try suggesting it. The child (or forever-young adult) in your life will think you’re The. Coolest. Thing.
If you know only one plane design, and even that doesn’t fly very well, “The Kluts Book of Paper Airplanes” will save you from the imminent crash. It even comes with 40 sheets of paper printed with pretty designs, just so that you, the paper lover, have something to covet while the junior masters of origami are testing their engineering mettle.
What’s inside.
First of all, we get a reference table, in which we’re introduced to the 10 paper plane models and their characteristics. Difficulty (from 1 to 5) and the number of folds needed (up to 15) will give you the idea of what you’re getting into, whereas flight speed, distance and time aloft lure you with untold rewards for when the project is finished.
The planes are of three types: Dart, Glider and Stunt. (There is also a solitary Toy, which looks pretty but doesn’t fly as well). The differences between the types, as well as some general instructions for launching each type, get a chapter of their own. Apparently, “the trick is to figure out what type of plane you’re throwing, and how you want it to fly. Then, give it the launch it needs to get there… The way the plane is designed, it will naturally ‘like’ certain angles and speeds, but not the others.” The pictures explain it all pretty clearly, though getting it right will need some practice, of course.
The instructions for folding each plane are clear, well-illustrated, and not too hard to follow. Our Young Guy - aged 8, and not very patient with crafts - needed help only with the most difficult plane, “The Hammer” (“time aloft: 4.8 sec; distance: 102 feet”), and we the grown-ups encountered no difficulty at all. The planes came out looking sleek and flying great even with minimal practice.
At the back of the book there’s a pocket with beautifully designed A4 sheets of paper: twenty designs, two sheets of each. Try not to start filching them from your child right away, though I can see a paper lover being tempted. My favourite was this one:
Young Guy favoured these two:
Although the rest of the designs are equally pretty, and very pleasant to the touch, a green-minded person would have no problem getting the same results with plain paper than was already headed for recycling.
How we tested it.
The book came on holiday with us this year, and became the Young Guy’s favourite reading matter for the whole of our week away. He tried out all ten models of planes, and made several of his favourite types (the Hammer and the Headhunter). When we asked if he would let us recycle these and make new ones at home, rather than carry the whole fleet back, there were tears of grief in his eyes when he said “Leave them if they’re too heavy.” (The planes came home; we’re not that feeble or cruel.)
We haven’t tried scaling down the models with paper of different sizes, but I can see trying it out some time with used up sheets from my university notes.
All in all, the book has proved to be a fantastic source of entertainment, provided us with a stream of nearly-free toys, and gave me some pretty paper to love and stroke. Result.
(If it’s time for frugal entertainment, check out “Fifteen Ways to Have Cheap Fun With Your Kids Using a $1 End Roll of Paper“: there are some more cool ideas on how to pass on your love of paper to the kids.)
Get your own.
If you would like to join in the fun, get “The Klutz Book of Paper Airplanes” here.
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Now proudly pitching a tent at the First Book Review Blog Carnival.
