Saturday, May 01, 2010

Addicted 2 Paper

I don't think anyone could argue that I am not a paper hound. Shelves in my apartment will tell the story. See if you can try to guess what note books are my favorites.


Starting off, my true favorites are Clairefontaine Basic Notebooks. I love the leatherette cardboard covers and am thrilled with the new colors. I started off using the black lined ones many years ago after a visit to Pendemonium in Fort Madison, Iowa. I count Sam and Frank as personal friends and they have enlightened me on many things over the years. Not the least of which is a wonderful line of French made paper.



Many of the Basic Notebooks one will find in stores or websites will be lined paper. Last year I made a trip to the campus art store at the University of Illinois and found the large brown covered one you see in this picture with blank paper. I bought four of them as I knew they were a rare commodity.

My favorites in the Basic line are the small pocket notebooks. Their size is: 9 X 14 cm or 3 1/2 X 5 1/2 in. and have 92 pages/48 sheets. They so easily and conveniently fit in a pocket or small bag, perfect for fanny packs. I can't even begin to tell you how many different uses they have been put to in my life. You will most often find me with one of these on me. They are now being marketed and sold in a two pack and labeled Clairefontaine Basics - Life. unplugged


In my house there is always an assortment of Rhodia and Clairefontaine notebooks nearly anywhere you look. The dining room table, my desk, beside the bed, on the ottoman, stacked on the floor, or standing up in front of the bookshelves. Each and every one with a different use or subject. More of the spirals will start back to use very soon as I'm going to summer school this year to see if I can finally figure out how to do Algebra!


From the smallest No. 10 note pad to the giant No. 38 note pad there is always a need for paper in my life. Just can't beat the quality and consistency in these papers.

There is a really good comparison and explanation of the various papers used in these products on Rhodiadrive.com/2010/04/22/

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Grandson Visits

This is my grandson who came to visit with me this past weekend (3/20/10.) He was looking at websites from my favorites list and found my blog. He hadn't seen it before and apparently looked at the whole site and found his little sister featured on the page. He wanted to know why he wasn't on my website. Well, we must not allow my favorite grandson to feel left out. He is so very special to me

The above picture was taken last monday afternoon when we went to see a Nickelodeon show Storytime with Kailan, The Wonderpets, Backyardigans, and Dora the Explorer at the local Civic Center. Little sister went, too. My brother won tickets from a radio show which he gave to me to take the kids. We had a wonderful time and both the kids enjoyed the show. A first for both of them.
Here we have my Little Man, taken last fall (2009) practicing his photographic skills with my first digital camera which has been handed down to him. When he isn't just clicking to hear the shutter release, he actually has a pretty good eye for composition which I am trying to nurture in him. He's quite the little artist and has some great potential.
So, my Little Man, here is your featured spot in Granny's blog. I love you.

Monday, October 05, 2009

Rhodia Signature Pencil

I have been very fortunate to have receive sample products from Karen Dougherty at Exaclair and thank her for the opportunities to review Rhodia and Clairefontaine products.





Today's review is of the Rhodia pencils. First time I saw them, I knew I had to give them a whirl. After fountain pens, pencils are my next favorite writing instruments. I have always been partial to those yellow hexagon shaped ones with the green ferrule and pink eraser. Many other quality brands and not such good quality ones have passed through my fingers over a life time of use.


My most favorite pencil was always the renowned Blackwing 602 made by Eberhard Faber which was acquired by Faber-Castell in 1994. The pencil has been designated by some as "the best pencil ever made." The special machine that produced the rectangular ferrule for the eraser was broken and unable to be repaired and production of the pencil ended in 1998. The desire for the pencil has not ended as people will pay upwards of $35 each on eBay to acquire one. For these reasons, I have chosen to compare the Rhodia pencil to the Blackwing 602.

I was fortunate to find an old pencil box I had stored in my parents attic which contained two unsharpened Blackwings and one half used. You can see my stub in the second image.


The Rhodia pencil also has it's unique features. It is an ergonomic triangular shape with a black ferrule and a black eraser. The body of the pencil is a rich black wood with a primer coat of white then painted in the same orange color of the traditional Rhodia products. The pencil makes for a striking image when combination with a Rhodia Pad or Webnotebook. There is no question about what product a person is using when you see those colors. You know the owner has a passion for quality.

I have to admit to being enthralled with the iconic orange color that sets Rhodia products apart from other brands. I couldn't wait to get my hands on one. The triangle shape lets the pencil rest comfortably on the middle finger where a regular hexagon pencils would leave a sharp angle groove in the finger that after long hours over math problems the hand and the finger is fatigued from the use. The rectangle shape helps to eliminate this problem making it possible to keep working longer. The lead, which also makes a difference in the performance of a pencil is soft enough to create a rich line without increased pressure on the point, thus again, less fatigue. I typically use 2B mechanical pencils for much of the artwork and writing I do when using pencil as my medium and have found that the Rhodia is a good alternative. I keep one on the fridge next to my grocery list, one on my desk and one in my bag for on the go writing.

The Rhodia is an HB grade lead with the ergonomic shape and iconic orange color is available on a multitude of websites such as: SwisherPens [http://store.nexternal.com/shared/StoreFront/default.asp?CS=swisher&StoreType=BtoC&Count1=503521144&Count2=420661568] ($1.60), Vickery.com [ http://www.vickerey.com/prh100.html ] (doz $47.50 in desk box), PencilThings.com ($1.60), The Writer's Bloc (http://yhst-40997485717836.stores.yahoo.net/index.html) (3 @ $4.50)

Friday, July 17, 2009

Rhodia Pads - Largest & Smallest
















I have been very fortunate in having receive Rhodia products to review. I wish to start with the two that equate to the largest and the smallest Rhodia pads available.

Largest
The large pad is No 38 at 42,0 X 31,8 cm or 16.5 x 12.5 in. It comes in the standard 5 X 5 grid format. The same great paper as other Rhodia notepads. I have been using the pad for brain storming and mind mapping projects. The pad gives me a lot of space to formulate my plans. I have also used it for sketching and drawing.
I have found only one short coming in this product. For the size of this pad the standard board backing needs to be thicker in order to use it away from a table or desk which makes it a little difficult to be protable.
Smallest
Rhodia's smallest pad is the recently released No 10 measuring 5.2 x 7.5 cm and 2 x 2.9 in. This little gem is so very handy fits in nearly anything. Perfect for a pocket, purse, bag or in your vehicle.
I've been using them for little notes of all kinds. It is extremely convinient to use anywhere while fiting perfectly in pants pocket, jacket pocket, or shirt pocket. Just right for short notes or jotting the list of things the spouse wants you to pick up on your way home.
I have one on my desk, on the end table, on the night stand, and in the car. I'm finding it much less wasteful than using and carrying a No 13 or 16. I hesitate to make little notes on the larger pads when it is just a short note that is not necessary to save once the task jotted on it is done.
The paper is the high quaility Rhodia paper so many of us have come to know and love for use with our fountain pens and many other writing instruments. I highly recommend both pads. The potential for so many different tasks are only limited by the users.
The photos contain one of Rhodia's pencils and will be the subject of my next review.

Thursday, June 04, 2009

New Rhodia User


My Grand-daughter is starting young with her fascination with paper. Give her a piece of paper and she can be happy for hours with it. This particular image shows her with her favorite paper.
I don't think she will be shy about learning to write early and I will have to get her into her own fountain pen sooner than her brother got his first one.
(This little lady will be one year old in two weeks.)

I will be featuring reviews of new Rhodia products starting within the next couple of days. The first review will welcome the new Rhodia pencil to my supplies.

Come back to visit soon.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Personal Journalling: A Beginners Guide

The attached article about Personal Journaling was written in 2007 while I was working towards an Associates Degree as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Course requirements dictated an English Composition class and the classes I had taken in college in the eighties were not sufficient to make the requirement. I didn’t mind, the instructor was a friend of mine and it was fun to participate in the class with all the younger students.



PERSONAL JOURNALING: A Beginners Guide

The soft light of mid morning sun shines into the study. A large oak desk and chair sit just beyond the windows. Under the windows sits a matching oak credenza. A thirty-something young man is sitting in the chair. His left hand is resting on the open book lying on the desk in front of him. His right hand is wiping tears from his face. A series of leather bound books are stacked neatly on the shelves inside the credenza. The spine of each book is numbered in gold. Jim Jones has just discovered a secret to one of his most pressing childhood questions. “What did Dad do while locked up in his study?” Jim Jones has found the written record of his late father’s life. A record none of his family knew he had kept. Jack Jones died six weeks ago.
Jack was a very private person. His life was that of an extremely busy man in his professional life. When he was home with his family, he found it easier to let them talk about what they had been doing and committing time to their needs. But, Jack loved to write and felt it important to leave a record of his life for his children and future generations. He put information in his journals about his family, his war-time experiences, along with his day to day experiences and his feelings about his wife and children. He made a complete story of his life for them to enjoy once he was no longer there to talk with them. His family was very humbled and grateful to have those journals. The books showed them how their father felt about them and let them see a side of him they hadn’t known.
What is journaling? Webster defines a journal as “a daily record of happenings, a diary, newspaper, a record of transactions of a legislative, committee, club, etc.; a ship’s logbook, a daily paper, etc.” Webster defines a diary as “a written record, especially of the writer’s own experiences, thoughts, etc.; a book in which such a record is kept; a daily calendar or memorandum pad. Journaling is the act of keeping a daily record.” A journalist is the writer of a journal, or diary. Now we know what a journal is, let’s discuss some of the activities that make up journaling. For the purpose of this discussion we will be talking specifically about personal journaling as opposed to the professional forms of journal keeping.
Personal Journaling is a completely subjective process. (From this point forward the expression journaling will imply Personal Journaling.) The methods used are as varying as the individual keeping the journal. What is important to one may not be important to another. Thus, the first step in journaling is determined by the purpose of the journal as visualized by the journalist.
Journaling is the act of keeping a journal. A journal or diary is a personal record of thoughts, feelings, activities, and events. For a personal journal to have meaning there must be a desire to keep it, a purpose for recording information, an intended audience and some basic tools to use.
The act of keeping a journal is an activity many people learn as children. A teacher in school, church, scouting, or parents and grandparents will encourage journaling at some point or another as part of a learning exercise. Some children take to journaling very well and it becomes a life-long passion. For others it is unimportant and mundane, finding no joy in it, they stop. Some will pick journaling up again in later life and find it rewarding. Yet, other people who have never kept a journal before will find journaling at other points in their lives. Typically, a major event will cause them to sit down to write about the experience. They will find their own meaning and purpose in the act, thus, giving them cause to continue. No matter how one comes to journaling, once rooted in one’s routine of life, it will go on until age and inability forces them to give it up. It is the individual’s desire to record what he or she thinks, feels, sees, or does that keeps them performing the act of journaling.
The decision to journal has a purpose based on the individual reason for keeping the record. The purpose is as individual as the desire that drives a person to keep the record. The primary purposes are to record feelings, thoughts, and events in ones life. Some consider notebooks of lists, phone number, and notes to themselves to be a form of journaling.
The purpose of a journal will give the keeper guidance to the audience he or she is directing their record. The audience is the person or persons to whom the recorded information is meant to be read. The record can be for anyone to read or for a specific individual or group. Knowing for whom the record is meant will help to direct the writing.
There are minimum requirements for the tools to be used. To begin one must have something to record the information on and something with which to record. Recording devices can be as simple as paper and pen or as elaborate as a computer with voice recognition software. Personal preferences will dictate the choice. Paper and pen is the most common choice. Pencil is not recommended due to the erasable nature of the medium, making it possible for anyone to edit the record. Ink is better for preserving the record as it is written. However, there are individuals who prefer to use modern electronic devices. The different devices available are too numerous to list, but include Personal Digital Assistants, computers, and cell phones.
When keeping a journal a few specific notations are necessary to lend credence to the record. From a personal perspective the following list of basic notations give an instant idea of what other events may have been affecting the writings. The first item to record on every page is the page number. Some blank books are available with the page numbers preprinted. When using a book that does not have page numbers, the individual must put them on the pages. The next items to write are the day, date, and time. These items tell the audience when it was written. Day and time are not required items; however, the inclusion of this information helps the reader to know these details. The reader won’t have to wonder what time of day or day of the week the entry was written. Another valuable piece of information is to record the place where you are writing the entry. The place is very useful when traveling.
Journal keeping is an activity one can participate in at home, at work, in the car, or in line at the grocery store. Any place or time one feels the need to make note of information is appropriate. Many people have specific times and places where they write while others do it whenever the mood or need strikes them. Some people have a journal they keep at home and carry another with them when they go out. An unlimited variety of notebooks and paper are available for either situation. What is chosen by each individual is completely up to ones own tastes, needs, and desires. Even the utensil used to record the entries is dependent on personal preferences. Some like ball-points, others gel pens, while still others prefer fountain pens. Bold, medium, fine, or extra-fine points are available in most styles of pens. What ever the writer is most comfortable writing with is the one he or she should use. Experimentation with tools one doesn’t typically use is encouraged. When, where and with what medium used is completely up to the writer.
Journaling is just like instructions for writing a paper in English class. The instructor gives the class minimum requirements to be on each page; after those requirements have been meet, the rest is up to the writer. The time, effort and energy to keep a record of ones life depends on the person. What one puts in the journal is whatever the writer wants to vent, story they want to tell, or details of the every day life. Suzanna on her website, Sing Like Me, writes: “Writing in a journal is like having a loving friend who is ready to listen whenever you want to share your thoughts. I have written in my journal in the grocery store check-out line and I've written in it at 3 a.m.”
Journaling can be a very rewarding experience for the individual as well as for those individuals who read it when the writer is no longer available or for those whom one allows to read what is written. World history is full of information gleaned from the journal writings of history’s scholars and people who considered themselves ordinary citizens of the world. Make a contribution to history starting today; begin a journal!

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Solitude


I needed a little time and personal space so I went camping. Was a little warm and the air was completely still. Not enough breeze at ground level to shake a leaf. But I had my little cocoon to sleep in, tarp to keep the sun off of me, hiking sticks to support my walks in the woods and fuel for my stove and Folgers singles for coffee. Fortunately there is a nearby water source that is potable right from the faucet.

Rabbits, raccoons, squirrels, crows, woodpecker and assorted other birds and animals kept me company and the park ranger left me to myself. I had pen, ink, and notebook and plenty to write and think about.

I had a wonderful time, but it was sad to come back to civilization.