What makes a notebook stand out is its paper. Yes, the cover's sort of important, but it's what's sandwiched in between them that really cuts the mustard. And that's why Rhodia notebooks are so loved. The paper is, quite simply, superb. There's a Rhodia notebook ......Read More
Blackstone inks began in quite a roundabout way, coming from a discussion on Fountain Pen Network, but we'll come back to that. It's an interesting story, but you may just want to know what they're doing now. Well, they're making inks in Australia, with colours based ......Read More
Spring has sprung, the grass is riz. Or so that peculiar poem goes. Having just experienced a very spring-like warmest February ever, we're definitely looking forward to 'proper' springtime, and possibly the loveliest months of the year: March, April and May. And what do you ......Read More
When you're looking for a marker that will do exactly what you want it to do, it's an edding that you'll need. It's a proper marker. It doesn't matter what you want to mark, or how (or even why), it'll perform just as you want ......Read More
It started with the book. We weren't particularly planning to sell the book, but it was an interesting new book about pencils, so we wanted to see it. It's all about creative people, but from the point of view of the pencils they use. Instead ......Read More
If you have a fountain pen, and you use bottled ink, you haven't been short of choices for inks to use. From old classics like Parker Quink, Waterman and Pelikan 4001, to interesting Japanese inks from Sailor, Pilot and Platinum. From the vast selection of ......Read More
We have two new exclusive inks, made by Diamine, with lots of sheen. If you just want to buy them, you can go and get them here. If you want to know more about how this happened, and perhaps the bigger question, how they ended ......Read More
If you were to slice Christine Joynson open, she'd probably bleed Dragon Blood Shimmer ink. Bit of a macabre start to a blog post, I fear, so I should apologise - sorry. There. Now that’s out of the way, I'll explain… Christine is one half of ......Read More
Generally TWSBI pens are aimed squarely at pen geeks. And we love that about them. Well, we would, we are pen geeks. 'Normal' for TWSBI is still bottle-fed pens, with transparent barrels so you can watch the ink slosh about inside; often supplied with the ......Read More
Field Notes was a simple idea. Designer Aaron Draplin had developed a bit of a fascination with old farmer's notebooks. Companies that made seed, sold parts for tractors, or fertiliser, would make little books. Sometimes they were printed, with information about their products and how ......Read More
Manuscript - the word alone conjures up one of two things: either a thick pile of A4 sheets with double-spaced type representing a hopeful author's literary debut; or - if you're more of a romantic bent - a scroll-like piece of parchment covered with curly ......Read More
It's not all that long since we first introduced LOCLEN to you, but we're about to do it again. It does make some sense - they've seen a lot of changes, expanded their premises, and have launched a number of new products. Founder Carlo Vazzoler has ......Read More
I've been tempted by the idea of a 'Traveler's Notebook' for a long time. They always look beautiful, and it's a nice simple idea. I'd drifted away from using notebooks much in the last few years, which reduced the temptation a bit, and each version ......Read More
Your sense of smell is incredibly evocative, probably more so than any of the other four senses. Random scents can conjure up long-buried memories; they can make you smile with pleasure (newly-baked bread, fresh coffee), or wrinkle your nose in disgust. Some - like petrol, ......Read More
Cult Pens Get Inktensely Messy! We don't just sit around answering the phone or writing newsletters or wandering around the warehouse picking orders, you know. Oh no. Sometimes we spread the Tiverton Gazette over the meeting room table, dish out some Derwent and get arty (well ......Read More
What do Dolly Parton, Joanna Lumley and Steven Spielberg have in common? Well not a great deal, it must be said, apart from the fact that they are the same age - yes, 70! - as Pentel, one of the most recognisable pen brands in ......Read More
Two classic designs that will bring back memories for many of us - the Parker Jotter and the Silvine Notebook. The Jotter has been around since 1954, and while it wasn't the first ballpoint pen, it quickly became one of the most popular, with over 750 ......Read More
"Beep, beep." For those of you old enough to remember, ACME featured heavily in Wile E Coyote's arsenal in his ongoing battle against the Road Runner, usually featuring some device that didn't work, or did work, but not in the way he wanted. Ironically, 'acme' ......Read More
Staggeringly, over 100 million (yes, million) Cross Classic Centuries have been sold in the last 70 years. Quite an achievement; they must be doing something right! To celebrate, and also to commemorate 170 years of Cross innovation, they have created the extremely special 21st Century ......Read More
Start Bay notebook covers - as the names suggests if you're familiar with the West Country - are made on the south coast of Devon. They're leathery (very leathery) and tough (very tough) and really nice. They are the vision of Peter Cattermole, and are hand-made ......Read More
Jessica Palmer produces the sort of art that - if you're a talentless twit such as myself - makes you really wish you could draw. So it's a good job that colouring books for adults is an avenue into which she's ventured, because at least ......Read More
The #3776 from Platinum is a longstanding classic among fountain pens, though still not as well known as it should be outside its native Japan. With its traditional and simple styling, comfortable shape to hold, and legendary nib quality, the #3776 has long been a ......Read More
Googling 'Koh-i-Noor' frequently results in either listings of Indian restaurants or references to the famous diamond that adorns the Queen's crown. But look a little further and you will see that Koh-i-Noor is also a rather good manufacturer of pencils, pens and general art supplies; ......Read More
KUM’s Memory Point brushes solve, or at least help with, three of the biggest problems artists face with existing brushes. If you use paint brushes, and have any of these problems, you’ll want to try them: Most brushes lose their shape easily, and don’t spring back ......Read More
To give you an idea of just how versatile Uni-ball's Chalk Markers are, we asked a friendly sign writer - Zoe Rowley - to experiment with them and give us her opinion. Here's what she had to say:'They're great pens - given that they are wet ......Read More
Tomoe River paper has been long-awaited. Many people in the UK have already used it, by ordering it in from other countries, with the delays and import duties that can involve. It’s famous around the world among those a little obsessed with this sort of ......Read More
Win National Garden Centre vouchers with Cross BotanicaSpring has sprung, and what better way to celebrate than with a trip to a Garden Centre? Even better, what if you had £100 to spend there? £100 that didn't have to come out of your bank account? ......Read More
