Posted June 9, 2010 by Leah Hoffmann
in Cabinet of Curiosities, Pens, Paper & People | 1 comment »
Dodo Pads are a British phenomenon that I somehow failed to learn about while studying in Cambridge. I know about them now thanks to the wonders of the Internet; the company found me on Twitter a couple months ago and kindly offered to send samples.
But first, some history. According to this web guide:
The Dodo Pad began life way back in 1966 as the desk diary that gave you space to doodle. It quickly gathered a cult following and soon became ‘indodispensable’, as the website says.
“The website,” of course, is the company’s, and its design and overall aesthetic seem to be a pretty good reflection of their sense of humor, starting with this bird/mascot:
At any rate, I couldn’t resist his surly little scowl, so I had the company send two products that are way more specific than anything we make: the Book of Dates, and the Book of the Big Day, which came up in response to a post I wrote about pregnancy planners.
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Posted June 8, 2010 by Karen Doherty
in Cabinet of Curiosities | 6 comments »
I planted an inkberry bush in my yard because I love the name, and it is a native plant. Inkberry bushes have been around the East End of Long Island for centuries. A gardening friend told me colonists used them for making ink – and that the Declaration of Independence was written using this ink, which is also called “pokeberry ink.” Looking at the berries, at this point I can’t tell if the ink would be black, or a purplish-black. I would love to try to make my own ink. 
If anyone could point me towards a good recipe for making ink from inkberries I would much appreciate it. I know some weavers make dyes from natural ingredients, but I don’t know if the process for making dye is the same thing as making ink.
Posted June 3, 2010 by Leah Hoffmann
in Beautiful Creations, Cabinet of Curiosities | Add your comment »
Vienna trades heavily on its associations with art and with the past, in ways that are charming, irritating, and probably inevitable given its history (and the size of its tourism industry).
Either way, there are a lot of stores that sell antique prints, and while many are astronomically expensive, there are also bargains to be had. In 2002, when I lived there, I picked up some marvelous 18th century lithographs of insects and butterflies. This time around, I bought these handsome buffalo:
Maps are more expensive, but unframed naturalia won’t typically set you back more than 20 Euros a pop, depending on their condition. The provenance of these pieces is unfortunate — it must be said — since they’re not proper prints at all but plates that were ripped out of old books during the 19th century. (They tore up medieval manuscripts, too; the thought just breaks my heart.) But that damage has already been done, and for those of us who can’t afford to spring for original artwork, they remain a unique and cost-effective way of covering the walls.
At any rate, you can find these all over Europe (antique bookstores tend to have the best prices), and in the U.S., too, though if you’re ever in Vienna, head to Meindl & Sulzmann at Kochgasse 32, in the 8th district…
Posted May 4, 2010 by Leah Hoffmann
in Cabinet of Curiosities, Pens, Paper & People | Add your comment »
Looks like I’m not the only one who likes to look through old planners! Indefatigable planning aficionado Laurie Huff recently rediscovered her old 1998-99 Septanote while cleaning her garage. Dig those graphics, eh?
You can read more about how the format — and Laurie’s own life — have evolved over at Plannerisms.
Posted May 3, 2010 by Leah Hoffmann
in Beautiful Creations, Cabinet of Curiosities, Pens, Paper & People | 3 comments »
I got this 50 million-year-old fossilized fish at the Evolution Store in SoHo as a present for my boyfriend. (It’s apparently genuine, and amazingly, it wasn’t that expensive… there were a lot of fish in the sea, I suppose, or in Wyoming, where it’s from.)
Anyway, the texture made me think it would be perfect for a pencil rubbing, so I got out my Rhodia pencil and some Clairefontaine DCP paper.
What a fun and simple thing! The details didn’t all come through, but you still get a pretty cool perspective on the fish. I may have to go to an art store and do another rubbing in charcoal…
Posted April 30, 2010 by Leah Hoffmann
in Beautiful Creations, Cabinet of Curiosities, Pens, Paper & People | 1 comment »
Image via Matt From London
What makes hand-drawn maps so cool? A recent article in Slate talks about them not in terms of quirkiness or beauty, but efficiency:
The crucial advantage of the handmade map is that it is designed for a particular person confronting a particular task… the minimal amount of information makes for a map that’s easier to use than one that’s cluttered with detail.
The Slate piece features plenty of interesting maps that were submitted by readers, and there are a few others in an earlier article that’s part of a larger series about signs. If you want to dive deeper into the subject, check out the online archives of the Hand Drawn Map Association (HDMA). Unsurprisingly, there’s also a lot of great stuff on Flickr.
Posted April 29, 2010 by Leah Hoffmann
in Cabinet of Curiosities, Pens, Paper & People | 3 comments »
Image via Biffybeans
As I mentioned yesterday, the word “hematite” is derived from the Greek word for “blood,” which matches the earthy red tones of J. Herbin’s new anniversary ink.
It also points to some nautical associations: according to legend, sailors wrote with blood whenever ink was not available. I can’t seem to find any further information about this idea (the words “ink” and “blood” and “sailors” turn up a lot of stuff about tattoos; there’s also Sailor brand ink), but perhaps others have heard of it?
J. Herbin was a sailor — according to the Herbin website, he brought back new formulas for sealing wax from his many trips to India, and made ink for Louis XIV. The drawings that adorn the Rouge Hematite box were inspired by his life:
• The ship, anchor, and palm tree stand for navigation and discovery
• The crown is a reference to the red sealing wax that was used in correspondence with the royal courts in Europe
Interesting stuff, eh?
Posted April 6, 2010 by Leah Hoffmann
in Cabinet of Curiosities, Pens, Paper & People | 2 comments »
Very cool chart in Lapham’s Quarterly about writers and their working habits… for instance, John Cheever wrote in the basement, Edith Wharton in bed, and Friedrich Schiller in a study (with his feet sometimes submerged in cold water!).
Do you have any eccentric writing habits?
Posted April 1, 2010 by Leah Hoffmann
in Beautiful Creations, Cabinet of Curiosities, Pens, Paper & People | 8 comments »
Anyone else see Brian Goulet’s recent post about antique writing boxes? Also known as “lap desks,” these boxes were used in the 18th and 19th centuries to house writing supplies (actually, as Brian explained to me in an email, lap desks seem to have been smaller and thinner, as opposed to writing boxes, which were too large to use on your lap). They were also beautiful, with ornate detailing and odd fold-out compartments and drawers in which to stash pens, ink, and paper. Karen has her great-grandmother’s lap desk, which is inlaid with mother-of-pearl. A big step up from those laminate boards with the bean bags that I picture when I see the words “lap desk!”
Brian is thinking about using his woodworking skills to create some contemporary lap desks, which would, of course, be awesome. “They all fit right into that period when writing was not only practical, but a highly valued artistic skill,” as he pointed out to me in an email.
Image via Svadilfari.
Posted March 22, 2010 by Guest Author
in Cabinet of Curiosities, Pens, Paper & People | 1 comment »
Guest blogger Kate Marshall is back this morning with a good subject for the accident prone: waterproof ink.
So one time, I was transcribing notes and accidentally knocked over my glass of water. Yes, all over my notebook. Luckily, my notes were okay because I’d written them with a waterproof fountain-pen ink: Noodler’s Black.
Yes, such a thing exists. Recently, I did a quick and dirty test of three waterproof Noodler’s inks, a J. Herbin fountain pen ink, and two waterproof J. Herbin inks to see how well they hold up against liquid abuse.
The inks I tested were:
I. Noodler’s (recently purchased during the 2010 Philadelphia Pen Show)
1. Black
2. Bad Blue Heron (a new turquoise color)
3. Old Manhattan Black (exclusive to Fountain Pen Hospital)
II. J. Herbin (provided by Exaclair)
1. Perle Noire (not specifically labeled waterproof but more on that later)
2. Encre Authentique (“Lawyer’s ink”)
3. Encre Chine (“China ink.” Also can be known as “India ink”)
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