Archive for the ‘Pens, Pencils & Paper’ Category
September 5th
The difference between a pleasurable writing experience and one that’s merely functional is all in the details: the paper thick and smooth, the fluid pen, the light just so. Of course, everyone has their own preferences. When the French arm of our company first created the Habana notebook, they used heavyweight Clairefontaine paper in an ivory color; later on, thanks to various manufacturing quirks, the U.S. version ended up with white pages.
We’d been planning to switch back to ivory paper in the fall, but one of our blog readers recently voiced her preference for white. Hence this post: which do you prefer, and how much does it matter to your writing pleasure? If you were given a choice of both colors, would you stick to one or the other, or would you alternate?
August 31st
We have received several emails from coffeehouses looking for notebooks to sell. Although plenty of people tote their laptop into Starbucks and other coffee places, it’s nice to know some people still prefer pen and paper while enjoying an expresso and biscotti or cappucino.
The inquiries made me think of my own favorite place to loaf & watch life walk by, think, greet friends and savor good coffee–all at the same time: Aldo’s in Greenport, NY. Owned by Aldo Maiorana, is a baker, coffee roaster, business owner and chef. Aldo was born in Sicily and raised in France. 
After living in New Caledonia, Paris and South America, Aldo moved to East Marion, NY in 1978 with his American wife, Martine. His cafe and biscotteria–Aldo’s Too–is a Greenport landmark. Regulars and visitors co-mingle, as people stop by for an expresso and chat. In the winter people pack the place to come in from the cold for homemade hot chocolate.
You can spot Aldo immediately by his full head of curly white hair. He roasts his own coffee, so the air is always thick with the latest batch. But Aldo is known as much for his hazelnut and harlequin biscotti as he is his coffee. The biscotti is shipped all over the country and as far away as Dean & DeLuca in Toyko.
Once you get your coffee, you can sit at the yellow picnic table inside; or one of the small tables outside, and read the paper, discuss, swap hellos, and savor a moment of peace and contentment.
Do you have a favorite place to go?
August 26th
Our parent company, Quo Vadis in France, recently introduced a line of notebooks each with a different theme for notes, thoughts and memories. Called “Memoraie,” each notebook is dedicated to a different part of living: My Travels, Weekends, Child, Cooking, Wines, Loves, Hikes, Culture, Joys, Sorrows, Dreams and Friends. 
My Memoraie also offers a social networking component, a website in French, English, Italian and Spanish where individuals can go to share their experiences with one another. My Memoraie is a global “Quo Vadis” of where to go, what to see, things to do and try.
You can read more about the notebooks on the French site, and on the Quo Vadis Canadian site.
Memoraie notebooks can be purchased individually or as a set. We have hesitated to import them into the U.S. because the terrible Euro situation makes them pretty expensive–about $25 a notebook.
I have a few samples in the office. Would anyone like to volunteer to review a Memoraie notebook to tell us and the other blog readers what you like and don’t like about it; what you would find valuable about Memoraie notebooks and the online community, and whether or not you believe they would be successful in the U.S.? I would also be interested to know what “themes” you like the most, so if we decide to import them, we select the ones Quo Vadis customers find the most appealing. Thank you!
August 14th
We offer address book refills for several of our planners. Recently, a couple of readers requested a similar format for notes. (“I may not always need an address book, but a pull-in, pull-out note section would be invaluable,” wrote a reader from D.C.)
It sounds like a good idea to me, but I’m curious to hear what others think. Would you be willing to pay a couple dollars extra for a detachable notes supplement? Or, in order to keep your favorite planner the same price, would you swap the address book for it? Are there any other supplements you’d like to see instead, or in addition?
August 13th
Gina Trapani is the founding editor and lead blogger for Lifehacker, the popular site that offers “tech tricks, tips and downloads for getting things done.” She is also a computer programmer, and the author of Upgrade Your Life, a wide-ranging reference guide to making one’s life more productive. 
Trapani was recently interviewed by Marci Alboher, the Shifting Careers columnist for the New York Times. Alboher asked her, “Is there anything that you think paper and pen are much better for than the computer?”
“Technology is deeply embedded in my life,” Trapani said, “but nothing can replace the feel of a pen against paper. I use paper and pen to brainstorm a lot. In fact, we just ran a feature story on all the neat things you can do with paper. It’s the ultimate tool. It’s affordable, compatible with everything, widely available. I also like it as a change of pace. Staring at a glowing screen all day is not a good thing for humans.”
Will paper hang on despite technology? Can they partner for work and writing?
August 8th
Many of our datebook covers come in a broad range of colors and designs, but so far, our Habana notebooks are only available in black, red, and orange. A blog reader recently suggested that we add more colors to this lineup, so I thought I’d put the question out there: would you like to see more colorful notebook options? Which colors interest you?
We’re already planning a blue cover for our 2010 Habana planners, and we can certainly look into using it for our notebooks, too. The RLH notebook collection also offers some more interesting and colorful covers. And we’ve been talking about teaming up with a laser engraving service to offer cool cover art like this and this, though that’s still in the early stages.
Decopatch, of course, is another option we offer for craft-minded cover enthusiasts…
July 24th
Lately, I have sent J. Herbin inks, Quo Vadis agendas, and Clairefontaine and Rhodia notebooks for some bloggers to review. Here’s an inks review from a calligrapher on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
Reviewers for our new Habana notebooks are welcome! If you’re interested, please send us a message with your name, phone, blog or website. Thanks! 
July 18th
We recently got a very helpful tip from a reader named Ellie:
I have always had a problem with using pencils in planners because the lead rubs off onto other pages and it just looks messy. However, in some situations you don’t want to use pen because things change so much. My solution to this predicament was using Frixion pens, which come in a variety of colors and are completely erasable.
According to Ellie, JetPens.com has a big selection of Frixions and other erasable (and non-erasable) pens. “Some critique the Frixions for not having the strongest colors,” she writes, “but I don’t really mind. They also make highlighters, which I’ve recently tried and really like.”
Personally, I use ordinary ink and the oh-so-sophisticated scratch out method, but the Frixion certainly sounds like a tidier idea. Anyone else have suggestions? How do you ‘pencil in’ your appointments without, well… penciling them in?
July 1st
What’s the best book for left-handers? Does anyone want to offer an opinion?
Left-handed writers, myself included, grew up having to contend with ink smears and stains on our hand as we wrote. I have smeared on pocket and desk size planners, but finally settled on a Space 24, but that’s only because I write more notes than appointments.
Once at a pen show I asked one of the traders what was the best pen to use for writing, since my ink often smeared. He told me instead of a medium nib left-handers should use a fine or even extra fine nib, since the ink would dry faster. I made the switch, and rarely have that problem.
Many inks are marketed as “fast-drying.” While I certainly use J. Herbin inks (we distribute them), I also have to admit to a fondness for Noodlers Ink. I also like Swisher Pen’s own inks, which were made to be fast-drying. I have found them impossible to smear.
June 24th
In a Forum on Mac Resource, “Kap” asked:
“Do you still use a Daily Planner to keep track…of your appointments, reminders, contact info, etc.? I know thre are electronic devices made for such tasks but what if the battery runs out, the system crashes, the power is out, the device croaks, etc.?”
“Mr Downtown” responded:
“Quo Vadis Miniweek. 3 x 4 inches means never having to say ‘my calendar is in my bag/car/office.’ And it’s cool to occasionally look back at what was important enough to write in my 1979 appointment book.”
