Monthly Archives: April 2010

Post Box: Helvetia Fr1.20 Dairyman’s Dog

Definitive stamps: «Animals» 1993

Designed by Basle graphic artist Celestino Piatti and steel engraved by Max Müller, Bern.

“Fr.1 .20 Dogs can be fairly described as pets, farmyard animals or working animals, depending on the breed . While widely kept as a pet, ‘man’s best friend . also has an important role to play on the farm as a watchdog or shepherd’s and cowherd’s helper . Some breeds are still occasionally seen harnessed to carts carrying milk churns . Last but by no means least, dogs render invaluable services as search and rescue animals at avalanche and disaster sites, as guard dogs or as guide dogs for the blind. The best-known Swiss breeds are certainly the four types of Sennenhund (dairyman’s dog) — Bernese, Appenzell, Entlebuch and Big Swiss — and, of course, everybody’s favourite, the St Bernard.”

Daycraft: Cantoon Notebook

Another cute Daycraft notebook: the cantoon notebook. This notebook is beautiful. Easy to write on with lovely paper. But I will admit it is  a slightly odd sized notebook – but I still love it. The paper is Satogami paper imported from Japan and it’s unique texture and colouring inherits it characteristics from Japanese handmade paper.

The rest of the facts:

  • 100 pages
  • 116g
  • Squared paper
  • 105mm x 180mm

Daycraft Giveaway #2: Animland 2010 Diary

Another Giveaway from Daycraft.  I know its a bit late in the year to be considering a new diary. I made the change to Daycraft Chromatic Days diary and this cute diary is another that makes the change over worth it.

This diary is week to view and is A6 in size, very thin and perfect for slipping into a bag. It has lots of planners for the year at the front along with many types of information pages including:

  • international holidays
  • international dialling codes
  • word time
  • conversion tables
  • gift ideas
  • food calories

Other different cute features include stickers, monthly animal pages and perforated memos. See more photos on my flickr page.

Now for the giveaway.

Simply for variation on the last giveaway we’re going to make this a twitter one. The simple task is follow me @notesinabook (my blog specific twitter) or @travisthetrout (my personal twitter) and re-tweet this giveaway.

simples.

The deadline is Sunday 11th April and I will be announcing the winner on twitter on Monday.

Black n’ Red A7 Polynotes

I was looking for a notebook that I could carry in my pocket at work. People have a habit of grabbing me at work while I’m walking around doing other things or simply getting a cup of tea, and asking me to do a bunch of things. Away from my desk, I’ve no notebook to note down quickly what they want done and I’m usually doing so many things at once, that if I simply try to memorise it, I usually have to go back later with a few questions.

Hence the need for a pocket notebook that I can carry around to make the appropriate notes and gather my thoughts. Surprisingly, as you write things down, you remember other questions that you need to ask to enable you to do that task – it reminds you of what is missing.

The notebook from Black n Red is a good sturdy little thing (A7 in size (105x74mm)) with a polypropylene cover which means it doesn’t stain, get marked or take a battering. It maintains it’s clean cut look and shape. Although as you bend it open and back pages do become a little loose. But not to worry there is a tight red elastic strap to keep it all together.

The pages are plain (90gsm) although I believe there is also a 8mm lined version. Inside there is a name page, and a conversions table the rest of the 192 pages are free for your scribbles.

Fun Notebook: Cute and Spotty

Notebook and Pen set were a gift from colleague’s at work. Just basic biro and lined notebook, but definitely fun and pretty to look at.

Flip-Over Books: Things to do Today

Things to do today flip-over notebook

buy at: WH Smith

I’ve been using one of these notebooks for work – to keep track of my to-dos and more recently for my home life. Personally I find it more useful for work as it allows me to know what I did when by using a page a day, what meetings I have and make notes on various things. Where as for general life to dos I find the disposable to-do list more effective.

The notebook is specifically designed for todos a quick fix for when we are lazy. But it’s actually designed pretty well. There are four columns on the to-do list: priority, list, phone and completed. On my personal one (pictured) I use if if I’ve a particular amount of things I need to do that day: I number the tasks in the priority column, the list is what I am doing, phone is replaced by a rough time and completed gets ticked when i complete the task.

In my work version the method is slightly different the priority is the person I am doing the task for, the list is the task, phone is the client code/ case no and completed is ticked when the task is complete.

The other other page is for appointments and notes. The appointments page I use to schedule meetings and Notes/Sketches I use for misc information such as address and phone numbers and overflow from the to-do list. I tend to use these more on my work notebook than my personal one.

There is also a “special attention”  box at the bottom of the to-do page. I put the things I want to first thing in here. For people who choose 5 things from a long to-do list or those who like the method of doing the thing they hate most etc this is a good box to use. It ultimately is something that can mould to fit anyone’s system.

Extra notes: The pages are perforated for easy removal. you can fold them up in your journal, pin them on that wall – whatever makes your day easier. Also there are 115 daily planners- which in my mind is an odd number. I frequently use all types of pens, fountain pens and highlighters without there being any show through.