Simon’s Cat – Diaries and Calendars for 2011.

I know it is way too early to be agonising over your diary choice for next year (I can’t talk I’ve already bought my colour-a-month for 2011).

But I came across this today and thought I would share.

Simon’s Cat is offering a 10% discount on calendars and diaries for next year if you pre-order before October. Diaries are priced at £9.99 for the A5, and £6.99 for the slim line. The site allows you to preview January images – as can be expected there is a whole range of cute drawings. What more could you ask for.

Cheltenham Festivals Members’ Bookbinding

This caught my eye:

Extra event — Members’ Bookbinding Workshop

Event W28, Thursday 14 October, 10am – 1pm, £45 (inc. £15 of materials), membership discount is not available for this event.

Join conservator Sue Crossley for an introduction to historic bookbinding skills. Using traditional hand tools you will make a leather bound journal from cotton rag printing paper and vegetable tanned goat skins in a range of beatuiful colours. This workshiop is suitable for complete beginners.

Why oh why am I a working girl !

Handle/Spout

Another tea related item to add to my wish list (and bring to your attention). currently out-of-stock but *fingerscrossed* there will be more on the way.

 

handle spout

 

Mr Scruff: Teapot

Knock Knock: 5 Days A Week

I totally love Knock Knock Products: plus I love their tagline: We put the fun in functional

When I was in the US I said I had to get at least one Knock Knock Product. I ended up getting the  5 days a week paper mousepad – which is basically – another to-do list!

However, what is great about it is:

1. it takes up no extra room on my already cluttered desk!
2. I always know where it is, unlike my legal pad for to do scribbles or my to-do list notebook. (Not to say that the to-do list notebook isn’t great for the more detailed stuff, but lately everything I’ve been working on is all one big project and it isn’t so much about remembering everything that needs to be done and who for, but the focus of my to do list is more about allocating a time to do it and keeping an overview perspective – for which this weekly planner is great)
3. I can view and plan my week.
4. It is easy to jot things down if people drop by with requests unexpectedly
5. it includes 60 sheets (more than a years worth); and
6. it brightens up the desk.

Obviously for me the attraction of this product is its simple organisation of my working life – but there are other paper mousepads which may suit your needs more – for example the surf notations one would work well for me at home.

Carnival is back in Town!!

It has been up a few days – but if you haven’t already dropped by – check out the August Edition of the Carnival of Pen Pencil and paper hosted by Daydreamers Welcome.

Must reads include: 10 Money Saving Tips for Starving Artists, Moleskine Volant Daily Planner Hack and Why your Car should have a Pen and Notebook in the Glove Box.

Image: Chris Sharp / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Memory Books

A beautiful journal that I saw in Paper Source was Chronicle Book’s one line a day memory book which allows a sentence a day for 5 years and be started at any time. For UK readers check out Oh So Cherished. It is a beautiful blue colour, gold writing, gold edged paper yet small enough to fit in your bag. 5 Years, perfectly compact. My partner questioned why I would ever need one of these books (“you’ve got twitter”) and disapproved of such a purchase.

A similar purchase it the One Sketch a day for all you budding artists and creative types – Half a page for each day. Another temptation as I do wish to try and be more creative. In some ways I considered it a better option than the one line a day version because I write so much down anyway, but never draw post A-Level Art. But on reflection I knew I wouldn’t keep up the momentum, or have the inspiration to draw something everyday no matter how much I wanted to? Why? because my artistic skills never ventured outside of flowers, and still life.

Similarly another fantastic memory book is the Life Book – which covers 100 years. I first saw this in the gift section at Bloomsbury & Co a chunky book at nearly £30, but as an investment for a life time. After all you can’t beat the permanence of a well made book. There is a certain beauty and personalisation to it. Not to mention the feel of the paper.