Archive for January, 2010
Would you like to be a guest blogger on Rhodia Drive?
Image courtesy of nenonafirestardragonstr gteg1
Do you have a story or product review you’d like to share with our readers? If you would like to be a guest blogger here on Rhodia Drive, send your original ideas for submission to stephanie at rhodiadrive dot com
Please include your full name and the name you would prefer to appear online if your content is published.
Posts should range in the 100-500 word range and may be edited for content and clarity.
Speaking of inks, what is your favorite color?
Image courtesy of Biffybeans ©All Rights Reserved
As I had mentioned in a recent post, I have at least 10 fountain pens inked up at any given time- each with a different color. When I bought my first fountain pen, (a red Lamy Safari 2 years ago) I only wanted to use one color- black. Continue Readering »
Portlandy
I enjoy reading comics and graphic novels, and also collect comic art by Marie Severin. Severin is best known as a “Silver Age” comic artist who inked and penciled hundreds of comics for EC and Marvel. One of her pages from Sub-Mariner #22 with Namor, Dr. Strange, and the “Idol of the Nameless One” hangs in front of my desk.
“Rhodia and comic art” on Google didn’t bring up any comic artists who use Rhodia, but I did find a store called “Nationale” recommended by Craig Thompson, whose work you can see here.
The Nationale was mentioned in a lacunae, a blog by Portland-based writer and critic Douglas Wolk in his post two endorsements: “…something that is just so…Portlandy…I feel obligated to point it out: Nationale, at 2730 E. Burnside, a tiny little store that sells Stuff the Proprietor Likes, mostly of the design-intensive variety. Art, textiles, French candy, a handful of beat-up old LPs, tiny Rhodia notebooks, fancy dishes, the Marriage Records catalogue, etc.”
I did some checking, and Rhodia, ya, ya appears in Nationale’s blog. Great pictures–almost like a story! May, the owner of Nationale, also has another blog, A La Claire Fontaine.
I have to guess she found Rhodia on some past trip to France.
A Pocket in Your Journal
Image courtesy of Biffybeans ©All Rights Reserved
A recent e-mail from Chris Meisenzahl asks: “I generally write on one side of each page in a journal. I also use the rear pocket for ticket stubs, receipts, mementos, etc. As the pocket gets things in it it becomes more and more awkward to write on the right side of the open journal. Has there ever been any thought of moving the pocket to inside the front cover, instead of the rear?” Continue Readering »
Who went to the Philly Pen Show this weekend?
Image courtesy of Biffybeans ©All Rights Reserved
Did you make it to the Philadelphia Pen Show this weekend? Ironically, I’ve yet to go to my first show. I think I fear losing control and spending waaaaay too much money. My husband already teases me that I have 15 fountain pens and how I can’t possibly use them all at once. (He just doesn’t understand… ) Continue Readering »
Looking for More Blogs for our Blogroll
Here on Rhodia Drive, we maintain a blogroll consisting of sites dedicated to paper, pens & pencils, ink, art, and writing. If you have a blog you think we should consider adding to our blogroll, leave your link down in the comment section and I will be happy to take a look. I can’t guarantee we will be able to use each and every submission, but please know that we are always looking for relevant sites with quality content. Reciprocal linkage always appreciated.
Fountain Pen Posse, Pen Clubs & Meet Up Groups – We are looking for you!
Image courtesy of Lisa Miyako ©2009
Looking through my Fountain Pen Friend Lisa’s photostream on Flickr, I came upon a series of images from a meeting of the members of the San Fransisco Bay area Pen Posse. A pen meet up group you say? No way! How ultra cool. To this day, I’ve yet to meet anyone else (in person) that is a current fountain pen user. (Though I haven’t yet been to a pen show.) Continue Readering »
Can you even imagine???
In 1978, a man named Eric Hansen was traveling with friends by sailboat across the Red Sea when the boat became shipwrecked off the coast of a small remote island. While they were eventually rescued, Eric decided to pack light as he wasn’t fully sure of the intentions of the goat smugglers that they caught a ride with. Before they left the island, Eric and his friends placed their belongings into sail bags and buried then on the beach with the intentions of coming back in a few days to pick up their things. Eric also buried a second bag containing not just one or two, but seven years worth of journals filled with notes from his various world travels. Continue Readering »
Antique Inkwell
One of my favorite stops at pen shows are the tables with antique inkwells and ink bottles. Pendemonium is always a good source of pen and ink memorabilia. (Thanks, Sam!) I love antiques, glass and pens, so vintage inkwells put all my loves together. A row of glass inkwells lines the top of my writing desk. They catch the sun, and give me something to hold and examine when my writing hits a lull or if I get distracted.
The latest addition to the group was picked up over the weekend at Beall and Bell in Greenport, NY. I asked the owner what was the “story” behind the inkwell. He said it had survived the Dresden bombing in WWII and so had the stopper “head.” That was all he knew. I took the inkwell out for a closer look, and besides loving the color of the glass, noticed it had a very similar pen rest to the Herbin bottle. I was charmed–the little china head gave the bottle such personality.
There was a second inkwell with a china “pug” head, but I ended up taking “Gunther” home. However…chances are I’ll go back for the pug bottle this weekend.
So many antique inkwells come without tops. I thought someone’s idea of a tiny china head stopper was a great idea.
Time Lapse Mandala Video in a Clairefontaine Sketchbook
Image courtesy of Biffybeans © All Rights Reserved
Clairefontaine, (Rhodia’s parent company) makes some really great fine art products, including this spiral bound sketch pad that I previously reviewed on my blog, Spiritual Evolution of the Bean.The 90g slightly off-white paper has a medium tooth which lends itself quite nicely to fountain pen inks, watercolors, watersoluble crayons, markers, etc.
After recently purchasing a small flexible tripod for my digital camera, I shot the following time-lapse video of me drawing a mandala in the Clairefontaine sketchbook.
Enjoy!
User Review: Alberto and the Rhodia Block #16 Uni-Blank
Images and content courtesy of Alberto at Lung Sketching Scrolls.
“…I was quite excited to try this blank sketch pad with the high quality vellum paper surface that I have grown to appreciate in such a short time. The pad itself features the solid construction, easy-to-tear micro-perforated sheets, and signature orange fold-over cover of this iconic brand.” Continue Readering »
Paul Smith’s 10 Essentials on GQ.com
GC.com recently ran a feature on the 10 essentials that British fashion designer Paul Smith won’t do without. Continue Readering »
DIY Mini Portfolio
In a random search on Google, I found a giantMONSTERblog post about creating a mini portfolio from a Rhodia notebook. The blog is by Justin Chin, a game designer, artist and writer.
“I’m always trying out new ways to show potential clients my work,” he said. “It all sounds pretentious and ego driven but how else are you going to show anyone the things you do? Honestly, in my world visuals are a must.”
“Instead of doing the traditional portfolio I decided to make a ‘low rez’ booklet. The intent was not to do anything high falutin’ or serious but just be scrappy and raw. It’s made from a torn apart and rebuilt Rhodia notepad.”
See all the photos of this project here.
Visit Justin’s other site – infinite machine – here.
Rhodia Reverse Book – Have you tried one yet?
Image courtesy of margaret mendel
The Rhodia Reverse book is one of the few Rhodia products I’ve yet to try. I can’t hep but wonder how the square format and gridded paper might lend itself to drawing the mandalas that I am so fond of – and also for teaching others how to make them. Is it a notebook or pad? Pad or notebook? It’s versatile because you can write using spiral on the side or at the top. (I’m fairly certain I’d use them with the spiral on the top.) I also like the fact that the pages are micro-perforated for easy removal.
I’m going to have to get my hands on one of these… Have you tried one yet? If yes, how do you use it?
User Review: Gail Young on the Exacompta Exafolio
Elegant and intelligent, Exacompta products follow a French philosophy that even simple tools should be good quality and a pleasure to use. Recently, Gail Young took the time to review her new Exafolio, a “green” product whose design provides features for organizing, filing, and storage. Continue Readering »
