Archive for February, 2011
Wave of the Future
While browsing at the antique co-op on Saturday, I paid $3 for a 1964-65 guide to the New York World’s Fair. Flipping through its pages, I admit that I only had the faintest clue of the magnitude of that event. Continue Readering »
Art Journaling: How to Create an Affirmation Mandala
People often ask me how to create a mandala of their own and one easy way I know to do it is with words. This is a mix of my personal affirmations but you could make one with anything that has meaning to you. A prayer, a famous quote, or simply a single word repeated over and over. (Such as peace, hope, breathe, strength, etc. ) You could try writing it with different colored markers, or change the size of the letters as you write- there is no wrong way to do it so just have fun with it! This one was created in a blank Rhodia Webbie. The page was first painted with black gesso (an acrylic based primer) and then I used a white gel pen to create the mandala.
Image © Stephanie Smith All Rights Reserved
Bloc Rhodia: Tear off a page or flip?
My 1st Bloc Rhodia Pad was a Nº 11 (3×4″) and I still have it. It’s mostly filled with old notes and lists of things I wanted to remember. I believe I bought it in 2005 and for whatever reason, I had (and still have) a very difficult time removing pages. I would if I had to write down a phone number or e-mail address, but then the book had a certain “emptiness” where the missing pages used to be. I guess this means that I’m a flipper. It seems easier to flip a larger pad- I know I’ve been doing it with the larger (6×8″) Nº 16 on my desk, but it doesn’t seem practical to do with the tiny Nº 10 shown above.
Are you a flipper? Or do you simply tear out old pages from your Bloc Rhodia Pads?
A Few New Rhodia Reviews
I have been discovering new bloggers who have been reviewing/discussing Rhodia products. Take a look!
…take note of this on Candia Style
Rhodia dotPad Reverse Book on Pocket Blonde
Rhodia Pads on Office-lib.com
Rhodia dotPads and pencils on Surfbits
Bloc Pad No 11 review at Pens ‘n’ Paper
dotPad review on Office Supply Geek
Notepad Review: dotPad on Rants of the Archer
Bloggers looking to review Rhodia (or other Exaclair products) read this!
New Rhodia Drive Photo Pages
While they have been a long time coming, I finally built the new Rhodia Photo Pages! Though still a work in progress, there is now a link at the top of the blog’s home page that says, “photo pages”. Click on that and you have the option of visiting any of the three pages I’ve started, including “In Your Bag,” “On Your Desk,” and “On The Road.” Each photo page will be a gallery created with user submitted photos – and if you would like to submit an image to any of the three, simply send an e-mail with the name of the page you’d like to submit to in the subject line and send to stephanie@rhodiadrive.com.
Cool Vintage Office Supplies
Everyone knows Ebay, right, but do you know Etsy? Though it has a similar name, Etsy is not an auction site. Started back in 2005, Etsy focuses on handmade items, art/craft supplies and some amazingly cool vintage items like the Bakelite pencil sharpener shown above. I mostly shop on Etsy for handmade wares and forgot that they also have a large selection of vintage items until something jogged my memory and I started finding all kinds of cool items like this 1950′s (red of course) Swingline stapler, Ranger Pencil Sharpener, and this 1948 Royal DeLuxe Portable Typewriter.
Growing up in the 1970′s, everyone I knew (and their relatives) had a house filled with stuff from the 1940′s 50′s, 60′s, etc. Many of the items manufactured during those years were built to such high standards that many of them still exist today and I just think that’s so very cool…
Want to see a really cool batch of vintage office supplies?
Take 2: Attn all Bloggers looking to Review Exaclair Products – Please resubmit requests
The 1st time I ran this post I didn’t fully realize the logistics of soliciting requests via the comment section. Results? Information compilation overload. Because I know how much you would like to try our products and how much we’d love for you to review them, we are going to try this again with a few guidelines and a form for submitting requests.
Continue Readering »
Rhodia’s History
Rhodia pads had their beginning in a family-owned business, Papeteries Verilhac Freres. The stationer was founded by two brothers, Henri and Robert Verilhac. The company was acquired by Clairefontaine in 1997 and kept as a separate brand. A family member stayed on to continue to work for Rhodia – Mr. Didier Verilhac. 
I enjoy knowing about the history of a brand or particular product; and hearing about or uncovering little known stories or incidents were pivotal in its creation or life. These stories contribute to its appeal, character, longevity and myth.
I am planning on asking Mr. Verilhac if he has some stories, photos and family history that he would be willing to share with us on Rhodia Drive. For example, is it true the Rhodia logo was drawn on someone’s kitchen table?
Do you have a question about Rhodia’s history? Let me know – please include your question in the “Comment” section.
Thank you for your help.
Creative Writing Prompt: What have you forgotten…
What have you forgotten that you were once so eager to learn?
I’ve been playing an African hand drum called a “djembe” for the last 6 years or so… 2005 was when I’d started and at the time I couldn’t get enough of it. I’d gone to a million drum circles, workshops, lessons, played in a band, attended drumming retreats – it felt great to play, it made me feel so alive! But in the last year, I’ve all but abandoned it. Why? I’m not really sure. Have other things taken precedence in my life? Perhaps. I guess I sometimes struggle with the idea that I might have outgrown something…
How about you? Can you share a similar story?
L’écriture éphémère by Fernan Carrière
“Most of the time, writing is ephemeral… menus or reminders left on the fridge, note taking, grocery lists, announcements… We don’t usually conserve these writings. Most of the time also, the tools we use to write these ephemeral notes… pencils, chalk, even ball-points, don’t last much. Using them is destroying them. We tend to not even notice their presence. Yet, they are scattered through our daily lives.” – Fernan Carrière
Be sure to visit his blog. (The text is in French) You can also find him as Fernac on Flickr
© All Rights Reserved (Image and text) courtesy of Fernan Carrière
Winners of the Rhodia Pencil Case Giveaway and a Sneak Peak at the upcoming Rhodia Video Rodeo!
The 5 lucky winners of the Rhodia Leather Pencil Cases (With Pencils!) are:
Ashley from Honolulu
MarkC from San Francisco
Robert Smyre
Dave T. from Australia
Elaine C from Brooklyn
Yaay! Whoop Whoop! They will soon be on their way to you.
Remember late last year when I mentioned the Rhodia Video Rodeo? It’s coming! Do you have a web cam or video recorder? A YouTube account and something to say about Rhodia ? We will be giving away big Rhodia prizes to people who come up with the most interesting videos that in some way showcase our products. They can be funny, imaginative or informative. We will also be doing a viewer’s choice award and handing out out a few honorable mentions.
Will you enter?
What’s your bag?
I have a real affinity for bags. Not purses per se, as I haven’t really carried anything resembling a woman’s purse for at least a decade. I like mini-backpacks, small messenger bags and some of the urban sling style bags. One of my favorite bags is an old Eagle Creek bag meant to be used for carrying binoculars- which I have used as such, along with a time-worn copy of Peterson’s Bird Guide. I have a couple of Mountainsmith totes that I use for lugging books back & forth from the library- super sturdy things with a rubberized bottom. The small one works great as a purse/lunch bag. One of the ways I find out about bags that I might want, er, uh, I mean serve a practical purpose in my life (in case my husband is reading this) is from Flickr’s photo group entitled “What’s in your bag.”
Do you have a favorite bag?
Got pictures of Rhodia in your bag? Send them to me at stephanie@rhodiadrive.com. Image of the satchel above provided by our friend Halden.
A Sincere Thank You
Every single time I run a contest here on Rhodia Drive, I get choked up by your comments about how much you enjoy this blog, my writing and my art. I guess maybe it’s a little unusual for a commercial blog to be something different than “Buy! Buy! Buy Our Products!” and quite frankly, I’m not sure I’d even want that job, but I’m pleased as punch that you enjoy what I put together here on the Drive. Something I’ve recently discovered- a key element in leading a happy life, is to surround yourself with like-minded people. To build your own community, and I’d like to think that’s what we are doing here. In a day and age when no one really needs pencils and paper, it’s reassuring to know that there are a plethora of people that appreciate and spread the love when it comes to creating in such an organic way.
Much thanks to YOU for following along.
Original Art by Stephanie “Biffybeans” Smith © All Rights Reserved
Fond Memory: Pencil Totem Poles
While looking over the entries for our Rhodia Leather Pencil Case/Pencils giveaway, (you can still enter till Midnight tonight EST.) I found this delightful comment by a woman named Ginigin from the Inklings blog:
“I’d love a chance to try Rhodia pencils (oh, that black wood!!) and the pencil case is beautiful and practical. My fondest pencil memory is from elementary school. I would get bored in school and used my pocket knife to first shave off the paint and then carve the wood of the pencil into a totem pole. Back then we were allowed to carry a pocket knife, though I think I was the only girl to do so.”
Any wood carvers out there? The thought of a black/orange pencil carving sounds so very dramatic!
Blog Giveaway: 5 Rhodia Leather Pencil Cases with Pencils!
I wanted to give away something special on the blog and asked Karen to order a few of these leather Rhodia pencil cases from France. At the time she placed the order, they were not available in the US- which is what made them special. Once they arrived, my Exaclair friends must have fallen in love with them because they have been included in the 2011 catalog and should be arriving at your favorite Rhodia retailers sometime soon. Now they are super special because everyone here in the states will be able to buy them. Continue Readering »
