Archive for Editorial
Grammages
We recently received an email from someone who wanted to know if it was true that we made Rhodia paper in other weights besides 80 g. 
It was an interesting question, because even though we do and I’m quite aware of it, I always think of Rhodia as 80 g. I guess there is a need for some things in life to be simple and reliable.
All of the classic Rhodia notepads and notebooks staplebound or spiral are made with 80 g paper.
The large Weekly Notebooks are 90 g. Webnotebooks, or Webbies, are 90 g, too. Rhodia in France decided to make this the uniform weight thoroughout the world, so all Webnotebooks in 2010 will be made with Clairefontaine paper and 90 g.
The ePure books are 100 g. The pocket Weekly Notebooks are 64 g.
The two new Rhodia products coming this year – Le Carre and dotPads, are both 80 g.
Photo from Freshness Magazine.
Water Damaged
One day when I was searching Flickr for “Rhodia” I came across the following images.
Turns out that Sandy Chidester, a bookbinding hobbiest, created this book using Rhodia paper. Continue Readering »
Retailer Spotlight: Fahrney’s Pens in Washington, DC
In our retailer spotlight position for the month of March, is Fahrney’s Pens of Washington, DC. Fahrney’s carries Exaclair products from Clairefontaine, G Lalo, Rhodia, and Exacompta.
The History of Fahrney’s Pens
“The year was 1929, the stock market had crashed and America had fallen into the Great Depression. But one man, determined to beat the odds, decided to start a business despite the lackluster economy of the time. This was the year Earl Fahrney founded Fahrney’s Pens as a fountain pen repair shop in Washington, DC. With discretionary spending in a lull, Mr. Fahrney’s repair business thrived. He slowly expanded and ultimately decided to sell new writing instruments, including the “revolutionary” ballpoint pen. Continue Readering »
Webbies at The Container Store
The other day while Karen was reading the New York Times, she came across the following ad for The Container Store, Continue Readering »
How will you use your new Clairefontaine Twinbook?
This spring, Exaclair will begin importing the new Clairefontaine Twinbook – a dual purpose notebook! They contain 96 pages of 90g graph paper which are divided into two tabbed sections. Use them for two different school subjects or personal projects and lighten the load in your bag.
How will you use yours?
Clairefontaine
The 2010 Clairefontaine-Rhodia catalog can be viewed online here.
You can also view the catalog on the English version of their website here. 
We would appreciate knowing what Clairefontaine and Rhodia products appeal to you. I can’t promise that we will import them all–we have limited warehouse space and currently import and carry many references–but if enough Clairefontaine and Rhodia fans express interest in a particular product or line, I will see about showing it at the upcoming National Stationery Show in New York in May.
Thank you all very much for your support and good ideas.
Anne’s Rhodia Inspired Orange Cupcakes
Last week, I introduced you to Anne Foster-Coleman, my food blogger friend from high school. When I asked her to share her story with me about food journaling, I asked if she would give me a orange Rhodia inspired recipe for us all to enjoy. As orange is one of Anne’s favorite ingredients, she was most happy to oblige.
Flickr Friday: Rhodia in Your Bag
Thanks to Phil at Sun for use of the above image. View the original (with notes) here
Once again, it’s that time to take a peek into other people’s bags… When I first joined Flickr, (a social photo sharing site) I had a great deal of fun perusing the “What’s in Your Bag?” photo group. People would neatly lay out the contents of their bags to show off what they carry with them on a day-to-day basis. And not only would they show, they would also tell – adding numerous tagged notes to the images to describe each and every item in the photo. (Click through the links to see the notes) After a while, I had to stop looking because I started to want to go and buy things that other people had. Like journals…and art supplies… and a new iPod…. new camera… new bag…
Thanks to duien for use of the above image. View the original (with notes) here
Thanks to sophia@hk for use of the above image. View the original (with notes) here
Me & Anne
Anne Foster-Coleman and I went to the same high school but we weren’t friends back then – in fact, I think you could probably say that we didn’t really like each other very much at all. Why? Who knows. We were teenagers. Probably had something to do with liking the same boy or just not having anything in common.
Rhodia Weekly Notebooks Update
In 2009 Rhodia introduced a Weekly Notebook. It features the week on the left, and a full page for notes in the famous Rhodia grid. The large size is made with 90g paper, and the pocket version with 64g paper. They are very slim and light.
Although the paper and cover materials come from France, it is made for Rhodia by Quo Vadis in Hamburg, NY. Quo Vadis does not consider it a Quo Vadis planner. It is a Rhodia product. While only offered now in the U.S., I understand it may be picked up by Rhodia for other countries including France.
We sold out two printings completely by September 2009. We could have reprinted a third time, but couldn’t get cover material in time from France.
The standard Weekly Notebook runs from January-December. This year we are introducing an academic year version that will run August-July.
If you plan to attend CAMEX, the college bookstore show in Orlando in March; the National Stationery Show in May, or the DC Pen Show in August, Rhodia Weekly Notebooks will be on display for you to see and examine.
As always, your comments and thoughtful suggestions are much appreciated.
First Look: Levenger & Rhodia
Levenger, a company known for it’s high quality products and useful tools for readers and writers, is now stocking a limited selection of Rhodia products. To see them, you can either enter “Rhodia” into the search box on the top of any page, or click on the “First Look” section from the home page.
Rhodia et Toi
Thanks to The Berit Group, Rhodia made it to Fashion Week in New York! 
Rhodia pads were among the gift items at Zang Toi’s show. Editors and designers always need to write quickly, and need a notepad that fits in any pocket. We thought the No. 12 would be a perfect size.
Zang Toi is a Malaysian-born, New York based fashion designer. He is a favorite of style arbiters including Sharon Stone, Ivana Trump, Eva Longoria , and Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas.
His spring 2010 collection was loosely designed with Prince’s “Purple Rain” in mind with deep hues of purple and black. Sleek, classic and minimalist, the small black Rhodia pads complimented the show’s theme colors.
Our best wishes to Mr. Zang Toi for a successful show and season. It was really a thrill and an honor to be part of an event of such elegance and glamor.
And thanks to our friends at The Berit Group, especially Kristin Sundberg, for thinking of us and these photos. 
What would be your ULTIMATE journal design?
Once I discovered that there were paper products better suited to my writing habits beyond what a composition book from my local drugstore could provide, I ended up dedicating a good deal of time and energy trying to find what would be my ULTIMATE journal. The one that I would buy by the truckload so I would have enough of it on hand no matter what. Continue Readering »
Cut, Paste & Color
Image courtesy of Janice Carter ©All Rights Reserved
The recent snowstorms in the Northeast have certainly inspired me to break out all my pens, markers, journals, paints, etc., and get massively creative. I am so thankful that my husband doesn’t seem to mind that there are are art supplies and piles of paper scattered everywhere throughout our little house. (He must really love me!) But then again, I have come to overlook the fact that his golf clubs are stored in the kitchen alcove next to the refrigerator.
Speaking of golf, I caught him checking the weather channel this morning and couldn’t resist telling him that I didn’t think the 14 inches of snow outside were going to melt in time for him to sneak in a few holes before dinner.
Have a Blog you think should be included in our Blogroll? Let us know!
Here on Rhodia Drive, we maintain a blogroll that consists of sites dedicated to paper, pens, ink, art, and writing. If you have a blog you think we should consider adding to our blogroll, please send me the link at stephanie at rhodiadrive dot com and I will be happy to take a look. I can’t guarantee we will be able to use each and every submission, but know that we are always looking for relevant sites with quality content. Reciprocal linkage is always appreciated.
