Archive for Featured
Exaclair will be at the National Stationery Show 5/19-5/22 in New York City
The National Stationery Show® held at the Javits Center in NYC, is the world’s most comprehensive collection of social stationery and related products for gift giving and self-expression. The show is open to retailers and wholesalers and if you are are going, be sure to stop by Booth # 2637 to check out a few new Clairefontaine and Rhodia products that we are thinking of importing. As always, we welcome and appreciate your feedback!
While at the show, we will be doing some live Tweeting and also sharing photos and Vine clips on our @Exaclair Twitter account. Karen Doherty (our VP of Marketing) will be at the show on Sunday, May 19 from 9-3 pm and Tuesday May 21st from 9-11:30am if you’d like to meet her, but please feel free to stop by the booth any time the show is open.
More good news: Pen World is publishing an article on Exaclair’s stationery. The edition should be distributed at the show.
The show hours are Sunday-Tuesday, 5/19-5/21 9:00am – 6:00pm and Wednesday, 5/22 9:00am – 12:00pm
Ink A Dink A Bottle of Ink
Antique ink bottles such as this one belonging to Ryan Roossinck are simply beautiful. Take a look at the many different colors, styles and designs of vintage ink bottles at the various links below.
Household Bottles (non-food related)
Pendemonium Vintage Inks and Ink Bottles
Antique Ink Bottles at Collector’s Weekly
The Blue Ink Bottle (A gift from Karen)
Quiver Pen Holders and Webbies
Quiver pen holders are described as “thoughtfully crafted, hand-made leather pen holders for your treasured notebook.”
I would agree. Quiver pen holders are gorgeous. Separately each product is very handsome, but paired together they really enhance each other. 
Quiver pen holders got their start from notebook users who were continually frustrated with losing their favorite pen in the bottom of a bag, or forgetting it on their desk at home. Clipping it to the notebook cover was awkward or iffy, since the pen clip could break or fall off.
The Quiver pen holder solved the problem of safely and conveniently pairing a pen or pens to a favorite notebook.
Their pen holders come in three sizes: Pocket/Small (A6 size); Large (A5) and Extra Large (A4). The sheaths are in brown, black or pink leather. The black sheaths have red or yellow stitching. Quiver is starting to develop holders with orange stitching for your favorite Webbie.
The pen holders are made in Mexico by the same leather crafters who build Saddleback Leather suitcases and travel bags. Quiver designers worked directly with some of the Saddleback Leather people to gain their perspectives on how to construct a leather product to last many years, even down to the type and strength of the thread and stitch count.
See all the Quiver pen holders on their website – quiverglobal.com.
Please check back on Rhodia Drive tomorrow for a special surprise…!
Memorial Day 2012
Memorial Day is a federal holiday observed annually in the United States on the last Monday of May. It is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
Meow B Fiercely Protects Rhodia from the Forces of Evil!
Our friend Bill thought he was buying a new Webbie for himself but alas, Meow B seems to have taken full custody of it.
Yep. This one seems pretty much spoken for. Two big thumbs up for brand loyalty! (although cats don’t have opposable thumbs…)
Question to ponder: Do cats use fountain pens?
New to the game? Here’s a detailed review of the Webbie .
What would be your ultimate Rhodia product?
Imagine if you will for just a moment, a Rhodia Reverse filled with dot grid paper. Leather bound Rhodia Webbies. A 250pg spiral Rhodia notebook. Isometric graph paper. 6-packs of Rhodia pencils…
Knowing how much you love your Rhodia, I know that there is probably a product configuration that you would like to see that doesn’t currently exist. So what is it? Please share! From our recent question on our dotGrid format, I know you’d like to see some spiral bound dot products- me too.
Maybe YOU can inspire a whole new Rhodia product!
Follow our Rhodia Journal Swap on Tumblr
We’ve got 12 people from all over the US writing, drawing, and creating collages dedicated to their “Favorite Things” in our first ever Rhodia Journal Swap. The dozen members of this project are all working in large Rhodia dotWebbies and are documenting their creations on the group Tumblr blog that we set up for the swappers. Each person is working on several pages in each book before sending it on to the next person. Continue Readering »
Top Chef and Rhodia fan Hosea Rosenberg opens full service catering company
Season 5 Top Chef winner Hosea Rosenberg and award winning mixologist James Lee recently opened a full service catering company called Blackbelly. Might he have conceptualized this idea within the covers of one of his favorite Rhodia Reverse pads? We’d love to think so! Working out of a custom-built mobile kitchen trailer allows Blackbelly Carering to travel their clients location and prepare meals fresh on site.
From Chef Hosea’s website: “The company draws from fresh, seasonal ingredients, including naturally raised animals and produce from Hosea’s Blackbelly farm, to deliver innovative cuisine to accommodate its variety of clientele that range from corporate events to private residential dinners.”
Read more about Chef Hosea and Blackbelly on Westword’s Cafe Society.
02/09 Blick Madness! Visit with me in Allentown, PA for a live art demo
Blick in Allentown, PA will have a special mandala art demonstration by yours truly from 1-5PM. Stop by, say hi, win to win some free stuff and be sure to grab some Rhodia products while you are here!
From the Blick events page:
Thursday, February 9, 2012 is Blick Madness! Join us at any one of our 36 store locations to play our Instant Win Game (while supplies last)! Each piece is a guaranteed winner. You could win discounts up to 50% off of your entire purchase or a $100 Blick gift card! Don’t miss the opportunity to win big!
We’ll also be hosting a Valentine Card Making demo and a Screen Printing demo at each store location. Take home your own card creation and screen printed tote for free (while supplies last)!
Enter to win a copy of Adventures in Mixed Media provided by Random House. We’ll be raffling one off at each store! Thursday, February 9th, is also the last day to enter our $5,000 Dream Studio Sweepstakes and the art student exclusive sweepstakes for a $200 Dream Project!
It’s Madness! Don’t miss this exciting, one day event full of fun, demos, discounts, refreshments, and more! To find a store near you, please visit our Store Directory.
First Friday in Bethlehem, PA
Many towns have some kind of First Friday events. In Bethlehem, we have a celebration of SouthSide businesses with music, food and wine tastings scattered throughout the shopping district.
Tonight at the Banana Factory where I am a current artist in residence, there will be 4 exhibit openings, including the resident artist “White Works” show. There will be live music, glass blowing, ceramic, and jewelry making demonstrations and much more! It all happens from 6-9pm – so if you can, be sure to stop by my studio #249 to say hello!
My 10×10″ acrylic painting on canvas above, “Hayden’s Adventure” was inspired by my friend’s young son and is also the piece I submitted into the White Works exhibit .
© Stephanie Smith All Rights Reserved.
A Big Welcome to our 1st Ever Official Journal Swap Participants!
While I’m still fiddling a bit with the theme and layout of the new Rhodia Journal Swap Tumblr blog – I’d like to introduce you to the 12 participants from out 1st ever Rhodia Journal Swap. (Click their links to visit their blogs/websites.) If you signed up but weren’t selected – hang tight! We are considering the addition of a second swap 6 months or so into the 1st swap.
Tammy Garcia
Pamela Fishkin Hero
Joy Rothke
Shane Couch
Kate Marshall
Trillium
Seth @ Good Pens
Andrea
Gretchen Boothe Hamilton
Kristina Day Osgood
Julie (O-kami)
Pinteresting?
Okay yes. I’ll admit it. I am slightly addicted to Pinterest. What is Pinterest? It’s a virtual pinboard that allows you to organize and share all the beautiful things we find on the web. You can browse pinboards created by other people to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests.
I love browsing to find new ideas for patterns color combinations to use in my art. I find so much inspiration there…
Are you using Pinterest? How do you like it? Pin any Rhodia lately?
National Handwriting Day Today!
National Handwriting Day was established by the Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association in 1977 to promote the consumption of pens, pencils, and writing paper. January 23rd was chosen because it is the birthday of John Hancock- the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence.
In this modern age of computers, I love how so many people continue to joyously express themselves through paper and their choice of a manual writing device. Oh happy day to paper & pens & pencils!
Your Preference for Paper Color
I’ve always been more of a fan of writing on off-white paper than white. I think the off-white is easier on the eyes for long writing sessions, but I do like the intensity of a white page for brainstorming, mind-maps, and event planning. Fans of fountain pens love to use the plethora of available ink colors and while I know that white paper will really show them in their glory, I don’t mind the nice warm hue that the off-white paper adds to my favorite ink colors.
Which color paper do you prefer and why?
Time is running out! Call for Entries for the 2012 Rhodia Journal Swap: “Favorite Things”
Last call! Interested in participating? Read on, then fill out the form below by tomorrow Jan 18th. We’d love if you would share this opportunity with your friends! Questions? Please submit via comments. Continue Readering »
