Your Input Needed: If We Made a Sketchbook…
We need your input!
Exaclair, (The US distributors of Clairefontaine, Quo Vadis, Rhodia, etc.) is contemplating the creation of an American made sketchbook. A book that would lend itself more towards artistic creation than writing – though I’m certain such a book could be used for either form of expression. The book would contain paper from Clairefontaine’s Schut Mill, (located in the Netherlands) and would be assembled at the Hamburg, NY plant where the Habana notebooks and other Quo Vadis products are currently being made. This sketchbook would be a bound book, (as opposed to a spiral) and we would love your input on how this book should be created.
(See how to submit your feedback at the end of this post.)
In the meantime, Karen sent me a batch of paper samples to test and I chose 4:
If I am going to work in a bound book, it’s got to lay flat. For me, there are no exceptions to that rule. I’d like the book to be about the same size as a large Webbie – 5×8″ish with a firm cover so if I was working with the book propped on my knee, there would still be a good amount of support.
To me, the most important feature of the paper in any sketchbook Continue Readering »
Exaclair 2013 Catalog Available
The new Exaclair catalog – with new Rhodia products – is available for a look! Please go to http://exaclairretailers.com and click on the Consumer version of the catalog. This version does not include suggested List prices. The catalog is available in both the “flippable” versions and in pdf format. 
Retailers can view catalogs with prices by logging into the site. Contact Exaclair at 800-933-8595, x. 110 if you have forgotten the passwords.
If you see something you like and don’t know where to purchase it, please email us at sales@exaclair.com and we’ll put you in touch with a retailer.
Happy Holidays
Help Support the David Wasting Paper 2013 Young Cartoonist Contest
The David Wasting Paper Young Cartoonist Contest was created to pique the interest of junior artists who aspire to one day make their career in the captivating world that is cartooning.
The contest is open to artists between the ages of 13 and 16 who have an interest in cartooning and/or animation. The contest runs from November 1, 2012 to January 31, 2013. The Winner will be awarded an impressive cartooning starter kit which includes several great books by renowned artists, drawing supplies from leading art vendors and a Wacom Drawing Tablet! One Honorable Mention winner will also be chosen.
Please visit David Wasting Paper for further entry details and a list of the prizes to be awarded.
Karen Doherty visits Bethlehem, PA
Ever since I begin writing the Rhodia Drive blog for Exaclair, Karen Doherty (VP of Marketing for Exaclair) and I try to meet up once a year either in Manhattan, (where the Exaclair offices are located) or in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (my neck of the woods) to discuss the blog. After picking her up from the bus terminal, we took a short drive past the old Bethehem Steel blast furnaces (complete with mini history lesson) then stopped at a local favorite Indian restaurant for lunch.
Our last stop for the day was my art studio, where we discussed the way people were interacting with our content, what kind of improvements could be made to the blog, the potential for new swap projects (ones not requiring a year commitment) and how we could encourage people to shoot and share Rhodia related videos. (Reviews, in my bag/EDC, flip book animations…)
Before taking her back to catch the bus to NYC, I asked Karen if I could snap a photo for the blog to which she was happy to comply.
It’s always too short of a visit. I’ll have to make my way up to the city some time soon.
Enter Now to Win! Stephanie’s 3rd Anniversary Big Giveaway: A Few of My Favorite Things
Can you believe it’s already my 3rd year anniversary writing the Rhodia Drive blog? Guess that means it’s also time to give away a few more of my favorite things!
Sandra Strait Reviews the Clairefontaine Graf-It Pads
We recently sent our friend Sandra Strait a Clairefontaine Graf-it pad to try out. She put this paper to the test by drawing in it with a multitude of different products including: pencil, colored pencil, alcohol markers, watercolors, drawing pens and more. Continue Readering »
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!
Rhodia in the USA
If you’ve ever wanted to view all of the Rhodia products currently available in the US, be sure to visit rhodiapads.com where you can also search for a local or online retailer.
Located in New York City, Exaclair is the exclusive US distributor for Rhodia products and also the other brands under the Clairefontaine umbrella which include: Clairefontaine, Quo Vadis, J. Herbin, Exacompta, G. Lalo, Brause, Mignon and Decopatch.
If you have questions concerning product availability in the US, you can submit your question here.
If you have questions about Rhodia products outside the US, please submit your question here.
A Notebook for Everyone
Our UK friends at the Pens and Paper blog tested a number of notebook papers with four different fountain pens – each filled with a different ink. If you ever wanted to know how water based inks react on a certain paper, this is a great series of photos and commentary to help you choose the best product for your needs. The papers that were tested:
- Whitelines (grid);
- Rhodia Webnotebook (lined and dot grid);
- Quo Vadis Habana (lined);
- Monseiur (plain);
- Moleskine (lined);
- Leuchtturm 1917 (lined);
- Rhodia ePure (plain);
- Jottrr (lined/plain);
- Rhodia Exabook (lined);
- Clairefontaine (lined and Séyès ruled);
- Smythson Featherweight (lined); and,
- Archie Grand (plain).
Read the full post here.
Fountain Pen Friendly?
Several years ago when I first started writing with a fountain pen, I quickly discovered that many brands of paper did not play well with the water based fountain pen inks that I had grown to love. This lead to my somewhat obsessive testing & publicly reviewing various paper, pen & ink products on my personal blog biffybeans.com. While some brands like our Rhodia & Clairefontaine products are known to be fountain pen ink friendly, (no bleedthrough, seethrough or feathering) this recent post on the Writer’s Bloc blog says it best:
“Each fountain pen nib, each brand of ink, each color of ink and the paper in each notebook or journal will interact differently when used with each other. The equation pen + paper + ink = good/bad results changes each time you change a component of the equation.”
I’ve also found that humidity can sometimes be a factor in how quickly the ink dries (or fails to dry) on the page.
Have you found a specific combination of paper/pen/ink that you are happy with?
Orange you glad to see more dots?
Are you a fan of our Rhodia Drive Facebook page? Yesterday it was revealed to our Facebook fans that something new will be blooming in the Spring with our new orange covered dotPads. Are you excited? We had many, many requests for these.
What other kinds of Rhodia products are you hoping to see in the new catalog?
Exaclair’s Top 10 Bestselling Products of 2011
Exaclair’s Top Ten Bestsellers of 2011! I have to admit that I am slightly disappointed that Rhodia only managed 9 out of 10 spots. :o) Next year we will have to get the dotWebbie onto that list!
So which of these are your favorites?
#1 Rhodia Pencils
#2 Rhodia Pad N.11 3″ x 4″
#3 Rhodia Pad N.16 6″ x 8 1/4″
#4 Rhodia Pad N.12 3 3/8″ x 4 3/4″
#5 Rhodia Staplebound Pocket Notebook
#6 Rhodia Mousepad
#7 Rhodia Large Meeting Book
#8 Rhodia Pad N.18
#9 Clairefontaine Classic Staplebound Notebook
#10 Rhodia Pad N.14 4 3/8″ x 6 3/8″
Have you seen: Clairefontaine’s Medium Sized Multiple Subject Notebook?
This wirebound Multiple Subject book by Clairefontaine features 60 sheets in pale pastel colors: blue, pink, green & yellow. It is graph ruled and includes 12 tabbed sections- this medium size is 6 3/4″ x 8 5/8.” Small (8 tabs) and large (4 tabs) versions are also available.
With 12 tabs, my first instinct would be to use this book in a yearly fashion; one month per tab – but how could we use this book? I’d love to hear your most ingenious ideas.
Clem’s Birthday Cupcakes
Will you just look at this? A tiny J. Herbin ink bottle! (Rouge Caroubier?) Seems like one of Clem’s friends – wait, do you know Clem? She writes the Rants of the Archer blog and is a huge fan of pens, inks & paper – just like me! One of Clem’s friends baked her a series of cupcakes based on her various hobbies. You can see them all here on the Cupcake Factory blog – though I have to admit, as I looked at each yummy picture, I was hoping to see an orange Rhodia cupcake!
