Posts of the Week:
Its been a week of hot-button discussions surrounding the next editions of the Blackwing Volumes and the hopes that women and minorities might be represented in future editions. That said, I suspect that the next edition is well through production already so if Blackwing has not addressed folks concerns about gender and ethnic diversity yet, I’m sure its on their radar now. So, I hope everyone puts the torches away for the time being. I am sure that all the Volumes editions have been done with the best intentions and the fact that collectors are so passionate about having all their heroes represented will only ignite Blackwing to be even more conscientious in the future about making sure that they, too, represent a diverse cultural group while continuing to meet our exceedingly high expectations for good quality products. In the meantime, check out some of the suggestions for future Volumes from the Erasable gents and others in the pencil community:
- Let’s bring women and people of color to the the Blackwing Volumes editions (via Woodlcinched)
- Blackwing Diversity. (via Pencil Revolution)
- It’s just pencils! Or is it? (via The Weekly Pencil)
Pens:
- Video: K Series Render K (via Mike Dudek of Clicky Post)
- Sailor Ribbed Bespoke Pens (via Anderson Pens Blog)
- Video: Vintage Stainless Striped Pilot Pens (via Clicky Post)
- Pocket Pens (via My Pen Journey)
- Profile of John Twiss (via United Inkdom)
- Review Redux – Four Years with the Pilot Vanishing Point Fountain Pen (via Ed Jelley)
- Caran d’Ache 849 Totally Swiss Paper Cutout Ballpoint Pen (via Pen Addict)
- Sailor Pro Gear Realo Fountain Pen (via Gourmet Pens)
Pencils:
- Pencils, Onscreen and Otherwise (via Pencils and Other Things)
- Kutsuwa Stad T’Gaal Pencil Sharpener (via Pen Addict)
- Kickstarter: Sotterranea Officina Sperimentale Sostanza Pencil Quick Look (via Pens! Paper! Pencils!)
Notebooks & Paper:
- The Best Fountain Pen Friendly Notebooks (via Ed Jelley)
- Notebooks by Hebrew Type (via Notebook Stories)
- Video: Travelers Notebook Passport Use Update (via The Finer Point)
Planners & Organizers:
- 2017 Planners & Agendas from Rifle Paper Co. (via Paper Crave)
Art Supplies:
- Schmincke, Sennelier, MaimeriBlu Watercolors (via Doodlewash)
Other Interesting Things:
- Click Bait: 23 Things Anyone Who’s Slightly Obsessed With Stationery Has Secretly Done (via Buzzfeed) I got 19 out of 23, FYI
- Pen Travel: D.C. Pen Show Prep 2016 (via Gentleman Stationer)
- Video: DC Pen Show (via Purl Bug)
- Getting to Know Scribble Monboddo (via Pocket Notebooks)
- Kindred Spirit Mailbox (via Letter Writers Alliance)
- The Class Politics of Decluttering (via The NYTimes)
- Helvetica vs. Arial: What’s the difference? (via Extensis Blog)
- August Desktop Downloads! (via Oh So Beautiful Paper!)
You are so right Ana, that political correct Blackwing stuff got a bit crazy for a stationery blog. As a fellow blogger as much as I like the traffic I’m not sure I want that kind of traffic.
That Blackwing Volumes P.C. stuff is not only Gender Obsessed, it is down right Racist. What’s next “Comply or Else” threats? Why did you have to give that poison a louder voice?
I was hoping that my comments would help to quiet the grumblings a little and also make folks aware that the discussion has been made. I hadn’t realized the fever pitch it had reached until yesterday so I’m sorry if I stirred the pot. (Too many metaphors, sorry!)
That Blackwing debacle really is spiraling out of hand. At the end of the day they’re just pencils, and you don’t have to buy them if you don’t want to. Yet some people want to find anger in whatever place they can find. The people coming out of the woodwork pointing nasty fingers about how liking a slightly more diverse pencil lineup is “racist” is truly… bizarre. Next they’ll be calling wanting 1 woman in 6 male-dedicated editions sexist! Women? In MY stationery? Unbelievable! 😉
Thank you Ana for sharing those lovely links! I don’t usually use pencils, but I think the Blackwing editions are pretty cool. I, too, would love to see more minorities represented across all media, even if it’s something as small as a pencil.