In Planners & Organizers

Product Review: Ryan McGinness 2023 Calendar To-Do List Pad

Author AnaPosted on 1 Comment
Product Review: Ryan McGinness 2023 Calendar To-Do List Pad

I confess that when I was contacted to review the 2023 Calendar To-Do List by Ryan McGinness ($40 available on Amazon),  I squeed just a little bit. Over the years, I’ve accumulated several of McGinness’ art and design books (the most well-known is FLATNESSISGOD).  I did my best to play it cool in our email correspondence, though I suppose now, the cat is out of the bag.

The 2023 Calendar To-Do List Pad was flawlessly packaged in a custom shipping box. The actual calendar came is a black, linen-finish box with silver foil stamping. You all know how I feel about excessive packaging but stay with me because there is a reason for the box so, in this instance, I am 100% okay with it.

Inside the box is a ribbon to make removing the pad easier.

When you lift it up, you can see how chonky this pad is! The pad measures 11.5  x 4.75″ and it’s two inches thick.

Under the cover sheet is details on how to use the box after the pad is removed. It recommends that you save the box and each day, put your completed page back into the box. I recommend putting the pages facedown so at the end of the year, you can flip the whole stack and it will be in order.

Once the year is over, put the lid on the box and store it for posterity. Or have a ritual burning depending on how it all went.

I love that there is a printed, handwritten note inside from the creator explaining that he has, for years, made these calendars for friends, family and his studio. He also explains the size was selected because it is exactly half of a letter-sized sheet of paper when cut lengthwise. It’s easy to imagine that, in the early days, he was printing these pages on his office copy machine and trimming them by hand.

Each page features a graphic illustration in a black circle at the top of the page. The overall design of this chonk of paper is excellent. As a design snob, I 100% approve. Good type design, art, layout and attention to detail.

One of the other big plusses for this pad is that Saturday and Sunday are given the same treatment as the workdays. Because not everyone rests on the weekend.

Did I mention the 2.5mm gird because YES! I love it.

Testing the Paper:

I confess that I entered into testing this paper with a bit of trepidation. The paper felt very lightweight and, like most people outside the fountain pen community, the design and “functionality” of a paper good tends to outweigh the paper performance particularly when compared with how incredible picky “pen people” can be in comparison.

But once I started testing gel, rollerball and ballpoint pens, I realized I had no issues.  Should I try a fountain pen? Will it make me sad?

Nope. No sadness. Fountain pen ink performed just fine. I didn’t drown it in ink but with the teeny tiny 2.5mm grid, some small stubs, fine and extra fine nibs and an italic, it passed with flying colors.

Even the view from the back… some show through but since these pages were designed to be used front side dominantly, I don’t think that’s a big deal. Of course, if you want live dangerously, you could throw Sharpie or paint pen on there but I recommend peeling the daily page from the stack so it doesn’t bleed through to the next page.

Final Impressions:

I already have a pretty specific planning set-up but I think this Calendar To-Do List pad will make a great addition. I plan on using it for a sketch-a-day, a quote-a-day, or other sorts of daily tracking that could be separate from my work/hustle/work planner.

This is a beautifully designed, field-tested day-on-a-page calendar to-do list that I would be proud to keep on my desk.

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were provided free of charge by Ryan McGinness for the purpose of review.

This review also includes affiliate links. The Well-Appointed Desk is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. Please see the About page for more details.

In feature

New Product! Vintage Blotter Paper

Author AnaPosted on Leave a comment
New Product! Vintage Blotter Paper

Once again, we stumbled on a gem of a barn find: VINTAGE BLOTTER PAPER!

Seriously, Bob went to look for some printing equpiment out in the country and as they were talking, the gentleman mentioned he had some blotter stock and would we be interested in it? Um, yes. And so a deal was struck, the cargo was loaded and we started planning the best way to cut it and make it available to all you lovely folks.

The vintage blotter paper is thick, adsorbent cardstock available in two sizes: A5 and A6.

Close-up detail shot of blue marble fibers in paper

This blotter paper is white with blue marble look. It is very thick. It’s cardstock not paper. It will work great inside your journal or notebook to soak up an ink that hasn’t completely dried before closing the page.

Each pack includes 5 sheets.

  • A5: 5.5 x 8″ (20 x 14 cm) $10/pack of 5
  • A6: 5.75 x 4″ (14.5 x 10 cm) $5/pack of 5

The stock is very limited. When this batch is sold out, that is all there is so grab it quick. I don’t think it will last long.

Currently, the Blotter Paper will only be available on Big Cartel.
For anyone supporting us on Patreon, check your email or on Patreon for a special offer!

Look! It works!!!

Reminder: The paper is vintage NOS so there may be some slight variation in color and texture. We quality checked it, trimmed it and packaged it so it should be the best of the best but be aware, this is OLD STOCK.

One last thing: Every order placed will also receive a blotter bookmark (while supplies last).

This post is a shameless plug for product we sell in our shop. 

In Paper Review

To B6 or Not to B6

Author AnaPosted on 29 Comments
To B6 or Not to B6

This year (2022) has been the year when I feel like I found “my size” notebook. I have wholeheartedly embraced the B6 and B6-ish sized notebooks (approx. 5 x 7″ or 125 x 176 mm). It’s been a very Goldilocks discovery.

For years, I thought I was an A5 lover (closer to 6 x 8″ or 148 x 210mm) but I realized that I wouldn’t take the A5 notebooks with me when I went somewhere. They were too large to fit in a small bag and took up a lot of real estate on my desk when open.

I tried the A6 size (approx. 4 x 6″ or 105 x 148mm) for several years thanks to the wide enthusiasm for all things Hobonichi but I found that size a little too small.

Despite years of notebook nerdery, it took until this year for me to discover the happy medium of the B6 size. I have been regularly using my B6 daily bullet journal/planner and have actually finished TWO notebooks at this size. I can’t tell you when the last was that I finished a notebook.

I have thrown A5 over entirely and I still use the larger size for personal journaling which stays at home and doesn’t travel. But for notebooks that need to be both useful and portable, I am 100% sold on the B6 size.

Midori and Nanami both make B6 Slim size — they shaved about 15mm off the width of the notebooks which fall into that B6-ish category for me. They are close and often provide paper options that are hard to find otherwise like the Midori LIGHT paper or the Nanami Cafe dashed grid.

At the moment though, my favorite B6-ish notebook is the Paperblanks MIDI with 120gsm paper (use the “More filters” drop down to choose paperweight). I purchase the blank unlined versions.

Have you found your go-to notebook size? What is your criteria for picking a notebook size?

In feature

Guest Post: Pen Show Magic: The SF Pen Show 2022

Author AnaPosted on 2 Comments
Guest Post: Pen Show Magic: The SF Pen Show 2022

Guest Post by Julia van der Wyk

The San Francisco International Pen Show arrived like an oasis in a dream. I am ready for my vacation, I am ready to see my friends and meet new people, and I am ready for that special Pen Show Magic!

From Friday morning to Sunday morning, my pen show fashion was on point

The show began for me with a delightful breakfast outdoors with Pierre from Desiderata Pens and my friend Emy. It grew into a crescendo of joy and community, that special combination of meaningful items and meaningful people. This year it felt to me as though the crowd had been uncorked from a bottle, bringing along their enthusiasm and joy.

Helping out on the pen show floor

This was the second year that I helped out at the table of Rick Propas, the PENguin. His array was in the main ballroom, in one of many aisles filled with pen, paper, and stationery offerings. It was populous and active. It’s a challenge for my senses to be sure, but I did better this time in regulating my own need for quiet breaks.

I enjoyed helping out and interacting with the crowd, talking to Rick and the other helpers, and learning just a smidge more each time about the pens.

these are the beauties I picked out from Rick’s table: Pelikan 400NN tortoise set, Pelikan M300, Parker 41 coral set

Classic pen show experiences and MAGIC!

When I wasn’t a Helper, I was an Attendee, having the Classic Pen Show experiences of reuniting with friends, meeting new people, and seeing in person shops and items one would never have the opportunity otherwise.

One such vendor is Bungbox, which readers may know is a brick and mortar shop in Japan. I was one of the lucky shoppers to buy a TWSBI Eco with real maki-e finish! I chose the goldfish design, which is ever my maki-e motif heart’s desire, and grabbed the “morning glory” inks and cute store brand notepads as well.

Two things happened relating to this:

The first thing is that my good pal Franz offered me his appointment with Gena Salorino of Custom Nib Studio, who put a “Reverse Architect” grind on it.

This is Pen Show Magic at work: I mentioned “if a nibmeister has an opening…” and Franz said “would you like this one?”.

The reverse architect has fine or extra fine line when you write as usual, but if you flip the pen upside down, the nib will write with this amazing architect grind. A ridiculously fantastic nib grind for a ridiculously fantastic pen!

Some of the detail on the pen with an example of the exquisite grind.

The second thing is one I could never have expected.

At the vendor breakfast, Kaoru and Bruce from Bungbox joined me at the table. At the tail end of a delightful group conversation (including such luminaries as Jesi from The Well-Appointed Desk, the Rickshaw crew, and Elizabeth (Emy) from Peyton Street Pens who was also my hotel roommate), Kaoru casually asked for thoughts about a special pen for next years show. To my surprise and delight, I found us brainstorming pen design possibilities together. Grabbing a notepad from my bag, which turned out to be the one I had bought from her the preceding day, I made notes and sketches. Will these sketches become a real pen? No one knows.

This is Pen Show Magic at work: connecting with people you never thought you’d meet, and being enthusiastic about the stationery we love together.

I cannot contain my joy.

Inkwash Painting Class Love

I taught my Inkwash Painting class again this year!

“Welcome to my favorite part of the show” I greeted the students, and we proceeded with two hours of brush and ink technique practice with two kinds of papers, quiet time, and the Joy of Art.

I didn’t take pictures, I was engrossed in discussing depth and line. I hope my students will enjoy this practice with all their inks for years to come!

This seems like a good place to show the inks I brought home from the show with their Col-o-ring swatches. Jesi helped me pick out the Colorverse and Sailor Manyo colors, and the Malibu Blue was a gift from a friend. Thank you, Philip!

From L to R in the swatches: Bungbox Morning Glory blue-purple and red-purple, Colorverse Under the shade, Sailor Manyo Nadeshiko, Monteverde Malibu Blue

Do you want more Pen Show Magic?

I participated in a self-made frenzy at the Rickshaw Bags table, because I was excited to get one of the new Sinclair cases, which is a collaboration with NockCo. The NockCo version I have is one of my favorite cases.

I picked out a pretty Sinclair which also happened to be a prototype, without the brand tags, and some pen sleeves to go with. I had paid for these items when Emy, enjoying the frenzy with me, opened a prize fortune cookie and won a free Coozy case. Gasp. I forgot about the fortune cookies with prizes inside. I opened one. I won a free Sinclair!

I promptly turned inside out and grabbed the Sinclair in eye-searing fluorescent green. YESSSS! This one will match my rickshaw tote bag, which is houndstooth with Flo-green piping. I can’t even.

All my pretties!

The notebooks

Of course there are notebooks. Lots of wonderful book and paper vendors to visit! My three choices here come from Curnow Bookbinders, Odyssey, and Musubi, all A5.

The Curnow book is their show special, which I used as a place to keep paper receipts and notes during the show. I will enjoy this for note taking and project plans, most likely.

Odyssey was one I had in my mind to find on the show floor after reading some reviews. They were in the atrium, and materialized before my very eyes! I had a great conversation with the creative mind behind the brand, and chose the 200-page Black Hole design with blank paper, which felt conceptually correct to me.

The Musubi pink kitty-cat book was the first notebook that caught my eye Friday morning. On Sunday morning I checked in with Daryl, who noted he had only 4 notebooks left to sell! “How is there a pink kitty-cat one still here?” I boggled, and his response was to say that while very surprised as well, he was sure it would go home with someone that day. And it did. I am that someone.

All my secrets go in here.

Fun Stuff galore

There were so many different styles of stationery vendors here. I got to meet and purchase from Angela He of Inky Converters. The Ink bottle pin color shifts from dark to light as it gets warmer!

I was admiring the wax seals from Day Art Store, and had a delightful conversation about how hard it is to find the woodpecker that you can plainly hear in the trees.

Next door was the table for Stickersters. I found a sheet with a sticker that spoke to me. It was “thinking of you” in the bottom left (photo below).

And how could I forget the Pochitto stamps, brought to us in SF at the Enigma table? But I did forget and so my helpful and kind friend Emy got me a set.

You do see some Travelers Notebook inserts in there too. Because yes.

Special shout-out in the fun-stuff category to Maido. I am looking forward to hanging out with this bear and quail and riding cable cars together.

We can use the musical and artistic clips along with our special edition Uni-ball One pen set at a cafe when we’re done.

 

Quiet times for Art and Breathing

Perhaps my favorite bit of pen show magic is in the quiet times. My brand of after-dark in the bar is all about drawing and journal enjoyment. This year I opened up my Traveler’s Notebook and tried out pens, pencils, and chalk pastels in the Kraft inserts I had bought last year. I feel quiet and happy just looking at these.

Summary and Conclusion

As you can see, Pen Show Magic was alive and well. I am so happy.

Julia van der WykJulia is an artist, classical musician, knitter, and lover of the outdoors. She resides in Santa Cruz, California, where she can draw Pelicans with Pelikans, and brag about the weather. Follow her adventures on Instagram @juliavdw or Twitter @juliavdw.

In Link Love

Link Love: Planner & Bags & More (Oh, my!)

Author AnaPosted on 2 Comments
Link Love: Planner & Bags & More (Oh, my!)

As we move into the first official week of September, new planners are being unveiled left and right and its time for us all to get back to work or back to school. Whether you work from home or travel to an office, workshop, warehouse, shop or other locale, you need a place to stow your precious pens, planners, notebooks and other tools. What’s your favorite bag, tote, or backpack?

I waffle between my Rickshaw Bagworks Soho Tote and a Fjällräven Kånken Totepack.  I can fit my laptop into the Kånken Totepack but it’s an entirely black bag so it is a deep black hole where many items get lost at the bottom. The Soho Tote is easier to find items with all the pockets on the inside and the more horizontal shape but its not big enough when I need to schlep my laptop around. How often do you switch bags?

Pen Show Recaps:

Don’t forget to check out our own SF Pen Show Recap and we will have a guest post on Friday covering another experience.

Pens:

Ink:

Pencils:

Notebooks & Paper:

Art & Creativity:

Other Interesting Things:

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In Ink Review

Ink review: Anderilium Inks Flying Squid Blue

Author Laura CameronPosted on 4 Comments

I haven’t been able to attend a pen show this year yet, but I’ve seen some coverage of the shows and one of the new inks that intrigues me are collections from Anderillium Inks. Ana purchased the Cephalapod Series collection and let me play with it. Today I’m taking a look at Flying Squid Blue ($14.50 for 1.5oz).

You know I love a good blue, and if it’s got a hint of teal to it, I’m always in! Flying Squid Blue is a rich, deep, dark ocean blue.

The ink is lovely. It’s very Goldilocks-like, not too wet, not too dry. At points it is very, very dark, but I do think you could get some shading in this one, as you can see a bit in my tests of different dip nib sizes.

In terms of comparisons, there are many that are close, but nothing that is quite right? Robert Oster True Blue is a bit of a match in the lighter sections, but doesn’t have the same depth. Colorverse Supernova is bang on in the lighter sections, but it’s dark aren’t rich enough. Robert Oster Soda Pop Blue is not quite right either. And Organics Studio Nitrogen Blue obviously has the sheen going on, but it comes close. It may be hard to tell, but I don’t have anything that’s exactly the same shade.

The Cephalapod Series has a bunch of other wonderful colors – I’m going to swatch Flapjack Octopus Orange and Bobtail Squid Green before I give them back to Ana. The only color I would love to add is something purple!

DISCLAIMER: Some of the items included in this review were provided to us free of charge for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

In feature

Product Review: Rickshaw x NockCo Sinclair Model R

Author AnaPosted on 4 Comments
Product Review: Rickshaw x NockCo Sinclair Model R

I’m sure if you are a regular listener of the Pen Addict podcast, you are well aware that Brad recently announced a new partnership with Rickshaw Bagworks to create a new iteration of the much-loved Sinclair pen case (introductory price $40, regular price $59). The cases were unveiled at the San Francisco Pen Show last week and, while I was not able to attend the show, Mark Dwight, founder of Rickshaw Bags, was kind enough to send this absolutely PINK edition to me to review.

The first thing I notice about the new Rickshaw x Nockco Sinclair Model R is the external pocket which is perfect for slipping ephemera or maybe a phone. Oh, and that the PINK version perfectly matches my Soho Tote.

There’s been a lot of debate around the loop on the back of the case. Is it a boy thing to carabiner things to your belt? I am just not entirely sure what I’d do with it.

When compared to an earlier Nockco edition of the Sinclair, it’s easy to see that the earlier edition is about a half an inch or so smaller. The corners on the older edition are also much more square.

Inside, the new Sinclair features Rickshaw’s plush fabric which feels awesome and protects your pens in this cozy bed of softness.

There are the same three divided pen slots on one side of the case and a full pocket on the other that will hold a Field Note-sized notebook or smaller. I have a Leuchtturm1917 A7 pocket notebook in the open pocket which left room for one more pen.

Mark also sent a beautiful Pink Cherry Blossom 2-Pen Plush Coozy. This particular colorway is not currently available but there are lots of other options as well as the option to custom build your own with dozens of fabric color starting at $25.

The 2-pen Coozy includes the same PINK plush material so it matches my Caran D’Ache 849 fountain pens perfectly.

The placement of the tags on the inside differ as well.  And Rickshaw added a trim at the top of the pockets for durability.

I think this new iteration and partnership is a perfect opportunity for the popular designs from the Nockco catalog to live on. They are definitely tools for the pen community and have been very smartly designed.

This PINK color combination of the Sinclair Model R is not one of Brad’s Picks color combinations. If you would like this wholly Desk-approved color combination, when ordering, choose the “special request” and choose PINK Cordura, PINK Plush, FLO PINK Paracord, FLO PINK Label. OR send them the link to the video on Instagram and tell them you want the Well-Appointed Desk version, they’ll know which one that is.

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were provided free of charge by Rickshaw Bagworks for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.