| a compilation of products, furniture, jewelry, architecture and artists that float our boat. | FURTHER EXAMINATION: |
Ordning & Reda is the paper goods branch of Bodum. They have a huge selection of planners and diaries available for 2007. The journals are available in a range of colors and fabric or leather and are designed with the same simplicity as the Bodum glassware and kitchenware.
The Sonnet, made by Parker, is a fountain pen that has all the old school detailing of a classic pen. The black lacquer finish has a deep shine to it and the weight of the pen feels great in hand.
This is the Fisher Space Pen, designed by Paul Fisher in 1965 with NASA astronauts in mind. It allows for writing in a weightless environment and in extreme temperatures due to a pressurized ink cartridge (and the ink never leaks!) – you can even use the pen underwater. Besides all that, it’s the Seinfeld pen! Available online at Canoe.
Everyone who went to architecture school is familiar with leadholders, and almost everyone had one of the Caran D’Ache fixpencils (above) at one time or another. It is just a sexy pencil. Understated and simple, the Caran D’Ache fixpencil is a classic sketching pencil. Unfortunately, because of its hexagonal shape, it does not work as well for final drawings as it doesn’t roll/twirl very well. The red-capped black fixpencil 77 I’ve had since college will always have a reserved spot in my bag.
Caran D’Ache took the classic hexagonal fixpencil and fancied it up a bit into the Ecridor XS series (below). The Ecridor XS shown has a ruby laid into the clip and an ‘ammonite’ pattern engraved silver body.
I appreciate that a few of the Caran D’Ache designs can be both very austere and utilitarian and others of the same design can be flamboyant and extravagant, while still preserving the same ease of use and function.
Lamy is a German company that makes great modern pens. The pen shown is the new Lamy Smile, designed by German design firm Phoenix Design.
Lamy has always made very clean and modern writing instruments. The Smile is a more playful take on the fountain pen and uses a series of emoticon rings to relay personal codes and messages.
