Cornflower

The generation game

      "  'Keep a notebook. Travel with it, eat with it, sleep with it. Slap into it every stray thought that flutters up into your brain. Cheap paper is less perishable than gray matter. And lead pencil markings endure longer than memory.' — Jack London

    [...] But just having a notebook isn't enough. If we want to have anything useful to jot down, we must regularly place ourselves in situations that are historically known to generate inspiration and creativity, such as long walks, baths, naps, conversations with strangers, tea time, and of course meditation.
    Each can deliver a treasure trove of ideas and new ways of seeing things or simply help us get unstuck."

    That's from Light Watkins, someone else* I discovered through Dr. Chatterjee's podcast, and of course it's relevant to this post.

 

*Dr. Rupy's recipes are still going strong!

Blue paper packages

    Here is a good idea from Cambridge Imprint (whose work I've mentioned before):

"Paper can be vulnerable. So often one buys a beautiful piece, uses maybe half of it for wrapping a particularly special present, then saves the rest rolled up where it gradually accumulates dents and bumps until it isn't quite so special any more...

With this problem in mind we have created a box of coordinating Special Small Papers. There are twenty four sheets of paper in each box, all with smaller, more delicate motifs than our usual patterns. Each has the ideal dimensions for wrapping a book or other modestly-sized present. There are twelve distinct papers, two sheets of each: one to give away and one to keep. The papers come in a sheaf of coordinating colours: either a collection of very pretty reds and pinks or a set of cooler, elegant blues. The box itself is simple and sturdy, with a lining that coordinates with the colour of the papers, and ideal for storing these papers and any other precious scraps you may have lying around, waiting for a worthy project."

    You can find the papers here; they are not cheap, but then nor is conventional wrapping paper much of which, as Cambridge Imprint note, goes unused. As someone who is always giving books as presents I'd find a lot of use for a set - no prizes for guessing which colour I'd choose.

NB

   

    The Bluebellgray notebook I mentioned last week is part of their 'Blue Friday' sale (20% off).

    Vanessa Arbuthnott also does very attractive fabric-covered notebooks (and her washbags* are pretty, too).

    Moo have what looks like a well thought out notebook, and they helpfully give you advice on ways to make effective to-do lists.

 

*Ditto those from Silk & Screen

Living colourfully

    I've talked about Bluebellgray before (here, for instance), but as they've just brought out a rather nice looking notebook  - and so many of us are stationery fanatics - I'm mentioning them again. A point to note: postage is pretty steep if you're ordering just one item, but they do occasionally offer free shipping, so keep an eye out for that.

   John Lewis stocks the range (and may get the notebook); read more here and watch the video below.

The bluebellgray way... from White Balloon Films on Vimeo.

Pattern repeat

    I'm an admirer of Cambridge Imprint stationery and have several of their portfolios and a box file, among other things.

    This short video shows the boxes in the making,

while this one takes us to the printing press.

    I like their new design, Dandelion, made in collaboration with the William Morris Gallery,

and we all know you can never have too many notebooks ...

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