Extra Staples is a series of posts where I share various links I find interesting. It is not on any regular schedule, and the links can be old or new. For more frequent updates, I can be found on Instagram and Twitter, under the same moniker, Threestaples.
Stationery-related
Owl Ink Review: Kuretake CocoIro Lettering Pens – Owl Ink
If I could learn a new skill, it’d be hand-lettering, so I really enjoyed Elaine’s review of these brush pens. It’s accompanied with beautiful pictures of equally beautiful lettering samples that no doubt took a lot of patience and practice. If I use these pens, surely I can write like Elaine, right?!? Pfft.
Welcome to the new Pens! Paper! Pencils! – Pens! Paper! Pencils!
Oh, Pens! Paper! Pencils! has a new look and organization that facilitates browsing. Great idea, since Ian’s site has tons of useful reviews. I’m liking how each category is further organized with a little description and lists of resources and recommendations. Truly a labor of love considering how much time must have gone into each page.
Paper Mate InkJoy Gel Ten Pen Set 0.7mm: A Review — The Pen Addict by Susan M. Pigott
I kept hearing great things about these gel pens, so this thorough review by Susan was timely and much appreciated by me. The wide barrel makes me a bit worried but I think I’ll have to try one soon, especially the slate blue one.
Things I tried recently (and liked)
Viking Wooden Pencils (pictured at the top)
Viking is a new brand for me, and I was pleasantly surprised when I finally tried their pencils recently.. Element 1 especially writes beautifully with core that’s smooth and dark but also just firm enough. I like the dark red of the 400, too. Another reason I’m drawn to them, which I know is silly: the ship logo!
Wishlist
More like, brand new products that just got released/will be released in Japan. The links below are press releases written in Japanese but there are pictures! They are worth a thousand words, or something like that. I hope to see these here in the US at some point.
Pilot Juice Paint
A new line of water-based markers that are supposed to be good for non-porous surfaces like plastic and glass. Hexagonal, short barrel in either fine or medium tip width. Appearance-wise, these markers remind me of Pilot Kakuno fountain pens.
Pilot Juice Up
This new line of retractable gel ink ball pens features new pigment ink formula and a new type of pen tip Pilot is calling “synergy tip" (a hybrid of needle and conical tip). They're supposed to result in smoother writing experience, ideal for detailed writing (tips only come in 0.3 and 0.4 mm). Pastel and metallic colors will come in 0.4 mm only; they’re suitable for writing on dark paper, too. These look absolutely fantastic, and I can’t wait to try them. New gel pens with sophisticated design? Sign me up.
Zebra on the other than is expanding their current line-up of Sarasa Clip gel ball pens because studies are showing that more and more people are using water-based ball pens than oil-based ball pens. At least that’s what I’m getting from my limited Japanese.
Zebra Sarasa Grand
Gel ink pens that use same refills as the very popular Sarasa Clip but these pens with “high-class” design are targeted at adults, more specifically young professionals.
Zebra Sarasa Clip in new colors: 5 neon colors and 5 “vintage” colors
While researching for my previous post on Hi-Tec-C Usuzumi, I thought Zebra Sarasa Clip had a smaller selection of colors, compared to Uni-ball Signo and Pilot Juice/Hi-Tec-C. So this is a welcome additon, and I’m especially looking forward to the “vintage” colors: red black, brown gray, green black, blue gray, and dark blue. Interesting how these colors get the opaque body.
Others but equally interesting
Designer Aaron Draplin Talks His Book, His Posters, His Way - HOW Design
What Do Designers Have To Do With Sexism, Plagiarism + Colonialism?Eye on Design | Eye on Design
BBC Radio 4 - An Obsessive Type: The Tale of the Doves Typeface
(hat tip to Matthias, via Twitter)