Field Notes Classics: J Herbin Ink

Via Spritual Evolution of the Bean, J Herbin Rouge Caroubier

Thinking about how easy it is to personalise your Rhodia pad, or how many people love to make their Moleskine notebook fully their own over the last couple of days has had me thinking about how important notebooks are. I mean, where would we be without them?

Via Spritual Evolution of the Bean, J Herbin Rouge Caroubier

I know that I fall into a state of near amnesia without my Rhodia Pad...but what's a pad without some ink? I use a Lamy Safari Rollerball everyday - the tip is indestructible and my hands love confirming to those Bauhaus contours - but have a real appreciation for the fountain pen users among us.

Via Spritual Evolution of the Bean, J Herbin Rouge Caroubier

Writing from a bottle of ink just seems right...proper...kosher. I received a letter the other day from a seasoned fountain pen user and the difference was huge - it wasn't just correspondence, it was close to art.

Colour Swatch for Rouge Caroubier...of course it depends on your paper...

And you can get artistic with it which is where this blog is coming from. Reading recently Biffy Beans review of J Herbin Rouge Caroubier (please read her blog, for your own sake!) further emphasised the complexity of pen and ink, the nuance.

Lamy Joy Calligraphy Fountain Pen

And to reach the apotheosis of artistic inky endeavors, you can always try calligraphy. We noticed that Inscriber just got a Lamy Joy Calligraphy pen and can only imagine how good the J Herbin Ink would flow through it! Has anybody used the J Herbin Rouge Caroubier before? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Trends in the Field: Bloc Art

Gentian's Rhodia pad.

Following on from yesterday's post about Moleskine's myDetour exhibition, all about your Moleskine, your notebook and personalising an icon, Field Notes received a couple of emails just reminding us that there are plenty of other legends one can make their own.

BiffyBeans Rhodia Pad 8 Cover

Specifically, the Rhodia pad. The top stapled format is great for animated flicker art, especially the smaller pad 11 and 12. But even better is the cover itself!

eeShaun's personalised Rhodia cover.

The Moleskine's cover is great - durable, classy, quality. But there's not a whole heap to work with unless you go so your local embosser. The Rhodia Bloc pads, on the other hand, are perfect for making them your own.

Mitch from Flickr's Pad cover.

If you need some inspiration, see below or any of the following great blogs and pages. There's Rhodia Drive, eeShaun's cool design, heaps on Flickr, like Gentian's cover, Granny Kaas, Mitch, and of course there's Biffy Beans too.

Paul Smith's Rhodia pad designs. via OhJoy

In fact, it's so easy, so perfect, Rhodia sanctions the act. As we know, they're letting designer Paul Smith have free reign (I love the photographer above) over their pads and we can't wait for the results! We'd love to see any personlised Rhodia pads out there from the Field so get sharing Rhodia fans!

Scanning the Field: Time for a link list!

So much to do, so much to see! I could tell you about how much I love an O-Check journal, I could tell you about this cool page Deviant Art I recently stumbled upon and I could even tell you about the Melbourne Writer's Festival and some all new Moleskine notebooks. I could mention my favourite blog this week - The Journal of Little Mo & Friends - and the coolest hand made gift box ever!

But it's like they say...no matter what you're trying to say, somebody else has already done it better! With that in mind, check out some of the links below and drop a comment to share the cool stuff that you can't quite articulate as well and help fill the void at spot #10!


1) Heidi & Seek lovin' O-Check journals


2) My Life as a Sugar Lander lovin' this too-cute Train Blanket


3) Deviant Art's queenvera wondering about what's really going on inside our heads...


4) A caption competition for the Melbourne Writer's Festival!


5) NoteMaker has Moleskine Folios! They're big and beautiful!


6) The Journal of Little Mo & Friends! So cool, especially this gift box.


7) Biffybeans (albeit old...) review of a Rhodia Meeting Book. So thorough, amazing as always.


8) Hello Sandwich thinks we should all indulge in our inner kid and play with our food!


9) Retro Sticky Notes at UK institution Papernation!

10) ...