Oh boy. Through farmwork and thesis work, re-carpeting my parents’ home and moving myself into a new temporary home, I haven’t gotten a chance to sit down and upload some photos of my Rhodia raffle prize.
These were graciously sent by Karen Doherty of Exaclair, and I want to note how impressed I was at the way the raffle was handled. Not only did the Rhodia Drive blog feature my blog when announcing the first winner, but I received an email from Karen congratulating me and asking my “favorite colors” –which was confusing at first, until she explained that she was just hoping to tailor the notebooks to my liking, for ink colors and cover colors.
Well, gosh.
I really like the opportunities for personal connection that the world of blogging allows. Although it’s part of my firm belief to never confuse the digital world for face-to-face interactions, I must admit that there is a certain social etiquette in the blogging world (much more professional than the “dear-diary” of livejournal land) which opens up a door for cool opportunities– like this one!
So, a box arrived at my door a few days later, containing:
- Clairefontaine 6″ x 8 1/4″ clothbound blank notebook, 96 sheets (green cover)
- Clairefontaine 8¼” x 11¾” stablebound ruled notebook, 80 sheets (purple cover)
- Clairefontaine 6¾” x 8 5/8″ hardcover blank notebook, 96 sheets (yellow/orange cover)
- Clairefontaine 6″ x 8 1/4″ “Basics” wirebound ruled notebook with pockets, 60 sheets (tan cover)
- G. Lalo Verge de France 5¾” x 8¼” ivory stationary tablet, 5o sheets, and 25 envelopes
- Rhodia N° 18: 8¼” x 12½” staplebound ruled pad, 80 sheets
- Rhodia Essentials Box, containing a N° 8, a N° 16, two N° 11’s (all with graph paper), and two Rhodia pencils
- Rhodia N° 14: 4.3″ x 6.7″ staplebound ruled pad, 80 sheets
- Rhodia 3″ x 43/4″ staplebound graph pad, 24 sheets
- Rhodia N° 8: 3″ x 8¼” staplebound graph pad, 80 sheets
- Rhodia N° 10: the teeny-weeny 2″ x 3″ staplebound graph pad, 80 sheets (black cover)
- Rhodia 3 1/2 x 5 1/2″ small webnotebook, 96 lined sheets (black cover)
- Rhodia 4″ x 6″ pocket size 2010 planner (orange cover)
- Quo Vadis 4 x 6 3/8″ Habana lined journal (red cover)
- Exacompta 5 1/2″ x 8 1/4″ Basics silver-edged sketchbook
- 3 30 ml bottles of J. Herbin fountain pen ink, in Poussiere de Lune, Vert Resada, and Rouille D’Ancre
Basically, that’s a lot. I did the math, and the total retail value would be $174.25. I think knowing that makes me appreciate it even more, because it means that I won’t have to spend money on school supplies this year. Little blessings are especially nice when they come with pretty inks 
I’m not going to do full reviews of anything right now, especially because I included the new inks in my recent ink comparison and because so many of the notebooks are near-duplicates (all the Rhodia blocs, for example). But I will include a few initial thoughts, mainly–
What the heck am I supposed to do with this teeny tiny notebook?!
I’m not sure this picture does this notebook justice in showing its size (I have small hands). Its about twice the size of a matchbook, 2″ x 3″. I also have English-major Carpal Tunnel syndrome, so writing in a cramped size is not an option. My male friends with larger hands just sort of laughed when they tried to hold it. Any suggestions?
My other initial reaction was: UH. Ironically, I received the exact same Exacompta sketchbook that I’m using as my personal journal right now.
I’m nearing the end of my journal, and now I’m wondering whether to use this new one as a replacement or move to another notebook. It’s such a beautiful book, but I’ve always been the type to try new formats when I start a new journal. A gift, perhaps?
We bought a lot of Rhodia stuff in France, and my roommate used that tiny little notebook for making checklists of the stuff she wanted to do that day … she said writing on tiny pages made her feel like she was getting more done.
Or you could make graph paper confetti.
Or a flip book.