European Companies Surpass US yet again…

So, both the Quo Vadis blog and the Rhodia blog recently announced that Clairefontaine has revised its environmental standards to an even more impressive level. One of the things that first drew me to their products was their attention to the environmental impact of paper producton. So, for example, they are one of the only companies that still produces their own paper for their products, and only using wood from PEFC certified sustainably-managed forests. They recycle water during the production process, and don’t use chlorine to bleach their paper.

Now, they’ve changed their inks from petroleum/solvent-based to water-based, using vegetable oil pigments instead of mineral ones.

Funny. I’m going to an environmental conference this weekend in Oberlin, OH. One of the things we’ll be talking about is the fact that the United States really has nothing to bring to the table when we attend the Copenhagen Climate Conference in December.

Read more about Clairfontaine’s environmental practices here.

The Roundup: Rhodia Drive Raffle Prize

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?

Exacompta Sketchbook

I posted about my new journal the other day, and have been trying to find some free time to post some pictures. Technically, I purchased the Exacompta sketchbook, not the matching journal, but I prefer to write on a blank unlined page.

In the past I’ve discussed my distaste for both the Moleskine corporation and the moleskine “culture,” and my transition toward making my own books. I’m still binding books for friends and for myself, but I wanted to experiment with a store-bought book that was:

• of superior quality to moleskine (particularly the paper quality)
• not overpriced
• not over-marketed (i.e. no “legendary” claims)
• produced by a fairly ethical company
• classy, customizable, and unique.

Of course I know that no store-bought book is going to be unique, and it’s silly to make that claim about any mass-produced product. By “unique,” I really mean basic enough for me to fill, alter, and abuse it to the point where it becomes mine.

Enter the Exacompta sketchbook. By now I’ve spent a few weeks with this delicious book and I can say that it’s hands down my favorite store-bought basic black book (BBB).

The sketchbook (5.5″x8.5″) is cloth bound, and sewn, so the pages open completely flat. A lot of small and medium sized books have trouble opening flat so this has been a total blessing for a carpal-tunnel-stricken scriptophile like me. I thought that I wouldn’t like the embossed “sketchbook” logo on the cover, but I’ve found that I don’t mind it too much. I added a label with my name to the front, and I’ve been holding the book closed with a plain rubber band.

The book is filled with gorgeous off-white laid paper. It’s lighter than moleskine-yellow, which means that my colors show up brighter. The laid lines result from the pattern of the screen against the paper pulp during the paper-making process. I really love the texture that these lines create because it reminds me that paper doesn’t just appear out of nowhere– it goes through a process of creation, beginning with harvested trees. I’m not enough of a treehugger to stop using paper journals (and besides, computer laptops have a larger carbon footprint than a Hummer, so paper journaling is not my greatest sin), but it’s good to be reminded that the products we use everyday don’t come from the store; they originate from nature somewhere.

gilded edges

The paper takes well to my fountain pen, and also surprisingly to watercolor. I used my sister’s cheap watercolor set to play around a little while I was home over break. I had forgotten how neon those basic elementary school watercolor sets are! I’m looking forward to painting some more with my own set when I have the time.

Regarding my desire for a book “produced by a fairly ethical company,” I haven’t yet found any evidence one way or the other for Clairefontaine/Exacompta. I found a company profile, but there doesn’t seem to be much underground networking regarding their history. Nevertheless, I do know that their production has remained in France (not shipped over to China, a la Moleskine).

After searching a bit online, it turns out that a few others have discovered the beauty of this book before me: both Inkophile and Spiritual Evolution of the Bean raved about this sketchbook as well.