Current Work Set-Up

Oops!!!

I´ve been thinking about my work set-up for 2013 recently as I need to upsize again to allow for all the project work that is likely to be coming my way over the course of next year. Whilst doing this I realised that I never got round to posting pics of my current set-up, so here goes.

I moved into my raspberry compact Chameleon in mid-October and to be honest I am a bit gutted to have to move out. It is small with a simple set-up that works well at the moment, and it is easy to stick it in my bag whenever I need to take it home.

I wanted it to be simple, practical and nice to look at, so the logical place to start was to see what sections I needed. Although I have the standard six numbered dividers I only set up four sections and left the other two in the back blank in case I needed them.

I have a Diary section which contains a WO2P with lines format - for me this is more than enough space for entering meetings, appointments, and deadlines.

My To Do section contains some lined paper and various To Do sheets. I am currently using some that were given to me (I think they are TMI inserts) and have added post-it markers to identify the sheets as emails, calls, monthend/do not forgets, project list, and to do's.

I then have a planning section which contains Filofax day planner inserts. To me these are probably more suited for personal stuff on the odd days when I have lots to do outside the home. I haven't actually used this section at all.

My final section is my capture pages, which is full of blank paper. I haven't used this section much since I moved into this binder, but it is a section which is very handy to have and I have a feeling it will get a lot of use next year.

I wanted to pretty it all up a bit, but not do anything permanent as realistically this was always going to be a temporary move until I decided what I needed. As you can see from the pictures, I labelled the dividers rather than the tabs, using washi tape and my Rotring Rapidograph pen.

Looking forward to playing with my 2013 set-up.

LJx

Pen Review - Rotring Rapidograph

Ooh - my first ever pen review (and probably my only one).

As you may have seen this set was spotted by my DF when were at Office World, and I bought it as he has mention how good they are before. Obviously being pens I had to try them out to see if I would be able to use them and get one for myself, although I wasn't holding out too much hope as they are pretty fine nibs (the largest coming in at 0.5, followed by 0.35 and 0.25). The set also contains a Rotring 0.5 Tikki pencil.

The set comes with three spare capillary cartridges. Apparently these pens never dry up like fountain pens can if you don't use them for a while (obviously as a fountain pen free person I am relying on information from others for this).

So, here is my kit ready for testing. Filofax standard diary, Oxford notebook and the Rotring pens.  

Due to the quality of the Filofax paper the 0.5 pen is pretty thick as it bleeds a bit, so I need to write fairly big, which isn't a big problem as I quite like writing big, but I'm not that keen on the pen line being so thick.

The 0.35 nib is quite scratchy, and I would need to learn to write more gently.

The 0.25 is super fine and cute - although I did have to concentrate quite hard not to press too hard, and it is pretty scratchy (a bit like writing with a needle). However, if I could get used to this I could possibly fit everything into a pocket Filofax (though when I'm tired I could have problems actually reading it).

After writing with the 0.25 the 0.5 and the 0.35 felt much less scratchy... would the scratch factor be reduced by using smoother paper?

Results on filofax paper

The pen for the thicker nib bleeds through to the reverse of the paper, although not too badly. I personally don't think I would be able to write on the reverse with bleed through, I think I would find it distracting and messy.

Bleed through not too bad, but it's not great

The same pens on the Oxford paper.

Quite a difference - more of a difference than I was expecting.

All the nibs wrote a finer line as the paper bleeds much less. The pens didn't feel as scratchy (not perfect, but better). With the 0.25 I could possibly fit my whole life in a mini (if I want to carry a magnifying glass everywhere with me - ha ha ha!!!).

Results on the Oxford paper

Bleedthrough... nada!!! If I try really hard I can just about see that there is something written on the other side, but it's really no issue at all.

Pen can barely be seen from the other side at all

And side by side so you can see the difference - with the better quality paper this pen is pretty cool (if you look at the excerpt from the Rotring website below you will see that these are not designed for standard paper, or even normal writing). These pens are OK for upright writing, but if I start doing my more relaxed style (which I rarely use as it tends to be more for scribbling notes on scrap paper) there would be no hope. However, they are perfect for writing labels for presents, dividers etc.

Side by side

I took a look online to see what colour inks there are for these (they take Rotring capillary cartridges) and there isn't a massive selection, but apparently you can mix the inks...

"For tracing paper, vellum drawing paper and lineboard.The rapidograph uses rOtring's unique capillary cartridge. The pressure-equalization system, including ink helix is part of the ink cartridge which ensures that every time you change the cartridge, you get a clean new ink helix. This means that you never need to clean the ink helix and top reliability is guaranteed."

Off now to play with DF's pens again and then I can decide if I need to steal any of them (or if I need to buy him a whole new set, I have a feeling that this may be the option).

LJx 

Office World? Ooh, Don't Mind if I Do...

As much as some people believe that my DF must hate my stationery obsession, he really doesn't. This was evidenced the other week by the fact that he spied Office World when he was in Wettingen at the fitness shop, and texted me immediately to let me know :o)

Obviously, the first thing I did was to take a look on-line as I was nowhere near Wettingen at the time, and then this weekend, being the absolute star that he is - he took me to Wettingen so I could go in and have a good look.

I can safely say that I will be going there again, they have lots of pretty things, paper, pens, various storage solutions (including a fab box with compartments that I could use for scrapbooking supplies - brads and stuff).

After a good browse by all of us (even DF... the boys are always happy to look at pens if they think they'll get one - they chose a shark pencil sharpener and a Stabilo pen 68 each).

DF spotted the first purchase... he has told me so much about these pens before as he used to use them when he worked in a technical drawing office, and has recommended that I try them before as I just don't get on with fountain pens. I wasn't sure about them for myself as they have such skinny nibs (in this set 0.5, 0.35 and 0.25), but I think he kinda misses them. When he spotted these I figured that we just had to get them (even though he generally used a 0.1 nib).

Rotring Rapidograph pens

Next to the Rotring pens there were the Rotring "curvy ruler things" (which I was told is NOT the correct name - ha ha ha!!!) I'm sure I had some similar to this when I was little and am sure they will come in very handy for scrapbooking, journalling and any other number of crafty projects.

Funky curvy rulers

But obviously I couldn't resist *all* the pretty things... I got the post-it index tabs with the little arrow heads on them, which I am looking forward to using as I know exactly what I want to use them for (as opposed to buying them and then either trying to find a use for them, or wanting to just keep them 'for best'...

And then I saw these two sets of Japanese stickers - they are super cute, but not particularly small. Perfect for decorating dividers though :o)

And the other thing they stock (which I haven't found anywhere else over here yet)? MT washi tape!!!

I resisted for now as they are mainly plain ones and I have quite a few patterned ones already, but if I need some plain as well, then I know exactly where to go :o)

LJx