Waverley Scotland - Tartan Cloth Commonplace Notebook review

This is my last post for National Stationery Week, boooo!  Why can't it be National Stationery Month instead?  Who do I talk to about making this happen?  

Anyway, as I mentioned before I met Liz from Waverley on my visit to the Spring Fair.  She was there launching their latest product which was Tartan Cloth Commonplace Notebooks.  She explained to me that the books are made from genuine Kinloch Anderson Scotland tartan which happens to be the same company that holds Royal Warrents of Appointment as Tailors and Kiltmakers to the Royal Family!   

Waverley Scotland Tartan Cloth Commonplace Notebook

I also learnt a little history about Commonplace notebooks, they were scrapbooks for your ideas, facts, knowledge and thoughts and were used by famous thinkers and scientists of the Scottish Enlightenment like Robert Burns and John Playfair.  Waverley have made their books with this in mind and given you plain and lined paper to work with so you aren't restricted on how you use the notebook.  

Bookmark about Caledonia tartan & information booklet

Each book comes with a bookmark which tells you about the tartan used on the cover, mine is Caledonia and it is a universal tartan so anyone who is not associated with one of the clans can wear this one.  You also get a booklet which tells you about commonplace notebooks, information about Waverley, a clan map of Scotland and more about tartan and it's place in the world.  I found both of these really interesting to read and liked learning something new!

Matching elastic closure & stained edges

The notebooks have 176 pages made from acid-free 80 gsm cream paper with matching stained edges.  This paper is smooth and feels very nice to write on!  Towards the back of the book there are some perforated pages so if you needed to write a note or list you can do it on one of these sheets and easily remove it without leaving a mess behind.  I hate having to tear a page out of a notebook and leaving a raw edge sticking out so I love this idea!

Plain paper on the left & lined on the right

At the back of the notebook there is a slot for a business card or two and an expandable pocket for holding anything loose you want to keep in the book.  I usually pop receipts or a few sheets of post it notes in these kind of pockets, they are very handy!  There is also a ribbon page marker so you don't loose your place.

Card slot & expandable pocket

The notebooks come in a wide range of tartans so if you are Scottish or part Scottish you might be able to get a book in your family's tartan which is pretty cool!  If not you can go for Caledonia like me or Black Watch (green & blue) or Stewart Hunting (blue, green, red & yellow) tartans as they are all universal patterns.  

Waverley Scotland label on the reverse

I have to say I absolutely love this little notebook, it is the perfect size to carry in my bag and I think it looks very stylish.  I like having plain and lined paper to hand when I need it and the few perforated pages at the back are a great idea!

What do you think of this notebook?  Are you a fan of tartan?

*Disclaimer - I was given this product free of charge for the purpose of this review.  As always all opinions are honest and my own.  I am not affiliated with Waverley Scotland.

Write A Letter Day - win Staedtler rainbow ballpoint pens! *Now closed & the winner announced in the comments*

So today's the day, it is the last day of National Stationery Week 2016.  That's it for another year now and I kind of feel a little sad, but it isn't over just yet because today is Write A Letter Day and I want you to pick up a pen and get writing!  Who haven't you spoken to in a while?  Who would love to receive a note from you in the mail?  Go and find your best paper and pens and make someone's day!  

My letter is on it's way

One of the main aims of National Stationery Week is to get people to enjoy writing again.  They have shared lots of posts over the week about why writing is important and why people feel passionately about it, you can read my thoughts on this here if you missed it on Wednesday.  

Ok, so on to my last giveaway of the week.... Olivia from Staedtler gave me this pack of rainbow ball pens to give to one of you today, aren't they colourful?

Staedtler rainbow ball pens

If you would like to win this set please tell me who you would like to write a letter to today, it can be anyone in history, alive or dead, famous or not, it's up to you.  Here are the rules:

• Tell me who you would like to write a letter to today.
• I will number the comments and use random.org to pick a winner.
• This giveaway is open internationally. 
• The giveaway ends at 12pm UK time on the 10th May 2016.
• I will announce the winner on this post on the 11th May 2016.
• This is the only prize (for today) - there is no cash alternative. 
• If the winner doesn't contact me within 72 hours of my announcing the winning entry, I will have to draw a new name.
• If you are under 18 years of age please ask your parent's permission before entering the giveaway.
• These pens are brand new and unused but I have taken them out of their packaging to photograph them.  The winner will receive the eight Staedlter ballpoint pens pictured in this post.

Good luck!

I'll be back later today with one last review for you so keep an eye out for that!

Go Stationery - Shimmer Accents notebook review

National Stationery Week seems like the perfect time to review this gorgeous notebook I was given by Peter from Go Stationery!  It is their new A5 Shimmer Accents large polka notebook in cream and I think it is stunning!

I have a thing for gold and polka dots!

I met Peter at the Spring Fair and even though his stand was very, very busy he still spent some time with me talking about National Stationery Week, the London Stationery Show and my blog.  Afterwards he gave me this notebook to review which was lovely of him!

A5 Shimmer Accents notebook

The Shimmer range is available in a wide selection of colours including aqua, blush, copper, pearl, magenta and taupe and cost £9.50 each.  The notebooks are made from high quality, smooth cream paper and contain 192 pages.  The pages have a light dotted line in a pale grey colour which looks very classy.  The style of the lining means you can use the book for writing, diagrams or sketching as the lines are unobtrusive.  

Smooth cream paper lined in grey

The paper is a dream to write on with standard pens!  I also tested it with my fountain pen and while there was no feathering the ink did show through slightly on the other side.  This isn't a negative point though as it is the same with most standard notebooks, I am only mentioning it just in case any avid fountain pen users are reading this.  Ballpoint, rollerball and gel pens all work very well on the paper with no ghosting on the reverse side. 

The paper is lovely to write on

The notebooks come with a bow wrapped around them making them the perfect gift for any stationery addict or notebook fiend!  I, myself, am both!  It also helps them stand out when they are on display, these notebooks were one of the first things I spotted on Go Stationery's stand at the Spring Fair.  They are very eye catching!  

The perfect gift

Go Stationery have recently updated their website with the new 2016/17 ranges so if you fancy treating your self during National Stationery week why not pop over and see if anything takes your fancy?

I will be back tomorrow for the last day of #NatStatWeek, how has it gone by so quickly?

*Disclaimer - I was given this product free of charge for the purpose of this review.  As always all opinions are honest and my own.  I was not paid to write this post and I am not affiliated with Go Stationery.

Hand Made Day - Staedtler Triplus Fineliner review & giveaway *Now closed & the winner is announced in the comments*

Hello!  I was a little stumped over what to do for today's hand made theme so in the end I decided to talk about these Staedtler Triplus Fineliners because, well, I use them when I am colouring in (with my hand!) so whatever I do with them becomes hand made.  That works doesn't it?  Yes?  Ok, lets carry on then! 

Staedtler Triplus Fineliners

The Triplus Fineliners are brilliant for colouring in an adult colouring book because they have a 0.3mm tip.  This makes them perfect for small, intricate designs and patterns which can be difficult to fill in with a pencil crayon.  Also colouring with the fineliners gives you a much brighter look than when you use pencil crayons, the whole image jumps off the page because it is so vibrant!

Vibrant colours

Staedtler's fineliners have an ergonomic triangular shaped body so they are comfortable to use over a long period of time and it makes them easier to grip.  The case they come in also converts into a handy stand so you can get the pens out quickly and simply in one smooth move.

Triplus Fineliner pen test

The fineliners aren't just for colouring either, they make a nice writing pen too!  I love using coloured pens in my planner to make things stand out on the page and these do the job nicely!

The prize

If you would like to win this four pack of Triplus fineliners then tell me which birthday Staedtler UK is currently celebrating (hint, you can find the answer on their Facebook page).  Here are the rules:

• Tell me which birthday Staedtler UK is currently celebrating.
• I will number the comments with the correct answer and use random.org to pick a winner.
• This giveaway is open internationally. 
• The giveaway ends at 12pm UK time on the 9th May 2016.
• I will announce the winner on this post on the 10th May 2016.
• This is the only prize (for today) - there is no cash alternative. 
• If the winner doesn't contact me within 72 hours of my announcing the winning entry, I will have to draw a new name.
• If you are under 18 years of age please ask your parent's permission before entering the giveaway.

Good luck!

Fountain Pen Friday - Lamy Safari green fountain pen review and giveaway *Now closed & the winner announced in the comments*

When I saw one of the days of National Stationery Week was especially for fountain pens I contacted Lamy and asked if they would like to do something together for today.  Lisa emailed me back and offered me two green Lamy Safari fountain pens so I could review one and give the second away to one of you! 

Lamy Safari green fountain pen

When the pens arrived I was struck by how lovely the shade of green was, it really reminded me of the first shoots of colour you see in spring.  

Spring green

I tested the Safari in my notebook and found it to be just as good as my Lamy Al-Star which I have been using for the past two years.  The ink flows out of the nib beautifully, I just wish my handwriting could do it justice!

Ink level window and chrome-plated pocket clip

The pen's body is made from tough ABS plastic and it has a lovely glossy shine to it.  Like the Al-Star the Safari has the same triangular grip area and a window so you can see the ink level inside the pen without having to open it up.

Handwritten review

You can pick up a Safari fountain pen for around £14 which is a fantastic price!  The Safari is also available in a wide range of colours if green is not your thing, I have my heart set on the new dark lilac one and maybe the yellow and pink pens too!  You can never have too many fountain pens right?

Medium nib

So, as I said, Lisa gave me a second pen to give away today, she also threw in an extra box of blue ink cartridges so you will be able to use your Safari fountain pen for ages and ages before you need to buy more ink!

The prize

To enter this giveaway all you have to do is tell me what you write when you are trying out a pen!  I usually go with "hello" and my children's names.  Here are the rules:

• Tell me what you write when testing a pen
• I will number the comments and use random.org to pick a winner.
• This giveaway is open internationally. 
• The giveaway ends at 12pm UK time on the 8th May 2016.
• I will announce the winner on this post on the 9th May 2016.
• This is the only prize (for today) - there is no cash alternative. 
• If the winner doesn't contact me within 72 hours of my announcing the winning entry, I will have to draw a new name.
• If you are under 18 years of age please ask your parent's permission before entering the giveaway.

Good luck!

Fountain Pen Friday - Maped Tatoo Soft fountain pen review

It's Fountain Pen Friday today so I want to share a couple of reviews with you, the first is for this funky Maped Tatoo Soft fountain pen. 

Maped Tatoo Soft Fountain Pen

When I opened the box of stationery supplies I was sent from National Stationery Week and Small Man Media my husband spotted this pen straight away and picked it up for a closer look.  He was definitely drawn to the fun comic book/pop art design on it and so was I!  It reminds me of the Batman TV show that used to be on in the 60's (which I watched as repeats in the 80's!) when the fight scenes were intersected with flashes of cartoon POW!!'s and BOOOOM!!'s. 

Pow! Boooom!

The pen comes with a standard cartridge of blue ink so you can use it straight away, I popped it into the pen and tried it out.

Iridium nib

The nib is a little finer than I am used to using but it still writes well and the triangular comfort soft grip feels nice and, well, comfortable in my hand!

Handwritten review

This pen retails for around £5 which makes it a great starter fountain pen for children or if you haven't used one in a while and want to try again without splashing out too much cash.  

Fountain Pen Day

Overall I really like this pen, the design is fun and colourful and it passes my main test which is good ink flow so it doesn't feel scratchy when I write with it.  

I will be back with a second pen review later on today and you will have the chance to win your own shiny new fountain pen to play with!

Thank You Thursday - win Bic pens and an Nu Notebook *Now closed & the winner announced in the comments*

Hello!  Today is Thank You Thursday and I wanted to say thanks to you, to the people who read my posts, who leave me comments on them and who take a moment out of their day to visit my blog to see what's new.  I kind of thought no one would ever read this when I began so the fact I am still blogging about stationery, planners and planning three years later and that people are interested in it is pretty amazing to me!

Thank You Thursday

So to say thank you properly I am going to run another giveaway!  I like to be able to share the products I am sent with you instead of hoarding them, after all if you didn't read my posts I wouldn't be given anything to test and review in the first place! Today's prize is this A7 Nu: Elite jotter notebook and a selection of Bic Cristal Fun ballpoint pens.

Nu Notebook Elite and Bic Cristal Fun pens

To enter this giveaway all you have to do is tell me what you are thankful for!  Here are the rules:

• Tell me what you are thankful for.
• I will number the comments and use random.org to pick a winner.
• This giveaway is open internationally. 
• The giveaway ends at 12pm UK time on the 7th May 2016.
• I will announce the winner on this post on the 8th May 2016.
• This is the only prize (for today) - there is no cash alternative. 
• If the winner doesn't contact me within 72 hours of my announcing the winning entry, I will have to draw a new name.
• If you are under 18 years of age please ask your parent's permission before entering the giveaway.

Good luck!

World Stationery Day! Why writing matters to me...

Happy World Stationery Day!  I love the fact that there are people all over the world celebrating their love of stationery today, it is fantastic!    Are you doing anything special to mark the day?  I wrote a letter using my favourite pen and ink, decorated the envelope with washi tape and popped it into the postbox this morning and later on I will be testing some pens for reviews which is always fun.

World Stationery Day 2016

I wanted to spend some time today to tell you why I think writing matters, why it is important to me to encourage people to pick up a pen and use it, to make their mark.  When I was at school we learned how to write using a pencil, once that was mastered we moved onto cursive handwriting and then when our writing was neat enough we graduated onto a pen.  The day you got your pen was a big thing, it was an achievement and you felt proud.  I think the day I was given a pen at school was the day I fell in love with stationery a little and that love has grown over the years.  

Pen and paper

I think that one of the problems we have now is that more and more parts of our lives have become digital, work and play both involve computers, tablets and mobile phones.  There seems to be an app for everything and we don't even have to sign our names when we pay by card any more, it is all chip and pin or contactless payments.  I want people to pick up a pen and feel the joy of writing again!    

The right tools for the job

Nothing I can do on my iPad can compare with putting pen to paper when it comes to organising my life or recording memories.  Things just feel more permanent to me when they on paper instead of in an app or computer file. 

Finding a smooth writing pen, a pretty coloured ink or the perfect paper ignites a spark of creativity inside me that sitting in front of a computer never has, that is why I always plan my blog posts on paper before I start to write them on my laptop.  Holding a pen in my hand is the first step I take in many of my endeavours, the pen and paper inspire my imagination whether I am trying to create something or problem solving.  They are the tools I use, the foundation I start with and so far they have always gotten the job done!  

Why does writing matter to you?

The Pen Company's Big Stationery Survey 2016

Last week Lucy from The Pen Company contacted me and asked if I would help spread the word about their Big Stationery Survey 2016 during National Stationery Week.  They are interested in finding out people's opinions about stationery, their likes, loves and loathes and how we use it today.

I took the survey myself and it takes less than five minutes to complete.  Everyone who submits their email address at the end of the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win a £50 voucher to spend at The Pen Company.  If I won I would spend it all on these gorgeous Diamine Shimmertastic bottled inks!  I already have the Magical Forest green ink and it is beautiful!

I will be receiving a copy of the survey results once they have all been collated so I can share them with you, I think it will be really interesting to see how people feel about stationery when we live in an age hooked on technology!

If you fancy adding your views to the survey you can find it here, you have until the 8th May 2016 to do so.

I hope you are enjoying National Stationery Week so far!  I'll be back tomorrow for the big one.... World Stationery Day!

Get Organised Day - win a Dairy Diary *Now closed & winner announced in the comments*

The second day of National Stationery Week is Get Organised Day which is right up my street!  If you need something to help you get organised then a diary is a great place to start!

When I went to the Spring Fair I met Emily from Dairy Diary and we had a nice chat about National Stationery Week and her range of diaries and books, she very kindly gave me a couple of diaries to give away for today so let me tell you about them!


Dairy Diary

The Dairy Diary was first sold in 1982 by your friendly local milkman, since then the diary has become one of the UK's best selling home diaries having sold more than 30 million copies!  

Dairy Diary 2016

The diary comes with a handy set of stickers and a storage pocket to keep your bits and pieces safe.

Handy pocket & stickers

It has a week on two pages layout which incorporates a yummy recipe for you to try as well!  I have to admit I love reading recipe books so I like the idea of a weekly recipe to drool over!

A week on two pages layout

There are sections for:

• Your details 
• 2016 and 2017 overviews
• Useful numbers 
• Contacts 
• Home budgeting
• Calendar dates
• Anniversaries
• Height, weight and metric conversions
• Information for cooks
• Perfect your technique hints and tips
• Notes
• Recipe index 

Kitchen & Home Diary

The second diary Emily gave me is the Kitchen & Home Diary.  It is an A5 size diary which focuses on household ideas, hint and tips and cookery.   

Kitchen & Home diary 2016

This diary also has a storage pocket in the front and a coordinating ribbon page marker.

Notes pocket

If you have a green thumb or just fancy giving it a go there is a fab article on how to grow your own fruit.  From getting started to maintenance, there is lots of helpful information.

Grow your own fruit

It has the same layout as the Dairy Diary including the weekly recipe to tickle your fancy.

Weekly recipes

There are sections for:

• Your details 
• 2016 and 2017 overviews
• Reminders
• Useful numbers 
• Contacts
• Calendar dates
• Height, weight and metric conversions
• Information for cooks
• Hints and tips
• Grow your own fruit
• Household tips
• First aid kit
• Thoughts and plans
• Notes
• Home budgeting
• Birthday and anniversaries
• Recipe index 

So, for this giveaway I want you to tell me which diary you would like to win.  I will number all the comments for each diary and use Random.org to select two winners.  Here are the rules:

• Tell me which diary you would like to win.
• Due to the weight of the diaries this giveaway is only open to UK residents, sorry!  (There will be more international giveaways this week I promise!).
• The giveaway ends at 12pm UK time on the 5th May 2016.
• I will announce the winner on this post on the 6th May 2016.
• These are the only prizes (for today) - there is no cash alternative. 
• If the winner/s do not contact me within 72 hours of my announcing them, I will have to pick a new winner/s.
• If you are under 18 years of age please ask your parent's permission before entering the giveaway.

Good luck!

Pencil Day - win Staedtler pencils! *Now closed & winner announced in the comments*

Ok, keep calm, it's finally here.... welcome to National Stationery Week!  Day one is Pencil Day and I have some fab products from Staedtler to tell you about!

Pencils, pencils, pencils, it's Pencil Day!

If you went to school here in the UK during the 80's and 90's you will definitely remember using a yellow and black Staedtler HB pencil in your exercise books.  I remember one of my teachers used to use a stanley knife to take a strip of wood off the end of these pencils so you could write your name on it in pen and that way no one could steal your pencil and claim it as their own!  Receiving a pack of these pencils in the post triggered a huge wave of nostalgia in me and I have very fond memories of them.

Colouring in

I brought myself a set of Staedtler Noris pencil crayons back in January to use in my adult colouring book and when I decorate my planner pages.  I love how colourful they look and they are really pigmented so you quickly get the colour onto the page.  I have used cheaper colouring pencils before (like pound shop cheap!) and I found I had to keep going over the same bit time and time again to make the colour stronger so the Noris pencils are a joy to use!

  

Staedtler Noris colouring pencils - finished picture

I also like how blendable these pencils are, they give you the option to add tones and highlights to your pictures and then smudge them around a little until you get the desired effect.  I gave the snow a blue tint around the edges in the four seasons picture above and the rain cloud has a grey hue to it as well.  Using these pencils is a lot of fun when you are feeling artistic! 

  

Staedtler Noris colouring pencils

I received a second set of the Noris pencils from National Stationery Week so I want to give that set to away along with a pack of the HB pencils which Olivia from Staedtler sent to me.  To enter this giveaway please tell me a memory from your school days, I will pick my favourite to win the prize.  Here are the rules:

• Tell me a memory about your school days.
• I will pick my favourite story as the winner.
• This giveaway is open internationally. 
• The giveaway ends at 12pm UK time on the 4th May 2016.
• I will announce the winner on this post on the 5th May 2016.
• This is the only prize (for today) - there is no cash alternative. 
• If the winner doesn't contact me within 72 hours of my announcing the winning entry, I will have to pick a new winner.
• If you are under 18 years of age please ask your parent's permission before entering the giveaway.
• Both sets of pencils are brand new and unused but I have taken them out of their packaging to photograph them. The winner will receive five HB pencils and twelve Noris colouring pencils as pictured in this post.

Good luck! 

I will be back tomorrow for Get Organised Day, see you then!

The Spring Fair 2016 AKA Stationery Heaven

Back in February I spent a couple of days at the Spring Fair trade show.  I wanted to spread the word about National Stationery Week and do a bit of networking with some stationery companies.  I discovered some brands I had not heard of before as well as meeting the people behind some much loved products.  Let me tell you about them...  

Go Stationery

Go Stationery are a company based in London who have an absolutely gorgeous line of products.  I was treated to a sneek peek of their new 2016/17 range of notebooks and I think they are amazing!  Their website is being updated at the moment and these designs will be available online soon.

Shimmer & Colour Block

Shimmer

Woodland Trust

Woodland Trust

Dodo Pad

If you have been reading this blog for a while you will know I am a BIG Dodo Pad fan!  I was lucky enough to meet the humans behind Lord Dodo himself, Rebecca and Howard while I was at the show.  They showed me one of the big changes that they have introduced in the new diaries for 2016/17 onwards but I will be telling you all about that next week!

The Dodo Pad's stand

Stamford Notebooks

I discovered Stamford Notebooks on Twitter during National Stationery Week last year so when I heard they were going to be at the fair I had to stop by and say hi!  It was great to be able to see all of the lovely coloured books in person and to see their new range of leather notebook covers.  The new covers remind my of the Filofax Original binders as they are made from thick leather and have a nice simple design. They also smell fantastic!

Stamford Notebooks - hand bound in Stamford England

The Burghley & Traveller's Journal

Leuchtturm 1917

I worked with Leuchtturm 1917 last year when I reviewed and gave away one of their notebooks.  I was drawn towards their stand by the colourful display of books, though when I shared this photo on my Facebook page someone pointed out that they should have arranged the notebooks into rainbow order as they have all of the colours needed to do so!

I met a few more people and companies while I was at the fair but I didn't take photos of all of their stands.  It was quite busy in the halls so sometimes it was difficult to get a picture or two without someone being in the way.  I took some more photos once I got outside...  

My show pass & a cute bottle of water from Orange Licensing

Goodie bag

Products given to me to review & some freebies

I was given some lovely products to bring home and some to review as well. 

Penfold Card and Gifts

Penfold Card and Gifts gave me these pretty notebooks.  They are a UK based distributor of American stationery products.  I had a really nice chat with the man on their stall and he showed me their catalogue which was full of wonderful things.  If you own a shop and are looking for stock you should definitely pop over and take a look at their site. 

Penfold Card & Gifts notebooks

Waverley Scotland

I met Liz from Waverley on my first day at the show.  She showed me their brand new product, the Tartan Cloth Commonplace Notebook.  This book is available in a selection of different patterns and is made from genuine Scottish tartan cloth.  Liz very kindly let me choose a notebook to review for her and I picked the Caledonia tartan one.  I will be publishing my post during National Stationery Week if you would like to know more about it. 

Waverley Scotland Tartan Cloth Notebook

Dairy Diary

Emily from Dairy Diary gave me two of her 2016 diaries to give away for National Stationery Week.  Both have a recipe printed on each week of the year so they are perfect for any domestic goddess or the next budding Jamie Oliver! 

  

Dairy Diary and Kitchen & Home Diary

Go Stationery

Peter from Go Stationery gave me this lovely Shimmer Accents polka dot notebook to review, my post about it will be up next week.

Go Stationery Shimmer Accents A5 notebook

I met the team behind the Journals Of A Lifetime books at the show too.  We swapped business cards and Kerri contacted me afterwards to arrange for me to review one of their Dear Mum journals for Mother's Day.  You can read my post here if you missed it.

Dear Mum journal

So that was my two days in stationery heaven, I had a really fantastic time!  I have already got my pass ordered for the next show and I am looking forward to discovering more new products and companies then. 

Have you spotted anything here you like the look of?