If you haven’t guessed yet, I recently got an order of goodies from Jet Pens. I’ll be posting reviews of each tool over the next few days so stay tuned, if you’re a pen/pencil junkie like me.

The Pilot Opt 0.5 mechanical pencil in “stardust blue” is a standard plastic-bodied mechanical pencil. It has a wider barrel and rubber grip for more comfortable writing, a standard click end to extend the lead (Oh, and I just discovered its also a shake pencil! Duh!!!) , a small eraser under a translucent grey cap and a spring loaded clip to attach it to notebook or pocket. There were two leads included and they write with silky smoothness. Its nicely weighted and reasonably priced at $3.

What really makes this pen stand out is the metallic, midnight blue case dappled with a sprinkling of silver “stars.”  It makes the pencil look like you’re holding the cosmos in your hand.

This pencil has earned favored nation status and is carried with me everywhere while my other tools languish in drawers and cups.

[Tested on Moleskine blank notebook hence the slightly yellowish cast to the paper]

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I have an unhealthy obsession with watercolor sets and watercolor pencils despite the fact that I have had absolutely no training in the proper technique of watercolor painting. Mostly, I just like to dip my brush into the colors and pool it onto the paper in little squares of translucent sunshiny puddles. I keep buying sets thinking that somehow, the next set with imbue me with the knowledge and inspiration to make beautiful little paintings.

So, my most recent purchase is not surprisingly another set of watercolor pencils. This set is from Uni-Ball and is listed as set #2 with 12 golf-pencil-sized pencils, a sharpener, a miniature water brush, a sharpener and a clear cap which I suspect is to be used as an extender when the pencils get too short. The set comes in a lovely clear plastic case which snaps shut. The box measure 4.5″ tall x5.25″ wide x5/8″ deep and would easily fit into a travel kit.

[Colors are from left to right: Pompeiian Red, Burnt Ochre, Gold Ochre, Dark Sepia, Moss Green, Night Green, Light Cobalt Blue, Dark Phthaloblue, Rose Carmine, Dark Orange, Canary Yellow and Light Lemon]

I am no expert but I’ve played around with lots of different sets of watercolors from Windsor & Newton and Van Gogh to Reeves and Crayola. This set certainly had more complex colors that a lot of the cheaper sets I’ve purchased. Some of the colors did pool in a salty/grainy sort-of way when an excessive amount of water is added but when used with a damp brush the colors were fairly smooth in color. As pencils, the lead is soft and easy to apply to paper. I absolutely love the moss green, night green, Pompeiian red and rose carmine colors. The dark sepia is a fairly good substitute for a hard black color and would probably make a good color for mixing. At $15 for a 12-color set with brush, its a pretty good deal and worth the investment.

[This test was conducted on a simple 3x5 card.]

Popularity: 1% [?]

Uniqlo has created a mesmerizing calendar with the date and a weather icon as well as stunning tilt-shift motion graphics of various landscapes, from urban to dreamy sunsets. The site includes a pleasant soundtrack and the option to port a mini-version into your blog or website. (I added in my own sidebar so you can see what it looks like. Nifty!)

[Found by way of NetDiver]

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Illustrator Silvia Portello, AKA Bukubuku, created a wonderful little display for her urban vinyl under a glass cake dome. They look as sweet as candy petit fours.

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pens to swap

Originally uploaded by sugaroni

I have a small selection of Jet Pens acquisitions that I’d be willing to swap with a fellow pen geek. I have only used them long enough to establish that they are not for me. They all work great but weren’t exactly what I wanted for one reason or another.

From left to right:

1. Pilot Frixion erasable highlighter in green
2. Pentel Hybrid Gel Grip in opaque white
3. Platinum Preppy fountain pen (black)
4. Zebra Sarasa 3+S multi-pen (red, blue, black ink and mechanical pencil with eraser under cap)
5. Pilot Choose 07 white gel

Pick one or more and be willing to send me an equal number of pens. I may have more to post later. Drop me an email or FM me on Flickr.

Popularity: 2% [?]

I wanted to gloat (just a little) that I did my first Blythe custom commission and that my “client” was so pleased with how she turned out that she posted a review about my work on her blog. The Blythe was a Rainy Day Parade (Chevelle, formerly called Olive). I added lid color, boggled and gaze corrected, replaced her lashes, swaped out her eye chips, did a new face-up and spray matte her.

I am lucky to have such trusting friends to give me the opportunity to do custom work and help them make their dolly dreams a reality.

My next client is a Candy Carnival owned by Fishknees who I will start working on this week. So exciting!

Popularity: 3% [?]

Gorgeous new postcard set from Chronicle Books created by Ray Fenwick whose work I adore!

[Link from DesignWorkLife.]

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Is there a girl in the world who wouldn’t want a stripe-y twirly skirt to wear on a warm summer day? I didn’t think so. Now if I can just figure out how to make one like this in “big girl” size.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Through two separate blog posts, I was lured to visit Goop. Goop is Gwenyth Paltrow’s personal newsletter about the places she likes to travel, the food she enjoys and her favorite fashions. Before you roll your eyes and click away to another site, let me tell you that Paltrow’s writing is polished, her fashion ideas (though out of my price range) are based on simple basics and easy elegance and her travels are based in reality. The newsletters are published once a week and cover an array of topics, beautifully presented. Her travel and fashion pieces are my favorites but don’t hold that against me.

Popularity: 3% [?]

How could I not fall madly in love with such sweet pencils?

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