Monday, February 7, 2011

Four Welcomes, Nine Pens, and One Question

I've both read and heard that readers are more likely to check out what you have to say (or write) if you use numbers in the title. Don't know if that's true, but using numbers in this title fit with today's post, so here goes:

Four Welcomes

First, I want to exentd a warm welcome to my four newest followers:

Kay Theodoratus, Janet, Janice Votsmier, and Jenny Matlock

Thanks for signing up to be my followers. I hope you will visit often, and I hope my regular readers will check out your blogs. I did.

Nine Pens

Some of my favorite writing gifts--to give and receive--are books, journals, and pens. I was so excited last week when I got my e-mail newsletter from Real Simple, which included a feature on nine "noteworthy" pens.

Here's a link to the Real Simple feature with the pens. Designs include a carved dog pen (with a carving of a dog on top), a set of 1951 retro pens (my favorite), colorful Campo Marzio roller ball pens (very cool), a key pen, and several others. Prices vary from affordable to extravagant.

One Question

How about you: Do you have favorite writing-related gifts?

20 comments:

  1. I love a good pen. Especially since the one I was using leaked all over the place the other day. Thanks for the link to the pens, Donna. Hmm, those ones made in Italy were nice. So were the ones from MoMA. (Who am I kidding? I'm just going to go scrounge some from my husband's desk. :))

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  2. I love the soft covered journals that I can get from amazon.com - they come in nice colors with an imprint like a dragonfly or a heart. simple and lovely

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  3. Oh - and thanks for the tip about Women on Writing. Their are using my submission for this Friday's Speak out - 2/11/11. Melissa

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  4. Hi Ellie,
    I'm always scrounging for pens and have them all over the house.
    Donna

    Hi Ellie,
    Themed mugs are great gifts. My grandkiddos got me a cool one for Christmas, complete with a stick of chalk. The mug has a blackboard space on front for me to jot ideas.

    Hi Melissa,
    I'm with you about journals. And congratuations on being the featured writer for Friday's Speak Out.

    Donna

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  5. Journals and pens. Nothing quite calls to me like a blank page and a smooth pen with which to fill it with words. *sigh* Even the smell of a new journal tickles me. :)

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  6. Ah, pens! My one true weakness. Gifts I like to give unusual things like the bendable art mannequin. He's great for developing imagination :)
    Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

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  7. Hi Lisa,
    Same here. I love the smell of new journals.

    Hi Jules,
    Sounds very imaginative and original. That's definitely one gift I've never thought of.

    Donna

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  8. I love pretty stationary. Paper with creative designs to send thoughts of all kinds. My son is a pen fan. I'll check out your suggestions for possible gift ideas.

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  9. I'm with everyone else. I love pens with different color inks and journals of all kinds. I especially enjoy getting stamps at the post office that may reflect the person's personality I am sending a letter to.

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  10. I tend to use my computer as a pen, sadly.

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  11. Hi Sally,
    I agree about the pretty paper.

    Hi Barb,
    Pens are great. I forgot about how much fun it is to buy stamps to match the person I'm sending something to.

    Hi Gutsy Writer,
    Aww. Pens and journals are fun!
    Donna

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  12. Couldn't do without my UNI BALL gel pens and my writer's journal with a photo of a cabin in the woods. I open that book and feel like I've walked through the front door of that cabin. I sit down and share my writer's angst, joy, fear and five minute fame...sort of like talking to myself in the woods :0

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  13. Hi Linda,
    Uni Ball gel pens? I'll have to check those out. The photo of the cabin in the woods must be a good one because your writing is always so descriptive and inspiring.
    Donna

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  14. I think writing gifts are tricky, as we writers tend to be so ritualistic. I love pens, and I always seem to have a particular type that I glom onto for about 5 years. Then, I find a new one that gives me that sense of connection. These days, I seem to be going through my Pilot stage (as in, the brand).

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  15. Hi Katie,
    I'm always scrambling to find a pen, even though I leave them around the house.
    Donna

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  16. I like everything "writerly", but I would say pens are my favorite. I'm pretty picky about them. No particular brand, but just the way the ink flows from it. Sometimes I want a fine point, other times medium. Also, I'm REALLY picky about pencils! I have to have my "clicky pencils"...no pencil sharpening for me!! :)

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  17. Journals...love them. Interestingly, I'm not a huge pen fanatic. Anything works for me.
    I like post-it notes though. I like little ones that you can stick on pages of books for reminders. Big ones for writing ideas down on or for lists. I really like Post-its for making a story board. And colors...fun colors is a must!

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  18. Hi Becky,
    I never knew that about you. Interesting.

    Hi MaDonna,
    Post-its are great. They're like diswashers--how did we manage before they were invented?

    Donna

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  19. I have a favorite pen that I like to use whenever I do anything writerly. I have a Willow Tree figurine of a girl sitting and reading a book,called 'Wisdom", I love it and have it sitting on my computer desk. Thanks for the 'shout out' about me being a new follower. I look forward to reading all your posts.

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