Office Supplies Junkie

Why the Pencil Is Perfect

admin2025 — Sat, 15 Aug 2020 03:10:00 +0000

Since seeing Caroline Weaver’s Instagram Stories earlier this week, where she painstakingly and creatively documented the origins of her New York pencil store CW Pencil Enterprise, I’ve been meaning to make time to check out her TED Talk on pencils (which she mentioned in her stories). It’s a quick 3 min video on not just the perfection of pencils, but also their history. Check it out below and if you’re feeling extra inquisitive about pencils, don’t forget to take the How Much do You Really Know the Pencil quiz.

For more info on CW Pencil Enterprise visit her site. And if you’re in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area and in the market for some nice new pencils, check out Archer Paper Goods in Deep Ellum. They have a nice selection that I think you might appreciate!

The post Why the Pencil Is Perfect first appeared on Office Supplies Junkie.

The post Why the Pencil Is Perfect appeared first on Office Supplies Junkie.

My Visit to Archer Paper Goods in Deep Ellum

admin2025 — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 01:20:52 +0000

Next up on my list of local stationery and specialty good stores to visit here in Dallas was Archer Paper Goods. “Inspired by the sport of archery, Archer Paper Goods is a stationery and gift retailer specializing in greeting cards, desk supplies, pencils, art prints, and gift wrap.” The first location opened in the fall of 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia and was soon followed by three other locations located in Athens, Georgia; Charlotte, North Carolina; and last but not least Dallas, Texas in 2018.

I headed to check out the store on a Sunday afternoon when I had some free time and felt I could take photos and shop comfortably without struggling to maintain social distancing. Just like All Good Things stationery store, Archer Paper is located in a bustling part of Dallas. This area is Deep Ellum and it’s known for its busy day and night life. So, finding parking, especially free parking was a battle I gave up trying to win after about 15 minutes of circling the blocks. Luckily, I found a $5 spot less than a block away and easily located the store which has a very spacious and inviting storefront that made spotting it easy.

Once inside, I was immediately pleased with the ambiance and selection. The first thing I noticed was the nice natural light coming in from outside and this selection of astrology journals, pens, napkins, cups and more from Sapling Press (click on all photos for enlarged versions).

Immediately to my left was a large selection of Rifle Paper Co. products, which always make for a nice and impressive display.

Like any good stationery store, they also had a decent size and diverse collection of greeting cards to choose from as you can see below. For gift buyers and preparers, they also had a nice assortment of wrapping and tissue papers, as well as other goods like candles, bags and thank you cards. I obviously wasn’t there to check out this area specifically, but I found myself so tempted to buy one of the tissue paper prints. It was a vintage eye chart that I could easily see on one of my office walls…. but I have a framed glass eye chart in my office already, so I resisted the temptation. Now in the back of the store was where the best of the best was located (based on my personal likes)! I have on my office supplies to-do list to visit CW Pencil Enterprise in New York one day soon- post COVID, and the setup of the pencil table here really reminded me of that store. I haven’t seen any local store with such a large selection of pencils and displayed so prominently. Look at all the Blackwings and Kawecos to choose from! There was also a nice selection of leather goods. Another temptation was this cute red purse (down center below) from Estella Bartlett. I was surprised by how affordable it was and I would have sooo purchased it, but I am a self-confessed and unashamed packrat when it comes to my purses, so I require handbags the size of carry-on luggage. LOL In fairness though, they did also have backpacks from the same designer which were larger and also pretty and affordably priced. I did however purchase the large leather pouch (see below). I loved the phrase and can you ever really have too many pouches?!

Below are a few more photos. How cute are those thank you cards and The System of Colors set from Cavallini Papers? If you’d like to check out Archer Paper Goods here in Dallas or at another one of their locations, visit Archer Paper Goods. I’m pretty sure that you can see from the pics that you can surely find an ideal gift yourself or someone else!

The post My Visit to Archer Paper Goods in Deep Ellum first appeared on Office Supplies Junkie.

The post My Visit to Archer Paper Goods in Deep Ellum appeared first on Office Supplies Junkie.

My Visit to All Good Things Stationery Store

admin2025 — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 16:05:30 +0000

I’m always on the hunt for new office supplies and stationery stores anywhere in the world, especially here at home in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. But I honestly tend to default to shopping at the usual suspects– the larger chains that are tried and true for me. So, it’s been quite a while since I researched what new stores are here in town. But today I did a little digging and discovered a handful of new ones that I’ll be sharing with you all in the upcoming weeks.

About the Store

First up, was All Good Things (such a catchy name, right?). Located in the Bishop Arts neighborhood, Good Things was founded in July of 2017 by native Oklahoman, Kristen Miller. Kristen discovered her “love for paper and gift-giving while working retail during her college years at the University of Oklahoma.” The store features a “curated collection of letterpressed greeting cards, stylish papers, modern gifts, desk accessories and custom stationery.”

First Impressions

After a few minutes of trying to find a parking spot (Bishop Arts area is a very popular neighborhood/shopping area, even during Covid-19, so finding a parking spot can be a bit of a feat), and adjusting my GPS from car to walking, I was able to easily find the shop. It is conveniently located right off Davis St. The first thing that caught my eye was the pretty picture window.

Once inside, I really appreciated the minimalistic aesthetic and light feel of the store. There was a nice mixture of home goods, stationery, books, cards, beauty products and even jewelry, all without the store feeling overwhelming or crowded, which is always a plus because if you know anything about stationery stores, you know they can tend to be a little bit tight.

[qode_carousel carousel=’all-good-things’ order_by=’menu_order’ order=’ASC’ control_style=’gray’]

Lovely Displays and A Nice Selection

There was a nice selection of items that would be perfect for everything from birthday and wedding gifts to housewarming and self care packages. There was even a super pretty plant propagation station that I soooo wanted, and totally should have at least taken a picture of, but I discovered afterwards that it is available online. So, I may purchase it later. Oh, the temptation! I also appreciated how the items were displayed, it gave me the feeling that I could easily replicate many of the looks in my own home, or at least cozily integrate most of the items into my own space, which is always nice. We’ve all had that experience of seeing items in a store and thinking, this looks so cute or lovely, but nah, it wouldn’t work in my home.

[qode_carousel carousel=’all-good-things-ii’ order_by=’menu_order’ order=’ASC’ control_style=’gray’]

Greeting Cards Galore

I was really impressed by their greeting card selection. Many stationery stores have a lot of cards to choose from, but they honestly don’t often catch my attention (I guess this is primarily because I’m more interested in the office supplies), but these did. Not only were they pretty, but they had greetings on them that I would actually say or enjoy receiving myself, and many were even plantable- including the one I purchased (see below).

These cards are made by shopseedlings.com and include envelopes that are “made of 100% plantable seed and contain a mixture of non-invasive wildflower seeds.” I can’t wait to see if I’m successful in getting mine to grow since I’m a total plant mom these days (that post is coming soon!).

[qode_carousel carousel=’all-good-things-iii’ order_by=’menu_order’ order=’ASC’ control_style=’gray’]

All in all, I enjoyed my trip and look forward to visiting again. You can learn more about All Good Things by visiting the website or stopping by. I’m sure they’d be happy to see you!

The post My Visit to All Good Things Stationery Store first appeared on Office Supplies Junkie.

The post My Visit to All Good Things Stationery Store appeared first on Office Supplies Junkie.

Taylor James and the Perfect Attendance Pencil Fiasco

tremaya — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 05:21:48 +0000

If you haven’t heard the story of Taylor James and her pink perfect attendance pencil: 1) Where have you been? and 2) You’re in for a good laugh if you keep reading.

On January 30, Taylor’s mom posted this adorable video on Instagram of Taylor explaining what happened to her pink perfect attendance pencil after she placed it in the “sharpened box” in class.

Once you watch it, you can see exactly why the video went viral. Taylor’s outrage at finding “nothing but yellow plain ole pencils” is more than palpable. And I’ve never quite heard the mention of Canada sound so disdainful (aside from the Megxit scandal). Not to mention Lizzy had the nerve to lose the pencil! Poor Lizzy could have never known that she was in for so much trouble. LOL

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Taylor Michelle (@theetaylormichelle)

Fast forward to yesterday, and Taylor’s new found fame had her front and center on the Ellen DeGeneres show, where she received a fancy new pencil and a few other surprise that her classmates couldn’t take away. Check out the video below to see it all.

Aside from Taylor just being so darn cute, I had to post this because ALL of us office supplies junkies could TOTALLY relate to her reaction, right? I mean, who hasn’t had their favorite pen or pencil stolen, mysteriously disappear in action, or get swiped by someone we love (or not) never to be seen again? The pain is definitely real- no matter how short lived.

The post Taylor James and the Perfect Attendance Pencil Fiasco first appeared on Office Supplies Junkie.

The post Taylor James and the Perfect Attendance Pencil Fiasco appeared first on Office Supplies Junkie.

Top 5 photo printers to save your memories

admin2025 — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 19:29:12 +0000

accum san pericula usu an, in pri dolorum denique. Cu movet debitis cum. Vix paulo evertitur cu, conceptam constituam te his, meis euismod sed ad. Partem suscipit cu cum. Vix no prodesset complectitur conclud aturque, dicam perfecto eu per, ne vis eleifend expetenda. Idque petentium laboramus mea id, mei at minim labores. Tollit ullamcorper ius cu, eos malis clita luptatum ei, vix ullum forensibus an. Esse option singulis id nec, nam eruditi ornatus at. Eam soluta dicunt cu. Est ad oporteat appellantur, per dicta pertinax cu. Iusto quando conceptam vim ad, an sed explicari appellantur. Augue utamur lobortis vim ne.

Semper ultricies nisi vel augue blandit vel, luctus proin pulvinar del. Aenean sollicitudin, lorem auci elit del con sequat ipsutissem ut niuis sed odio cursus.

Venenatis faucibus. Nullam co ante. Curabitur ullam qur per ultri vitae nisi etiam sit amet. Orci eget eros sapien ut libero?

Nam eget dui. Phasellus viverra nulla ut metus varius laoreet. Etiam rhoncus. Lorem ipsum gravida nibh vel velit auctor aliquet. Maecenas tempus, tellus eget condimen rhoncus, sem quam semper libero, sit amet sed ipsum. Curabitur ullamcorper ultricies nisi. Donec vitae sapien libero venenatis faucibus amet. Tempus dolerus ictis deli vitae sapien ut libero?

Cum socis theme sed natoque ut penatibus. Etiam ultricies nisi vel augue. Cura bitur tincidunt ultricies dictum felis eu pede sit. Etiam rhoncus. Tempus, tellus eget condimentum rhoncus, sem quam semper libero, amet et sem adipiscing sem neque nula ipsum. Etiam ultricies nisi vel augue blandit vel, luctus pulvinar.

Aenean sollicitudin, lorem auci elit consequat ipsutissem niuis sed odio sit amet vulputate cursus nibh a sit amet ullamcorper. Curabitur ultricies nisi. Nam eget dui. Cum socis Theme sed natoque penatibus. Etiam ultricies nisi vel augue. Cura bitur et ullamcorper ultricies dictum felis eu pede sit. Etiam rhoncus. Maecenas tempus, tellus condimentum rhoncus, sem quam semper libero, amet et adipiscing sem neque nula ipsum. Cum socis Theme sed natoque ut penatibus. Etiam ultricies nisi vel augue. Cura bitur tincidunt ultricies.

Women’s sunglasses by Joe

Beauty & makeup

Women’s clutch by Joe

Inspiration & style

ollit ullamcorper ius cu, eos malis clita luptatum ei, vix ullum forensibus an. Esse option singulis id nec, nam eruditi ornatus at. Eam soluta dicunt cu. Est ad oporteat appellantur, per dicta pertinax cu. Iusto quando conceptam vim ad, an sed explicari appellantur. Accumsan pericula usu an, in pri dolorum denique. Cu movet debitis cum. Vix paulo evertitur cu, conceptam constituam te his, meis euismod sed ad. Partem suscipit cu cum. Vix no prodesset complectitur concludaturque, dicam perfecto eu per, ne vis eleifend expetenda. Idque petentium laboramus mea id, mei at minim labores. Quaestio omittantur id usu. Pri ei facilis definitionem. Meis moderatius consectetuer nam an, populo praesent mea in, euismod dissentiet definitionem.

Accumsan pericula usu an, in pri dolorum denique. Cu movet debitis cum. Vix paulo evertitur cu, conceptam constituam te his, meis euismod sed ad. Partem suscipit cu cum. Vix no prodesset complectitur concludaturque, dicam perfecto eu per, ne vis eleifend expetenda. Pa sea dicta dicant equidem, est cu errem libris. Eu eos inani urbanitas, pertinax sadipscing per.

Eam soluta dicunt cu. Est ad oporteat appellantur, per dicta pertinax cu. Iusto quando conceptam vim ad, an sed explicari appellantur. Accumsan pericula usu an, in pri dolorum denique. Cu movet debitis cum. Vix paulo evertitur cu, conceptam constituam te his, meis euismod sed ad. Partem suscipit cu cum. Vix no prodesset complectitur concludaturque, dicam perfecto eu per, ne vis eleifend expetenda. Idque petentium laboramus mea id, mei at minim labores. Quaestio omittantur id usu. Pri ei facilis definitionem. Meis moderatius consectetuer nam an, populo praesent mea in, euismod dissentiet definitionem quo ne.

Maecenas tempus, tellus eget condimentum rhoncus, sem quam semper
Donec sodales magna. Sed consequat, bibendum sodales, augue velit
Cum sociis theme natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes

Maecenas tempus, tellus eget condimentum rhoncus, sem quam semper libero, amet et adipiscing sem neque nula ipsum. Etiam ultricies nisi vel augue. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetu adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Cum socis Theme sed natoque ut penatibus. Etiam ultricies nisi vel augue. Cura bitur tincidunt ultricies dictum felis eu pede sit. Etiam rhoncus. Sem quam semper libero, amet et adipiscing sem neque nula ipsum. Etiam ultricies nisi vel augue blandit vel, luctus pulvinar.

The post Top 5 photo printers to save your memories first appeared on Office Supplies Junkie.

The post Top 5 photo printers to save your memories appeared first on Office Supplies Junkie.

Lovely & cheap indoor plants

admin2025 — Sat, 21 Sep 2019 09:14:00 +0000

Semper ultricies nisi vel augue blandit vel, luctus proin pulvinar del. Aenean sollicitudin, lorem auci elit del con sequat ipsutissem ut niuis sed odio cursus.

Venenatis faucibus. Nullam co ante. Curabitur ullam qur per ultri vitae nisi etiam sit amet. Orci eget eros sapien ut libero?

Women’s sunglasses by Joe

Beauty & makeup

Women’s clutch by Joe

Inspiration & style

Maecenas tempus, tellus eget condimentum rhoncus, sem quam semper
Donec sodales magna. Sed consequat, bibendum sodales, augue velit
Cum sociis theme natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes

The post Lovely & cheap indoor plants first appeared on Office Supplies Junkie.

The post Lovely & cheap indoor plants appeared first on Office Supplies Junkie.

Which Digital Planning Option Is Right For You?

admin2025 — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 11:39:17 +0000

Despite owning a million planners, notebooks, journals and electronic devices, I have failed repeatedly at finding a unified planning method that’s right for me. Throughout a typical day, I’ll jot a note down in any of my various journals, notepads or on pieces of paper. I also update important events in one or two calendar or organization apps, but no one method or combination of any of these planning tools has produced the results I need.

Part of my problem is the fact that I like to collect and try things. While this can be a great trait in some regards, it’s not so great when you’re constantly adding things (namely organizers, planners, and books and articles on organization) to your mental arsenal and closets, but not strategically using or applying any it. And, since I’m a highly productive worker- even without a planning method- I’ve continued to plan in a haphazard manner. As a result, there are times when things slip through the cracks or I’m simply overwhelmed in the moment from trying to remember what’s next and the highest priority.

I also can’t help but frequently wonder how much better and more efficient I could be if I simply stuck to planning, both in my personal and professional life. So, this year, I’m dedicated to ending the wondering and to begin making regular planning a reality for myself. I know implementing plans and schedules will produce massive change for me and help me save valuable time. And it doesn’t require me purchasing anything more than what I already have. Hopefully, this post will introduce you to some options and help you choose one that’s right for you too.

Digital Planning Options

Evernote

I’ve used the free version of Evernote off and on for the past several years. It’s downloaded on my cell phone, computer, and as an applet in my favorite browser, Safari. I personally find it most useful and appealing as a bookmarking and clipping tool versus a planning tool. Throughout the day I capture a ton of screenshots and bookmark a lot of pages, and Evernote saves these automatically for me without my having to do anything extra. Its ability to also save across all my devices is also extremely handy, but no longer a unique feature, since plenty of apps now offer this functionality.

In Evernote, you can save text, photos, reminders, lists, and even audio files, and organize them into notebooks (individual categories/groups). You can also chat and share your information with others (even in the free version). While these features are good, Evernote is at its core a notetaking app, and that’s where it really shines as far as usability. However, I need a planning option that will allow me to easily see what’s going on in my multiple calendars (and unfortunately there’s no direct way to sync Evernote with my Apple calendar) and allow me to add notes, prioritize events, and easily rearrange things, and that’s lacking for me in this app.

Calendars

I’ve tried more calendars than I can rattle off at hand. I’ve used Sunrise, Apple, Google, Outlook, and I’m sure a few others. Currently, I routinely use the later three, and Apple calendar is the one I use the most. It’s on my personal phone and computers, and my work computer. I like the fact that it integrates easily with Outlook, which is what I use for work, and with Gmail (which is what I use for my personal business as a G Suite user). I can easily see everything I have on my schedule in Apple calendar and what categories each event falls in. However, adding notes or attachments is cumbersome, and I can’t see them unless I open the corresponding event and then click on them, which is a huge downside for me from a planning perspective.

Omnifocus

Omnifocus is my latest planning tool, and it’s also by far the most advanced one I’ve ever used. After doing some extensive research last fall, I made the decision to plunk down the $40 for the app, in order to get organized once and for all. Omnifocus has all the aspects that are missing for me from both Evernote and digital calendar applications. I can see all my calendars (Apple, Outlook, and Google), take notes, add attachments, create categories, and flag, prioritize and review tasks. I can also see my tasks in multiple views and contexts, which is valuable for me since even the smallest change in one area of my life can cause several other areas to change. It also does a ton of other complicated and intricate things that I haven’t even explored yet, which brings me to my next point.

I have run into a few barriers with Omnifocus, the first being is that it’s only available for Apple users. This isn’t a problem for me, but sorry PC users. Secondly, it is not an intuitive tool, nor has it been a fast implementation process. You must be willing to spend time learning how to use it, especially if you are looking to use its more advanced features. Fortunately, I knew this upfront from my research prior to purchasing it and from reading numerous online reviews. I also was able to wing it enough to at least begin using it without first having to study. Another potential issue is the fact that there are two versions of the app, one for Mac and one for the iPhone and iPad, and they both cost $40. Secondly, there is a standard and pro version for both the Mac and iPhone and iPad versions, so as you can see here…there’s quite an upfront investment required if you want to use it across all your devices. And you may discover that it’s not the right option for you.

So, Omnifocus is the digital option that I’ll be using this year. It’s robust enough to handle planning for work, my businesses and personal life all in one place. And that’s what is most important for me. I can also keep everything right at my fingertips no matter where I am (although it would be nice to have a version in the cloud as an additional option). I also must admit that I like the challenge of learning how to use and integrate its more advanced options.

I hope that some of these options appeal and ultimately work for you. Others you may want to explore are listed below. This post was not a paid review, but simply my actual experience

Other Planning Options

Notetaking Apps

Google Keep
Apple Notes (article on how to switch from Evernote to Apple Notes)
SimpleNote

Calendar Apps

I initially wanted to combine both digital and paper planning options in one post, but as you can see this was pretty lengthy. So in my next post, I’ll explore some paper planning options, which are definitely all the rage these days!

The post Which Digital Planning Option Is Right For You? first appeared on Office Supplies Junkie.

The post Which Digital Planning Option Is Right For You? appeared first on Office Supplies Junkie.

The Nest Bookshelf

admin2025 — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 16:58:26 +0000

Few things make me happier than office supplies–except books. They are my absolute favorite thing. I positively love them. Currently, I have six bookshelves in my office and another seven throughout the house. But I always need more shelves because I’m always buying more books! Needless to say, I’m always interested in new shelving options. So when I saw the Nest bookshelf I was intrigued.

Designed by Japanese design firm Nendo, the Nest is an expandable bookshelf made of reinforced carbon fiber that allows your shelving to grow as your needs do. By simply pulling the sides you can expand the shelves from three to as many as nine.

Aside from being cleverly designed, I like the practicality of the system. While I do purchase a lot of books, there are brief times when I have more shelf space than books- which can really make any shelf and the room it’s in look lonely. I also have books that are odd heights and other objects on my shelves like globes, candles, and my pen collection, all of which call for some quirky configurations that the Nest looks like it could easily accommodate. It’d also be nice to squeeze one more shelf in my office.

The Nest was revealed last month at the London Design Festival and doesn’t currently appear to be for retail sale or available for viewing here in the States yet. But I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for any developments.

PhotoCredit

The post The Nest Bookshelf first appeared on Office Supplies Junkie.

The post The Nest Bookshelf appeared first on Office Supplies Junkie.

The Noteboard Foldable Pocket Whiteboard

admin2025 — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 16:16:37 +0000

I’m no doubt a fan of neat, clever, cute (all those adjectives that scream you know you don’t really need this, but you’re going to waste your money on it anyway) office supplies, and I’m always on the lookout for more– I mean, I am a junkie after all. But when I see the Noteboard Foldable Pocket Whiteboard I instantly think, this is so geeky. I mean, true enough I use notecards from time to time- I even purchased some neon ones a couple of weeks ago. But to have a laminated, foldable set seems a little Doogie Howserish to me.

However, I must admit, the Noteboard system does cleverly solve two of the issues I run into the most with notecards: How to keep them all together and deciding between lined or the gridded version. The Noteboard is designed in a 7×5 laminated calendar grid which keeps all the cards together. And it features a blank and gridded side. It also comes in a convenient pouch and features a dry-erase marker with an eraser top. And according to the manufacturer, if the marker it comes with doesn’t suit your fancy, the system can be used with any dry erase marker.

Pros: It’s under $20; Features a blank and gridded side; Can be used with a variety of dry erase pens; Has its own pouch

Cons: Text would most likely rub off once folded, I would think; Can’t use both sides at once; Large space gaps between each card would drive me batty; Not very space-friendly; Might be more of a conversation piece than I’d prefer

But regardless of what I think of the Noteboard Foldable Pocket Whiteboard, someone obviously likes it because it’s currently sold out online. However, if you’d like to be notified when more are in stock or to get additional information, you can read more about it on Fancy.com.

The post The Noteboard Foldable Pocket Whiteboard first appeared on Office Supplies Junkie.

The post The Noteboard Foldable Pocket Whiteboard appeared first on Office Supplies Junkie.

Stone Notebooks by Ogami

admin2025 — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 22:02:13 +0000

Looking for a sustainable way to jot down your thoughts and to-do lists? If so, Ogami stone notebooks just might be the solution. Made in Milan, Italy these 8.25″x 5″ notebooks are tear-proof, waterproof and made of limestone. The notebooks are made of REPAP (“paper” spelled backwards), which consists of 80% calcium carbonate and 20% nontoxic resins, and according to the company, is manufactured using a process that’s “respectful of the environment.”

The Ogami notebook is available in two versions, the Stein Notebook and the Wilde Stone notebook, in an ode to authors Gertrude Stein and Oscar Wilde. Both notebooks sell for $14 and are available at Zady.com. I’m going to purchase one just so I can feel the texture!

The post Stone Notebooks by Ogami first appeared on Office Supplies Junkie.

The post Stone Notebooks by Ogami appeared first on Office Supplies Junkie.