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Paperblanks 2025 Diaries are here - hurrah!!

Sat, 20 Jul 2024 14:10:23 GMT

Exciting times as Paperblanks 2025 diaries arrive in store!!

We get stock deliveries every day of the week but there is a delivery that comes just once a year that is way more exciting than any other - the arrival of the next year's Paperblanks diaries .

That delivery came earlier this week and we've been busy contacting customers who want to get first choice and so, although we're only in the middle of July, they're already flying off the shelves.

There are several new designs for 2025, including 'Vaults of Milan Cathedral' shown above, which is available in a range of sizes and formats.

They're all loaded on our online shop and so everyone has now got the opportunity to make their choice and purchase their favourite design ready to transfer all those appointments and social engagements that are filling up the back of this year's diary.

There's no time to wait!!

It's that time of year again!

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 09:29:46 GMT

Filofax 2025 diary refills have arrived!

We all know how time flies and it's never more apparent than when diary season comes around each year. Yes - we're already into the second half of 2024 and that means entries for appointments, meetings and social engagements going into 2025.

We've had requests for 2025 diaries on file for sometime already and so as soon as the stock becomes available with our suppliers we get our orders in. Most of the 2025 desk diaries are here and the first brand name to arrive is Filofax, with Moleskine, Paperblanks, Letts and others expected to follow on very soon.

For our Filofax customers we've got Filofax yearplanners and other diary refills for mini, pocket, personal and A5 size with the aim of satisfying our customers' needs, because we know how we all like the particular style or layout that we've become accustomed to.

You can check out the full range here .

So with congratulations to Filofax for being first out of the blocks, our 2025 diary season is underway!

The 'failure' that led to the invention of the sticky note

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 15:00:12 GMT

Can you imagine life without the sticky note?

Can you imagine not having sticky notes? And yet their invention happened purely by accident.

Back in 1968 a researcher was trying to create a stronger adhesive for the aerospace industry but ended up with a weak adhesive that could easily be removed without residue. This initial project was regarded as a failure, and it was another six years before its potential was realised.

It wasn't the inventor who discovered the potential of this weak adhesive but a colleague of his who was trying to find a solution for denoting his place in his church hymn book. Having had a 'light bulb' moment, he tried the failed adhesive and found that it worked perfectly.

Interesting fact: the original Post-It notes were constructed on yellow paper because it was the only scrap paper to hand at the time. Later, it became the company's signature colour.

It was a further 3 years before Post-It notes were launched - under the different name of 'Press'n Peel'.

The product still wasn't out of the woods, however, because purchasers didn't know how to use them and so, as sales failed, the product was pulled from the shelves. Two years later, 3M brand decided to give them a go. They distributed free samples and 90% of the companies who had received free samples re-ordered and the rest, as they say, is history.

View our range of sticky notes and sticky tabs here .

What's in a pencil?

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 15:43:50 GMT

What's in a pencil?

Did you know that pencil leads have never contained lead?

While the invention of the pencil is credited to an Italian couple named Simonio and Lyndiana Bernacotti back in 1560, c loser to home, in the first part of the 16th century, solid graphite was discovered in Borrowdale in the English Lake District, where sheep farmers began using it to mark their sheep. People at the time thought that this graphite was lead, hence the reference to pencil lead, and, although, it was later realised that it wasn't lead at all, we have continued to refer to what is in our pencils as lead ever since.

The discovery of this high quality graphite in the Lake District led to the development of a major pencil manufacturing industry around Keswick on the back of the quality graphite available locally and pencils are still produced in Keswisk to this day. If you find yourself in the area you can visit the Derwent Pencil Museum.

Armed with that knowledge you just need to choose your pencil.

These are just a small selection of what is available. You can check our full range here .

Write ... Erase ... Re-write

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 10:41:33 GMT

If you're the sort of person who doesn't like 'crossings out' then we've come across some new erasable pens that will be right up your street.

For those of us who like everything neat and tidy our pen choices have just got even better!

We Love Stationery

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 15:09:48 GMT

It will come as no surprise to learn that all our Craven Stationery Team love their stationery, and so we asked three of them to answer the question, "What item(s) of stationery would you not like to be without?" Here's what they had to say:

First up was Hayley who doesn't go anywhere without her Paperblanks diary, with its accompanying Bookaroo pen pouch and 2 Pilot Frixion pens .

Let's face it, if you're going to refer to your diary every day then make it a nice one and, with their beautifully designed covers and quality paper, Paperblanks take some beating. (OK, so we know you can use your phone instead but, in our opinion, the experience is nowhere near as good.)

Her Bookaroo pen pouch ensures that she always has a pen to hand or, in Hayley's case two pens(!), and choosing Pilot Frixion pens means that she can neatly erase diary entries if her plans change.

Next was Jennifer , who is still in love with her Bookaroo sticky tabs .

They're ideal for those who like to be organised and, with a range of colours in each pack and 5 different colour-themed packs you can keep your stationery colour co-ordinated. The tabs are good quality, durable and easily repositionable, and are best written on with a permanent marker pen.

Now for Deborah , who loves Uniball's Jetstream Sport pen .

She's so keen to share her love with you that she's created her own video demonstration. She says that's what is so good about this pen is how smoothly it writes and yet the ink doesn't smudge.

Pens that are 'on point'

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 10:32:59 GMT

Pens that are 'on point'

We've been looking at our most popular pens and the number one by a long way is Uniball's 'Jetstream Sport' pen. It's very rare that a customer testing one of these pens in our retail store doesn't go on to purchase one and then keeps coming back for more.

It's a rollerball and so provides a very smooth writing experience but what sets it apart from other rollerball pens is how fast the ink dries and so there is much less chance of smudging.

The pens are available with black or blue ink, and we also have refills.

Pilot's Frixion pens

Meanwhile, Pilot's Frixion pens use a thermo-sensitive ink so that mistakes can be 'erased' by rubbing with the integrated eraser stud. You can then re-write using the same pen. Magic!!

Some pens come with a cap. Alternatively, the Frixion 'Clicker' is a retractable version of the same pen. Ink colours available include black, blue, green, red and violet. Refills are also available in all colours.

Bookaroo Ballpoint Pens

What makes these ballpoint pens popular is not only their price at only £4.00 nor how comfortable they are to use but rather the wonderful range of colours of the body of the pen that are available so you can co-ordinate your stationery. New colours are added regularly to keep them on trend.

Take your pick!

Starting a 'Gratitude Journal'

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 10:44:47 GMT

Have you ever thought of starting a 'Gratitude Journal'?

We've been thinking about how we can help our customers keep their New Year Resolutions in 2024.

Sorry folks, we can't do anything about losing weight(!) but ways we think we can help include helping customers reduce their impact on the environment by stocking products that are packaged in FSC certified cardboard rather than plastic packaging, choosing products with a higher recycled content or that are recyclable, and encouraging customers to purchase pen refills rather than disposing of their pen and purchasing a new one.

It also occurs to us that we stock lots of products that can help people get more organised - in fact, too many to list without you getting bored part way down the list!

Finally, we've been reading that No. 1 on Good Housekeeping magazine's list of "65 achievable New Year resolutions for a happy, healthy life" is 'starting a Gratitude Journal'. The idea is simple in that you take a few minutes each day to write down things that you are grateful for - it could be family or friends, or even that the sun is shining and it hasn't been another dull, dreary, wet day that we seem to have had so many of lately. It's easy to imagine that this activity can improve your mental and physical wellness.

And if you're going to give it a go then having a nice journal and a pen you enjoy writing with have got to be a bonus. We think the perfect combination is a Paperblanks journal, with their gorgeous cover designs, a Uniball Eye pen in your favourite colour and then all you need is a Filofax pen loop to attach to the inside back cover of your journal so that your pen is always to hand.

So that's the idea - the rest is down to you! Happy 2024!

Cross Pen Refills Back In Stock

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 15:53:31 GMT

At last - Cross pen refills are now back in stock!

After a long wait ... and I mean a very long wait ... we now have stocks of Cross pen refills.

We've got ballpoint pen refills in black fine, black medium and blue medium.

Gel rolling ball refills are only available in black at the moment, but we're hopeful that blue will be 'rolling' in sometime soon.

Fountain pen ink cartridges are also here in both black and blue. Hopefully they will be joined soon by ink converters.

So ... get out that Cross pen that went in a drawer and get those Christmas cards written!

Organise your life with stationery

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 09:55:32 GMT

3 steps to a more organised life

The phrase we hear in our shop perhaps more than any other is, "What is it about stationery that makes it addictive?"

One suggestion is that it gives you the feeling that you're more in control - strange, but true! So, we started to think about the products we have that help you get more in control of your life.

1. Filofax Personal Organisers - the clue is in the name!

Mention 'organisers' and the brand that immediately springs to mind is 'Filofax'.

Interesting fact (maybe!) - the first personal organiser was created in 1930 and was known as a 'File of Facts'. The popularity of Filofax organisers grew enormously during the 1980's due to its association with the Yuppie culture, making the brand an iconic symbol of the decade.

As a company they don't rest on their laurels. Their sustainability policies include only using paper from sustainable, well managed, certified sources and leather that is a by-product of the food industry and not hides from animals bred purely for the leather goods industry. You can read more about their sustainability policies here .

2. Carry a notebook - and if you're going to carry a notebook, make it a nice one!

Don't rely on your memory!

Life seems so busy these days that committing everything on your 'to do' list to memory might not be the best plan. Our No 1 brand for cover designs has got to be Paperblanks . With so many wonderful designs to choose from there has got to be one to your taste.

3. Always have a pen to hand.

Why is there never a pen when you need one?

A handy pen pouch from Bookaroo could be just the solution. Designed to fit an A5 notebook these leather look pouches mean that you always have a pen to hand when you want to make notes. They come in a range of colours to co-ordinate with your notebook, and you can add a Bookaroo ballpoint pen to complete the look.

So, there you have it, our 3 tips for a more organised life.

Paperblanks 2024 diaries are here!!

Sat, 12 Aug 2023 13:19:00 GMT

With so many gorgeous designs it's really difficult to choose!

It almost amusing how excited we are when the next year's Paperblanks diaries arrive. They're ordered at the end of January (yes, January!) to make sure we get all the range of designs for our customers to choose from, and then there's the long wait until they arrive.

We have a list of customers who we contact to pre-order so that they get first choice, because they fly off the shelves once they're here. (If you want to be on the list then give us a call on 01756 795925 or email us at info@cravenstationery.co.uk .)

There are so many gorgeous designs and it's always good to see them in the flesh. Our favourite designs for this year include Kara-ori (pictured) but then there's also Safavid Indigo, Morris Pink Honeysuckle, Jungle Song, Anemone and Floralia.

if you want to check out this year's designs just click here .

Look what Spring has brought

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 15:03:39 GMT

Introducing a wonderful new design from Paperblanks

Unheralded wildflowers and weeds are given a voice in the Paperblanks Vox Botanica series, featuring the work of celebrated Art Nouveau illustrator Anton Seder (1850 - 1916). This particular piece, originally chromolithograph on paper, comes from one of his best known works, Die Pflanze in Kunst und Gewerbe , or The Plant in Art and Trade . Published in Vienna in 1890, it offers two volumes of stunning prints gracefully depicting elements of nature. Seder's harmonious use of space, plethora of details and candid depiction of natural elements drew Paperblanks to this piece. With this series, they herald Seder's unique voice and vision for his plants in a new era of art and trade.

The Wild Thistle design comes with a soft cover. It is available in Mini (9.5 x 14cm) with lined pages and Midi (13 x 18cm) with either lined or unlined pages.

Lightweight and flexible - take it anywhere!

Take a closer look.

Style your space

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 11:04:04 GMT

Style your space

So it all started late one Saturday afternoon quite a few years ago. We were just about to close when in walked a smart looking couple. His opening words were, "You're missing something from your shop. You need some smart desk accessories." That caught my attention straightaway because I too had identified that gap but I couldn't find an affordable, quality range of products to offer.

It turned out that the would-be customer who had walked in was John who owned a company called 'Osco', manufacturing and distributing just what we were looking for. He was enjoying a weekend break in Skipton and promised us a call once he was back in his office. This duly happened and the rest, as they say, is history.

We started out stocking his silver wiremesh and brown faux leather ranges and as his range of products have grown over the years so have ours. And so now our customers can choose from the old faithful silver wiremesh and brown faux leather, along with bamboo and, more recently, grey faux leather - all well manufactured and all good value for money given the quality of product.

So whatever your personal taste or office style there is a range to suit. All ranges can be viewed here .

(Please note - these products are only available for purchase in store, 'click & collect' or local free delivery.)

Becoming more environmentally-friendly

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 09:45:42 GMT

Becoming more environmentally-friendly

Changes are happening all around the stationery world to reduce the industry's negative impact on our environment. Some of these changes are clear to see - others are less obvious.

Clear and transparent credentials

Companies like ‘eco-eco’ wear their eco credentials on their sleeve so to speak, with their ‘planet friendly’ and ‘price friendly’ stationery products. Their aim is to supply quality stationery products that have high ecological credentials at no additional cost, believing that customers shouldn’t have to pay a price premium or suffer inferior quality products to be ‘green’. Our experience of ‘eco-eco’ is that they are indeed both ‘planet friendly’ and ‘price friendly’. An example of this is their A4 multi punched pockets. Our wholesaler’s own brand has a minimum recycled content of 20% compared with eco-eco’s 100% recycled content, coupled with (in our opinion) a superior quality, and yet they are on our shelf at the same price.

Moving from plastic product packaging to cardboard packaging

We have started to see a move from plastic product packaging to cardboard product packaging. Examples of this are Staedtler's felt tip pens and Pilot's packs of Frixion highlighters or Frixion pen refills.

What’s going on behind the scenes?

Meanwhile, a lot is going on behind the scenes.

Pilot Pen Company are a good example of a company who have been making great strides towards reducing their ecological impact for a number of years now and are committed to being a ‘climate neutral company’, continuously looking to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and offsetting unavoidable emissions through carbon offset projects. Since 2006 they have increased the amount of recycled materials in their products by 50% and launched the world’s first range of pens made from a minimum 70% of recycled plastic. They are committed to using less plastic in their packaging and are going further by using recycled carton material in their packaging and FSC-certified cardboard.

Finally, over 60% of their products are refillable, and we, of course, keep stocks of most of those refills.

Closer to home

Here at Craven Stationery all our cardboard and paper waste is collected by the local council for recycling, along with an increasing range of plastics, so that our non-recyclable waste is now very minimal.

We endeavour to offer our customers more environmentally friendly products, choosing to stock an ever increasing range of products from eco eco and actively promoting them as a ‘better’ choice. We are also constantly increasing our range of pen refills and selecting products packed in cardboard packaging over plastic packaging where possible.

Helping our customers to recycle their waste

Finally, for many years now we have taken in customers’ used inkjet cartridges. These are now collected on behalf of Water Street Primary School’s PTA who turn them into cash for the school. (Unfortunately we can’t accept your used laserjet toner cartridges, although most of the toner cartridge brands have their own recycling schemes. For example, our own Brother toners are posted back to Brother using the prepaid slip enclosed with the replacement toner.)

Similarly, we accept used pens, mechanical pencils, highlighters, correction tapes and fluid bottles, and fountain pen ink cartridges. These are passed on to Greatwood Community Primary School for their recycling programme run in conjunction with BIC.

Together we can make changes to secure a better future for our planet.

New designs from Paperblanks

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 15:33:04 GMT

New designs from Paperblanks

Paperblanks introduce new designs every Spring and Autumn and one of the best parts of our job is to look through new cover designs and decide which ones to add to our range.

This time around, our new introductions include some designs from the 'Sacred Tibetan Textiles' range, another beautiful William Morris design and a design inspired by the work of another William - William Kilburn .

The 'Sacred Tibetan Textiles' range pays tribute to the rich heritage of Indian handweaving and to the craftspeople who continue this devotional practice today. Artistic, religious and cultural traditions are reflected in the handwoven fabrics on which these designs have been based.

For centuries, Muslim families in Varanasi, India, have practiced the art of handweaving silks to create cloths and vestments for sacred rituals. The fabric designs reproduced on these covers come straight from the Kasim Silk Emporium in Varanasi and are authentic expressions of the weaver's cultural heritage. Created for a Buddhist monastery, the weavers have portrayed the path to enlightenment, both in the symbolic pattern and in the brightness of the colours chosen.

You can take a closer look at the products themselves at https://www.cravenstationeryonline.co.uk/store/Paperblanks-Flexis-Softcover-Midi-Unlined-Notebook-Ashta-p522324704 and https://www.cravenstationeryonline.co.uk/store/Paperblanks-Midi-Unlined-Notebook-Padma-p517710682 .

Turning to the two 'Williams', William Morris was one of the most celebrated practitioners of the Arts and Crafts movement. The woven and printed textile patterns he created were inspired by the natural world around him. His evocations of antique florals and plants in all their profusion have become design classics and make a lovely new cover design for the 'Morris Pink Honeysuckle' range.

William Kilburn was an Irish illustrator who lived from 1745-1818. He was the artist behind William Curtis' Flora Londinensis, a comprehensive book on 18th century English botany. With winding twigs, colourful petals and undulating seaweed, the new cover design known as Floralia is evidence of Kilburn's ability to blend local flora with exotic plants to wonderful effect.

Meanwhile, if like us you're always looking for that elusive pen our solution is a Filofax self-adhesive elastic pen loops , the simple way to make sure you always have your favourite pen to hand!

Top Picks of 2022

Fri, 20 Jan 2023 16:37:43 GMT

Top Picks of 2022

With so many lovely products to choose from, we set our Craven Stationery Team the challenge of choosing their favourite product of 2022. Here are the results:

My top pick is Filofax's 'Refillable Notebook'. I like the fact that its ruled paper can be removed and replaced, so you can re-organise your pages and replace them with new blank or ruled pages and keep the same notebook going, making it sustainable. The paper quality is good - as you might expect from Filofax. The cover designs are really attractive and you can get dividers, sticky notes and other accessories to match. They're also affordable, starting at just £11.

Richard's top pick is Basildon Bond writing paper and envelopes. Basildon Bond has been a top quality brand since 1911. It's not very easy to find these days and so he takes great pleasure in seeing customers' faces light up when they see this 'old favourite' on our shelves. Here at Craven Stationery we stock the writing pads and the envelopes in 2 sizes, in white, cream or blue. All the writing pads come with a ruled guide sheet to keep you on the straight and narrow!

Hayley chose Pilot's Frixion pens. She likes the fact that they are erasable, ideal when appointments keep changing in your diary. The fact that whatever the colour of the pen, refills are available, means you don't need to throw your pen away when it runs out. There are also a wide range of colours in the Frixion highlighters.

'Indecisive' Jenny couldn't make her mind up between the Bookaroo Pen Pouch in 'fern' and Staedtler Textsurfer Highlighter Pencils. She likes the pen pouch because everything stays in her notebook with the strong elastic and she can always find a pen when she needs one. There are some lovely colours to choose from but in the end she decided on 'fern'. She also likes the fact that there are other accessories in the Bookaroo range to mix and match.

In her words, "The textsurfer revolutionised my note-taking! No more horrible ink or pen smudges - they don't dry out and I can sharpen them if I really want to make a point!"

What would you choose?

Creating unique Christmas cards

183:784956569 (Deborah Mashiter) — Sat, 22 Oct 2022 13:32:06 GMT

Christmas cards anyone?

As the countdown to Christmas gets underway we've already started printing unique Christmas cards for customers.

All we need is an original piece of artwork or an email of a photo the customer has taken of a festive or wintry scene and we do the rest. We're always amazed by the quality of the artwork we're presented with from so-called amateurs. There's a lot of talent out there.

As long as the card size matches an available envelope size, the customer can choose the size of the card, the message (and its font) and whether to acknowledge their work on the reverse of the card.

It's always a pleasure to see the look of delight on the face of the customer when they collect the end product and h ow nice it must be for the recipient to receive something unique!

Bespoke notecards anyone?

183:784956569 (Deborah Mashiter) — Fri, 08 Jul 2022 15:14:52 GMT

We've been creating our own range of notecards and reviving memories in the process.

Finding nice notecards can be challenging and so we decided to create our own range. Well, why not? We have a very good quality printer, coated card and envelopes. All we needed were some boxes to present them in and the job was done.

The first three designs were created using photographs I took while on holiday in Suffolk and the Cotswolds last year. I'm really pleased with the results.

The two designs with wildflowers were created by cropping photographs taken in gardens just outside Broadway. We've packaged the notecards in white and kraft boxes but think the kraft suits these designs best.

The fishing boat was on the beach at Aldeburgh in Suffolk, close to the hut selling fish that had a sign saying 'ANYTHING FRESHER IS STILL SWIMMING'!

You can view our entire range of notecards here .

We've also been enjoying creating bespoke notecards for our customers using one of their own photographs (or part thereof) - or sometimes their own artwork - from the original or a scanned image.

Sometimes you don't realise what's on your doorstep!

183:784956569 (Deborah Mashiter) — Sat, 02 Jul 2022 12:12:49 GMT

Made just 16 miles from Skipton

Sometimes you don't realise what's on your doorstep!

Silvine (manufactured by Sinclairs Stationers) have been around since 1837 and are based in Otley, a market town only 16 miles from Skipton.

The company's history makes very interesting reading and tells how they started out in Wetherby producing handmade ledgers and pocket books as well as offering general printing services to the town, before moving to Otley in 1854. It tells of the influence of the Education Act of 1870, which set the framework for the schooling of all 5 - 12 year olds, the opportunities provided by the arrival of the railway to Otley and the impact of the first and second world wars. To read the company's history in full go to https://www.silvine.com/history.

Silvine's traditional memo books are still one of our bestsellers. They were launched in the 1950s and remain largely unchanged. As the saying goes - "If it isn't broken, why fix it!"

That said, the Company haven't completely stood still - as well as the traditional cover you can now find these notebooks in a range of pastel shades, or with attractive patterned covers.

Technology definitely has its place but there are some situations when pen and paper still works best, and so if you need a duplicate or triplicate book then Silvine will have the answer among their extensive range. The classic red books come with carbon, whereas the blue range is carbonless.

The important thing with both types is that you are left with a copy for yourself.

Keeping up with current trends, Silvine don't just dwell in the past. Check out their Marlene West range for examples of notebooks with attractively designed covers.

Last, but definitely not least, Silvine are rightly proud of their environmental and social corporate responsibility credentials. 100% of their product materials are from well managed sources, certified by the FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) or recycled. They choose paper from sources where workers civil rights are not violated. They expect their suppliers to conduct their business in an ethical manner, and finally they expect their suppliers, like themselves, to actively work towards conserving their energy and water usage and the prevention of land, air and water pollution.

Here at Craven Stationery we're pleased to offer a large selection of Silvine products in our shop and online.

Campo Marzio is @Craven Stationery

183:784956569 (Deborah Mashiter) — Wed, 04 May 2022 09:27:13 GMT

Fancy a bit of Italian design?

It's always exciting to find something new and a little different to add to our collections and so we when we were sent details of these Campo Marzio pens we couldn't wait to place an order and add them to our collection - and when we saw them we were not disappointed!

The pens look really good with their vibrant, bold colours combined with a contemporary feel and heaps of Italian class and colour.

Campo Marzio were founded in Rome in 1833 and so they've been creating stationery and accessories for nearly a century. The company have made their collection available to the UK market offering a beautiful and affordable collection of writing instruments, lovingly packaged in Campo Marzio's bold colour palette.

We've chosen to stock the MINNY range and the MIPO range.

The pens in the MINNY range are as the name suggests - mini. They're characterised by a modern design with rounded form and bright lacquered colours, with gold-coloured finishes adding a touch of luxury. We have both fountain pens and ballpoint pens available.

The MIPO is also mini. This range feature a playful and colourful finish, with a brightly coloured lacquered body and polka dot decoration. These are available as ballpoint pens.

While both designs may be small they still have plenty of Italian style and flair, and with particularly attractive packaging and a price of £25.00 for the ballpoint and £31.00 for the fountain pen they would make ideal gifts.

All the pens are available with FREE delivery. To find our more follow this link .

Pilot 'Frixion' - Could It Be Magic?

183:784956569 (Deborah Mashiter) — Sat, 02 Apr 2022 11:21:30 GMT

Pilot 'Frixion' is Pilot's erasable rollerball pen. Could it be magic? Well, perhaps not, but it is clever.

These pens use thermo sensitive ink - in other words, a type of ink that responds to temperature.

The integrated eraser isn't a typical eraser but the action of rubbing it over the ink creates heat due to friction (hence the name) which causes the ink to disappear from sight.

Several years ago we organised an activity with one of the year groups at one of our local primary schools. In fact, it was the primary school Richard attended (more years ago then I dare tell you!). The children were asked to write out a poem in their best handwriting, in exchange for which they received a free Frixion pen. We demonstrated the way the ink responded to heat by writing "Watch this ink disappear" on a sheet of paper and then laminating it. The ink duly disappeared before their eyes - magic(?)!

Particularly popular with children, these pens are also popular with adults and f or those conscious about their carbon fooprint, we carry stocks of refills in black, blue, red, green and purple. The range is also complemented by a selection of highlighters .

Finally, for those of you who live nearby, a reminder that, as well as collecting ink cartridges for recycling, we also collect pens, pen refills, felt pens, highlighters, marker pens, mechanical pencils, fountain pen ink cartridges, correction instruments and correction fluid bottles for recycling. The ink cartridges are delivered to a representative of one of the local Rotary Clubs, who then exchange them for a donation for charity. The writing instruments and other bits are taken to Greatwood Primary School here in Skipton for their recycling programme which is supported by BIC.

Inspired by Van Gogh

183:784956569 (Deborah Mashiter) — Sat, 19 Mar 2022 15:38:48 GMT

Inspired by Van Gogh

Vincent van Gogh is considered to be one of the greatest Dutch painters of all time. It wasn’t until after his death that his art was truly appreciated, selling for record-breaking sums at auctions around the world.

Sadly, he is as famous for his mental health problems as his art, in particular the cutting off of part of his own ear! In the Spring of 1889 he was admitted to an asylum just outside the beautiful southern French town of St Remy de Provence, where he immediately started painting the irises blooming in the hospital garden.

Have you heard about the Van Gogh Exhibition ? This ‘Immersive Experience’ is taking place in various locations around the world. Here in the UK it can be experienced in London, York and Leicester. I’m hoping to get to York before the exhibition moves on from there at the end of August.

If you haven’t heard about it, the experience is described as being like stepping into a painting. It reminds me of a similar exhibition we visited when on holiday near St Remy de Provence. Nearby, at the foot of the ancient UNESCO heritage site of the fortified hilltop village of Les Baux de Provence is the ‘Carriere des Lumieres’ – the Cathedral of Images. Set in a redundant limestone quarry, images are projected onto the large, smooth, flat surfaces of the walls. The theme changes each year. This year it is a journey through the artistic and architectural treasures of Venice. On one of our visits it was Van Gogh.

Paperblanks have partnered with the J. Paul Getty Museum to feature one of Van Gogh’s wonderful painting of Irises as a cover design for Spring 2022. Here at Craven Stationery we are stocking both the midi and ultra sizes in unlined format with a hardcover. Each journal has 144 pages of 120gsm acid-free paper. Find out more at https://www.cravenstationeryonline.co.uk/store/search?keywords=irises.

Lamy Safari Fountain Pens. One pen - so many possibilities

183:784956569 (Deborah Mashiter) — Sat, 05 Mar 2022 10:48:31 GMT

Lamy Safari fountain pens. One pen - so many possibilites.

So I've been busy restocking my Lamy supplies.

LAMY can trace its history back to 1930 when C. Josef Lamy, an export and branch manager for an American writing instrument manufacturer, set up his own business in Heidelberg. Their Safari pen range was launched in 1980, enabling the company to conquer the 10-15 year old age group for the first time. However, its ergonomic shape and sturdy workmanship also appealed to an adult audience, so much so that it became the best selling fountain pen in the world.

Why so many possibilities?

Well, for a start they come in a wide range of colours. Next you can choose from a wide range of ink cartridge colours - blue, black, blue/black (what I would call navy), red, green, violet and turquoise. And if that's not enough, they offer a range of nibs, including extra fine, fine, medium (of course), broad, left-hand, joy (italic) 1.1mm, joy (italic) 1.5mm.

Changing the nib is really straightforward. I've included a link to Lamy's own YouTube video showing you just how easy it is and, of course, we're always here to offer advice or assistance, either in person or over the 'phone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e4RajMBrCQ

You can check out our Lamy supplies at https://www.cravenstationeryonline.co.uk/store/Lamy-c35621747 , where you can also subscribe to our regular newsletters.

Mechanical pencils. What's the "point"?

183:784956569 (Deborah Mashiter) — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 12:37:31 GMT

Whether you're adding comments to printed material, taking notes or drawing illustrations or plans, a mechanical pencil (sometimes referred to as a propelling pencil) can prove an excellent alternative to the humble pencil, providing lines of constant thickness without the need to sharpen them. Here are just some of the mechanical pencils available at Craven Stationery with information about what sets them apart.

The Staedtler Mars micro mechanical pencil is suitable for both writing and drawing. Its cylindrical lead sleeve is ideal for use with rulers and templates, and the lead is cushioned for a high level of break resistance. It's easy to refill with "12-a-go" Mars micro mechanical pencil leads and the eraser can be replaced also. This pencil features a non-slip rubber grip, a metal clip and is pocket-safe thanks to its retractable lead sleeve and is a vailable in a range of lead sizes including 0.3mm, 0.5mm, 0.7mm and 0.9mm.

The Mars technico 780 C is a leadholder for 2mm leads, for drawing, sketching and writing. It features a metal clip, push-button and grip zone. It comes sup plied with an HB lead, replacement leads are available in a range of grades including 4H, 2H, H, HB, B, 2B and 4B.

The Faber Castell Grip Plus 1314 's main feature is that it utilises a 1.4mm B lead as well as having an extra-large twist eraser. (Also available with 0.7mm HB lead.) It comes with a comfortable ergonomic triangular rubber grip zone and is pocket-safe as the metal tip and cushioned lead easily retracts at the push of a button. Replacement leads and erasers are available.

Find out more about our range of pens, pencils and writing accessories at https://www.cravenstationeryonline.co.uk/store/Pens-Pencils-&-Writing-Accessories-c35230273