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Love it or hate it, the snow caused a right havoc for many of us here in the UK in the last two weeks. So, this post is dedicated to the snow heroes who had to ‘dig people out of situations’.

Goodness knows how you would write or when you might need to write in the howling blizzard, but I started searching to see if there was an ‘all weather notebook’. And hey, presto this is what I found.

Step aboard, Alwych. They have been around for many years but I have to say they haven’t been on my radar until now. The aesthetics of their notebook isn’t particularly exciting, but it has functional design. What makes them good in wet weather? Apparently their strong ‘all weather’ cover and section-sewn opaque pages.

Their “major users include the police, tanker and delivery drivers, milkmen, etc., while the numerous individuals using Alwych books include gardeners, walkers, golfers, birders, hikers, mountaineers, potholers, explorers (we have supplied past British Antartic expeditions) and archaeologists “Alwych Books stand up to the rigours of our desert digs”… the quotes are endless.”

Now, I haven’t personally tested their notebooks but if they have supplied British Antartic expeditions, who am I to argue? I assume they were pretty happy with the results.

Visit their website here.

HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL!

Apart from having a well-earned Christmas break, I have been also busy sorting out a builder crisis. BUT, I’m back. And have I got a real cracker here to share with you to kick off 2010.

Most of you are probably armed with your new, crisp diaries and journals by now. If you still haven’t got a new journal, or would like to splash out for something really special you are writing, here is a range you DEFINITELY should consider. It made me weak at the knees when I discovered it just before Christmas (I know, I should have posted it then as an idea for Christmas, but I did have a crisis!).

Born out of a fantastic collaboration between Smythson and new hot Brit designer, Erdem Moralioglu, the limited-edition goatskin leatherbound range probably has every style-conscious girl lusting for one of its diaries or notebooks. It’s certainly a great accessory for the female executive (probably quite a high-flying one -  they range the £100-£300 mark). This is not the first time Smythson has worked with a fashion designer on their stationery. They went all chic with Giles Deacon in 2008 with his beautiful dress sketches; thanks to Samantha Cameron (Smython’s creative director). 

The Erdem for Smythson ‘japanese inspired’ design speaks volume for itself here. I prefer the one with the red watercolour cover: it also has two pages of Erdem’s fashion drawings at the start and Smython’s signature blue paper. Here too is the range of diaries with his fashion drawings gracing the covers.

Who is Erdem, you may ask? He was only one the biggest names in town at London Fashion Week 2009, and his signature colours and design are truly to die for. His mum is English, his dad is of Turkish origin, he grew up in Canada, now works out of London’s East End. Another interesting factoid – Sarah Brown (PM’s wife) wore one his designs to the Labour Party Conference in 2009.  

Related posts

Smythson’s blog

Erdem’s official website

My post is this week is still very much in the vein of classics (going back a century or two perhaps). This time not on the lines of literature, but of art. TeNueues has released a linen journal range that honours pieces of art that will be familiar to most. Who hasn’t seen the paintings (well, at least in prints or mainstream culture) of Van Gogh’s sunflowers, Monet’s waterlillies or Klimt’s The Kiss? I have to say these aren’t really my sort of notebooks but I can see how it may appeal to classical art lovers.  If I had to choose, I guess I might just be persuaded to add Jan Vermeer’s enigmatic Girl with the Pearl Earring to my shopping list:-)

I know these have been around for a little while, but I can’t not include them on nicenotebooks.com. It’s the ideal accessory for anyone who likes the cool retro look, and is perhaps feeling a little nostalgic. Penguin, the well-known publisher, is doing rather well in giving its brand a bit of a boost recently, but the release of these jotters will not have done them any harm. They come in small and large, lined and plain options.  For those who like little details, they come complete with elasticated clasps and bookmarks.

If you are a mega fan of how the great classic titles have been merchandised, you won’t be disappointed by the range of mugs, espresso cups and saucers, book bags, tea towels, deck chairs and pencil sets now available. Visit www.artmeetsmatter.com to shop around for the non-notebook items.

I like Paperchase. They have the knack for balancing fun, bright colours and great patterns, tastefully. Here are some of their floral designs for girls who love twee-free floral designs. As with most Paperchase products, they are typically part of a range of stationery designs if you fancy matching items. These notebooks are available in A5 size, but you can get them in other sizes for some of the designs too. Mirabella and Pink Botanicals (and A6 Secret Garden) have a magnetic fastener which I quite like.