The new Phone Book is Here.. The New Phone...

Guess what showed up today!!

I really like the paper inside of them.  The America the Beautiful run they did last year was one of my favorites for the paper quality and they brought it back for the Shelterwood edition.

The feel of the covers is what I expected.  You are holding a piece of veneer in your hand.  After the bonding with the kraft under layer they are nice and sturdy.  With what I'm calling the "White Wash"
paint job on the front and the SMELL of the wood..  Yup I'm all good with this set. 

Remember, EVERY book is unique.  The "burling" and grain on each book is a one off. I have made sure I will not run out of these for a long time to come.  Now I just have to keep Martha from chewing on these.  Nothing like a retriever and wood to go after.  

 

So how do I give some of these out..  I'm in a few swaps on Swap-Bot for the Un-Journaling swaps every month, so these will be used for those.

Hmmm... Going to have to thunk a bit on this one.  Suggestions from the audience.  You know how this usually goes, so you guys come up with some ideas.

Derrick

Shelterwood.. Or my LOVE for wood..

The “Shelterwood” Edition for Spring 2014

I Love wood.  Growing up with a family of loggers, I have lots of wood products
in my home (not counting the structure).  When I saw the new products coming out from FN this go round I got all giddy.  They look BEAUTIFUL!  The other bonus for me is the paper they chose for this edition.  It's the same paper that was used in the America the Beautiful edition.  Nice thick paper.

Here is a short film on how they made this edition.

This to me is the most ambitious project for them to date.  The fact that no two books are the same is a bonus to me.

This is from their site.

We all know that paper is made from wood. Our 22nd FIELD NOTES COLORS seasonal release is made OF wood. The “Shelterwood” edition features covers made from actual American Cherry wood, sliced ever-so-thin and bonded to a substrate of kraft paper for durability. We believe we’re the first notebook company to manufacture such a product at such a scale.

Thanks to the natural texture of the wood, no two “Shelterwood” memo books are the same but all share their origin in the same few hand-picked cherry trees from Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. The wood covers are sustainably produced, with one 60″ wide log converted into 5000 feet of “Sheer Veneer,” with very little waste (the waste is recycled into wood pellets to heat the factory!). The process can be seen in the film above.

The covers are left uncoated with text printed in a triple-hit of “Ghostflower White” which remains slightly opaque, the wood texture showing through like a faded whitewashed fence. Inside covers are mossy green text on kraft paper. The guts of the books are Finch Fine “Soft White” 70# text stock, the same beefy stock you loved in our “America the Beautiful” Edition. They’re ruled in “Maidenhair Green,” and bound together with three sturdy gold staples.

I have placed a large order for these books and will be giving away 2 packs when I get them in (should be next week) and will think up something fun for these.  Think.. Wood :)

Derrick

First week giveaway coming

This Friday will be the first weeks giveaway.  Four more days to get something in for your entry.

I have 9 entries so far and I will be posting all of the entries on Friday this week.  Lot's of nice mail received.

To those of you who confetti bombed me.  I know who you are and where you live :P

On a side note.  I received my shipment from Field Notes today.  These new books they put out for the Winter set are just beautiful.  The gradient is on both the outer and inner covers.

JarieLyn, they are on their way in the morning.

Till Friday..


D

Join AA.. Or how to Drink Locally

The fine folks over at Field Notes Brand have announced their 20th (wow) seasonal printing.  Just in time for October Fest?

I placed my order this morning.  They come in 2 flavors. Ales and Lagers.

 

They have the traditional info about the particular subject of the season (your choice of intoxication this time). and come with coasters in each three pack.

 

While I rarely drink, I really like the color scheme here.  Bonus (wish I was a subscriber here) the subscribers also get a carrier with their incoming sets.

 

Reminder.  DON'T WAIT.  The last release sold out in a week.  SEVEN DAYS folks!

I will be giving away a set of these sometime next week (after I receive my stock).  So if you would like a chance to win your choice of Ale or Lager stay tuned.  

Derrick

Field Notes - Night Sky Edition

So this go round with the Colors Subscriptions, the folks at Field Notes and come up with these lovely black top covered notebooks with great coloring on the rear.  Using a "reticle graph" pattern sort of a hybrid of our popular dot-grid and graph papers.

Let's let them tell it.  

Countless lines of prose, poetry, and music have been written in hopes of capturing the magic of a summer night, but leave it to FIELD NOTES to take an inexplicably transcendent feeling and distill it down to basic science: it’s the stars. If you live in the city, you may often forget that there are more than a handful of ‘em up there. But if you’re lucky enough to live somewhere without light pollution, seeing the Milky Way stretched across the sky on a moonless summer night never gets old.

Our nineteenth edition of FIELD NOTES COLORS celebrates the wonders that cross the summer sky each night. The “Night Sky” 3-Pack features French Construction “Blacktop” covers, mapping out three sets of constellations that have graced the northern hemisphere summer sky long before “summer” was given a name. Constellations and popular asterisms are highlighted in silver
holographic foil. Inside is our usual beloved Finch Opaque text paper, with a new “Reticle Graph,” sort of a hybrid of our popular dot-grid and graph papers. It’s all bound together with shiny black staples.

THE STARS AND THEIR COURSES (this video is gorgeous)

Choosing the sections of sky to depict involved a lot of research. Illustrating thousands of stars was a lot of work. But even after all that, and a self-taught crash course in astrophotography, we weren’t prepared for two amazing nights at Great Basin National Park in eastern Nevada. We’re putting together an epic film that we’ll share with you soon, but in the meantime, here’s a short highlight reel from one of the darkest spots in North America.


There’s only so much information we can cram into a 3.5- x 5.5-inch pocket notebook, but our love of 4-point Futura is well known, so cram we did. The three books are roughly aligned to midnight in the northern hemisphere in early, mid-, and late summer, and replacing our usual “Practical Applications” the inside back covers features corresponding facts and tips to help get your stargazing underway. After a clear night and maybe a cocktail or two, you’ll impress your friends by finding Arcturus, pointing out the Summer Triangle, and locating the “Andromeda Galaxy” M-31, all with your naked eye!

 

I love the look of these and being a fan of them will be ordering a "few sets" and will be holding a contest for a few packs in July.  Just in time for some summer sky viewing.  Take the family out to the hills away from the light pollution and lay down a blanket and stare at the sky.  After watching the video, I might be taking my camera gear up the hill with me.   Hmmmm  there might be an idea for a contest.  Who knows.  

Derrick

Field Notes - America the Beautiful Winners

Before we get to the fine folks that are receiving the packs of notebooks there is a little housekeeping to do.  We have the remainder of the entrants.  I waited until the mail came in today before heading over to random.org for the drawing.

There were 12 entries in all.

First for round 2 of the incoming is from Penny up in the great white north.

up next  there were 2 from Tammy.  REALLY like the stamps you guys have sent in.

and

From the land of the guy in a REALLY BIG pair of spanx.

And a place where they advertise FREE ICE WATER..  No really free.  No need to purchase an Icee or burrito or nothin.  FREE..

Don't forget Flipper.

And the last person to get in on the giveaway is John - he's new :)  Last piece of mail that came in today.   There isn't anything like seeing a bunch of ladies on a booze run.

so now that we are finished with the entries.  Let's get down to who gets the goodies.

Randall Harris

John Nix

Aimee Soloway

Joan Clarke

That's it.  I'll be sending these out this week.  Hope you all enjoy them.  This is Field Notes first go round on 4 color printing.  I have an account with these folks now so I will be doing these with the colors releases (4 times a year).

DD.

Ooo. Ooo.. Ooo.. SHOW and Tell time..

So here is the first batch of entrants into the Field Notes "America the Beautiful" giveaway.

Some of you were pretty clever (bonus points) in more or less REALLY covering the bases (see travel again..  running the bases..)

Do we remember what this was for?  Hmmm.. anyone.. anyone at all.. Bueller..  You tall kid in the back.

Umm..  notebooks??  Give that man a bathroom pass!!  Yup  you are sending me little pieces of card stock imbued with pictures of traveling site (sight) seeing thingies for some of these..

These are some of my notebooks.  The ones for this round are in the lower right corner.

Don't think he'll make it doc.

See this is where it got fun.  Notice the stamps. follow the theme :)  This is from Aimee.

From Tami in,  hmmm I wonder..

From Mr. Harris who recently returned from a trip.

From Rusty, another double tap. In this case she sent a follow up to notify me she has received her FN subscription and let her entry go to another.  We'll see.  (she can't make me so there :p)

and finally from Mr. O'Brien who had an interesting take on the entry and earned him some points.

When I got this letter, I got it when I saw it.  and thought promptly of the church scene from the Blues Brothers. THE BAND!!, the band?, THE BAND!!

Remember I am giving away 4 sets of books. So keep sending - close for the giveaway is next Monday  (TAX DAY)

Derrick Dodson, 6325 Matterhorn Drive, Sacramento, Ca 95842

Till next time..

America the Beautiful.. (with a bonus)

Field Notes..  My favorite notebooks have issued their new colors subscriptions pack today.


I their words:

When you think of FIELD NOTES, two things should be abundantly clear by now: first, obviously, we are obsessed with the design and variety of pocket notebooks of the twentieth century. Second, simply put, we love the U.S.A. The good, the bad, the corny, the deep; all of it. Our commitment to American materials and labor is well known.
As we set out to create the eighteenth COLORS limited edition, we dug into Aaron’s collection of vintage memo books for inspiration, and set out to pay tribute to the cross-country-road-trip spirit of America, via the vibrant full-color aesthetic of the beautifully-roughhewn memo books and road maps of the 1960s.

In today’s world of computerized precision, it was challenging to find anything but the brightest-white paper, and our printer takes great pride in perfection. Printing oversaturated photos on yellowed paper, with a purposefully out-of-register 100-line screen, was nearly outside the capabilities of modern machinery and left pressmen scratching their heads. But we made it happen! The dust has settled, and we present our beefiest FIELD NOTES ever. Colorful stock photography of “Spacious Skies,” “Amber Waves,” and “Mountains Majesty” are reproduced in full-color on heavyweight, off-white, Tango-coated one-side covers, and stuffed with 48 pages of burly Finch “Soft White” paper ruled with “Looseleaf Blue” ink. They’re bound together with shiny copper staples, and as always: they’re manufactured in the very nation they celebrate.

As the infomercials say: that’s not all! Each 3-Pack includes an “America the Beautiful” water-transfer decal inspired by the ubiquitous decals that mid-century tourists proudly applied to their Samsonite, Airstream, or Chevy Bel-Air. The decal is screen-printed in fluorescent colors on a clear backing, waiting to be briefly soaked in water and applied to an inviting, soon-to-be-more-attractive surface.

Field Notes: America the Beautiful Edition from Coudal Partners on Vimeo.

Now some of my own.  I LOVE THESE!  so much, that I have ordered a few for giveaways.

How do you get some?  How do you partake in the magic of over the road travel to find the world's biggest Toilet?  or the Worlds biggest Diaper Pail? (please don't insert the worlds largest diaper into the worlds largest toilet as we don't want to find the worlds biggest plunger and that's just not right)

So to enter, send me a postcard of something travel related in a touristy fashion.  That would be as described above.  Examples would be, the Jackalope etc.  I will add to this post tonight..  something you might find at a bus stop, trailer park, truck stop  you know what I'm talking about.

I will be posting ALL of them as received.

Up for grabs. 1 full pack and decal of the new books.  I have 4 sets to give away.  This will end April 15th.  Hey I figure something good should happen then.

Derrick

There was no joy in Mudville that night..

Well, the season is officially over.  The bats are being put away, the fields covered up for the winter.

We turn our thoughts to spring and the season that may be.  What will happen in the off season.  What trades will be made.  What new diamond in the rough will be found by the scouts to Ooohh and Awww us.

Alas for me the Tigers have gone down in defeat after a stunning sweep of the Yankees.  Only to have it returned by the Giants.  I have ties to both teams, but a Tigers fan first.  So I left with who brought me.

So what I would like from you class is something baseball related.  Something that says Summer is officially over and Fall is now upon us.


For your work I have this.

This little package (including the book) can no longer be had from the fine folks at Field Notes Brand.  I have however ordered a few of these gems for this giveaway.  

Are they free..  Kinda..  No random number pull here.  You have to send me something for it.  I will let you folks pick the winner.  First and Second and Third.  SO..  What else could I toss in....

First - The set (notebooks and A Drive into the Gap)

Second - The Notebooks

Third - The Book (A Drive into the Gap)

So there ya have it.  I will post anything you guys send in baseball related.  Something special going out to Bean for the most unique card I've gotten to date.

Thanks.  Now go take a bat to a Pumpkin.. and serve up some Diabetes to the neighborhood kids

Game on.. A drive into the gap

Some of you may know I have a penchant for Field Notes Brand notebooks.  I truly love these little books.  I carry one around in my shirt pocket daily for keeping my notes for work related stuffs.  Network settings, application install instructions, phone lists and such.  You know, things that the 43+ year old mind has a tendency to forget if not used on a daily basis.

Note: don't leave your notebooks laying around a 2 year old..

For the uninitiated, Field Notes Brand started out as a little project with Aaron Draplin and Jim Coudal.  Now I don't know the whole sordid tale of how these two met, what they had for dinner, who was on top, nothing.  What I know is that the continual flow of what they are calling the "color subscriptions" are worth the price of admission alone in checking out their site.

I have infrequent emails/conversations with Aaron mainly asking where my freakin' shirt I want him to put together is (and he came through - Thanks Big Guy!).  I have emails bouncing with the folks at coudal as well (asking to set some stuff aside for me - And they always come through).

So what is it about these little books made of 24 folded pieces of paper and a cover that make me desire them and collect them?  Am I just one of the many sheeple?  Not so much.

As many of the people that read this blog and others like it.  We long for a simpler time, a return of tactile feel.  In other words. PEN/PENCIL TO PAPER.  That in a nutshell is it.  I have these little notebooks everywhere.  I carry them on my person, have one in my truck, I keep one in my packs.  WHY so many?  The folks at Field Notes said it best. (lifted the logo guys..) 

That's right - I'm not writing it down to remember it later, I'm writing it down to remember it now. (their tag line).  Mine goes more like this " I'm writing it down now because I'm getting to many cases of CRS and can barely remember what day it is let alone what I may have to recall this crap later.  Who are you again?  I'm scared..  Do you know where I live?  Dad says I'm a good driver.. Yea..  K-Mart sucks.."

So where was I, oh yea the notebooks, subscriptions, colors thing. They came out with a NEW colors one for late/mid summer that has me all giddy.

So this one comes in 3 colors in the collection.  Outfield Green, Infield Brown and Hardball White.

 

Along with the normal 3 pack of notebooks you get a copy of a Drive into the Gap.  A great little story published by Field Notes Brand Books.  A first from them as far as I know.

I will be sending off one of these sets to one of my readers and another to someone who sent me something special during my baseball mailing.  I need to try and get a hold of a few more.

Disclaimer.  The folks at Field Notes or Draplin Designs have never given me anything for review.  I purchase their products because of the simplicity and great design of an american made and designed product.  They put a lot of effort into the design and use of the product.  I really like the sense of humor  they put in them as well.

If you would like to know what I'm talking about and have never put your hands on one drop me a line and If I have some spares laying around, I'll send you one.  They (the regular craft paper) come in lined, graph and blank.  The colors come in various graph or dot patterns (my favorite).

They include goodies in every shipment.  Could be a button, pencil, pen (also a big favorite), sticker or notebook.  If you catch them on a special day you get a free 3 pack (subscribe to their e-mail listing).

Till next time..