Merlins Tower

Hand Made Leather Journals

Posted on September 3rd, 2006 by Merlin.
Categories: Art, Craft, Journaling, Leather.

Today while perusing the web, checking out my emails, having a cup of coffee I stumbled upon OberonDesign.com and their Beautiful Hand Made Leather Journals. Unlike many leather journals these journals are refillable and take a nice 4.25 x 6.25 sketch book journal unlined. Actually Oberon Design has several sizes of their Leather Journal Small (4.25 x 6.25) – Large (5.5 x 8.5) & Extra Large (8.5 x 11). Each book with 212  Smythe Sewn Heavy Bond acid Free pages for the XL and 220 Pages for the Large and Small Journals. The Leather covers range in price from $54 – $69 or up to $124. This really is not that bad of a deal as I mentioned this cover is easily refilled. Plus I am sure as you use your journal this leather will wear and begin to take a life of its own. These leather journals are crafted from custom tanned cowhide and paired with decorative pewter buttons. They look like they would be wonderful to hold and work in.

Hint Hint Wink Wink Nudge Nudge : (If you want to send me a sample on so I can do in indepth review feel free to email me  “Alan  (at)  MerlinsTower (dot) Com”  That goes for any company that want a unbiased review of their products.

So, Take a look at them if you are interested in a nice Travel Journal, Sketch Book, Dream Diary, General Writing or Just a plain old Diary. These seem they would be a nice addition to any backpack or nightstand.

Merlin (Alan)     -=#:-)

Technorati Tags: Leather, Journal, Sketchbook, Diary, Notebook, Analog, Dreams, Writing

0 comments.

Arcade on a keychain – Real Atari 2600 Games and Playable » « Notetaking and Organization – How I got sucked in.

Notetaking and Organization – How I got sucked in.

Posted on August 29th, 2006 by Merlin.
Categories: Communication, GTD, Hack, Journaling, Miquelrius, Moleskine, Search Engine, Tutorial, working.

You can read and read many different blogs and forums and there are many different ways to take notes and organize yourself.

I have read them – in fact many of the blogs are in RSS reader and I take a peak at them when I have a few moments of time. – I don’t know why but I enjoy learning new hints and tips to help me organize myself better.

A few years back I discovered writing in small journals and notebooks. I started out writing in Steno Pads that we had at work. These are great for taking quick notes and organizing myself for the day when ever I would receive a phone call or work on a issue – In the notebook it went – I was going through quite a few notebooks as you can guess. I then would take the info that was relative to an issue and the rewrite it into my permanent notebook (This is after I gave up using a PDA – Great for searching out data but hard to input and harder to always sync and keep the battery fresh. Basically a pain in the rear end.) My permanent notebook was a journal I picked up the local bookstore in Downtown Pittsburgh near my bus stop. I loved the small size and the quad ruled paper that it had it in. This was my first Miquelrius Journal. I actually first saw this at the computer help desk where I saw one of the techs using one while on the phone easily looking up past issues and their resolution she made organization look so easy. I asked her about it and this I believe was the down fall of me purchasing notebooks and pens. She showed me a few of the ways she organized it and followed her lead. She always numbered each page. (Which I also read on quite a few blogs) She used alot of sticky notes to lead her to the correct area of her notebook to help her solve one of her cases. She was always faster then trying to find the info in the database that was given to them to try and do what she was doing in her notebook.

It was hard for me to start writing in the notebook journal as it was so pristine and I guess I felt intimidated looking at all those blank pages staring back at me. To make my process of writing in the journal one step closer was to number all the pages – Well not all but in the bottom right hand corner I would number ever other page. 1 – 3 – 5 – 7 – 9 – 11 ……….

Then I would draw and comment on the inside flap what I was using this journal for. (I read this somewhere and it really does help get over the new notebook jitters) I now no longer had a pristine journal but a personalized organization system. (Ok Ok the start of one)

The next step was to keep a hard copy of all the number I had in my cell phone. Since I was no longer syncing my pda or carrying it with me I needed a way to have all my numbers with me where I could find them. So, What I did was to divide my notebook up into smaller sections. First Section was for Business – Second section was for Personal Notes – and Third was General Info. The Phone number went into the third section. I took and wrote out all my phone numbers and that was the start of my notebook. After I finished writing out all my numbers I then took several high liters and highlited the names of the people I just wrote down. Pink was Personal – Blue was Business – Yellow was the important numbers. This little step helped me look over the list of over 300 numbers and spot the frequently called numbers that much easier.

Next I did a step similar to my friends – I made an index section – I marked about 10 pages in the back of the notebook to just be cross reference data / Index of what I wrote. Say I wote in my personal section all the birthdays of all my friends and family – something I don’t use on a daily basis – I wrote it down in the index – Birthdays and Anniversaries – p105 – List of Past Christmas Presents – p157 (Whew no more embarrassing buying the same gift 2 years in a row)

This was the basic startup of how I started the analog way. This did take me some time getting used to writing in my notebook and once I got used to finding the data. I believe I was faster and more organized as I didn’t mind jotting a quick note down in my journal. But turning on the PDA removing the stylus getting to the right program – creating a new note – naming it and then finally being able to use graffiti to jot the note down. Since it was that much easier I was writing and documenting more instead of trying to remember it all. I didn’t always jot the notes down into the index so I would do a weekly round up that out remembered from one of the organization meetings I got to go to. I would go through my notes and it I thought it was worth noting I wrote it down in the index and noted the page. This also allowed me to cross reference some of the info. So, if I ran out of room on a page and needed to write more I would just make a note of the page I had additional info on and highlight it. I believe this is what started me reading more about organization and note taking. I wanted to be better at it then I was. And I am pretty sure that is the same reason you read so far in this long winded entry. In the next few days I will write about my modified Cornell Note Taking system. So be sure to stop back and comment here and let me know some of the tips you are using. Or if you think you might have a better way to do something I wrote about Please let me know I love to learn some more tricks and hacks. I know these hint and hacks really did work for me  – I still use this daily in my own business working on websites and in my computer services. My clients are amazed that I am so low tech with my fountain pen and little black journal.
Thanks for Reading.
Digital Alan – Merlins Tower

Technorati Tags: analog, note taking, notebooks, journal, journals, journalling, organization, fountain pen, fountain, pen, quad, ruled, quad ruled, GTD, PDA

2 comments.

Hand Made Leather Journals » « Dust Art

My Parker “51″ Special

Posted on August 22nd, 2006 by Merlin.
Categories: Journaling.

I just purchased a set of fountain pens from eBay – See Previous Blog – (Not a bad purchase if they all work and I am slowly finding out they are all working condition YEAH :-)

They did need considerable cleaning and attention. My first pen I wanted to clean was what I was looking for in a pen – The Parker “51″ Special with black body.

My Flicker Photoset of the Pens are here “Flicker Set of Parker 51“

 
Closed -            Open –                  Side View

More info on the Parker “51″ can be found at Searching4Arcadia. A11en does a nice review and his blog entry is full of info on the Parker “51″  Such as this was know as the “Every Mans Pen” and in 1941 it only cost $12.50 – But in todays economy this would be $165. Another fact was that is pen was made from DuPont’s Lucite – The same material that was used in making the Canopies from WWII Fighter Planes and Bombers.

This Pen I purchased is a Parker “51″ Special – This pen was introduced in 1950 and was a reduced costing “51″ – It does have a stainless-steel nib (Called Octanium because it used eight metals in its manufacture) – It uses the hoop filler also found in the “21″ and the “51″ Slender. The “51″ Special was only available in a limited amount of colors – Black – Burgundy – Navy Gray – Teal Blue and Later also in Forest Green.
Info from Richard Binder. Richard’s Site has a Nice Comparison between the “51″ and the “21″

Additional Info can be also found on Rick Conner’s Site :PenSpotters – Parker “51″ and Friends

My Conclusions:
So from the info I accumulated I believe I got a pretty good deal on this Parker “51″ Special – even being the “Cheaper” version of the “51″ – costing $12.50 vs $14.50 for the “51″ in 1950 It writes beautifully – The filling system being a simpler aerometric filler (And it still works today and it is over 55 years old) That is a truly remarkable pen. This pen writes like a dream – It flow and is a nice fine tipped pen. I can easily write in my journal or take notes with out any strain. The ink has not skipped once while using this pen. I truly enjoy writing with this fine writing instrument. Kudos goes to Parker for making a pen that truly lasts and lasts. So, if you get a chance to purchase one of the Parker line of “51″ pens I would not hesitate to do so. Even if it would need some cleaning or even some repair it is well worth it. (repairs can be done at Richard Binder’s Site)

Technorati Tags: Fountain Pens, Parker, 51, “Parker 51″, Pens, Analog, Notetakiing

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Dust Art » « Miquelrius Journal – How to use for Organization

Miquelrius Journal – How to use for Organization

Posted on August 18th, 2006 by Merlin.
Categories: GTD, Hack, Journaling, Miquelrius, Moleskine.

First – Sorry I have been quite busy lately – Working on a couple of new web sites for several clients, and working on a clients crashed hard drive and and and and just didn’t have enough time in the day to organize myself enough to write a few blog entries.

So, It looks like I need to take a few notes from Isahrai.com and get myself organized. Yes, I am trying but when all hell breaks loose…. Out goes my organization. ;-)

She talks about her organization scheme and what she uses. ([_] Re Read Isahrai’s Blog on Organization)  The Basis of her scheme is that she had quite a few notebooks to track her life and now she is using my favorite journal the Miquelrius 4×6 graph lined journal. She talks about how the Miquelrius that is perfect for her. That they are cheaper then Moleskines (And if you read – doesn’t have as many issues with production – Read the Google Groups Articles) She also mentions that they are the perfect size in both interior and exterior dimensions. The pages are thick enough that her Zebra Sarasa .7 doesn’t bleed through and the binding last the entire duration of the 200 page abuse. Her article then goes into great detail about her organization scheme. Her use of Check Boxes, Her Weekly Round up and how she even marks up the pages.  This really is an informative guide to help get organized.

Several of the hints and tips I have seen and used myself like on the to-do lists that she actually use the top down for work tasks and the bottom up for personal tasks.

She did give  a few Ideas that I didn’t think about – like using paper clips  to allow easy access to her “Week Page” – One for her Daily Page – and the other two for other purposes in her all-in-one Miquelrius journal.

She even uses index cards – One in the front for her grocery/shopping lists – Ideas for her blog and other publications – Her “Let It Go or Non – Nice Things Card” where she writes the things she wishes to say but never does. “Great Idea” And she also has a wish card for her dreams.

Her article goes on that she does have a journal just for her journaling but that is only taken out for coffee or the beach. (Boy I want a beach near by that is not a man made lake) :-(

I would like to welcome her to the cult umm movement  about using the Miquelrius Journals. Welcome – But I am learning quite a bit from her.

Here is the link to her Blog Entry – Isahrai on Organization with the Miquelrius Journal

Technorati Tags: Miquelrius, Moleskine, Journal, Organization, GTD, Index Card, Notetaking

1 comment.

My Parker “51″ Special » « MiquelRius Journals on Sale: 20% off

MiquelRius Journals on Sale: 20% off

Posted on August 3rd, 2006 by Merlin.
Categories: Art, Journaling, Miquelrius, Sketching.

Ok – You heard it right – You can order your MiquelRius Journals and Books Tomorrow Aug 4th for 20%. Here is the Info that was sent out today talking about this sale and they said we could share this coupon code. So all you MiquelRius Fans Aug 4th is the day to do some shopping. Time to replace all your Moleskine Journals with a nice Miquelrius Journal. :-)

Save 20% ONE DAY ONLY! August 4th!
It's hot, sizzling hot here! Why not spend some
extra time inside in the cool air by shopping online!
One day only – 20% off at ShopMiquelRius.com. You
MUST enter the COUPON CODE: HOTT (that is Two
T's!)

Tags: analog, Journal, Miquelrius, Moleskine, notebook, notetaking, Office Supply Porn

1 comment.

Miquelrius Journal – How to use for Organization » « PROMO: Cross Verve Pen Movie Premiere

Levenger 3 x 5 Docking Station Card Holder

Posted on July 25th, 2006 by Merlin.
Categories: Gadgets, GTD, Journaling, Leather, Uncategorized.

I just had to give a little review of this nice product from Levenger.

I just purchased a 3×5 Docking Station – I bought the Tan Version (They also have Terra Cotta Color as well – the black is all sold out) -I call this my Hipster Docking Station.

I now keep this to the right of my keyboard and is ready for me to take some notes while working on the PC. It really is at the perfect angle for writing with a fountain pen and really has a nice leather surface to write on and underneath is a leather holder for more cards (Possibly to fit maybe 10-15 cards Blank or Otherwise). The whole unit is covered with leather is tightly stretched and wrapped. This really gives it a nice quality feel and is nice to look at as well.

First the shipping – The Docking Station even came wrapped in a nice soft cloth and came in a really nice levenger box which I will put both to good use.

The really nice thing about this is the price – It is currently on sale at Levenger for only $9.95 and only a few dollars more for shipping.

So, if you want to add a little class to your desktop with something that is functional as well and is pretty inexpensive here you go – The Hipster Docking Cradle err station and no batteries required.

It received the Merlin’s Seal of Approval.

Tags: analog, DEAL, DESKTOP, elegant, Gadget, GTD, Indexcard, Levenger, Leather, Notecard, Organization, paper

0 comments.

PROMO: Cross Verve Pen Movie Premiere » « Noodler Ink: Eternal Bullet-Proof Hunter Green Fountain Pen Ink

Noodler Ink: Eternal Bullet-Proof Hunter Green Fountain Pen Ink

Posted on July 24th, 2006 by Merlin.
Categories: Communication, GTD, Journaling.

I have been Using Noodler’s Inks for about 1 Year to 1 1/2 Years now. I primarily have been using the Noodler’s Black Ink (This is The Original Bullet-Proof Ink from Noodler’s) – I will not go into details here but – I really like this ink. But a time has come that I was getting bored with just writing with this rich black ink. It lacked personality. So, I started looking at some other colors. I really liked the fact that this is is fraud proof and everlasting. This is how I stumbled upon the Bullet Proof Hunter Green. Honestly I didn’t purchase this ink. My brother did for his new pen – But I just had to take a sample of this and try it out myself.

Below you will see my horrible handwriting, and
The Noodler’s Hunter Green! (click image to view Larger View)

I did all the normal test of this ink: Water, Bleach, Peroxide, Alcohol.
5 Min in each one with Water Bath between and I I suspected the ink didn’t fade, run, or disappear. The Index Card I used started to show more wear then the ink did. I also tried this on some old checks I had and the check fell apart but the ink stayed on the paper.

Yes, this is extreme -But I like knowing that if a check I was sending to someone would not get erased and used to wipe out my bank account.

This ink really is a nice rich looking green – I stated using some to write in my journal with and on the cream colored paper it showed up really nice and had a nice look. Now, I have to purchase some for myself.

The only disappointing part of this ink is that it is only available in 1 oz bottles from noodler’s where as the black is available in 3 oz. Plus the purchase price of this is $13.50 From Swisher Pens and the Black is only $9.75 for a 3 oz VS 1 oz of Green.

I did notice that like the other Noodler’s Ink I have used this ink doesn’t feather much if at all and when writing on paper it didn’t bleed thru. Only a few dots where I left the pen down too long.

Conclusion: If you are looking for a quality ink that will last and last on paper. Be it for Fraud Proofing yourself or just wanting to make sure the words you write in your journal will not fade away over time. The Eternal Bullet-Proof Hunters Green Ink is for you. With it Dark Green Color what ever you write will be admired even if your handwriting is a lot like mine.

Tags: analog, Fountain, fountain pen, Pen, Fraud, Security, Ink, Bullet-Proof, Eternal

3 comments.

Levenger 3 x 5 Docking Station Card Holder » « The Digital Secretary

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