Happy National Pencil Day, everyone! What pencil(s) are you using today? So far today, I’ve been using my Blackwing Volume 7 pencil alongside my green Caran d’Ache Fluorescent colored pencil for edits and highlights. This blog is a little different since it’s not really a complete review of products. In addition to sharing the newest Blackwing Volume and reminding you of other pencil favorites, I’ve got some wonderful words directly from Blackwing and from Graf von Faber-Castell. I like what they write so much that I feel the need to share it with you.
First of all, to kick off this Happy National Pencil Day, let’s explore a classic with Graf von Faber-Castell. They write: “Since the 1970’s, National Pencil Day has provided a way to honor the writing utensil that has taught millions how to write the alphabet and how draw straight lines. The humble pencil has been used for everything from complex math and science discoveries to the creation of fine art. The pleasure of writing and drawing with a classic pencil depends a good deal on it being well sharpened.
But where is the best place to keep a sharpener so that it is always to hand? The Perfect Pencil provides a simple but elegant answer: just where it is needed, on the pencil itself, built into the protective cap that also serves to extend the pencil in use. The Perfect Pencil is a finely fluted pocket pencil of hardness B lead. It’s ideal for writing and sketching. It comes with a protective cap, which can be attached as an extender and contains a sharpener. There’s an eraser at the end of the pencil.“ Enjoy the original Perfect Pencil, or go big with their Magnum Perfect Pencil.
Secondly, it wouldn’t be a happy National Pencil Day without Caran d’Ache. Their pencils are exquisite. I’m a huge fan of their La Maison series. These scented pencils are worth the investment. You can instantly feel the quality wood as you pick up the pencil. Then the Caran d’Ache Maxi Fluorescent colored pencils are wonderful supplements to regular graphite pencils. Caran d’Ache Wood Pencils are made from the highest quality woods in the Swiss forests. Made from “Swiss Certified” wood, these are carefully sourced and show great respect for the environment.
The Blackwing pencils are in a league of their own. Here’s what they wrote about journaling suggestions: “Making putting pencil to paper part of your daily routine can not only help you get organized, it can also provide a boost to your mental and emotional health. Starting can be challenging, but journaling is a personal exercise with no wrong way to do it. The key is to slow down, be with your thoughts, and create a healthy and sustainable habit.”
Check out the newest Volumes – the Blackwing Volume 20. It’s a tribute to tabletop gaming. Not only do they have a pencil, but also a point guard and legal pad of paper. The types of games we play and the way we play them have evolved. Some of the earliest tabletop games – like chess, mancala, and senet – were games of strategy. Today, math, language, storytelling, and more help forge unique gameplay experiences for countless different games.
With just a pencil, notebook, and a set of dice, you can become a real estate tycoon, a wordsmith, or an adventurer on a quest. You can team with others to solve a mystery, or build the ultimate baseball team to crush the competition. The only limit is your imagination… and the rules of the game, of course.
Blackwing Volume 20 celebrates tabletop games and the cherished moments they can create. Each pencil features a raised polyhedron design inspired by gaming dice and firm graphite that is perfect for keeping track of hit points, or tallying a final score.
Finally, Palomino Blackwing Colors 12 Pack Created specifically for people seeking creative balance away from the daily grind. Blackwing COLORS feature a unique soft, smooth, Japanese color core made specifically for coloring. It’s unlike any other color pencil core we’ve tried, making it easy to lay down just the right amount of color. Each pencil also features the same comfortable semi-hexagonal barrel as our graphite pencils and a design inspired by Blackwing’s heritage.
