notebookism

Cool Stuff: Semanote

Here's a cool notebook thing:

" Put your messages in digital stickers, print them and tag the physical world. Equip your cell phone with the semacode reader and start deciphering your friends' messages."

Semanote
By Stan Wiechers

LINK

[via Paper Bits/Thanks Joy!]

As seen on eBay: "RARE ORIGINAL 1936 JOURNAL HERSHAW & COLLINS"

Liz sent us this link to an eBay auction for the handwritten journal of two African American women who traveled around the world in the 1930s. A pretty fascinating read - if you're up for the bid.

"THIS IS THE ORIGINAL AUTHENTIC HAND WRITTEN JOURNAL OF FLAURIENCE LAURIETTA SENGSTACKE COLLINS CO. AUTHOR OF THE BOOK TITLED "AROUND THE WORLD WITH HERSHAW AND COLLINS". PUBLISHED IN 1938 BY MEADOR PUBLISHING COMPANY.

THIS IS INCREDIBLE AND IMPORTANT DOCUMENTATION OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE IN PARTICULAR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALES EXPERIENCE.

 

    THESE TWO SPECTACULAR WOMEN, "FAYE MC KEENE HERSHAW & FLAURIENCE SENGSTACKE COLLINS" WERE PIONEERS AND ADVENTURES IN A WORLD AT THE TIME NOT OPEN TO WOMEN IN GENERAL LET ALONE AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN...." 

RARE ORIGINAL 1936 JOURNAL HERSHAW & COLLINS
eBay Item # 320009724574

A Prayer Book's Secret

"Why would anyone pay $2 million for a tattered book of Christian prayers from 1200 A.D.? The anonymous philanthropist who coughed up the sum in 1998 wasn't lured by the holy writings. He was after the faint ink beneath -- mathematical theorems and diagrams from the Greek scholar Archimedes, who lived more than 2,000 years ago. It's the oldest known copy of his work, but the writings were barely legible. But now, a new restoration technique may make it possible to recover all of Archimedes' original text...."

A Prayer Book's Secret: Archimedes Lies Beneath

by David Kestenbaum 

All Things Considered/NPR

Listen

Notebook as Art Objects

"100 empty composition notebooks sculpturally composed and nailed to the floor of fisher gallery. part of the "overprint clear" show in feb. 2005 "

By Amanada/Sporifice @ Notebookism/FLICKR
© All rights reserved. Used with permission.
...
Thanks everyone for your help in getting Notebookism off to a great start. Enjoy the weekend while I nurse this nasty tonsil infection:( See you on Monday!

What’s the Difference Between a Journal & a Diary?

"From my own research it seems both words, at their origin; mean simply a written daily record. So, in my opinion I feel it’s open for the user to decide. I like the way journal sounds, but it doesn’t bother me if people ask if I keep a diary. I’d be happy to call what I do either, because to me it’s more about what I actually write than what I call it.

I can call this process many different things, but I do know it works for me. The act of sitting down to note my mood, my surroundings, my day, my anger or joy, my failings and successes, helps me make sense of my life...."

Heather Goldsmith
Visit her blog. "A Creative Journal"

Image: Lost in Scotland @ Notebookism/FLICKR

The Sherman Record Book

Old notebooks are always fascinating, like this one from a collection of Shaker records. Genealogist Susan Pierot writes:

" I have in my possession several small notebooks that have been in the Sherman family (my ancestors) of Portsmouth and Newport, Rhode Island, since they were actively used.... Two notebooks contain mostly vital records of family members. A third is a smaller leather bound book that seems to have been kept at hand, or in a pocket, for notes over a number of years."

Susan Pieroth
Visit rootsweb.com

Rhodia

From our files we found this June of '05 post from Book of Joe. Back then, he said these were extremely hard to find. Well, not anymore.



"Rhodia was founded in 1920 in Lyon; it's named after the Rhone River.
What's so great about Rhodia pads?

1) They're beautiful, with their orange covers and backs
2) They're bound across the top, with perforations at the top of each page to enable you to tear pages out neatly and cleanly
3) The backs are very heavy cardboard for ease of writing
4) The paper is high quality white vellum with a graph paper pattern, letting you put one letter in each box for an almost magical transformation of your notes and words into something that actually appears of substance..."



Joe had one question though.

"What is it about the French and their association of the color orange with luxury, anyway?

Book of Joe

Blank Page # 001

Blank Page, an Open Thread.
Discussion # 001

Today (and every Wednesday thereafter) we're starting a little tradtition here at Notebookism. "Blank Page" is your chance to ask, answer and discuss anything notebook-related.  Keep it nice, keep it relevant.

All commenters are eligible for a raffle to win a set of 6 Special 1" Notebookism buttons. 3 winners will be picked this week. Announcement will be made on Monday, August 1st.

The Renaissance Chameleon

Having been a freelance artist and writer for over 20 years now, journaling was a natural step in my evolution. I have always been one to doodle out ideas when I made notes, but there is something encouraging about being able to share it all with the world. I find that working in my journal lowers my stress level and it has a very 'freeing' feeling to it; anytime I feel completely swamped I pull away for 15 minutes and sit with my journals and just doodle whatever is in my head. Any project that combines both my love of art and my love of the written word is fulfilling for me.

Journaling has even helped me on the business side of things. I keep journals now for all of my clients. I have a journal for each client with all of their preferences, business notes, account information, lists, all of it; I've been able to stay more organized and focused since I've started them. I can also pick or customize journals so that they are easily recognizable and visually appealing; for example, one client is a local coffeehouse so their journal has rich brown and earthy colors with cups all over it.

I have a few projects that I am journaling out currently and cannot wait to share them with everyone. I wholeheartedly believe that journaling has benefits on all levels, emotionally, mentally and physically.

Ana Maria Seaton, Renmeleon
Visit her website, "The Renaissance Chameleon"
View her photosets @ FLICKR

Indiana Jones and the Grail Diary

We would be remiss not to mention one of the most famous notebook users of all - Indiana Jones.

"The Grail Diary is one of the most sought after props from the Indiana Jones Trilogy. It was written by Henry Jones (Indy's Father) during forty years of research, traveling etc. The journal is filled with clues to the whereabouts of the lost relic. Found within this work of art are notes, sketches, maps, all the musings of an intellectual in pursuit of a legend of history. "every clue he followed, every discovery he made, the complete account of his quest for the Holy Grail" as Indy sais in the movie.

The Lucasfilm Archives states that the book measures 17x10cm, but I know there is a one cm error so the correct measurments are 16x10 and 3 cm wide.

In 1989, after the film was released, a Computer Game was made, and with it came a copy of the Grail Diary. This diary, despite beeing a very bad replica (it has only 64 pages of text and five or six drawings) is often used by replica makers to complete their diaries, as it gives a very interesting account of Henry's Quest, mentioning his feelings, thoughts and adventures."

More at IndyGear

[Thanks Chris!]