Office Products

Celebrating Parker – Watercolors Friday

/ inkspeare / 2 Comments

Cupid must have shot me with a Parker arrow because I have been in love with Parker pens for a long time.  Last evening, I was reminiscing with my aunt about a Parker 51 fountain pen she had; one that I drooled every time I saw.  It was black and silver. As a kid, I used to wait until she was not around and open her chest of drawers, the second drawer, just to glanced at the pen, and if I was particularly adventurous that day, I would quickly take it out, and admired it, for as long as I could.  Yes, I sat down on the floor, at eye level with that second drawer, and took long whiffs at the Parker 51.  My aunt did not remember the pen, that is, until I gave her details on what else was in that drawer – I was five years old at the time.  I don’t own the model because I am trying to find one just like the one my aunt had, and the ones I have seen are above my price range, or in bad shape.  But I continue the quest to find the love of my life – the mint Parker 51 at an affordable price that many other souls covet as well.

My love affair with writing instruments has been since I can remember.  My mother tells me stories of how I used to steal my Dad’s pens when he came to visit me.  The scar under my chin was made by me playing with a pen when I was a toddler (one that I took without permission) and falling, this causing the pen to deeply cut the area under my chin.  A future writer was branded that day, I guess.

Parker has made writing instruments for a long time.  Today, I want to celebrate a website that is a true labor of love, and a rich source of information for Parker pens lovers.  The website is ParkerCollector.com and you can get there by clicking the link.  It is an amazing website created by a Parker collector, Tony Fischier.  You will find the history of almost every Parker pen, amazing pictures, and information about the company as well, and other awesome bits of information.  If you are a Parker lover, this site will be paradise.  You will love this website for sure; I encourage you to visit this amazing site.

My love for writing instruments go beyond pens, it stretches to vintage office equipment as well, but that is another post. I will leave you with pictures of my old dip pens collection (although these are not Parker), including one which I think is from the early 1900’s – also known as a pearl desk holder, made by H.B. Smith Pen Company.  I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Photo by Maria Diaz

Photo by Maria Diaz

Photo by Maria Diaz

Photo by Maria Diaz

Photo by Maria Diaz

Photo by Maria Diaz

 

This is a vintage Parker set, known as Jotter Pardner Set – the closest to my memory of the Parker 51 in looks, although this is a ballpoint pen and mechanical pencil set.

Jotter Pardner Set - Vintage Parker Photo by Maria Diaz

Jotter Pardner Set – Vintage Parker
Photo by Maria Diaz

 

 

Happy Watercolors Friday!

Let Me Let You In On a Secret

/ inkspeare / 2 Comments

All good things must be shared, so I am sharing this bit of information that is great for business owners and authors who work hard at marketing and promoting their business.  I have looked at several print services for some promotional items for my novels – rack cards, pens … and decided to use Vistaprint since they had a variety of items.  Well, I am glad that I chose them because I got so many great coupons and discount offers from them that I could not believe it at first.

To give you an example, on my last 2 orders for promotional items for my business all I had to pay for was the shipping, and I got 10 items free of charge.  I got a lawn sign, 10 sheets of stationery, 25 magnets, 50 rack cards, 140 address labels, 50 rack cards for my business, 50 rack cards for my novel, and another 50 rack cards for my other novel on a separate order.  All these items were free of charge, and all I had to pay for was the shipping.  For small business owners and entrepreneurs, it does not get better than that.  You might be thinking, was I overcharged for shipping? Not at all, shipping was what it usually is, and you can select to receive it sooner, the next day, or in 2 weeks, like I did.  Right now, I have more than 5 coupons between mail and emails with great deals, which I will probably use before they expire.  I am not promoting Vistaprint; I am just letting you know my experience so far, since I know many of you are authors and writers on a tight budget, and it is always good to know where to get the good deals.  I used to print all my promo items by myself – flyers, business cards … but the cost of ink and paper has proven to be more expensive than ordering out, and the printing quality is better.  Adding all these amazing coupons and offers, the cost is considerably less than doing it myself.  I still keep my designs in case one day I run out and need to print something quick.

So far, the quality of items has been great.  I am waiting for these last items to see their quality.  I think it will be great; so far I have been happy with the items .  This is all I wanted to share for today, and I will update you on this with a post and pics, once I get the stuff.

I hope that this post was of use to you.

 

Reminder:

I will be giving away three copies of Ramblings of the Spirit, the first book of the trilogy The Dinorah Chronicles.  To enter for a chance to win one of the three copies, just like my Facebook page (link at the right of the screen on this blog) and that is all you have to do.  I will announce the three winners on May 20, which is the birth date of the person to whom I have dedicated this book – my maternal grandmother.