Creative designs in stationery have reached a whole new level in recent times, including an eco-pencil which contains seeds for sprouting! The Sprout pencil is made of cedar, but instead of lead, it houses graphite and clay. The pencil top looks pretty standard at first glance, but it’s actually a small capsule containing three seeds. […]
Demand for coloured pencils has rocketed over the past few years – but enthusiastic kids with their colouring books are not the main reason. No, it’s stressed-out adults who have been buying themselves huge sets of pencil crayons, so that they can relax from their workaholic lifestyles! The adult colouring craze really took off in […]
Which do you prefer, a pen or a pencil? Your preference may depend on your personality and personal style: eco-warriors and artists often love pencils, while top CEOs and big celebrities generally lean towards pens. Let’s get to the point about the virtues of the pencil first: It’s made of natural substances- wood and graphite- […]
It seemed like a good idea when a youth welfare organisation in New York decided to hand out pencils printed with an anti-drugs slogan: TOO COOL TO DO DRUGS. But the organisers of the health education campaign had failed to think about the consequences of sharpening the pencil, which converted the slogan to COOL TO […]
Do you get frustrated when you try to sharpen your pencil and then end up breaking the graphite? Most people who like to draw have had this experience a few times. That’s why the work of Dalton Ghetti is so amazing: he carves tiny mini-sculptures using the tips of graphite pencils – and even though […]
Did you know that the rubber we use for pencil erasers was first used by the Olmecs, an ancient Mexican civilisation, 3500 years ago? The Olmecs made rubber from a the ‘milk’ of various trees and plants, including the Castilla elastic tree and the Ipomoea alba plant, and produced broad, flexible strips which they wound […]
The innocent pencil, a symbol of artistry and early childhood scribblings, has also been ascribed a darker side over the years. Back in the 1980s, Stephen King wrote a novel The Dark Half, in which a writer called Thad Beaumont is at war with his alter ego. Beaumont, who usually wrote his stories using a […]
You probably thought the purpose of a piece of bread was for eating – but years ago stale bread was used as an eraser for black lead pencil marks. Art students and architects were advised to make light outlines with a soft pencil, and rub out errors with an Indian rubber or crumb of […]
What does a dog wearing headphones and a monkey wearing shades have in common with a vintage rose or polka dot design? Answer: they are all pencil case designs currently on offer from a top UK retailer. So why do the British love to snap up snazzy pencil cases? Practically every other European country and […]
If you enjoy painting and drawing, then you’re probably into pencils in a big way – and may have created a work of art, however humble, with the famous Derwent artists’pencils. Derwent pencils are produced by the Cumberland Pencil Company in what was the UK’s first pencil factory, dating back to 1832. Graphite had been […]
How to plan the office Christmas party Whether you count down the days, or desperately scrabble around for an excuse not to go, the office Christmas party is an event on almost every company’s calendar. So, how do you plan a party that everyone will enjoy? It’s a tricky balance to get Bob from Accounts […]
Top tips to improve your time management skills Despite what people say, time is not a commodity. It cannot be traded, expanded or reduced. It is fixed. Our perception of time, however, is another concept. How often do you think at 4pm “Where has the day gone?” and go into panic mode to try to […]
Planning in business is essential Everything from the monthly sales drive to a new product launch or project needs planning. It promotes joined-up thinking and good decision-making throughout the whole organisation. “A goal without a plan is just a wish”, observed the famous writer Antoine de Saint-Exupery, summing up a key business principle. Each business […]
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