Merlins Tower

Guide to Writing in Elvish - Free Online Tutorial

Posted on January 29th, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Analog, Anything Else, Art, Communication, Drawing, Free, Freeware, Hack, Journaling, Movies, Sketching, Tutorial, Weird Stuff.

Had a long hard week and for some fun I learned a new language - well only learned how to write in Elvish. Ever see those fancy scrolls in Lord of the Rings or any of the other movies / books / games that have Elvish Language written on them? Well This web page has a quick and easy guide on how to convert any english writing in very artistic and fancy elvish writing. Well To the left is my first time trying to write Merlins Tower in Elvish. It really is pretty easy to follow along and accomplish. I can see doing this with a nice broad nibbed fountain pen or a wide italic cut nib. I didn't have any of my wide nibs with me so I had to make due with what I had at hand. This was accomplished with my art book using a find sharpie marker to get the nice broad strokes. (I filled in the lines I drew) I really want to try this out with some of my calligraphy pens when I have a free moment. This guide can be printed out for ease of use. This would be pretty good for making your own scrolls and Mystical Books. Or if you just want to hide what you are writing.

Well thats all for today - Enjoy - Stay Warm and enjoy some nice tobacco in your pipe - You know I am. 8 :-?  <– Merlin Smoking a Pipe  

Technorati Tags: calligraphy, handwriting, fountain, pen, fountain+pen, ink, art, elvish, lord, of, the, rings, scroll, writing

4 comments.

Just Found - Tornado Elite Pencil

Posted on January 7th, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Analog, Art, Fountain Pens, Gadgets, Journaling, Leather, Miquelrius, Office, Photography, Sketching.

I totally forgot that I even owned this pencil The Retro 51 Tornado Elite Pencil - I was received this Mechanical Pencil over 2 Years Ago and I thought I has lost this forever when one day it just dissapeared.

But so I happened to be digging in one of my Photography bags and low and behold this was stuck at the bottom just waiting to be found again. I really like this Mechanical Pencil as it was so classy looking but has an aire about itself.

The one I received was the Stainless Steel Version with a beautiful matte finish to it. The clip is very strong and will hold this pencil in place where ever you put it. (Unless You don't clip it to anything like me and Don't check the bottom of the bag )

I bought this to go along with my Business Card / reporter style notebook (Another Gift as well). I was using this to take notes and sketches while shooting some photographs. It was the prefect size too only 3.5 Inches long and clipped to the Reporter Notebook Easily and it stayed in place.

What I really liked about it was the Lead Size. This Pencil Requires a 1.1mm Lead which is a much heavier line then the standard .5mm or .7 Mechanical Pencils. Plus I loved the fact that this was a twist knob top to advance the lead. This is just one very stylish looking mechanical pencil. I was upset when I could not find this pencil anymore (well more possibly upset over the cost of it and that I only had it several months)

The Current price of this Retro 51 Elite Pencil is $14.95 with a few extra leads. It was just the right price. Not too expensive but still not cheap.

I think I will be using this again for quick sketches I make and ideas. Plus this clips onto my Leather Jacket I made for my Miquelrius Journal nicely So I can have both Fountain Pen and Pencil within Easy Access.

The only drawback is that it doesn't come with an eraser built onto this pencil. So, if you need to erase something you need to carry an eraser pen with you. This doesn't bother me as I like to doodle and draw with it thus I don't need the eraser portion.

Can be Bought as "The Writers Edge" 

Technorati Tags: Mechanical, Pencil, Retro+51, Elite, Office, p0rn, gift, lead, pencil, drawing, sketching

0 comments.

The Ink Free Writing Instrument!

Posted on January 2nd, 2007 by Merlin.
Categories: Analog, Anything Else, Art, Communication, Craft, Fountain Pens, Gadgets, Journaling, Sketching.

The Metal Stylus Ink Free Pencil - It is made of Stainless Steel Alloy and is about 3.15 inches long. Grand Illusions from Cryers Hill in the UK has this Pencil for sale which will last almost forever (Or Until you loose it).

This type of pencil is one of the oldest forms of writing instruments used by many of the great thinkers and artists starting in the Medieval and Renaissance - They used a tool with a nib made of silver, lead, gold or bronze, to do what is called SilverPoint / MetalPoint. Metalpoint artwork is known through out the world. Below is one of the most famous metalpoint drawings.

Leonardo Da Vinci - Virtuvian Man

Unlike the metailpoint nibs of the past which needs a rough surface to help the metal oxidize on the paper this pencil only requires normal paper or copy paper to make its permanent mark as seen below. I can see using this to write in your journal as this makes it permanent with very limited ways to erase this mark. 

For addtional Info on Silverpoint you need to checkout SilverPoint Web - With some beautiful creations in their gallery. But MetalPoint Drawings are not just left for the master of old but there are many masters of this artwork today. You need to check out Illusions Magazine and artwork of the Late Dennis James Martin. (More on Dennis Martin - Artnet - ASKArt.)

TAGS: ART silverpoint metalpoint nib nibs leonardo da vinci Leonardo+Da+Vinci Silver+Point Metal+Point Inkless Pen Pencil Stainless Steel Stainless+Steel

1 comment.

Dust Art

Posted on August 27th, 2006 by Merlin.
Categories: Art, Craft, Sketching, Weird Stuff.

Yes you  read that right - This beautifully painted artwork was done on the back of a car.

Scott Wade using a very different canvas Automobile Windows covered in dust and road grime.
He creates them using fingers, paint brushes, chewed popsicle sticks, and more.

I love trying to sketch and these sketches/drawing/paintings by Scott Wade are amazing. This type of art is unbelievable for the amount of time put into this, and  that once the rain comes or these people take their car to the wash these works of are gone forever.

Technorati Tags: skeching, art, design, dust, painting

0 comments.

MiquelRius Journals on Sale: 20% off

Posted on August 3rd, 2006 by Merlin.
Categories: Art, Fountain Pens, 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.

Esterbrook Fountain Pen - Some History and….

Posted on July 21st, 2006 by Merlin.
Categories: Art, Fountain Pens, Sketching.

As you may know from a previous post I just purchased several pens via eBay - One of the pens I purchased was Manufactured by Esterbrook.

First I would Like to give you a little history lesson on the Esterbrook Pen Company:

Richard Esterbrook who was a stationer by trade opened a factory at the foot of Cooper Street in Camden NJ (Opens Google Map of Cooper Street Today) in 1856.

First known as the United States Steel Pen Manufacturing Company - Later to be renamed the Esterbrook Steel Pen Manufacturing Company.

It was opened with only 15 workers - 5 of which were taken from a competing pen manufacturer (Corporate Brain Drain was even happening way back in 1856).

At this time there were only 4 pen companies in the United States and 2 of them were located in Camden, NJ. (FYI: C. Howard Hunt Pen Company - at 7th and State Streets was the other Camden Pen Company)

At the pinnacle of the Esterbrooks run - They would have over 450 employees working daily and would produce over 600,000 pen a day) - quite a few pens.

The Esterbrook company did how ever move it operations in 1964 to an industrial park off Rt 70 in Cherry Hill.

Then in November of 1967 Esterbrook merged with Venus Pen Company of New York and then by 1969 the Venus-Esterbrook Phased out the Cherry Hill Operations.

Various Notes of Interest:
The average price of an Esterbrook Pen was Only $1.50 And by using the Relative Value Chart from the EH.Net’s (What’s Is it Relative Value) $1.50 in 1938 would be worth about $20.73 today based on the Consumer Price Index.

Some Users of the Esterbrook:
Carl Barks - Famous Disney Cartoonist who drew for Disney Comic Books for three decades invented Uncle Scrooge among other Disney Characters drew his cartoons with an Esterbrook No. 356 art and drafting pen.

Plus

Everett Peck - Another Cartoonist, and Illustrator and the creator of Duckman draws his cartoons and illustrations with an Esterbrook Fountain Pen with a no. 048 Falcon Nib.

Nib and Pen Info:
This Esterbrook.net Website - Has Scans of the various Instruction Sheets and Nib Chart - Plus they have more details of all the various pens and some pens for sale.

The Vintage Pen Website has another nice Nib Chart Scan showing usage and what the nib would look like.

Tags: Esterbrook Pens, Fountain Pen, Fountain, Pen, Disney, Carl Barks, Everett Peck, Duckman, Nibs, Camden, NJ, New Jersey

1 comment.

Leather Travel Journal - Keeping it all together

Posted on June 21st, 2006 by Merlin.
Categories: Art, Fountain Pens, Gadgets, Journaling, Leather, Sketching, Uncategorized.

The Authentic Model Leather Travel Journal - While I was out working on a consulting job I ran into a paper store I never been to before. I was browsing around and came across this luxurious wallet / journal keeper. The price at the shop was $125 - more then I wanted to pay for something like this now matter how nice it is. (Hey, I could get a couple of fountain pens for that price) So when I got home I decided to do some research on this product. Boy it was hard to find as I didn’t write down the name correctly. The company that makes this is Authentic Models. They describe this as a “shamelessly rich and luxurious wallet complete with leather bound journal, credit card slots, and even room for a blackberry or iPod.“

I have to agree with them - it is a really nice leather wallet. I love the rich feeling buttery soft leather they used. The black leather is accented with a beautiful red leather. It really gave it that luxurious look and feel.
Inside there is room to store a nice size journal (a Leather bound one comes with it) and there are a few pockets. One of which you can use to store a few fountain pens or one with a couple of other writing instruments like a highlighter or pencil your choice. There is also a back pocket that allow you to store a few index card or notes that you have taken. and in front of that you have a place to store your ID and a few credit cards.

Tags: analog, DIYPlanner, elegant, fountain pen, Gadget, GTD, HipsterPDA, Indexcard, Journal, Lifehack, Office Supply Porn, Organization, Organizer, paper

0 comments.

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