The Blog

Discover the fascinating world of pencil lead hardness and its impact on your writing and drawing experience. From the soft and dark B range ideal for artistic endeavors to the middle-ground graphite grades perfect for everyday writing, there's a pencil for every purpose. Dive into the H range for technical drawing, where the harder graphites excel in producing precise, fine lines. Explore the nuances of different pencil formulations and discover the smoothness and flexibility offered by pencils like the Staedtler Mars Lumograph. Unsure which pencil to choose?

Discover the importance of travel journals in preserving your travel memories and explore popular travel journal options like the Fox & Fallow travel diary and Traveler's Company leather journal.

Keeping a travel journal is a great way to keep a record of your journeys and any thoughts and ideas that may pop into your head along the way! Often in our busy lives and as more events become part of our lived experiences, the details of some of our great adventures may begin to fade and blur amongst the complex tapestry of time. If you have perhaps felt this way, then starting to write a journal on your travels may be just what you need.Not only does writing things down help you commit them to memory, but you will create yourself a kind of memento for your trips; something you can always keep to remind yourself of all the sights and activities, and if it so pleases you, the journal could even become something of a scrapbook - a place to store photos, admission tickets, perhaps a playbill or whatever other bits and bobs you may collect along the way.While you could use any notebook or journal for this purpose, many brands produce specific travel journals, such as the Fox & Fallow travel diary, which has many useful features. Each page of the diary has a header for you to write the date, city and country and at the beginning of the diary, there’s a section to write flight and accommodation details, restaurant and cafe addresses, a packing checklist, expenses and has a list of currencies and timezones and more! But if you’re looking for something more self-guided and freeform, the Traveler’s Company has got you covered, quite literally! Their design begins with a hardy, genuine leather cover that can surely survive a bit of globetrotting; the cover takes notebook inserts that come in a few different sizes and styles, allowing you to truly customise your journal to your liking. Also, as an international brand, you can find new inserts to add in many major cities around the world.So it’s simple, really! Get on out there, into the world, and take the time to record all of those wondrous moments and commit them to memory (& history!) through the art of Travel Journaling. - Luke

How to Write a Heartfelt Letter to Your Friend As we navigate the ups and downs of life, there are few things more precious than a true friend who is always there for us. Whether it's sharing a laugh, lending a listening ear, or offering a shoulder to cry on, our friends provide a source of comfort and support that is truly invaluable. In this blog post, we'll show you how to write a heartfelt letter to your friend, using prompts that will help you reflect on your relationship, express your gratitude, and deepen your connection. 1. What Reminded You of Your Friend Lately? Begin by reflecting on what reminded you of your friend lately. Perhaps you saw a photo of the two of you, or you heard a song that brought back memories of a special moment you shared. Whatever it is, use that as a starting point to reflect on the role your friend has played in your life, and how they have enriched your experiences. Shop our beautiful range of letter writing paper 2. Write Down Your Favourite Shared Memory (in Vivid Detail!) Now, think back to your favourite shared memory with your friend, and write about it in vivid detail. Recall the sights, sounds, and emotions of that moment, and reflect on how it shaped your friendship. Perhaps it was a time when you overcame a challenge together, or a moment when you realised just how much you meant to each other. By revisiting this memory, you can deepen your connection and reflect on the growth you've experienced as friends. Shop awesome pens 3. Name Five Things You Love About Your Friend Next, take some time to reflect on what you love most about your friend. Consider their unique qualities, their strengths, and the way they make you feel. Be specific and heartfelt in your reflections, highlighting the things that make your friend truly special to you. By doing so, you can remind them of their value and inspire them to continue being the amazing person they are. 4. What Do You Love and Miss Most About Your Friend? In addition to reflecting on what you love about your friend, take some time to think about what you miss most when they're not around. Perhaps it's their infectious laughter, their unwavering support, or their ability to lift your spirits when you're feeling down. By sharing these thoughts with your friend, you can deepen your connection and remind them of the unique role they play in your life. 5. Write About the Very First Time You Met Your Friend Finally, reflect on the very first time you met your friend, and how your relationship has evolved since then. Consider the moments of joy, the challenges you've faced together, and the growth you've experienced as individuals and as friends. By revisiting this moment, you can deepen your appreciation for your friend and reflect on the journey you've taken together. Conclusion Writing a letter to your best friend can be a powerful way to reflect on your relationship, express your gratitude, and deepen your connection. By taking the time to reflect on your memories, your feelings, and your journey together, you can create a heartfelt letter that speaks to the true depth of your friendship. So, take some time to sit down and write a letter to your best friend today, and let them know just how much they mean to you. Shop our beautiful range of letter writing paper

Looking to add a touch of elegance and charm to your crafts or correspondence? Learn how to make a perfect wax seal using wax beads, a burner, a candle, and a spoon! With easy-to-follow steps, you can create a masterpiece that's uniquely yours. From choosing your favourite wax beads to pressing with passion and tidying up with finesse, this fun and rewarding DIY project is sure to leave a lasting impression. So get ready to unleash your creativity and make your mark with a stunning wax seal!

Erasable Pens - How Do They Work? Around here at Honest Paper, we love our Legami Erasable Pens; with their veritable menagerie of animal themes and colours, they’re sure to put a smile on the face of any stationery lover! But we got to thinking - what makes these pens tick? How can ink be erasable? Our hypothesis was that the heat from the friction of the eraser was what erased the ink. Seems obvious. But to test this heat theory, we wrote some things down in a notebook and left it in a  hot car for a few days. Lo and behold, once we retrieved the notebook, we saw that the writing was indeed gone.  That wasn’t enough for us though, we wondered, if heat alone can erase the ink, can it be returned by low temperatures? Why, yes it can; we subjected the notebook to the cold embrace of a freezer and after a little while, the writing had reappeared like magic! So the ink doesn’t really erase, what’s at play here - is it truly sorcery or something else? Well, the mechanism of erasure depends on the kind of ink the pen uses. Back in the day, erasable pens used a kind of rubber cement, which acted like a liquid when the pressure of writing was applied. It could be removed immediately after writing, but after a few hours it would harden and become permanent. Since the late nineties most erasable pens use what’s called ‘thermochromic’ ink. This special ink uses a fancy, little bit of chemistry to make it seem like the ink has been erased. The pigment contains something called Leuco dye, which, when it is chemically bonded to certain molecules, has colour and looks like regular ink. But when it is heated above a certain temperature (usually around 60°C), it reacts with a special, temperature sensitive compound, which breaks the bonds, rendering the dye invisible to the naked eye. And as you might expect, when you make it really cold, the bonds can reform, bringing its colour back into the world! So, there you go - a little bit of the science that goes into erasable pens! While, they’re cool and useful for everyday writing, but just remember never to write or sign any important documents with them. You may find that your signature comes and goes with the seasons… Shop Erasable Pens Written by our awesome team member Luke :) 

When it comes to choosing a writing tool, there are a lot of options to consider. Two popular choices are rollerball pens and ballpoint pens. While both types of pens serve the same purpose, there are some key differences between them that can make a big difference in the writing experience. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at rollerball pens and ballpoint pens, compare their pros and cons, and help you decide which type of pen might be best for your needs. Whether you're a professional writer, a student, or just someone who enjoys jotting down notes, this comparison will give you a better understanding of the differences between these two popular types of pens. Shop Ballpoint Pens  Shop Rollerball Pens How does a pen work? Both ballpoints and rollerballs, as the names suggest, apply ink to a surface via a tiny, rolling ball in the tip or ‘nib’ of the pen. Gravity brings the ink down to the ball and as you write, the ball moves around, simultaneously applying the ink to the writing surface, while also allowing new ink to meet the surface of the ball.  So, while ballpoints and rollerballs work by the same mechanism, the major difference is in the type of ink that they use; ballpoints use a thicker oil-based ink and rollerballs use water-based ink, similar to that of fountain pens. History The original patent for the first ballpoint pen was made in 1888, by the American Lawyer, John J. Loud. He wanted a pen that could write on rough materials such as wood & leather, which a fountain pen was simply not suited for. His patent contained a rotating steel ball placed in a socket. Though his pen was able to write on the rough surfaces that he intended, it was far too coarse for typical paper. The ballpoint, as we know it today, was created by Hungarian journalist László Bíró in the 1930s. He became frustrated with the messiness and slow-drying, smudge-prone ink of the pens of the day. He and his brother György devised an oil-based, quick-drying, paste ink similar to that used for newspapers. They combined their new ink and the ball-in-socket design, and thus the ballpoint pen was born and has since become the most common writing instrument in the world due to its low cost, ease of use and convenience.  Following World War II, ballpoint pens were introduced to Japan by Americans, and in 1949, Japanese ink manufacturer, OHTO, began developing Japan’s first ballpoint. In 1963, OHTO’s founder Nakata Tozaburo, thought about a pen that was as easy to use as a ballpoint, but had the flow and smoothness of a fountain pen. So by using a less viscous, water-based ink, with the ballpoint design, the world’s first rollerball appeared. Pros and Cons The most obvious advantage of a ballpoint is its cost. Ballpoint pens are often very affordable and accessible and while some are refillable, many are disposable. Another big advantage is its oil-based ink, which is quick-drying and due to its viscosity, less likely to leak and can be used to write on many different types of surfaces.  And what about rollerballs? While the rollerball is generally more costly and not as versatile as the ballpoint, the water-based ink offers a different, arguably greater writing experience. Since the ink is less viscous, more flows from the pen, allowing the pen to glide across the page more easily, allowing for smoother writing and also requiring less force to produce a line, which may reduce hand strain from writing for long periods. It also usually results in a darker, ‘richer’, more consistent line.    The downside to this ink is that because of the low viscosity and higher rate of flow, the ink will run out more quickly and it has a tendency to ‘bleed’ through low-quality or thin paper and has a minimally higher drying time compared to ballpoint pens, which could lead to smudging.   The ink is not the only factor that contributes to the higher price of rollerballs. Often, they have superior build quality and are designed to be long-lasting and durable and usually have the option to be refilled. Rollerballs generally have sturdier, weightier and a more ‘premium’ or classic feel to their construction and appearance. Many fountain pen manufacturers produce rollerball versions of their most popular fountain pen models, such the LAMY Safari and Kaweco Sport and even in some of the mid to high-end models such as the Kaweco Student, so the quality of these pens cannot be matched by most ballpoints. Some of our favourite rollerballs are the $25 Fox & Fallow Rollerballs. They are smooth to write with while affordable AND refillable! Summary Ballpoint Pros: Affordable and readily available Thicker ink dries more quickly and smudges less Versatile; can write on any paper and many surfaces Cons Requires more pressure to produce lines Lines produced can be inconsistent Often disposable, lower build-quality or uses cheaper materials Rollerball Pros Writes more smoothly and with more consistent, darker lines Requires less pressure to write with, potentially reducing the risk of hand cramping and strain Often higher build quality, more durable and can be refilled Cons Typically more expensive than ballpoints The thinner ink can ‘bleed’ through lower quality paper, dries slightly less quickly than ballpoints and can run out more quickly  What do you think? What is your favourite?  Shop All Pens

‘With the world changing so fast and the loss of nature on a global scale - it just inspires me to cherish all the beauty and diversity that we have and to work harder to become more sustainable and share everything I can. I know you love nature too and I'm so grateful for your love and support.’ — Apothecary Artist As you may have seen, over these last few months, we've shared alot about the much anticipated Daymaker Stationery x Apothecary Artist 'Floriography' collection. So far, the range includes little notepads, note cards and some original paintings but there’s plenty more to come! Yes, the series is gosh darn beautiful but there’s a whole lot more to it that you may not know!  At the very heart of this series is one Dr Lewis, or as you may already know her Apothecary Artist. Her work focuses on the delicate balance of science and history and how it is manifested in the very genesis of fine art; it's medium. She aims to bring historical painting methods and recipes to modern evolution through the lens of sustainability and a deep love of nature.  ‘…I make art, I draw and paint, study, research and explore the recipes and techniques once used by artists throughout the centuries. Sometimes feeling more like a chef than a modern-day painter, I work with deliciously luscious ingredients eggs, vodka, walnuts, pomegranates and more. Every day in the studio is an exhilarating learning experience, as I explore the chemistry, the Botanics of painting and turn it into new art.’  In order to understand Apothecary Artists’ genius and how deeply holistic this 'Floriography' series is, we must understand where it began.  Dr Lewis’ life’s work began as a child travelling through Europe with her family. She had fallen in love with the old paintings and was eager to learn to create art like the greats. Like any aspiring artist, she went to art school. Only to discover a lack of education regarding historic art methods and their mediums.  So, she taught herself.  It became a lifelong journey of discovering wonderful ingredients that represented the time. She found layers and layers of history in the materials, techniques and skills, that would otherwise be lost. Each ingredient and recipe are clues to the synergy society and culture have with art.  And as a beautiful byproduct of her research, she found that these methods were so much more gentle on the planet. Being free from synthetics that end up in our ecosystem and damage the very plants we speak of, on a huge scale.  The series celebrates Dr Lewis’ research. For each flower represented, she created a natural pigment using said flower as the main ingredient. For example, the beautiful soft copper colour used to paint the Banksia was made from Banksia stems.  Floriography, for those curious, is ‘cryptological communication' through the use of flower arrangements or simply put; the language of flowers. Traditionally, however, floriography uses flowers from the Northern Hemisphere to form symbolism.  Dr Lewis wanted to create a floriography series that represented not only the traditional Northern Hemisphere symbology but Australian and Indigenous heritage and culture too. So, each posy became a kind of poem...  Banksia: protection, regeneration, discovery.Chamomile sunray: energy in action, patience, ingenuity.Lilli Pilli: friend of birds, you have my love, inspiration. Grevillea: impulsive acts of love, sweetness, abundance.Wattle: unity, national pride, resilience. While it is so special to share language, it is often the subtle representations of language that mean the most. We love everything about this collaboration and hope you will too! Browse the collection online here.