On Board the London Underground

Choo choo! Our London Underground pencils have been awarded a royalty license registration number by the Transport of London. Hence, the pencils are a licensed product by Transport of London.

In terms of design, we are allowed to include the iconic Underground Roundel logo, and use the specific New Johnston font that is used specifically for London Underground onto our pencils and packaging.

Moving forward, all the new packaging of the London Underground pencils will contain the registration number. Our awarded number is Transport for London Registered User No. 15/5062.

Thank you to the Commercial Licensing team of the Transport of London for guiding us through the royalties process. Yay!

Carsten Höller : Decision

There's always plenty to do in London, but often requires some planning ahead, especially when a large number of activities require advanced booking.

Decisions! Decisions! Carsten Höller's exhibition titled "Decision" is definitely the best decision to plan ahead as an activity to do this summer. (We tried on a June Saturday to see if we can get last minute tickets - no luck). There's a silver lining : soaking up the open air market atmosphere, along with a Pimm's and a stroll along the banks! 

Photo courtesy of Hayward Gallery, Southbank Centre for "Carsten Höller : Decision"

The exhibition is never short of FUN and WIT. Ever so engaging that my 12 year old self decided to repossess me again, chuckling with curiosity, wanting to touch everything. As soon as we are allowed to touch something - green lights would definitely flash in my head and hands, gushing "wow" every step I took and of course: pure exhilaration. 

This is truly an immersive exhibition, you can fully engage with the exhibits (or did we transform ourselves as part of the exhibits too)? 

Rarely do we fear of missing out "FOMO", if anything, this will be one of them. So, book your tickets now and don't miss out on the exhibition. It's on from now till 6th September, 2015 at Hayward Gallery, Southbank centre.  

Check out the gift store, that's part of the exhibition is full of very colorful and fun goodies perfectly curated for the exhibition. (There's even chocolate too! Yay!)

We are ever so grateful to Southbank Centre once again. It has been a wonderful collaboration to work together to produce a set of customised pencils sets for such an amazing exhibition! These pencils, namely "Choice Words" are only available at Southbank Centre for limited quantities. Rainbow shades, and meaningful words when making a decision in matte silver foiling. 

If you are unable to make it to the exhibition (which will be a huge shame), you will also be able to pick up these pencils online at the Southbank Centre shop via this link.

Tickety Boo!

P.S. We love every single detail in the exhibition. Don't forget to check out the "Hayward Gallery" building sign on the exterior of the building. Even that has something "changed" to suit the occasion! Delightfully apt.

The Secret Life of The Pencil

Photo courtesy of PaulSmith.co.uk for "The Secret Life of The Pencil" by Alex Hammond . Mike Tinney

This is an open secret that must be shared. From May 20th to June 3rd, the Paul Smith store at 9 Albermarle Street, Mayfair, London, will be hosting an exhibition called "The Secret Life of the Pencil".

"The Secret Life of The Pencil" is a photography exhibition putting a spotlight on the continued use of the humble pencil in an increasingly digital world. 

Stunning (exceedingly detailed photographs) shot by photographer Mike Tinney and creative director Alex Hammond on pencils owned by leading writers, artists, designers such as Sir Paul Smith, Tom Dixon, Stephen Fry will be on display.

Here are snapshots of some of our favourites (photo courtesy of "The Secret Life of the Pencil" http://secretpencils.co.uk). 

Posy Simmonds' Faber Castell Pencil

Sir Paul Smith's mechanical pencil was a gift from Apple Design Chief Sir Jonathan Ive

Tom Dixon's Rexel Blackedge Pencil

During the running of the exhibition, there will be an online auction of some of the photographic prints and some of the pencils in aid of the charity "Children in Crisis".

We absolutely can't wait for the exhibition to open and to see the pictures of different types of pencils in detail, as well as to learn more about the background of the owners of the pencils. 

Details of the exhibition to be penciled in your calendar are as follows :

• "The Secret Life of The Pencil" 
• Date: 20 May - 3 June
• Address: Paul Smith, No. 9 Albermarle Street, Mayfair, London, W1S 4HH

P.S. A selection of our pencils will be stocked at the exhibition in Paul Smith. Yay! 

World Stationery Day

It's World Stationery Day! Hurrah! To mark this date we have taken a witty approach.  

Along with our Venus Flytrap pencil from our English Gardener's Pencil collection, we have styled a photo with a Vintage stapler and staples.

The title of this photograph takes the pun "Venus Flytrap Favorite Food : STAPLES" 😂

Hope you are finding as much fun as we do with stationery! Happy #worldstationeryday!

From the photo above:

1. Vintage Stapler from Youse

2. Venus Flytrap Pencil from English Gardener's Pencil Set

Hurrah! We've Won A Design Award!

Hip hip hooray! We are so happy to be awarded a Bronze Award for our Themed Pencil Set designs by A'Design Award for the category of "Art Materials, Stationery Supplies and Gift Items Design". 

Yay! We are ever so honoured - a huge thank you to A' Design Award team. 

Presented in Italy, A'Design Award is the world's largest design award. The jury panel includes a cross section of design professionals from academics to practitioners internationally including Italy, Spain, France, UK, USA, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, Turkey, Australia and many more other countries.

Our themed pencil sets that were chosen for nomination gift pencil sets that have cohesive themes e.g. London Underground, Cockney Rhyming Slangs, English Biscuits pencils etc. To bind the pencils we have chosen to use a neon acrylic ring that matches the theme. This ring is both used as packaging to bind the pencils, or can be used as a necklace / key ring pendant. 

We are simply over the moon!