One of the most beautiful qualities of a pencil is its forgiveness. A mistake made in graphite can be neatly swept away with one of pencil's BFFs - the humble eraser. 

Let's dive into the soft, squishy world of erasers and talk types, purposes and favorites, and determine some guidelines for picking out an eraser to clean up you work. 

A Little Background (which you can read more about in The Pencil Perfect!)

The original, original eraser was actually crusty bread - early graphite users would scratch their mistakes off with stale chunks. In 1770, Joseph Priestly discovered that the elastic gum that came from the bark of the Hevea brasiliensis tree was more effective than yesterday's sandwich for rubbing out mistakes (thus why erasers are still called "rubbers" in many parts of the world). The trend caught on, and eventually Italian pumice was added make erasers more effective due to the abrasive qualities of the pumice combined with the stickiness of the rubber. Pumice is also where the iconic eraser pink color comes from - the substance was a pinkish red, which of course tinged the rubber it was mixed into. Hello, Pink Pearl. 

In 1858 Hyman Lipman patented the first pencil with an attached eraser (or rather, inserted eraser - the eraser was glued inside one end of the pencil, rather than attached with a ferrule), which is considered to be the birthday of the traditional pencil with eraser we have come to know and love - and why we celebrate March 30th as National Pencil Day! 

Eraser Types

Erasers have come a long way since the days of hard bread. Most are made out of synthetic or plasticized materials, but there are still a few natural rubber erasers to be had in the world. 

Natural rubber: These erasers are slightly abrasive, and leave quite a bit of dust behind. Abrasion plus the friction of rubbing act as sort of a broom to pick off particles ground into paper. They are nicely effective for graphite, but do have a tendency to dry out after a while and may not be the gentlest on some papers. But they do have that nostalgic rubber smell!

Synthetic rubber: These are made to mimic the feel of natural rubber, but are made with synthetic compounds and plasticizers, making them cheaper and more widely available than natural rubber. Synthetic erasers tend work similarly to natural rubber, but can be a little less effective. On the bright side, these won't dry out and they tend to make a teeny bit less dust. 

Art Gum: Gum erasers are either made with synthetic rubbers or vulcanized corn oil. These are made to be especially gentle on paper and are great for erasing large areas. They are, however, very very messy as they tend to crumble to pieces when you are erasing, but at least the larger crumbles can be reused.

Plastic: This is where it can get a little complicated and confusing, as there are so many different types of materials and processes to make plastic erasers. They are commonly made with vinyl, polymer or PVC, though there are also non-PVC types that act like plastic but are made with synthetic rubbers. Plastic erasers do not dry out and tend to be fairly gentle on paper and clear graphite and colored pencil away very cleanly. On certain papers (and if the erasers are of cheap quality), plastic erasers can smear graphite around, so you'd need thin edges if you wanted to be very precise. Plastic erasers leave the least amount of dust behind - they actually sort of act as a vacuum and roll the particles into a little ball.

Sand/Ink Erasers: Often made out of rubber mixed with sand or silica, these erasers are the toughest out there - they really are rough enough to scour ink off of paper. That being said, the grittiness of these erasers tears through paper with ease, so they are definitely not all-purpose. These are great, however, for stubborn colored pencil marks.

Kneaded: Commonly found in artists' toolkits, kneaded erasers are made out of very pliable materials and can be shaped to form precise points to erase very small marks. They sort of absorb graphite, making them a good tool for blending, rather than removing. 

A Couple Things to Consider: 

Pressure - Application of pressure is really important with erasers, which I think is a consideration that is often overlooked. Erasers work with friction; the rubbery materials in an eraser get super heated when you apply pressure, which makes them sticky enough to attract and remove graphite particles. My advice: test the eraser out on scratch paper to determine how much pressure is needed for the type of paper and eraser you're working with - you don't want to just smear the graphite around, but you also don't want to push so hard you tear a hole in your masterpiece. 

Application - I just want to get this out of the way: colored pencil can be extremely difficult to erase. Colored pencil pigment can stain the paper, while the wax in the core can sort of bind the color to the sheet. That being said, colored pencil can be a thing to consider when picking out an eraser. Gritty erasers or really high quality plastic erasers work best with colored pencil. If you're working with very soft graphite, I tend to recommend a firm eraser so it doesn't smear too much, but again, a high quality plastic eraser works great here too. For regular, plain old #2 graphite, honestly, just about anything works. 

Precision - Eraser edges can be important too if you're looking to only erase tiny areas. For letter writing and illustration, I prefer a mechanical eraser that contains a very very thin eraser meant for precise erasing, so nothing surrounding the area I'm erasing gets messed up. Big block erasers are really great if you're erasing large areas at once. 

Mess - Dust! So much dust. If you are really, truly looking to avoid sweeping away bits of eraser dust, then you definitely need a high-quality plastic eraser like the Technik that kneads the eraser bits into one large chunk. Sand erasers and gum erasers are the messiest culprits, but as we discussed above they can be incredibly useful! I recommend a little brush to sweep away the bits. 

Swatch-ing

Pictured below is a complete swatch test of all the handheld erasers in our store (next time, I'll do one dedicated to just tipped pencils!), sampled on a Mnemosyne notebook with a Semi-Hex #2, a KM-KKS 6B, and the red side of The Editor (AKA a red Supracolor). I was seriously surprised by the Laufer L-125 - the firmness of this eraser gives you excellent precision, and you're able to apply a lot of pressure with these without smearing graphite around. The latest eraser added to our collection, the Sakura Sumo, is also a new favorite - the plastic is just really, really high quality and removed graphite and colored pencil very well. 

Here are my favorites after testing out all these erasers: 

For colored pencil: Mono Sand (though it did lightly begin tearing my paper); runner up: Caran d'Ache Technik or Sumo

For soft graphite: Sakura Sumo; runner up: Laufer L-125

For #2 graphite: Milan Nata; runner up: L&C rubber erasers

For general purpose: Mono plastic erasers; runner up Laufer Plasti-combi

For precision: Mono Zero; runner up: Laufer-125

8:30 a.m. Wake up, prepare for a long morning out, starting with a 10:30 appointment in Flatbush.

9:00 a.m. Panic because of the ambiguous "Expect delays" alert on my subway line. Shove whatever's nearby into my bag and run out the door. 

9:30 a.m. Curse MTA alerts forever. Arrive a full hour early. 

10:15 a.m. Try to explain to my optometrist "No really, we only sell pencils." 

10:30 a.m. Wander back to Ditmas Park, stopping in at least 4 different $0.99 discount stores to peep the stationery section. Note: there's a great one on Cortelyou Road next to CorTHAIyou restaurant. 

11:25 a.m. Seat myself on the patio at my favorite cafe to eat and doodle. BUT FIRST: an inventory of what I shoved in my bag: 

- 1 pencil, a Blackwing 530 that I didn't mean to grab (I'm currently working through a different pencil!)
- 1 eraser, a Mono Zero that I am now extremely fond of
- 5 scented highlighters. Obvs. 
- 1 Windsor Newton travel watercolor palette
- A random mini notebook I'm now filling with creature doodles
- Zero of the normal things I normally fill up cafe time with: my planner, my sketchbook, letters to write, pens, common sense

12:30 p.m. Meander home

1:00 p.m. Frustrated with my poor packing skills, decide to organize my stationery  (for the third time this month). Dump out all my drawers and bins and shelves until I'm totally encircled by piles of Stuff. 

2:00 p.m. Existential crisis. Why Caitlin, why did we decide to do this?

2:15 p.m. How I Met Your Mother break

3:00 p.m. Oh, Stuff is everywhere? Better do the dishes. 

3:15 p.m. You're still here, Stuff? Man. Time to categorize the stickers (sticker sheets, puffy and non puffy stickers, loose stickers, scratch n sniff...)

5:30 p.m. Shit, I have a lot of pencils

6:00 p.m. Shit, I have A LOT of pencils

6:25 p.m. How I Met Your Mother break

7:15 p.m. Law & Order SVU break

9:00 p.m. Shit, Stuff. Why aren't you put away yet? 

10:30 p.m. Wind down for the night, by shoving everything back in essentially the same place it came from. Pat myself on the back for having accomplished so much. 

1:37 a.m. Step on a stray pencil. 

Images: Hermit crab I painted at the cafe; One of several stationery stashes in my apartment; a tiny portion of my pencil stash; the results of my day of organizing. See how tidy it is? :P

As you might know, Caitlin kicked us off with this month's #pencilprompt about the hot topic of Everyday Carry last week and asked each of us pencil ladies to share ours. 

Admittedly this idea of EDC is something I learned about only after opening the shop and stalking our customers on Instagram. For the record guys--you're WAY cooler than me/thank you for helping me understand what EDC means. But I must also say that knowing that this is a thing has also given me some anxiety. Should I be carrying more? Do I need more? Am I missing out of all of these analog activities by not having all these things? I'm more of a planner-and-pencil gal and never regularly carried much more than that. Also--there are so many watches and pocket knives in other people's EDC flat lays. Do those count? Do I need them? Am I still an adult even though I don't wear a watch or own a knife? I have so many questions!!

For me, my EDC really changed when I started bringing my letter writing practice out of my living room writing desk and and with me every day. I'll often prep my letters at home and then finish/actually write them on the go. Even so, I still keep some supplies so I can immediately write postcards clipped to restaurant receipts or decorate a card on the go. Right now I'm probably the most comfortable I've ever been with my daily bag-packing abilities. I have just what a need and a few things I just simply want. 

Now, another confession: I don't carry a notebook. I have a work notebook that stays at work, a journal that stays on my nightstand, a few project notebooks that live in my home desk and a grocery list notebook in the kitchen. If I have free time throughout the day I am most likely writing a letter or reading. For the things I do need a notebook for my beloved Smythson Soho Diary (my all-time most important life object of about 4 years) is about half planner, half notebook. Those empty pages are mostly full of lists, things I'm supposed to remember and notes from meetings. 

Here it goes:

This is everything that is in my bag today (Thursday, June 8th). I wish I'd remembered this morning that I'd be doing this today because my selection isn't as interesting as it could be.  Essentially, my general rule is that if it doesn't fit in my planner or Viking pencil case, I'm not allowed to take it with me. 

Good thing my planner has this nice pocket in the back! Not EDC related: a pencil cartoon my Nana mailed to me and a recipe for a no-bake earl grey chocolate tart somehow found their way in here too.

Flat things that go in the planner:

• Vintage postage stamps: Hitchcock, Steinbeck and American Illustrators
• Current stamps: Love Skywriting and Delicioso
• Pizza stickers from Oriental Trading
• Mini heart stickers from Mrs. Grossman's
• Gold star stickers probably from Amazon 
• Three pieces of mail--two that I finished today on my lunch break and one that I will do later

The flat things are the most important because they are the most non-essential. These are the things that make me smile most when I'm looking for something else in my bag. I feel less guilty for keeping them with me everyday because they're flat. As long as they fit in the pocket, right? 

 Other things that go in the pencil case: 

• Three pencils: Camel Pastel Pencil, Blackwing Vol. 530, Apsara Absolute. This number is really important. I occasionally lose them and occasionally don't have time to sharpen and need a back up prepared and ready to go. 
• One red pencil: This is for marking things off my lists, drawing things on envelopes and editing stuff .
• One NoBlot or comparable copying pencil: For writing letters, signing books and feeling like to well-rounded pencil lady. 
• One black brush pen or felt tip marker: I LOVE this one but I can't find mine so this Pigma MB is holding its place until I find it. These are used exclusively for practicing my handwriting and addressing envelopes. 
• One regular pen: Today I have my New York Letter Writing Society Cross rollerball, which is heavy and makes me feel really fancy. Sometimes it's a Caran d'Ache 849 or my Lamy Safari. These are used for writing checks and letters.
• Random washi tapes: These are to add flair as needed. I carry the ones that are almost done because they take up less space. 
• Coccoina glue stick: This is one of my favorite things. It's a glue stick and it smells like almonds. This is for lots of things including gluing stamps. 
• Travel scissors: These are REALLY flat and surprising sharp. I got mine from Choosing Keeping last time I was in London. 
• Matomaru Kun Eraser: I'm not supposed to express such a strong opinion on these things but this is my all-time favorite eraser. It's soft and spongy so I don't have to worry about going to town with it on my paper. 
• A sharpener: Today I have one that looks like a lego that was sent to me by a lovely customer. It sharpens to a surprisingly long point and is really small. 

There you have it! As an aspiring minimalist, I think I'm doing alright, especially considering the profession I'm in. It's all about loving the things you carry and carrying the things that you love. For me, that's stickers, stamps and glue (and pencils, of course!). 

Share yours with us on social media and tag #pencilprompts! 

A.A. Milne published Winnie-the-Pooh, the first book of several featuring the beloved bear and his friends, in 1926. I'm sure you know many of the stories: when Pooh pretends to be a raincloud, when he hunts woozles, when he rescues Piglet from a flood. Through the books and especially the famous Disney adaptations, these adventures feel as much a part of childhood as, well, a pencil.

But some of the stories are less famous than others. For example, I remember Pooh rescuing Piglet from the flood, but I completely forgot that Christopher Robin throws a party afterwards, to celebrate Pooh's brave deed. It's at the end of Winnie-the-Pooh, the last story before we must say goodbye to our new friends. But before we all part ways, Christopher Robin presents Pooh with a gift:

When Pooh saw what [the gift] was, he nearly fell down, he was so pleased. It was a Special Pencil Case. There were pencils in it marked "B" for Bear, and pencils marked "HB" for Helping Bear, and pencils marked "BB" for Brave Bear*. There was a knife for sharpening the pencils, and india-rubber for rubbing out anything which you had spelt wrong, and a ruler for ruling lines for the words to walk on, and inches marked on the ruler in case you wanted to know how many inches anything was, and Blue Pencils and Red Pencils and Green Pencils for saying special things in blue and red and green. And all these lovely things were in little pockets of their own in a Special Case which shut with a click when you clicked it. And they were all for Pooh.

A Special Pencil Case! I actually owe this installment of Pencils in Literature to two lovely customers who stopped by the shop a week ago, and asked why we didn't have the Winnie-the-Pooh quote on our walls. I confess I had no idea what they were talking about at first. Needless to say, I immediately looked up the reference and immediately fell in love with this passage. In fact, I'm going to curl up with a cup of honeyed tea and reread the whole book on my next day off.

Were you familiar with this quotation? What's your favorite Winnie-the-Pooh memory?

[About couple months ago, Jim from General's Pencil Co just happened to send us a few of these old Disney collaboration pencils featuring Pooh's honeybees. They match the linen cover of the book.]

*Before the advent of the pencil grading scale as we currently know it, 2B pencils were referred to as "BB" pencils. Or, as I shall henceforth be calling it, Brave Bear pencils.

When my parents first divorced and my dad was new to figuring things out as a single dad, he'd fill our Christmas stockings with things he'd find exclusively Office Depot, which was the only real office supply shop in our region of the Mid-Ohio Valley in the early 2000s. Mini staplers (with refills), Scotch tape, a pack of Pilot gel pens, a fresh dozen of Ticonderogas, a sharpener, a box of novelty paperclips and all of the knick-knacks they sell by the register. My first love is pencils, but I must admit that my general love for office supplies had endless bounds. My second love is classic office supplies (side note on this: do Mr. Sketch markers count?), which, like pencils, are different depending on where they come from. Around the pencil HQ it's a known fact that I have a serious thing for glue (have you ever smelled Coccoina glue? or made a collage with Yamato sticking paste?), but I can't make a whole shop about glue, can I?

I often fantasize about what my perfect version of a general office supply store would look like. With a limitless budget, it'd probably take me 24 hours to design and stock because I've thought about it that much. The worst part, though, are the feelings of shop-owner jealousy that come with all of this. Yes, I know that my shop is a special little space, but I would kill to do the buying for a shop with a broader theme. 

These feelings come up especially when visiting trade shows. Since opening the shop, I've had the great pleasure of traveling abroad to visit ISOT in Japan and Paperworld in Germany. On a more local scale, we have the National Stationery Show, which happens every May at the Javits Center here in NYC. This year, Alyx, Caitlin and I was walked the show together for a day where we found a few new things for the shop and had a blast checking out everyones stuff. The thing about these shows is that only about 20% of what's on show is applicable to our shop. So mostly, we go for fun and to visit the vendors and industry friends we only see a couple of time each year.

As I walk these shows there are always a lot of questions in the back of my mind. How would I fill the card carousels in my imaginary shop? What type of staplers would I stock and how can I possibly choose from all the colors? How many types of paperclips can I get my hands on? Why can't I shop this trade show? My first stop on any trip outside of NYC is usually to a stationary or office supply shop where I tend to spend way more than my allotted budget and leave feeling high and also kind of angry because I wish I could sell all of the things I just bought.

The things is that I can, but I don't think I ever will because there are a lot of other people who are really good at it. I'll stick to spending too much money in other people's shops and selling only what I really really know.

Photo: one I stole from Caitlin on a pile of swag collected at NSS this year.  

Let's get straight to the prompt right away this month: What's in your everyday carry?? Share with us on social media with tag #PencilPrompt. 

As an analog obsessive, it's difficult for me to part with my tools even if I am only going out for a cup of coffee. At any given time, I am usually carrying a fat pile of letter writing materials and a pencil case filled with my favorite utensils (and we'll just pretend that my bag doesn't also have at least 6 lipsticks in it). 

We call these set ups an "Everyday Carry." While ours tend to involve mainly just pencils and related stationery supplies, EDC is also most often associated with survival kits that include knives, flashlights, multi-tools, fidget spinners and more.

Let's just focus on the stationery, shall we? (Though, having lived in earthquake country most of my life, I am a HUGE advocate for the emergency EDC. #BePrepared.)

Here's a couple especially satisfying blogs and stores that focus on the art of the EDC:

Everydaycarry.com
Gear Patrol
This is Ground
The Finer Point
Nock Co

On a regular day, I carry a pencil case and a Kokuyo Systemic. I'm currently using the CWPE Leather Case in Cognac, but I am also terribly, terribly fond of my childhood SpaceMaker (because it holds SO MANY pens and pencils!). I've picked these carriers as my usual set ups because they fit in the backpacks and tote bags I use regularly. 

Here's a peek at my "regular" set up:

In my case:
- One pencil (more on this below)
- Two to three pens or markers, particularly Papermate Flair Pens or a fountain pen like the very new CdA 849 fountain pen! 
- Pilot Juice 0.38mm*
- A very slim eraser, like the Mono Zero or Seed Slendy
- Architect Alumicolor Scale Ruler

In my Kokuyo:
- Baron Fig Vanguard in Flagship
- Stamps
- Letters to respond to.
- Ephemera: Stickers, stationery, washi tape, loose bits of magazine clippings... 

Thoughts on one pencil

In last month's prompt, we talked about SABLE, a status which I am well past. I've been trying to whittle down my stash by using only one pencil at a time (a practice we also talked about back in January). It gives me anxiety from time to time because I feel tempted to switch when I come across something new or desire the comfort of an old favorite, but it's really helped me stronger opinions on pencils (for example, this process has helped me discover that I am one of the few that does not like the Swiss Wood at CWPE). 

Do you go for one pencil at a time, or prefer multiple pencils for your EDC? Luckily, at my place of work I'm never more than 6 inches away from a pencil at any given moment, should I need to "cheat" on my current work horse... 

How I curate my EDC

- Purpose: My analog needs include three things: planning/journaling, letter writing, and illustration. What I carry changes depending on my mood and how ambitious I feel for a day, but I generally try to boil it down to the minimal (hah!) amount of items I can use to accomplish all three. And then, you know, just things I like having around. What's your ideal amount of EDC items? 

- Want vs. Need: Lots of these EDC blogs seem to favor color-coordinated sets with nary a janky short pencil among them. I love the idea of carrying around a sleek leather case with coordinating utensils with identical brass fittings, but that method always leaves me wanting to add something else. On the flip side, if I am curating my case simply based on what I think I "need," my case quickly overflows with too many extras because I bizarrely think I'm going to miss having something (Caitlin, do you need to carry around four scented highlighters at all times?). Any frivolous items in your EDC?

- Sharpening on the go: We have much discussion about this when recommending sharpeners in the shop. I think my new favorite is the Castell 9000 sharpener because it so mess-free, but it's kind of bulky for a pencil case. The brass bullet with key ring is superb, because you'll lose it as often as you lose your keys (which hopefully isn't too often!), but there's no reservoir so you're often searching for a dumping ground for shavings. My ultimate solution is actually a Masterpiece, sans neoprene case. The little plastic case it comes with is great in a pinch to host shavings until a receptacle can be found. AND you don't need to sharpen so often with a nice long point. 

- Size vs. function: Weight and bulk are both things I think about when packing my everyday bag. I may be a fanatic, but I am all for lightweight when I pack. Pocket notebooks are perfect for lists and notes and take up minimal space, but I personally detest them because I find them hard to write in. I think A5 notebooks are the jam, however, especially ones like the Baron Fig Vanguard or the Emilio Braga stitch-bound notebooks. Perfectly sized for tossing in a bag, nicely flexible covers, and exceptional paper that takes both pen and pencil very well. Function comes before form for me, however, so I definitely prefer a notebook I can fill up with bullet journaling and lots of doodles. 

- That one weird item: There's always something I don't really need every day, but I like to have anyway because it makes me happy. This is probably my Muji business card holder full of stamps. Do I need my entire stamp collection with me always? No, definitely not. But the holder fits in my Kokuyo, weighs almost nothing, and periodically, I like to sort my stamps when I'm bored or anxious. What's your odd EDC item?

So how do you put together your EDC? What does it go into? How do you weed out the excess? Does yours include non-stationery items? Share us your thoughts below, or show us your EDC on social media with tag #PencilPrompt! Stay tuned later this month, when our lovely pencil crew will share what goes into their daily carry. 

*This is my all-time favorite pen, which is why it's noted separately from the rest of the pens.The precision is so good! I use it for everything from addressing letters to outlining my watercolor illustrations. 

We've had a very inspiring month, thanks to long talks with lovely folks in the stationery industry, some serious re-organizing, and assembling the very secret (very special) second edition of The Pencil Box! Here's what's buzzing at the pencil store lately:

• Our original Pencil Dude Max is back for the summer! It's about time we had someone tall enough to reach the shelf of boxes... 
  
  
• The National Stationery Show was flipping amazing, though it make have given us the largest case of the FOMOs ever. We made lots of new friends, visited with some old ones, and basically squealed at all the cute cards all day long. If only we sold greeting cards and party supplies and napkins (for the record, Caroline is nuts about napkins).
  
  

• Speaking of the NSS, CW Pencils has joined the board of a new organization called Writes for Women, wholly supported by women entrepreneurs in the stationery industry. Their launch party hosted at the 230 Fifth rooftop bar was a blast and featured pencils provided by you know who (not Voldemort). Stay tuned for more info on WFW in the future!

• I know many may not ever see it, but this makes us really happy: we reorganized our entire office. Much time was spent playing with an Epson Label Maker, which is definitely our new favorite gadget. It even has a pencil symbol! 

• The coffee shop is back! After a long hiatus, our next door neighbors at the Football Cafe are finally back, meaning we can indulge our caffeine addictions in less than 20 steps. And seriously, there's nothing more refreshing than their watermelon juice on a warm day. 
  
  
• BEWARE: minor spoilers for The Pencil Box ahead! 400 boxes are currently sitting prettily, patiently waiting to be shipped for the second edition of The Pencil Box. We just want to say we're really excited about this one. Check out behind the scenes teaser of me and Alyx assembling packs for this box: 

Have you ever noticed that Japanese pencils very often have text stamped on the back indicating what they're meant to be used for? For General Writing, Drafting or Re-touching are especially common ones. Ever wonder what they're for?

Here's your answer: The first half of the 20th century was pretty rough for the Japanese pencil industry. Imports of knock-off branded pencils into the US put a serious damper on their reputation. Newer Japanese brand name pencils started appearing (hello, Tombow and Mitsubishi!) and helped give Japan it's own identity in the industry. Like those set in many counties across various industries after WWII, price controls for the Japanese pencil industry were put into place to keep the marketplace fair. They were designated by use--with different prices and characteristics required for each category. Around the same time, the US experienced similar restrictions on the production of Yellow #2 Pencils--they had to cost 5 cents and follow strict and specific guidelines on wood, paint, ferrules, erasers--basically everything. 

Though these rules have long since been abolished, you'll still find the same designations and quality claims on most brand-name Japanese pencils. Don't worry about them, though--go on and use your re-touching pencil for your math homework. 

A somber edition of Pencils in Literature: How long has it been since you've read Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar? I read it several times in high school, and for a long time considered it one of my favorite books, but I can't remember the last time I actually opened the cover. In any case, I had some dim memories of pencils in The Bell Jar -- after all, Esther Greenwood does start the novel working for a New York fashion magazine, a month-long gig secured by winning a prize for her writing. I thought there must be some pencils in the office, in her room, misplaced or shoved in pocketbooks.

But the most prominent pencil in the novel doesn't belong to Esther; it belongs to Doctor Gordon, the young, handsome psychiatrist whom Esther hopes will be able to see through even her own confusion and help her. Except that it seems he doesn't and can't, and she believes she can "control the picture" he has of her. He's no better than anyone else who's tried to save her. The excerpt above occurs in Chapter 11, when Esther goes to see him for the first time. During the course of the session, the pencil and its tapping increasingly preoccupy the patient:

Is the pencil tapping a thoughtless habit of Doctor Gordon? Or is it an attempt either to distract or to irritate Esther into being honest with him? If the former, Doctor Gordon is a careless doctor, and if the latter, he's manipulative, and it's hard to guess which case would be more repulsive to Esther. But by her next visit to the doctor, the pencil has become a weapon:

Faced with the pencil, Esther produces evidence in the form of scraps of paper, carefully preserved in her makeup compact. And that evidence, the thing that's supposed to at once expose and also fully describe her mental state, is her handwriting:

She scatters the scraps on his desk--"What do you think of that"? she asks. But Doctor Gordon has no reaction to the terror of her handwriting, and asks only to speak to her mother. In this private meeting, he recommends that Esther visit his private hospital for electroshock therapy.

I won't tell you what happens after that, for those of you who haven't read it and for those who, like me, haven't read it in years. Either way, I recommending (re)visiting The Bell Jar. Tell me what your memories of the book are in the comments!

PS Check out some of Sylvia's drawings too.

We get a lot of letters and packages sent by fans, friends and customers to the shop. Mail time is our favorite time of day because what David (our friendly mail carrier) brings is always a surprise. One day a couple of weeks ago we received a very yellow, kind of bulky envelope from Mary. Inside we found a couple dozen folded pieces of paper--origami pencils, we quickly realized!

My initial instinct was to unfold one and figure out how she did it so I could post a tutorial, but then Mary was kind enough to send me the instructions she had followed. So, go on now--make a lot of pencils and mail them to your friends, because postal surprises are the best kind of surprises.

Step 1: Find yourself a square piece of paper that's white on the other side (actual origami paper works best, but you can also use wrapping paper. I'm using origami paper from Muji).

Step 2: Fold the paper in half

Step 3: Fold the corner of the paper to meet the folded edge

Step 4: Fold the other edge over so the tip is over the fold a tiny bit (this is the tip of your pencil)

Step 5: Fold the top half backwards

Step 6: Flip the whole thing over

Step 7: Fold the top corner over

Now you have a jumbo pencil. If you want to make it a regular diameter pencil, hold tight--there are a couple more steps. 

Step 8: Fold the sides inward to make a narrow point

Step 9: Now do the other side

Step 10: Fold the outer edges in one more time so the bottom edges align

Flip it over, and there you have it! A pencil!