Can this site and all its wonderful contributors please help exorcise
my warped thinking about using my gorgeous little book.  My husband
gave me a Moleskine for our first wedding anniversary and I love
looking at it but am so ridiculously particular about how I fill it.
I have the notion that everything that enters it must be as perfect as
the little book itself.  Iam a visual arts student and the other day a
fellow student opened his Moleskine and just started scrawling notes
in it.  I was aghast with shock and envy.

Can I get a little online counselling for this problem?

Here's what I do whenever I get I nice new notebook and am afraid of putting
things in it.

I get a big fat sharpy and I open it up to the first page, and I make a big
ugly scribble.

The book is now blemished, no longer perfect, and I won't be "sullying"
anything by putting less than genius thoughts or drawings into it.

--
~|*|~|*|~|*|~|*|~|*|~|*|~|*|~

"No amount of ability is of any avail without honour." -- Andrew Carnegie

www.savedarfur.org

Elisa, when I started using Moleskines I had the same problem. But
after you fill a couple of them and revisit them later, you realize
that even the messy and careless pages are beautiful.

Get a nice fine nib pen, and number the odd pages in the lower right
hand corner (with the odd numbers, of course!). This will let you
refer to any page in the book later on, but it will also get you
writing SOMEthing in it. I usually leave a page or two in front to
build an index from later on. After that exercise, decide what
conference or event you want to document. Maybe there's a graphic arts
lecture series on campus or something. Take notes for the event in the
first section. Having all your notes in one place will greatly enhance
the value of your notes, because you can refer back to them. And it
being an important conference or series will make sure you think it
"Mole Worthy." After that, it's a bit easier.

And Daniel's right - once you see the value of having history in
there, you really like writing in them. You always know where your
notes are. Looking back is a breeze, so long as you date and index
each entry.

Get writing!

Smitty

Eilsa, The first thing I do is fill in the "title page".

Where it says "In case of loss, please return to:" I write my email address.

In the "As a reward: $" I write the number of Moleskines I have
completed--currently 17!

Then I regret the fact that I have the handwriting of a 10 year old.

At which point I am able to start using the tool without regrets.

And not to get all analytical or anything, but I have a feeling Emily
Dickinson would have a *lot* to say about:
  My husband gave me a Moleskine for our first wedding anniversary and I love
  looking at it but am so ridiculously particular about how I fill it.

Thanks, David S

Mmmmm David not sure what you mean by Emily Dickinson line so please illuminate me.  Thanks for the rest of the practical advice.  Believe it or not I even had trouble writing my name in it.  Boy I really sound pathetic so think I'll sign off now.
Cheers
Elisa

--- On Mon, 10/20/08, David Given Schwarm <david.schw...@gmail.com> wrote:

From: David Given Schwarm <david.schw...@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: THE HOLEY MOLEY
To: Moleskinerie@googlegroups.com
Date: Monday, October 20, 2008, 4:37 PM

Eilsa, The first thing I do is fill in the "title page".

Where it says "In case of loss, please return to:" I write my email
address.

In the "As a reward: $" I write the number of Moleskines I have
completed--currently 17!

Then I regret the fact that I have the handwriting of a 10 year old.

At which point I am able to start using the tool without regrets.

And not to get all analytical or anything, but I have a feeling Emily
Dickinson would have a *lot* to say about:
  My husband gave me a Moleskine for our first wedding anniversary and I love
  looking at it but am so ridiculously particular about how I fill it.

Thanks, David S

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

Phew A never thought I'd get so much 'good oil' when it came to my question..  Obviously this was a great place to start my counselling.  Thanks for taking the time to reply.
Cheers
Elisa

--- On Sun, 10/19/08, A. <celestia...@gmail.com> wrote:

From: A. <celestia...@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: THE HOLEY MOLEY
To: Moleskinerie@googlegroups.com
Date: Sunday, October 19, 2008, 10:27 PM

Here's what I do whenever I get I nice new notebook and am afraid of putting things in it.

I get a big fat sharpy and I open it up to the first page, and I make a big ugly scribble.

The book is now blemished, no longer perfect, and I won't be "sullying" anything by putting less than genius thoughts or drawings into it.

Can this site and all its wonderful contributors please help exorcise
my warped thinking about using my gorgeous little book.  My husband
gave me a Moleskine for our first wedding anniversary and I love
looking at it but am so ridiculously particular about how I fill it.
I have the notion that everything that enters it must be as perfect as
the little book itself.  Iam a visual arts student and the other day a
fellow student opened his Moleskine and just started scrawling notes
in it.  I was aghast with shock and envy.

Can I get a little online counselling for this problem?

--
~|*|~|*|~|*|~|*|~|*|~|*|~|*|~

"No amount of ability is of any avail without honour." -- Andrew Carnegie

www.savedarfur.org

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

Beam me up Smitty. Great practical advice which will then allow me to follow Daniel's advice.  I'm becoming braver by the minute.
Cheers
Elisa

--- On Mon, 10/20/08, Smitty <tsmyt...@gmail.com> wrote:

From: Smitty <tsmyt...@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: THE HOLEY MOLEY
To: "Moleskinerie" <Moleskinerie@googlegroups.com>
Date: Monday, October 20, 2008, 8:18 AM

Get a nice fine nib pen, and number the odd pages in the lower right
hand corner (with the odd numbers, of course!). This will let you
refer to any page in the book later on, but it will also get you
writing SOMEthing in it. I usually leave a page or two in front to
build an index from later on. After that exercise, decide what
conference or event you want to document. Maybe there's a graphic arts
lecture series on campus or something. Take notes for the event in the
first section. Having all your notes in one place will greatly enhance
the value of your notes, because you can refer back to them. And it
being an important conference or series will make sure you think it
"Mole Worthy." After that, it's a bit easier.

And Daniel's right - once you see the value of having history in
there, you really like writing in them. You always know where your
notes are. Looking back is a breeze, so long as you date and index
each entry.

Get writing!

Smitty

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

Thanks Daniel that's a very Zen way of looking at it.  Now I just have to fill it so I can look back.
Cheers
Elisa

--- On Mon, 10/20/08, Daniel Choi <dhc...@gmail.com> wrote:

From: Daniel Choi <dhc...@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: THE HOLEY MOLEY
To: Moleskinerie@googlegroups.com
Date: Monday, October 20, 2008, 12:45 AM

Elisa, when I started using Moleskines I had the same problem. But
after you fill a couple of them and revisit them later, you realize
that even the messy and careless pages are beautiful.

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

Hi Elisa - one thing I found helpful was to immediately buy a second
one.  Then I wouldn't be afraid of "trying out" the first one.  Ok,
actually, I bought two new ones :-)

I also found it incedibly inspiring to see some of the flickr pix of
people's filled-up moleskines - the glue-ins, the art, even if it's
just scribbled . . . I began to feel really uncomfortable that mine
was empty.  I would glue in a stub from a movie ticket, for instance,
and write a little about the movie . . . at the beginning of each day,
I start a new page with a little picture of a sun shining and write
something about the weather, I'm a big weather tracker; and also draw
in a little (mostly blank) to-do list, which I fill in and consult
throughout the day.  That way, I am constantly looking through it
which inspires me even more.  Draw a little doodle here, perhaps draw
a little frame around something important I've jotted down; an
opportunity to write with messy handwriting because no one but me has
to understand it.

The most important advice is to just put ANYTHING in it, the really
nice thing about Moleskine is how nice it feels in your hands when you
read it, how smooth the paper is . . . if you don't use it, it's like
buying an incredibly soft, comfortable cashmere sweater in your
favorite color and then leaving it in a drawer because you're afraid
of "getting it dirty".

Believe me, once you start, you won't miss a chance to fill up your
'skine.  Good luck!

Shirley

On Oct 19, 6:19 pm, Elisa <elisabart...@yahoo.com> wrote:

Thanks Shirley
After all this good advice I've received I'm feeling more confident every day.
Cheers
Elisa

--- On Tue, 10/21/08, sbraley <shirley.bra...@gmail.com> wrote:

From: sbraley <shirley.bra...@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: THE HOLEY MOLEY
To: "Moleskinerie" <Moleskinerie@googlegroups.com>
Date: Tuesday, October 21, 2008, 2:06 PM

Hi Elisa - one thing I found helpful was to immediately buy a second
one.  Then I wouldn't be afraid of "trying out" the first one.
Ok,
actually, I bought two new ones :-)

I also found it incedibly inspiring to see some of the flickr pix of
people's filled-up moleskines - the glue-ins, the art, even if it's
just scribbled . . . I began to feel really uncomfortable that mine
was empty.  I would glue in a stub from a movie ticket, for instance,
and write a little about the movie . . . at the beginning of each day,
I start a new page with a little picture of a sun shining and write
something about the weather, I'm a big weather tracker; and also draw
in a little (mostly blank) to-do list, which I fill in and consult
throughout the day.  That way, I am constantly looking through it
which inspires me even more.  Draw a little doodle here, perhaps draw
a little frame around something important I've jotted down; an
opportunity to write with messy handwriting because no one but me has
to understand it.

The most important advice is to just put ANYTHING in it, the really
nice thing about Moleskine is how nice it feels in your hands when you
read it, how smooth the paper is . . . if you don't use it, it's like
buying an incredibly soft, comfortable cashmere sweater in your
favorite color and then leaving it in a drawer because you're afraid
of "getting it dirty".

Believe me, once you start, you won't miss a chance to fill up your
'skine.  Good luck!

Shirley

On Oct 19, 6:19 pm, Elisa <elisabart...@yahoo.com> wrote:

There is absolutely nothing better than opening a new Moley. I have
three pages left in my current one and i can't wait to crack open the
next one. Once you start using it--- and i use it for everything from
to-do lists to craft ideas from work notes to life goals---you won't
want to stop and you'll want to get to the end so you can move on to
your next. I have a shelf full of them, there is something rewarding
about having your ramblings, sketches, notes displayed in such
beautiful moley glory.

Pretty much all the advice here is great.  Purposely blemish a small
part so you don't think its perfect...  number the pages...  as person
who likes to draw with crayons, I have this problem with using the
first one.  They're all so perfect, lined up just the way I like
them.  Then I look at my old box, and they're all half broken, and
gross.  I don't want this new box to ever look like the old one!  So I
just sit and look at my new crayons, instead of actually using them,
which is totally stupid, but blame a combination of OCD, and my
mother.

In the end, I just grab one, and start using it.  Once the first one
isn't perfect, who cares?

The moral...  I hope...  is that we buy crayons to use.  We buy
Moleskines to use.  The thought.  The idea.  The sketch.  We have to
make that come before our little compulsions.

Oh...  by the way...  I like to always keep a spare Moleskine
around...  without anything in it, just so I'll always have that
perfect notebook in case I ever have the "perfect" idea.  So far...
that perfect notebook goes perfectly unblemished...  which says
something about "perfect ideas", eh?

On Oct 19, 3:19 pm, Elisa <elisabart...@yahoo.com> wrote:

Thanks Fryxie
Don't be so precious - okay I think I'm starting to get it.
Cheers
Elisa

--- On Wed, 10/22/08, Fryxie <cfryx...@gmail.com> wrote:

From: Fryxie <cfryx...@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: THE HOLEY MOLEY
To: "Moleskinerie" <Moleskinerie@googlegroups.com>
Date: Wednesday, October 22, 2008, 2:34 PM

There is absolutely nothing better than opening a new Moley. I have
three pages left in my current one and i can't wait to crack open the
next one. Once you start using it--- and i use it for everything from
to-do lists to craft ideas from work notes to life goals---you won't
want to stop and you'll want to get to the end so you can move on to
your next. I have a shelf full of them, there is something rewarding
about having your ramblings, sketches, notes displayed in such
beautiful moley glory.

Dear Moley Melange
I think you should put this perfect reply in that perfect Moley.
Thanks
Elisa

--- On Wed, 10/22/08, Moleskine Melange <moleskinemela...@gmail.com> wrote:

From: Moleskine Melange <moleskinemela...@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: THE HOLEY MOLEY
To: "Moleskinerie" <Moleskinerie@googlegroups.com>
Date: Wednesday, October 22, 2008, 6:49 PM

Pretty much all the advice here is great.  Purposely blemish a small
part so you don't think its perfect...  number the pages...  as person
who likes to draw with crayons, I have this problem with using the
first one.  They're all so perfect, lined up just the way I like
them.  Then I look at my old box, and they're all half broken, and
gross.  I don't want this new box to ever look like the old one!  So I
just sit and look at my new crayons, instead of actually using them,
which is totally stupid, but blame a combination of OCD, and my
mother.

In the end, I just grab one, and start using it.  Once the first one
isn't perfect, who cares?

The moral...  I hope...  is that we buy crayons to use.  We buy
Moleskines to use.  The thought.  The idea.  The sketch.  We have to
make that come before our little compulsions.

Oh...  by the way...  I like to always keep a spare Moleskine
around...  without anything in it, just so I'll always have that
perfect notebook in case I ever have the "perfect" idea.  So far...
that perfect notebook goes perfectly unblemished...  which says
something about "perfect ideas", eh?

On Oct 19, 3:19 pm, Elisa <elisabart...@yahoo.com> wrote:

Thank you for all your replies.  With so much good advice I feel as if
I am in the old 'Kung Fu" television series with David Caradine.  From
now on call me 'grasshopper'.  I didn't realise so many Holey Molers
were so Zen.  With all this spiritual moley advice I am sure to reach
Nirvana clutching my little perfect book with perfect little
scribbles, paste in, dreams and aspirations on every page; oh yeah and
probably a shopping list or two.
Any more good advice keep in coming.  That pesky Nirvana changes its
position quite regularly.
Thanks again to all my cyber-senseis.
Elisa
On Oct 20, 9:19 am, Elisa <elisabart...@yahoo.com> wrote:

Try using a Moleskine hack on it. That way:
(1) you don't have to worry about what you're going to write or draw
or stick into the Moley - somebody else has done the work for you.
(2) if it doesn't work out - it's somebody else's fault. :)

Here's a few hacks to get you started:
http://www.43folders.com/2004/11/18/more-moleskine-hacks
http://freelanceswitch.com/productivity/the-monster-collection-of-mol...

Luck,
NKS

I think it's fascinating you're an arts student, since what you are
describing reminds me of a story from the life of Winston Churchill. I don't
have my books handy to type out the full description, but I did find a
summary and a partial excerpt on the website of The Churchill Centre:

http://www.winstonchurchill.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=576

<quote>

He [Churchill] has described how Hazel Lavery [a famous painter and a friend
of his] found him one day incapable of further action contemplating the
snowy expanse of a new canvas upon which he had timorously made a mark about
as big as a bean. Seizing a large brush Hazel splashed into the turpentine
and as Winston described it:

"... wollop into the blue and the white, frantic flourish on the palette -
clean no longer - and then several large, fierce strokes and slashes of blue
on the absolutely cowering canvas. Anyone could see that it could not hit
back.... The canvas grinned in helplessness before me. The spell was broken.
The sickly inhibitions rolled away. I seized the largest brush and fell upon
victim with berserk fury. I have never felt any awe of a canvas since."
</quote>

Maybe this helps inspire you?

Andrew

—
 Andrew S. Rogers | www.andrewrogers.net | Seattle, Washington
USA<%E2%80%9Dhttp://www.wisestamp.com/%E2%80%9D>
[image: Linkedin] <http://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewsrogers>[image:
Facebook] <http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=681167925>[image:
Flickr] <http://www.flickr.com/photos/asr-cascadian/>

mmmm, now that's outside the square.
cheers
elisa

--- On Thu, 10/23/08, NKS <Nof...@gmail.com> wrote:

From: NKS <Nof...@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: THE HOLEY MOLEY
To: "Moleskinerie" <Moleskinerie@googlegroups.com>
Date: Thursday, October 23, 2008, 2:12 PM

Try using a Moleskine hack on it. That way:
(1) you don't have to worry about what you're going to write or draw
or stick into the Moley - somebody else has done the work for you.
(2) if it doesn't work out - it's somebody else's fault. :)

Here's a few hacks to get you started:
http://www.43folders.com/2004/11/18/more-moleskine-hacks
http://freelanceswitch.com/productivity/the-monster-collection-of-mol...

Luck,
NKS

There is nothing scarier than a blank canvas, page or block of clay,  I'm actually a ceramic art student.  Thanks for the inspiration.
Cheers
Elisa

--- On Thu, 10/23/08, Andrew Rogers <cascad...@gmail.com> wrote:

From: Andrew Rogers <cascad...@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: THE HOLEY MOLEY
To: Moleskinerie@googlegroups.com
Date: Thursday, October 23, 2008, 6:18 PM

Iam a visual arts student and the other day a
fellow student opened his Moleskine and just started scrawling notes
in it.  I was aghast with shock and envy.

I think it's fascinating you're an arts student, since what you are describing reminds me of a story from the life of Winston Churchill. I don't have my books handy to type out the full description, but I did find a summary and a partial excerpt on the website of The Churchill Centre:

http://www.winstonchurchill.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=576

<quote>

He [Churchill] has described how Hazel Lavery [a famous painter and a friend of his] found him one day incapable of further action contemplating the snowy expanse of a new canvas upon which he had timorously made a mark about as big as a bean. Seizing a large brush Hazel splashed into the turpentine and as Winston described it:
"... wollop into the blue and the white, frantic flourish on the palette - clean no longer - and then several large, fierce strokes and slashes of blue on the absolutely cowering canvas. Anyone could see that it could not hit back.... The canvas grinned in helplessness before me. The spell was broken. The sickly inhibitions rolled away. I seized the largest brush and fell upon victim with berserk fury. I have never felt any awe of a canvas since."</quote>

Maybe this helps inspire you?

Andrew
 ―

Andrew S. Rogers | www.andrewrogers.net | Seattle, Washington USA

Elisa, start sketching everyday in your holey  moley. I love that nick name
that someone gave.;) The more you sketch, the  better you become, & pretty
soon, you have a fun moley to look back on.  Take your moley everywhere. All you
need is a ballpoint pen or a sharp pencil,  or a mechanical pencil. From there,
you can add more drawing supplies.

     Toby

Thank  you for all your replies.  With so much good advice I feel as if
I am  in the old 'Kung Fu" television series with David Caradine.  From
now  on call me 'grasshopper'.  I didn't realise so many Holey Molers
were  so Zen.  With all this spiritual moley advice I am sure to  reach
Nirvana clutching my little perfect book with perfect  little
scribbles, paste in, dreams and aspirations on every page; oh yeah  and
probably a shopping list or two.
Any more good advice keep in  coming.  That pesky Nirvana changes its
position quite  regularly.
Thanks again to all my  cyber-senseis.
Elisa

**************Play online games for FREE at Games.com! All of your favorites,
no registration required and great graphics – check it out!
(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1211202682x1200689022/aol?redir=
http://www.games.com?ncid=emlcntusgame00000001)

Don't be shocked & agast. LOL! Just do it, as  the Nike saying goes.

     Thank you so much for the Churchill link. I'm  sending that to my online
art group.

     Toby

Iam  a visual arts student and the other day a
fellow student opened his  Moleskine and just started scrawling notes
in it.  I was aghast with  shock and envy.

I think it's fascinating you're an arts student, since what you  are
describing reminds me of a story from the life of Winston Churchill. I  don't have my
books handy to type out the full description, but I did find a  summary and a
partial excerpt on the website of The Churchill  Centre:

_http://www.winstonchurchill.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=576_
(http://www.winstonchurchill.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=576)

**************Play online games for FREE at Games.com! All of your favorites,
no registration required and great graphics – check it out!
(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1211202682x1200689022/aol?redir=
http://www.games.com?ncid=emlcntusgame00000001)

Thanks for the advice.  I have 2 weeks of Uni left and then I am sure I'll be going Moley Crazy with all this great advice.
Cheers
Elisa

--- On Fri, 10/24/08, Tob...@aol.com <Tob...@aol.com> wrote:

From: Tob...@aol.com <Tob...@aol.com>
Subject: Re: THE HOLEY MOLEY
To: Moleskinerie@googlegroups.com
Date: Friday, October 24, 2008, 3:18 AM

     Don't be shocked & agast. LOL! Just do it, as the Nike saying goes.
 
     Thank you so much for the Churchill link. I'm sending that to my online art group.
 
     Toby

Iam a visual arts student and the other day a
fellow student opened his Moleskine and just started scrawling notes
in it.  I was aghast with shock and envy.

I think it's fascinating you're an arts student, since what you are describing reminds me of a story from the life of Winston Churchill. I don't have my books handy to type out the full description, but I did find a summary and a partial excerpt on the website of The Churchill Centre:

http://www.winstonchurchill.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=576

 

Play online games for FREE at Games.com! All of your favorites, no registration required and great graphics – check it out!