pencils??? old fashioned sharpeners?

@Maggiepie (7816)

• United States

17 Jan 10

As a writer, I always try to write with pens. I even use them for word puzzles, as the nasty, smudgy mess pencils made make them hard to see, plus you have to wash up or risk spreading the ugly stuff. I've even used pens to do certain kinds of art. But as I implied, I'm also an artist, & when it comes to plain old sketching, my favorite medium has always been pencil. And many of my finished works are done in colored pencils. So yes, I have several pencil sharpeners--some motorized, others not--one in every room, if you know where to look. At this time, however, I've lost my favorite, a small metal one I use to get precision points on my colors. You can get sharpeners at art & stationary stores, & sometimes even grocery & toy stores. So long as artists draw, you can bet there will be pencils & sharpeners!

Maggiepie "THAT NATION GOVERNS BEST WHICH GOVERNS LEAST."

4 people like this

you bet i do

@macdingolinger (10386)

• United States

17 Jan 10

Hey MAg! You are a very creative person! Intriguing, really!

You write and draw, that's pretty interesting. I think you've inspired me to purchase some colored pencils and real pencils again when I get my own place. I only live in one room now, I guess I could start with a pencil sharpener!

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@Maggiepie (7816)

• United States

17 Jan 10

Thanks, Mac! Would it surprise you that I illustrated my first story, which I "wrote" at age four? The quote marks are there because, while I'd figured out that people made marks on paper that meant things, I hadn't yet learned how to do that. Yet...

Mom was thrilled over it, naturally. She was the first member of my fan club, 'til I got published for real!

By the way, I studied how the books in our house were made, & sewed my story's pages together that way, so I guess I'm an artist, a writer, and a publisher! (Of a very limited edition...one "book") There are some very small sharpeners on the market, & none of the hand-run ones are expensive. Do what I've done; buy several, slip one in a pocket or a purse (I like pockets; they can't get lost...heh), & sprinkle the rest around the house. That way you'll never be without! And you are going to love the great new pencils. Nothing inspires me to write or draw more than new pencils & clean sheets of paper! Have fun! Maggiepie "LIVE FREE OR DIE!"

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@Maggiepie (7816)

• United States

17 Jan 10

Woops--that "one room" line went right past my noodle lickity split! Do you mean that literally? You don't have a private kitchen & a private bathroom? Oy. That sounds pretty cramped...are you happy there?

Maggiepie

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Thunderll

@Thunderll (102)

• United States

15 Jan 10

I use mechanical pencils most often now, but I do still have some old pencils and a sharpener lying around somewhere. I use the sharpener pretty often to sharpen my colored pencils, actually. It just hasn't been used on a normal pencil since I was in school.

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pencil

sharpener

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@Maggiepie (7816)

• United States

17 Jan 10

MAC: My, you are behind the times!

There are gobs of brands of color pencils available. One of my favorites is Prismacolor brand, as the variety is exceptionally huge, & the quality of the colors & their application is so velvety soft! Hie thee to any art supplies store, & for a small fortune, you too can have hundreds of beautiful, creamy-smooth colors! If you ever enjoyed drawing, it's time to take another look at what's out there!

Maggiepie "THAT NATION GOVERNS BEST WHICH GOVERNS LEAST."

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@macdingolinger (10386)

• United States

17 Jan 10

You know Mag, I used to draw a lot. I wasn't any good, but I enjoyed it! I really liked working with chalk pastels though! I guess maybe I should explore it all again!

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@macdingolinger (10386)

• United States

15 Jan 10

I need to purchase a pencil sharpener I guess. As far as pencils I use mechanical ones anymore. I don't usually use colored pencils, I didn't even know they were still around too much! I guess for art and such they are still very useful!

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vivasuzi

@vivasuzi (4127)

• United States

15 Jan 10

My parents still use them but I mostly use mechanical pencils or just pens most of the time. Sharpening was always a pain, but I do have a sharpener. It's a hand held small thing though, not electric. I have to have one for all the colored pencils I have for craft projects, but I barely use those anymore so I really haven't had to sharpen a pencil in forever!

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@macdingolinger (10386)

• United States

15 Jan 10

Yeah, chasing down the sharpener is the issue it seems!

Too bad there's not a perfect combination between the two! I don't like looking for lead, and I don't want to carry a sharpener with me!

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ElicBxn

@ElicBxn (63638)

• United States

16 Jan 10

Well, my friends know I'm kind of crazy and old. I haven't actually BOUGHT a pencil, don't really much care for them, but I have recently found some really short ones around my client's place. Now I LIKE really short ones - like I like little other things. My client is an artist and does still have some old fashioned sharpeners around so I've been able to keep them going. I think most people that still have these kinds of pencils must have kids in school - because that's where I'm finding them outside apartments that have school children. I even found a sharpener, but I figured some kid mustta lost it, so I just picked it up and put it on the nearest ac unit and it was gone later. I'm always picking up things, pennies, toys, silk flower bits... stuff...

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ElicBxn

@ElicBxn (63638)

• United States

17 Jan 10

see, Maggiepie is my client... she was wondering where the little bitty pencils had come from but since they are just school type pencils I think she figured I had found them - like I find the other stuff around the complex.

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@macdingolinger (10386)

• United States

17 Jan 10

My fingers don't work right so I prefer longer pencils! I really prefer the old sharpener ones, and of course they get shorter and shorter! Mostly I use mechanical pencils and fortunately they stay the same length!

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vicki2876

@vicki2876 (5636)

• Canada

15 Jan 10

I work at a school in canada and hardly anyone including teachers use mechanical pencils. Mostly everyone uses just the traditional penicals that need sharpeners. They are really reliable and last a long time. My daughter got into mechanical pencils for a while and we were always trying to find leads for it and it was a real pain for us. Plus I was annoyed with all the waste when they would break and had to be thrown out. Wood pencils break down while these plastic and metal pieces don't. SO I would much rather see a world with wood pencils then mechanical ones.

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@macdingolinger (10386)

• United States

15 Jan 10

It is true that it is always like playing chase to keep lead in mechanical pencils! I really guess I like both kinds. I really prefer old fashioned ones I think! I just don't want to carry a sharpener around with me!

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saphrina

@saphrina (31551)

• South Africa

15 Jan 10

Yes, i still use my old pencil sharpener and i use a lot of pencils, so the old thing, cannot go to waste. Only one small problem. It gets harder to find and replace those little blades, but as long as i still get them, i will use my oldie. Nothing keeps as long and work as good as the oldest things.

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berlina

@macdingolinger (10386)

• United States

15 Jan 10

Hmm.. never have replaced the blades. Actually, I didn't know you could do that!I'll have to look into it! I always just bought new sharpeners! wow! You learn so much here at MyLot!!

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@macdingolinger (10386)

• United States

17 Jan 10

I have seen the little sharpeners, I just wasn't aware that we could change out the blades. I am guessing that at a hobbie shop they might be available!

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saphrina

@saphrina (31551)

• South Africa

15 Jan 10

I wish i could show it to you. It is silver, wilkenson made and it has two little screws that keeps the blades tight. You can just unscrew them and replace them. I have a double sharpener. One big and a smaller size. My mom bought it, when i went to grade 3.

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pencils and old fashioned sharpeners

ladygator

@ladygator (3465)

• United States

18 Jun 10

I have both types of pencils and sharpeners. I have one that you twist to sharpen and 2 electric sharpeners. I use pencils often around here since I have tons of children around here!

AnythngArt

@AnythngArt (3302)

• United States

15 Jan 10

I never use pencils anymore although I do have some. The only reason I would drag them out is to do a Soduku puzzle or crossword puzzle, and even then, most times I do them in ink. I do have a pencil sharpener (a small handheld one). It looks like the Golden Gate Bridge, which is probably the only reason it has stuck around. From time to time, I end up getting a new pencil, but I never use them. I should probably gather them all up and figure out a place to donate them to, like a Boys & Girls Club. I wonder just how many of these I have sitting around? Now you've got me thinking!

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@macdingolinger (10386)

• United States

17 Jan 10

You do Soduko in ink?? You must be good!!

I do them in pencil, mechanical pencils of course!

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yogeshdhusa

@yogeshdhusa (2236)

• India

15 Jan 10

Hi ! macdingolinger I do use a regular pencil and a sharpner Because i need to help my son with his assignments and i am improving on my hand writing by helping him write

Thank you for starting the discussion.

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@macdingolinger (10386)

• United States

15 Jan 10

Awesome! I used regular pencils when I taught school. But then I had a pencil sharpener in the room. I don't even have one now, I guess I need tobuy one!

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MimiRemo

@MimiRemo (418)

• Philippines

15 Jan 10

I still use the old pencil, and sharpener. I prefer to use it when writing drafts. In fact, I keep those items along with a separate eraser and my regularly used pens in one small case.

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