Today is Groundhog Day and we currently have about 5 inches of snow here in the Midwest and it’s still coming down! Most of the US is covered in snow, ice or rain. I think today is a good day to stay home, snuggle under blankets, drink hot cocoa and play with your pens. Sure, you might have to work for a little while but make sure your work set-up is warm and cozy today. Put on some warm socks, your favorite sweater and convince a cat or dog to nap on or near you while you work.
Today (technically yesterday) was also the start of Chinese New Year. It’s the Year of the Tiger. If weather allows, order some dumplings from your favorite local Chinese restaurant (or make your own!). Eat an orange for good luck, have some tea and greet friends, family or furry ones by saying “Gong hei fat choy”, which means ‘Wishing you happiness and prosperity’ in Cantonese. In Mandarin, say “gōng xǐ fā cái” (gong-sshee faa-tseye). (For pronunciation guides, check out this site.)
Stay warm! And Gong Hei Fat Choy!
Pens:
- Dan Provost of Studio Neat: Why We Made the Mark One (via The Cramped)
- Kaweco Perkeo vs. Ferris Wheel Press Carousel – A Showdown (via The Pen Addict)
- Everyday Cold Pen Test – 2022 (via Original Content Books)
- Introducing Pen7 ebonite pens (via UK fountain pens)
- Stipula Ink Meets A Levenger True Writer (via An Inkophile’s Blog)
Ink:
- Give me smaller ink bottles please (via Stationery 🍕)
- Kobe 68 Maiko West Pearl Blue (via Mountain of Ink)
- Wearngeul Kyonghui (via Macchiato Man)
- KWZ Standard Thief’s Red (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist)
- Graf von Faber-Castell Garnet Red (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist)
- Ink Institute’s Cat at Midnight Ink Review (via The Pen Addict)
Notebooks & Paper:
- Kurozan x Cordovan Leather / A Petite Comparison! (via Baum-kuchen Blog)
- My Journaling Webinar Is on YouTube! — Mac Sparky (via The Cramped)
- Karst Stone Paper Pocket Journal (via Fueled by Clouds & Coffee)
Art & Creativity:
- Review: Karst Woodless Artist Pencils (via Fueled by Clouds & Coffee)
- GUCAI Pearlescent Watercolors Paul Rubens Review (via Doodlewash)
- Book Review: Understanding Light: Portraying Light Effects in On-Location Drawing and Painting (via Parka Blogs)
- Finishing my Big Spiral Alpha book [Video] (via Liz Steel)
- The 15 Best Online Photoshop Classes in 2022 (Free & Paid) (via The Designest)
- ShinHan Designer Gouache (via Jane Blundell)
- 20 independent magazines that every creative should have on their coffee table (via Creative Boom)
Other Interesting Things:
- Self-care: Pass It On (via Modern Daily Knitting)
- Apple iPad Pro | Is This the Perfect Mobile Studio for Travel and Adventure? (via Carryology)
- Word of the Year, Intent of the Moment // A.C. (via Baum-kuchen)
- Feeling overwhelmed can be quicksand (via mnmlscholar)
- Gong Hei Fat Choi ! (via dapprman)
- Ruxandra Duru. (via Present&Correct)
- Liberating the Stories Behind the Characters and the Typewriters in ‘The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun’ (via oz.Typewriter)
- The Worlds First Dance Movie 1884 | AI Enhanced (via Glamour Daze)
- 2,000 Roman Bowl is Discovered in the Netherlands in Perfect Condition (via My Modern Met)
- Maus Sales Spike After Tennessee School Board Ban (via Hyperallergic)
- A Remarkable Online Show of Young Photography (via Hyperallergic)
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