When I opened my new PO Box, I asked you lovely readers to send me a card or note and you all came through with flying colors! I checked my box to discover it was chock full of delightful cards and notes. I can’t thank you all enough for making my day and filling my mailbox with happy, good mail. Every note that included a return address will receive a reply. For those who didn’t include a return address, allow me to thank you here. If you sent a card and you’d like to receive a reply, use the Ask The Desk link to drop me a message with your address and I’ll try to reply soon.
Link Love this week reminds me that I always define wet and dry inks backwards. I think of wet inks as “watery” and hence more likely to be shaders, etc. MNMLScholar reminds me that wet inks are actually the other inks — and dry inks are the ones that dry faster like shading inks. I don’t know why the terminology always leaves me so befuddled. Let me know if I am still missing the concept.
Finally, Dapprman reminds us that not everyone in Russia supports the invasion of Ukraine, including our pen pals, BENU. It reminds me that politicians and governments often do things that we, as citizens, do not agree. However, we are not always in a position to do anything to change their minds that might not also put us at risk. I’m not saying that there are not causes worth fighting for but being imprisoned or killed because one opposes government decisions is not a situation many of us have experienced. Just be cautious in condemning those who have not spoken out against Russia, especially if they have connections to or live in Russia.
Pens:
- Russian Invasion of Ukraine and Benu Pens (via dapprman)
- REVIEW: WANCHER SAND MATTE FOUNTAIN PEN (via The Pencilcase Blog)
- How Does Nib Size Affect The Look Of Your Handwriting? (via Fountain Pen Love)
- Studio Neat Limited-Edition Orange “Mark One” Pen (via Tools and Toys)
- Pen Review: The Schon DSGN Peek-A-Boo: So What Exactly Is “PEEK”, Anyway? (via The Gentleman Stationer)
- Silver (via Bleistift)
- SwitchPen (Single) (via CRUSHMETRIC)
- Lamy 2000 (via Flex & Other Follies)
- A fine entry indeed: the Gravitas Entry (via UK fountain pens)
- Nib Expectations (via TooManyPelikans)
Ink:
- Jacques Herbin Shogun Ink Review (via The Pen Addict)
- Fountain Pen Ink Review: Vinta Inks Fairytale Collection (via Rants of The Archer)
- Ferris Wheel Press Three Steamboats on Life Schöpfer (via Inkcredible Colours)
- Kobe 49 Kitano Olive Green (via Mountain of Ink)
Tono & Lims The Gleaners (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist)
- 3 Oysters Hun Min Jeong Eum Black (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist)
- Wearingeul Glitter Potion Review (via Pen Chalet)
- The many faces of shading inks, or my love affair with dry inks (via mnmlscholar)
Pencils:
- Quick Look: Blackwing Lab 02-22-22 (Red) (via Fueled by Clouds & Coffee)
- Point guards (via Stationery 🍕)
- Video-Review: Kaweco “Special” Mechanical Pencil (0.5 mm) (via Scrively)
Notebooks & Paper:
- Plotter Notebook Mini Size Now Available in the USA (via Notebook Stories)
- Nebula Casual Note Review (via Notebook Stories)
- Back to classy (via Nero’s Notes)
- — 26 Years, 85 Notebooks “On August 12, 1982, I… (via The Cramped)
- Midori Stand Memo Pad, Horizontal-Type, To-Do List Review (via The Pen Addict)
Art & Creativity:
- A Guide to the Best Papers for Calligraphy and Art (via The Postman’s Knock)
- #OneWeek100People2022: Day 1 (via Writing at Large)
- #OneWeek100People2022: Day 2 and 3 – More Cafe sketching (via Liz Steel)
- “Brynn” Sketch Kit Organizer (via Fueled by Clouds & Coffee)
- Hahnemühle 100% Cotton Watercolour Book Review (via Doodlewash)
- Type Trends 2022 (via Monotype.)
- More Messing and Mixing with Watercolor Markers (via Fueled by Clouds & Coffee)
Other Interesting Things:
- stickers, washi tapes, and more ii: mind wave (via Ink Sharks)
- Why It’s So Important to Create Time and Space for Yourself During Difficult Times (via My Giant Strawberry)
- When we got covid-19 (via wibble wibble)
- Adventures on two wheels (via Austin Kleon)
- Daily reports in the form of the portraits – war in Ukraine. March 4-6, 2002 (via Apple-Pine)
- Ukraine Cat Cafe Owner is Staying With the Cats During Russian Invasion (via My Modern Met)
- Apollo 10 1/2 (via Kottke.org)
- London Pen Show March 2022 Part 1/5 (via Penultimate Dave)
- Presentation: The Revolution Continues (via The Typewriter Revolution blog)
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You have probably seen this news but just in case you have not: http://www.pennoob.com/2022/03/09/benu-pen-leaves-russia/
Why is the Ukraine invasion more important than Syria or Afghanistan? Is this because most of your readers or subscribers are ‘just like the victims’? Or because they’re European therefore ‘more civilised’? These are sadly terms used not just by journalists but also political leaders and many social media users.
How is the life lost if one child in Europe any less than one in Asia?
I admire the stance people make / I just do not understand the flippancy of being able to make the choice and not fight against it all.
Thank you