By Jessica Coles Lately, I have been on a search for inks that are hard to put into a color category and Robert Oster’s new Smokescreen definitely qualifies. Robert Oster seems to have quite a way with ink; he seems to have a way of creating colors that I didn’t know existed before. Smokescreen (I…
By Jessica Coles Day 2 of the 12 Days of Inkmas! Today I am showing not one, but two new inks on the market. Urahairo 08 and Keshimurasaki 09 (each sell for $28.00 for 40mL) are new colors made for the TAG stationery store in Kyoto, Japan. This line of inks is a series produced…
By Jessica Coles Coffee is an essential part of my life. Most of my coffee consumption at this point in my life comes from a mug although I have gone through countless cups in the past. Especially at pen shows. So the jump from used coffee cup to paper seems like a great connection to…
By Jessica Coles Recently I received a gift from a penpal that included a pad of Life Airmail paper ($6.50 for 50 sheets at JetPens) and the corresponding Airmail envelopes ($4.50 for 10 envelopes at Jet Pens). Immediately I had flashbacks to days in elementary school when I had an international penpal and used airmail paper. I…
Editor’s Note: I asked Jesi to write this post. “How to get started with Esterbrooks” is something I’ve wanted to write about for a long time but with someone as knowledgeable about Esterbrooks as Jesi on hand to do a far better job than I would, it made sense for her to do it. She…
By Jessica Coles I often joke that my planner contains my life. Earlier this year, though, that joke turned out to be true; I lost my Hobonichi planner during the Chicago pen show and my organized life went with it. This is where I wish I could tell you that planners are a great thing…
By Jessica Coles A few months ago I heard that the Esterbrook trademark had been purchased by Kenro Industries and the manufacturing of Esterbrook pens was going to restart. I had many thoughts about this, not many of them comforting. Esterbrook closed their doors for good in 1972. There was a brief attempt to revive…
