In Pen Review

Pen Review: Muji 0.25mm Needlepoint Gel Pens

Author AnaPosted on 4 Comments
Pen Review: Muji 0.25mm Needlepoint Gel Pens

Muji, as a brand, is known for being “brandless”. They create simple, utilitarian products that do not have any outward branding on the items. The stationery products that Muji creates are no different, including the Muji 0.25mm gel pens (approx. $2.50 each) that I picked up in New York oh-so-long-ago with Myke and Brad on our 2018 world tour (details here).

Muji Gel Pens 0.25mm

The pens are hexagonal with a soft touch feel. Not rubbery per se but a very matte feeling. The entire pen barrel matched the ink color contained within and the cap is clear with a colored dot on top printed with the  point size. This is the only permanent information on the pens.

The bar code info stickers on the pens can be removed making these pens the brandless bits of Muji perfection they are meant to be (see top photo for the stickerless pens). Without the stickers, these pens make my designer heart swoon with their clean lines and simplicity.

Muji Gel Pens 0.25mm tip

Since these gel pens are the micro 0.25mm tips, they have a needlepoint tip.

Muji Gel Pens 0.25mm writing sample

The caps snap into place with a quiet click, probably thanks to the soft-touch surface. They write super smooth and the fine, fine 0.25mm means I can write like the mouse I am.

Muji Gel Pens 0.25mm water test

Since I tend to doodle and draw on anything and everything, I thought I’d also test how waterproof these gel inks were, on the off-hand chance I decided to add marker or watercolor. They are water resistant, but not waterproof. In other words, if you were to drip condensation from a beverage, your writing wouldn’t be lost but it would smear a little.

Muji Gel Pens 0.25mm

Muji Gel Pens 0.25mm

One last test was to see how the Muji Gel Pens performed on Col-o-ring cards which are a bit more toothy than the Rhodia paper I normally use for pen reviews. Since, like I mentioned, I like to use gel pens for drawing and Col-o-ring cards are similar in texture and weight to some drawing papers. The pens worked great on the cards. They skate along smoothly on the Col-o-ring paper though any paper with tooth may cause a rollerball to pick up stray paper fibers over time so you might need a scrap of smooth paper to restart them if they get choked.

Muji Gel Pens 0.25mm water test

I went ahead and wet this sample too, just to see if the results were better or worse on a thicker stock. I think there was more evidence of ink bleed on the Col-o-ring paper but the writing remained so I would still say the ink is water resistant but not waterproof.

Overall though, next to the the Uni-ball Sign RT and Needlepoint, these are probably my favorite gel pens. Sadly, this particular model is not available on the Muji website but if you are in a city that has a Muji store, I highly recommend making the effort to go and pick some of these or any of their pens up.

Tools:

In Ink Review

Ink Review: DeAtramentis Artist Green, Brown, Black

Author AnaPosted on 5 Comments

Review by Tina Koyama

It may seem like fountain pen inks come in a bazillion colors, and they do – but the vast majority are water-soluble. Finding a range of ink colors that are also solidly waterproof isn’t as easy. Some may say they are waterproof and may be sufficiently water-resistant for addressing an envelope, but if watercolors or other wet media were applied over them, they could smear. Of the ones I’ve tried, DeAtramentis offers the widest range of hues that are also sufficiently waterproof for use as an art medium.

I suppose that’s why the German ink maker’s latest line of waterproof inks is called DeAtramentis Artist. I’m not sure how different its formula is from the DeAtramentis Document line, which is also waterproof, but at least on Vanness Pen Shop’s website, the Artist inks are described as being lightfast as well as waterproof. Available in eight colors, “All inks of this group are mixable with each other. The inks can be painted and written with fountain pen, brush and quill pen.” (Awhile back, I reviewed DeAtramentis Document inks in Fog Grey, Dark Red and White.)

1 - pens and swatches

For this review, I tried the Artist inks in Green, Brown and Black. Green is on the slightly cool side tending toward emerald. Brown is a rich chocolate that is neither orangey nor grayish. Black is neutral, although in the brush swatch, it’s a bit on the warm side. (I had a chance to sample the inks on some Col-o-Ring Dippers!)

2 - Dippers and samples

These inks do not show fancy features like sheening or shading, but they would be excellent for addressing envelopes or writing in a journal when you might be apt to spill a beverage on it. They are also ideal for sketching with wet media, which is my primary interest with these inks.

After making my usual swatches on Col-o-Ring cards with various fountain pens and a brush, I gave them a good hour or two of drying time. Then I swiped them with a waterbrush. Even the thick brush swatches barely show traces of bleeding (right side of cards).

3 - DeAtramentis Artist inks -cards

My long-time favorite black waterproof ink for sketching is Platinum Carbon Black, which I have used for years because it dries very quickly and then becomes as waterproof as I need it to be with wet media. I decided to put it head-to-head with Black DeAtramentis Artist. Since I had sampled the DeAtramentis with my juicy Franklin-Christoph fude nib, I used an equally juicy Sailor Naginata fude nib for the Platinum ink.

4 - DeAtramentis and Platinum Carbon test

I typically draw with ink and then apply wet media immediately afterwards, and I don’t like to be kept waiting. For this test, I waited only one minute before putting my waterbrush through the lines (right side of scribbles). As you can see, whether I wait a minute or an hour (on the left), the very minor solubility is negligible. DeAtramentis Artist is just as waterproof as Platinum Carbon and dries just as quickly. The bonus is that DeAtramentis is available in a much wider range of colors.

Convinced that the ink wouldn’t bleed all over my sketch, I stood on our upstairs deck to sketch the fully blossomed cherry tree across the street. As soon as I made the ink lines, I colored the blossoms with water-soluble Caran d’Ache Supracolor pencils. Then I spritzed it generously with water to activate the color. I see no trace of bleeding from the ink.

I know that waterproof DeAtramentis inks are popular with many sketchers, and I can see why. The collection offers fast-drying, fully waterproof inks in more colors than I’ve seen elsewhere.

TOOLS

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were provided free of charge by Vanness Pen Shop for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

tina-koyamaTina Koyama is an urban sketcher in Seattle. Her blog is Fueled by Clouds & Coffee, and you can follow her on Instagram as Miatagrrl.

In Pen Review

Pen Review: Pokka Pen (and Giveaway)

Author AnaPosted on 66 Comments
Pen Review: Pokka Pen (and Giveaway)

When I first saw Pokka Pens (3-pack for $8.45), I was in the throes of fountain pen mania and I couldn’t, for the life of me, figure out why anyone would want a slightly plussed-up ballpoint pen. Then the world turned itself on its head and the idea of not touching the delivery driver’s questionably clean Bic Stic became the source of many sleepless nights. Going forward in this new world, I think having my own pen to sign receipts will be of paramount peace-of-mind. Enter, the Pokka Pen.

Pokka Pen

The Pokka Pen is designed to click and close into its own cap. This makes it very portable and very unlikely to leak. When I had initially seen photos of the Pokka Pens, I thought the material would be a softer, less rigid plastic. I was wrong. The Pokka Pens feel sturdy, albeit hollow plastic, that will withstand being cleaned with Clorox Wipes.

Closed, the Pokka Pen measure 3.25″ long. Open and posted, the Pokka Pen measure 5.5″ which is similar in length to the Field Notes Click Pen shipped with subscriptions. Rubber gaskets help to seal the pen open and closed.

Pokka Pens can even be refilled or plussed up with a clip. Refills can be purchased directly from Pokka Pen and clips can be purchased from Gentleman Stationer or directly from Pokka Pens.

My model demonstrates how the Pokka Pen fits into the pocket of a pair of jeans. Thanks, Model Husband!

Pokka Pen writing sample

In writing, the Pokka Pen performs surprisingly well. That’s saying something from a lefty with a general dislike for ballpoint pens. It writes smoothly, with a fine point. While I would be unlikely to write a novel with the Pokka Pen, for jotting a quick note, signing a receipt or logging my mileage, the pen performs admirably.

THE GIVEAWAY: We are giving away one set of three (3) Pokka Pens, winner’s choice: choose any three from the 3 orange, 3 black and 1 yellow available. They will be shipped in the original packaging.

TO ENTER: Leave a comment below and tell me your favorite place to order take-out or delivery. Play along and type in something. It makes reading through entries more interesting for me, okay? One entry per person.

If you have never entered a giveaway or commented on the site before, your comment must be manually approved by our highly-trained staff of monkeys before it will appear on the site. Our monkeys are underpaid and under-caffeinated so don’t stress if your comment does not appear right away. Give the monkeys some time.

FINE PRINT: All entries must be submitted by 10pm CST on Tuesday, April 21, 2020. All entries must be submitted at wellappointeddesk.com, not Twitter, Tumblr or Facebook, okay? Winner will be announced on Wednesday. Winner will be selected by random number generator from entries that played by the rules (see above). Please include your actual email address in the comment form so that I can contact you if you win. I will not save email addresses or sell them to anyone — pinky swear. If winner does not respond within 5 days, I will draw a new giveaway winner. Shipping via USPS first class is covered. Additional shipping options or insurance will have to be paid by the winner. We are generous but we’re not made of money. US and APO/AFO only, sorry.

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were provided free of charge by Gentleman Stationer for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

In Link Love

Link Love: (Week Four Quarantine) Relax & Reflect

Author AnaPosted on 2 Comments
Link Love: (Week Four Quarantine) Relax & Reflect

Another week of  living in our contracted worlds. The pen and stationery community continues to try to bring you pen, ink and notebook reviews and inspiration to keep you going as you work from home, try to educate your kids from a distance or continue to go to and from your essential job while staying healthy.

I have been keeping busy by trying to keep a regular schedule: exercise, getting actually dressed everyday (PJs are great but enough is enough), making meals, packing orders, and working on lots of projects from painting to knitting. I’m even trying to redesign a vintage knitting pattern.

There is nothing that says that you have to be productive, or super-hyper productive. Just getting through the days is enough right now. The article below from the NYTimes “Stop Trying To Be Productive” is permission to step back. I also want to remind you of the Library Extension which will add library availability to any books you search for on Amazon, including ebooks and audiobooks. Seek out a favorite read and step away from the barrage of news and Instagram for awhile. Grab that notebook you’ve been saving for a “special occasion” and write down all the things you want to do when you can finally get out of the house. I want a haircut, a trip to the library and to go to my weekly knit night. What’s on your list?

Pens:

Ink:

Pencils:

Notebooks & Paper:

Art & Creativity:

Other Interesting Things:

Coronavirus-related:

In Fountain Pen Review

Bortoletti Entwined Glass Murano Glass Dipping Pen With Glass or Metal Nib

Author Laura CameronPosted on 2 Comments

Over the last few years I’ve come to love my dip nib pen. I use it for all my ink testing because I love the way I can change the nibs easily in the pen and see inks over wide variety of line types. This is to say that I have long coveted one of Papier Plume’s Bertoletti Entwined Glass Murano Dipping Pens ($42+), so I was excited when Ana loaned me hers to play with.

The Bertoletti glass pens are hand-crafted in Italy, and come in a variety of colors of entwined glass. Mine is the Alexandrite color. The grip section is a nickel-metal alloy with an elegant design of flourishes. Despite the scroll work, it is comfortable to hold, and the glass itself is well-balanced. The glass pen comes standard with a metal nib or you can upgrade to a glass nib (+ $12) or get both (+ $14).

I spent the most time playing with the dip nib, which is very fine with a bit of flex. I used a bottle of Papier Plume Ivy Green that I already had to play with lettering and flourishes as well as my sad little attempt at sketching an ivy leaf.

Truthfully, I found the glass nib a bit harder to play with. The glass nib has swirling channels in it, designed to hold the ink so you can keep writing. I have an acrylic nib in a different dip pen that I use quite often and I love how long I can write with it, but I didn’t quite find my sweet spot with this one (It took me a while with the other one as well, so I can’t say that it’s a fault of the pen … probably user error!)

I was also a bit disappointed in how the nib + ink + paper worked together. I was writing in a Maruman Mnemosyne N182A Inspiration Notebook. Though I haven’t had problems with that paper in the past, you can see that the ink feathered quite a bit.

Regardless, I loved playing with this pen and I may need to own one for future exploration!

DISCLAIMER: Some of the items included in this review were provided to us free of charge for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

In Fountain Pen Review

Fountain Pen Review: Montegrappa Elmo 01 Fantasy Bloom Edition (Blue Cross Gentian B Nib)

Author AnaPosted on 2 Comments
Fountain Pen Review: Montegrappa Elmo 01 Fantasy Bloom Edition (Blue Cross Gentian B Nib)

I don’t have a ton of experience with Montegrappa pens. In fact, in the ten years I’ve been reviewing pens and ink, the Montegrappa Elmo is only the second Montegrappa I’ve ever reviewed (The first was the Montegrappa Felicita). Needless to say, I don’t have an extensive knowledge of the brand.  The Montegrappa Elmo 01 Fantasy Bloom Edition in Blue Cross Gentian (B Nib)($200) is a reissue based on a 1920s model. The Elmo has been updated with bright, swirly resin material (also available in Iris Yellow and Black Star Calla Lily). It features a stainless steel nib in a range of sizes from Extra Fine, Fine, Medium, Broad, Stub 1.1mm, and Stub 1.5mm.

The Packaging:

Montegrappa treats its pens like royalty. The packaging is posh, almost to the point of excess. But Italians are nothing, if not excessive.

Monegrappa Elmo Blue Gentian

There is a paper wrap around the glossy paperboard box.

Monegrappa Elmo Blue Gentian

Then, there’s the branded paperboard box.

Monegrappa Elmo Blue Gentian

And inside the paperboard box is a embossed, leatherette box with an engraved metal branding plate.

Monegrappa Elmo Blue Gentian

Then, inside all that is the sueded interior and behold! The Montegrappa Elmo under a  satin ribbon. Inside the pen is the cartridge converter but two cartridges are included. Lifting up the pillow reveals the Montegrappa information booklet.

The Pen:

Monegrappa Elmo Blue Gentian

The Elmo 01 is a smooth, cigar-shaped pen with the understated Montegrappa clip with the rolling ball at the end.

Monegrappa Elmo Blue Gentian

The pen and grip section are all in the resin material. Only the threads, clip and nib are in a contrasting stainless steel/chrome silver.

Monegrappa Elmo Blue Gentian

A close-up of the material reveals the layers of undulating swirls of color, even the peek of pink/purple.

Monegrappa Elmo Blue Gentian B Nib

The nib is embossed with the signature octagon pattern which is perfectly aligned so that the diamond in the center of one of the octagons is the center of the breather hole.

Monegrappa Elmo Blue Gentian

The one aspect I found less appealing was posting the cap. While it does post, it seems to do so kind of precariously. I think the pen itself is long enough not to need to post it but if you are inclined to post your cap on your pen, the Elmo 01 might not be the pen for you.

Writing Sample:

Monegrappa Elmo Blue Gentian writing sample

Oof! What can I say about a pen that makes my handwriting instantly look better? Yes, please.

Monegrappa Elmo Blue Gentian Writing Sample

As a lefty, I tested the pen writing both over-handed, under-handed and side writing. I wanted to make sure the pen performed in many angles. I even tried writing with it right handed (but I am not posting photos of that. My right handed writing is horrific.).

Monegrappa Elmo Blue Gentian Writing Sample Close-Up

With the large, expressive B nib, this particular pen is not for ye of tiny writing. Any time a pen nib creates filled centers on your letters (like the “a” and “e” in the sample above), it’s time for a finer nib or larger writing. For a B nib though, the Elmo 01 does have a good deal of line variation. I often find B nibs to write more like blunt crayons than fine writing instruments. The Elmo 01 B nib is definitely an exception.

In Comparison:

Monegrappa Elmo Blue Gentian Comparison

Pictured above from left to right are Lamy AL-Star, Platinum 3776 Kumpoo, Opus88 Koloro, the Montegrappa Elmo 01, Franklin-Christoph P45 and Kaweco Sport. I’ve included these to show size comparison. The Elmo is 5.5″ capped. It’s probably most similar in overall size to the Platinum 3776.

Monegrappa Elmo Blue Gentian Comparison

Posted, the same pens from the previous photo, show how the Elmo 01 is much longer posted than the Platinum 3776. It’s almost the same length as the Lamy AL-Star which is a much lighter pen.

The Elmo 01 is 31 gms filled and capped and 24 gms uncapped. It’s not a heavy pen overall but posting it puts a lot of weight on the back of the pen.

Conclusion:

The Elmo 01 is a beautiful pen and a chance to do some pen traveling to Italy while our bodies must stay confined due to the current pandemic. So, I sit with my travel books and Montegrappa Elmo 01 and imagine the faraway places I will go… someday.

Tools:

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were provided free of charge by Kenro Industries for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.