In Link Love

Link Love: Post-Pen Show Crud

Author AnaPosted on Leave a comment
Link Love: Post-Pen Show Crud

While I had a good time visiting Baltimore and the BWI Pen Show, I came home with the crud. I am so bummed because I have so much to do in preparation for the upcoming Chicago Stationery Fest next week. Send me healthy vibes and NyQuil. Thanks.

Pens:

Ink:

Notebooks & Paper:

Art & Creativity:

Other Interesting Things:

If you enjoy Link Love and The Well-Appointed Desk, you can share your support by joining our Patreon. Patrons have access to a podcast, newsletter, downloadables and more. Your patronage supports this site. Without you, we could not continue to do what we do. Thank you!

(Illustration from Adobe Stock)

In Paper Review, photo

Nanami Seven Seas – Old and New Tomoe River Paper Side by Side

Author Laura CameronPosted on 5 Comments

I know that comparisons of old Tomoe River paper and new Tome River paper have sort of been beaten to death, but I found myself with an interesting opportunity to share, so here we go. Since I started with my first ink review on the blog way back in 2017, I have been swatching new inks faithfully in my Nanami Seven Seas Crossfield notebook. As it was purchased in 2017 it of course was comprised of old Tomoe River paper (the journal was marked 2nd edition).

In the year 2025, I find I’m only 20 or so pages from the end of the book, meaning I need to order a new one! I have really loved the first one so I decided to order the new version, the 7th edition of the Crossfield and this one has had new paper for the last few editions. (As a side note, I paid $24 for the notebook back in 2017, and today’s is $28. Not bad right?)

So I did what anyone would do, I re-swatched an ink I’ve swatched before on the new paper to see how the two would compare. I picked Dominant Industry Autumn Forest because it’s a Pearlized ink with all kinds of sheen and I wanted to see what the paper would do!

NEW Nanami Journal on the left, OLD Nanami journal on the right

These swatches were done about 3 years apart. On the left is the new paper, and on the right is the older paper. Here’s where I see the differences:

  • the big swatch on the upper right – I did a somewhat smaller swatch last time around and it appears a bit darker in color.
  • the text – really I don’t see much difference at all here – I keep looking, but I don’t see it!
  • the splotches at the bottom – both have a pink sheen to them. I notice that the color seems to have separated more into light/dark on the new paper, and the pink tone seems a little brighter on new (left) vs. old (right.

Here’s some detail shots.

NEW:

OLD:

Clearly this isn’t super scientific because I haven’t created the exact same conditions, but I do think it’s interesting. I’d have to do more samples to check (and I’d be happy to if you’re interested – drop a comment and let me know!) but I’d say the new might show color variation even a little bit better than the old in heavy applications? However in regular old every day writing, I think it looks pretty much the same.

One more:

This time OLD on the left and NEW on the right.
In feature

Pen Show Season!

Author Laura CameronPosted on 2 Comments
Pen Show Season!

It’s Pen Show season! If you’re a fountain pen aficionado and stationery enthusiast, attending a pen show can be great fun. Did you know we’ve got a list of all the pen shows we know about? And I’ve just updated that list today with all the 2025 dates that I can find. As always, if we’ve missed a show that you know of, please leave us a comment and we’ll add it to the compendium.

If you’ve never attended a pen show, or want to live vicariously through someone else, Mike from Inkdependence usually does a live stream of the shows he attends. Check out his 2+ hour extravaganza from this past Friday in Baltimore (stay tuned until the end and you’ll see a pink-haired ink wielding goddess!).

 

In feature

Pen Review: Writech Dual Color Multi Pens (Vintage Color Set)

Author AnaPosted on 1 Comment
Pen Review: Writech Dual Color Multi Pens (Vintage Color Set)

Can I tell you how skeptical I was about the new Writetech 2-in-1 Retractable (Dual Color Multi Pen – 0.5 mm) Vintage Color Gel Pen Set ($8.25)? I think my first experience with Writetech pens was a set I found in a local big box store so I was surprised to see this set on the JetPens site. But I was willing to give them a try with this unusual configuration and color theme.

The pens each include two colors in one barrel. There are knock mechanisms on each side of the clip fo each color. There is a sticker on each pen with the names of the colors but the knocks are color coded so the stickers can be removed for a cleaner look.

Each pen tip is a standard 0.5mm conical shaped tip for a super smooth writing experience.

I was absolutely tickled with the color combinations: Calaite/Mauve, Dark Green/Amber, Smoke Blue/Milk Tea, and Navy/Persian Red. Each pen I tried I exclaimed, “This one is my favorite…No, this one!”

I am just thrilled with this set. The colors are fabulous. I really appreciate gel pens with unusual colors. The world does not need another bright red or bright blue gel pens. But mauve??? Yes, please. Bring it on. And the Amber?!?! Perfectly rusty orange. Milk tea?!?! Its a fabulous greige brown. So unique! The blues are greens are more complex and murky than most gel pens.

If you are looking for a portable set of fabulous colors that write smoothly and easily, you can’t go wrong with this set. There is another set Vintage & Black but each pen includes a deep color plus black. It’s less couples but you essentially get 4 black pens if you tend to use a lot of black ink.

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

In Pen Review

Pen Review: Sun-Star Dot é Pen Square Markers

Author AnaPosted on 1 Comment
Pen Review: Sun-Star Dot é Pen Square Markers

I decided I waatned to try some of the more unusual Japanese markers and pens. My first purchase was the Sun-Star Dot é Pen Square Markers ($2.45 each, also available in sets). These pens are a cube-shaped tip on one end and a fineliner one the other.

I purchased colors I specifically thought I’d like best: grey, brown, mint, violet, beige and pink.

The cube-shaped end is particularly unique. The samples showed that it could be used like a giant pixel to create 8-bit style doodles.

On Tomoe River paper, there is a bit of pooling of the color when used as a pixel dot. The cube end, when used like a marker, creates an interesting chisel tip.

When turning the cube end so the corner rests on the page, the line width is similar to a bullet tip pen. I played with altering the angle to get different effects. Its kind of fuck to play with the cube end.

The fineliner works similarly to a Triplus or LePen which is great for different line weights. The Beige which looks more like a mossy green was a bit too light overall but the other colors were all usable.

I enjoy these pens. For the price, I recommend adding a couple to your next order. They are just weird enough to inspire some writing, doodling and pen play.

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

In Link Love

Link Love: Off to See Charm City!

Author AnaPosted on 2 Comments
Link Love: Off to See Charm City!

I am headed to Charm City tomorrow to help the Dromgoole’s at the BWI Pen Show. But I gotta ask, why isn’t the Baltimore Pen Show called The Charm City Pen Show? That just seems like such a fun name for a pen show?!!?

Come find me, say hello and bring me your most challenging ink questions. I love to match ink to a pen!

I will then be in my home office for one week before I head off to the Chicago Stationery Fest. This will be the third show in 6 weeks and I think I’ll look forward to a bit of time at home once these are done. I guess its a good thing I never decided to be a fight attendant. Too much travel wears me out!

Any tips for keeping your energy up when you travel a lot? I could use all the help I can get.

Pens:

Ink:

Notebooks & Paper:

Art & Creativity:

Other Interesting Things:

Thanks to our Patrons for their continued support of this site. If you would like to be of our Patrons, we would love to add you to our ranks. Patrons receive access to a bi-weekly podcast, printables and much more. Be one of us!

In Ink Review

Ink review: Vinta Liquid Sepia Isabela

Author Laura CameronPosted on 2 Comments

I really wanted to title this post “EUREKA – I found it!,” but I understand that’s not the best for anyone to find it later, so I went with our traditional headline. But I’m here to say I think I found an ink that is an amazing match for the Pantone color of the year, Mocha Mousse. Please meet Vinta’s Liquid Sepia Isabela (30ml for $17).

This ink is really kind of amazing. It’s brown, except it’s pink, and it has gold sheen. It looks like that amazing photo of the chocolate mousse in with the light glinting off of it, a bit of a different color every way you look at it.

Of course it’s a bit tamer in writing samples, and I realize I can’t always lay down fat droplets on Tomoe River paper to see that sheen.

And I don’t have anything to compare it to. I pulled out Pilot Iroshizuku Tsukushi which leans a little red/pink, but it’s not the same at all.

And photos just don’t do this ink justice. Rarely have I been talked into buying a full bottle of an ink this quickly. Trust me. It’s gorgeous!

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.