The Well-Appointed Desk

Next up on my audition list was to find a good blue. Blue works exceptionally well for my holiday cards because my family is Jewish and my husband’s family celebrates Christmas, meaning it works as a somewhat neutral but still winter-ish, holiday-ish color.

This year I was fascinated by the idea of Diamine Blue Edition Jack Frost Shimmer & Sheen (50mL for $22). Talk about an ink that has it all!

As far as the sheen goes, they weren’t lying. Jack Frost is a rich blue ink with a ton of pink sheen. Yes that’s a true to life photo!

This was an interesting one to swatch as it went down fairly flat. I couldn’t see either the shimmer or the sheen as I was swatching (or really in the vial – and I did shake it up). As it dried that pink sheen popped right out, but I still don’t see much of the shimmer that is advertised.

It is a pretty sweet blue though. Blue with pink/red sheen and I immediately thought of Robert Oster Fire & Ice (right?). Nope, that one leans more teal and red. I thought Anderillium Flying Blue Squid might be close, but that was also a bit greener and darker. The closest I could find was Colorverse Supernova which I do think is a pretty close match, and both have a pink sheen.

Overall I don’t know that I’d need to invest in a full bottle of this ink (especially because I have so many blue inks) but it’s a lovely holiday ink and I might have found a winner for this year’s cards. Only one more sample to go!

In Ink Review

Inkmas Day 7: Monteverde Sweet Life Birthday Cake

AnaDecember 18, 2023December 10, 20233 Comments

Let’s just get it out of the way right now. This is not the first time I’ve waxed poetic about Monteverde Birthday Cake this year. I don’t know what happened but something clicked with me and this ink in 2023. I used an entire 30ml bottle of Monteverde Sweet Life Birthday Cake ($12) and then bought a larger bottle for 2024. Seriously! Who does that? Especially someone with 100s of bottles of ink… that would be me. I did that.

Why has this unassuming violet purple ink captured my heart? It has become my journal ink. So much so that I put it in a “work pen” and it felt like I was showing my pajamas to my co-workers to write with it. It’s my secret stash ink. It’s not too flamboyant, not too boring. It has some shading variation and it’s cost effective. I don’t feel like I’m using up some rare, collectible ink. God help us all if Monteverde discontinues it. I’ll have to buy a vat!

On the right paper with a wide enough nib, Birthday Cake will sheen. In fine nibs or with a water brush, the color lightens to a reddish purple. I hate to wax too poetic but this ink has all the things I want and nothing I don’t. It’s not too garish, it’s not too smoky or dark. I won’t ever mistake it for a blue or grey but I won’t ever think its pink.

And even after my previous search for a dupe, I cross referenced with my swatches to see if a sample might have ever come in that was similar and nope. Birthday Cake is my own little party in a bottle. I dare you to convince me otherwise.

I mean look what happens when you add a little water?!?! This is pure, unadulterated ink love. Merry Inkmas! You’re welcome!

Tools:

Paper: Col-o-ring FOLIO ($40)
Pens: Midori bullet pencil modified dip nib holder with Zebra G titanium nib ($33.50 per 10-pack), Acrylic dip nib pen (Approx. $15), Tachikawa T-40 Natural Nib Holder ($8.25) and Toronto Pen Company Brass Pentastic Folded Nibs ($25 CAD)
Swatches: Col-o-Ring Ink Testing Book ($10) & Col-o-dex Rotary Cards ($15)
Brush: Blick Synthetic Round #0

In Ink Review

Inkmas #6 – Pennonia Almazold (Apple Green)

AnaDecember 16, 2023December 15, 2023Leave a comment

Next on my list of inks to audition for holiday cards was a really good green. In past years I’ve gone dark (think Yoseka x Ink Institute No. 1 Origin Ink), but this time I wanted something bright and cheerful so I selected Pennonia Almazold/Apple Green (60mL for $16).

And boy was this one apple green. Think Pucker Sour Apple or Midori bright green! I found that the ink shaded nicely. No sheen, no shimmer, just pure bright green.

Honestly my only disappointment with this one is that I do find it a bit hard to read in a finer nib because it gets so light. (P.S. Pay no attention to that sample in the Broad nib – apparently I had just a bit of Wondrous Winterberry still in that feed. It does give a lovely red/green (Macintosh?) apple look to it, but it’s not an accurate sampling).

So what do I have in the stash that’s similar? Almost nothing! I had thought it might be a match for BanMi Light Green, but that one is a smidge more to the neon side (maybe that’s Midori?). Papier Plume Ivy Green is a bit less yellow and much more intense, and PenBBS #219 Watermelon Green is much more of an Army Green.

So I’m left with a new ink in the stash, but definitely not the right one for addressing my cards. Stay tuned for a few more candidates!

Papers: Maruman Mnemosyne N182A Inspiration Notebook A5 ($10.50), Crossfield Journal ($24.00),
Pen: Delike Glass Signature Pen ($37.80)
Swatches: Col-o-Ring Ink Testing Book ($10) and Col-o-Dex Rotary Cards ($15)

In Ink Review

Inkmas Day 5: Birmingham Pen Co. Winter Garden Snowflake

AnaDecember 15, 2023December 10, 2023Leave a comment

How holiday-centric is an ink with a name like (Winter Garden) Snowflake by Birmingham Pen Co. ($17 for 60ml bottle)? Pretty dang holiday, I say!

It is currently being bottled as just “Snowflake” so don’t be confused by the label on my bottle. Snowflake has a lovely reddish sheen over a cool blue aqua/turquoise. When wet with a little water or in a finer nib, the color becomes a lighter, cooler aqua and in a wider nib or brush, it looks darker and richer.

How can you resist this ink? It just makes me think of sparkly holiday balls — either on your tree or a fancy dance, you decide, inky angels!

There are a few inks in my collection that are close in color. Robert Oster Fire & Ice is pretty close but, in person, its a little less saturated. Callifolio Omi Osun is close in color but doesn’t have the sheen. Robert Oster Blue Water Ice is much brighter.

Do you get excited about finding a seasonally specific ink? I feel like I’ll be using Snowflake into the icy months of January and February of 2024.

Tools:

Paper: Col-o-ring FOLIO ($40)
Pens: Midori bullet pencil modified dip nib holder with Zebra G titanium nib ($33.50 per 10-pack), Acrylic dip nib pen (Approx. $15), Tachikawa T-40 Natural Nib Holder ($8.25) and Toronto Pen Company Brass Pentastic Folded Nibs ($25 CAD)
Swatches: Col-o-Ring Ink Testing Book ($10) & Col-o-dex Rotary Cards ($15)
Brush: Blick Synthetic Round #0

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Inkmas #4: Kobe City Museum Gray

AnaDecember 14, 2023December 14, 2023Leave a comment

Welcome to Inkmas Day 4!

I recently found a gorgeous new color from Kobe – City Museum Gray. The ink looks like a warm mug of hot chocolate – not just in the swatch, but in writing as well. Depending on your paper, your nib, and the lighting, this ink can appear anywhere from a warm gray to an unsaturated light brown.

The color reminds me of Montblanc Swan Illusion, but City Museum has less yellow in the undertones – very close to a lighter version of Wearingeul Stonecutter’s Song (or Mason’s Song, depending on the translation).

Tomoe River paper (TR7,52gsm) brings out more of the unsaturated nature of the ink and enhances the shading.

Cosmo Air Light (83gsm) paper shows the ink as closer to a brown with gray undertones and maybe a hint of pink as well.

Midori MD paper presents City Museum in—between the colors of the other two paper types — a warm gray with hints of pink, lots of shading possible, and a warm chocolate in the writing.

I love this color for a wintery day – hopefully it will bring a bit of warmth to yours as well!

In Ink Review

Inkmas Day 3: Callifolio Heure Dorée

AnaDecember 13, 2023December 13, 2023Leave a comment

When I think of the holidays, I think of the sparkly golds of holiday decorations and the golden glow of candlelight and shimmery cocktails. These golden hues made me think immediately of Callifolio Heure D’orée ($13 for a 35ml bottle). Heure D’orée is not a shimmery ink which I prefer for regular writing but it still has the warm quality of a metallic gold with easy clean up!

As the name describes, the color captures the feeling of the “golden hour” and it is probably my favorite non-metallic gold ink.

Sure, sure, sure, I know most people would reach for KWZ Honey as their favorite golden ink but not me. I find the consistency of Callifolio inks to be great (not to mention the price point!) and works with lots of pens and nibs. Heure D’orée may look too light in a very fine nib pen but will have such a great variety of shading in a wider nib.

Do you ever experiment with golden inks? What’s your favorite?

Tools:

Paper: Col-o-ring FOLIO ($40)
Pens: Midori bullet pencil modified dip nib holder with Zebra G titanium nib ($33.50 per 10-pack), Acrylic dip nib pen (Approx. $15), Tachikawa T-40 Natural Nib Holder ($8.25) and Toronto Pen Company Brass Pentastic Folded Nibs ($25 CAD)
Swatches: Col-o-Ring Ink Testing Book ($10) & Col-o-dex Rotary Cards ($15)
Brush: Blick Synthetic Round #0

In Ink Review

Inkmas #2 – Ferris Wheel Press Wondrous Winterberry

Laura CameronDecember 12, 2023December 13, 20231 Comment

Each year I approach Inkmas with a single goal in mind: find the ink to address this year’s holiday cards. While I don’t write messages to each person on my list, I do sit down and hand address each envelope, so each year I try to find the perfect ink for the job.

This year I started by ordering some samples, and Ferris Wheel Press’s Wondrous Winterberry (38mL for $22) was the first on the list.

Wondrous Winterberry is an orangey-red with fabulous gold shimmer. Yes, that’s the gold shimmer in the upper corner of the swatch. When I laid down lots of ink, there was lots to look at!

In writing with finer nibs, not much of the shimmer came across but it was still a nicely shading red ink.

The first thing I thought of when I ordered it was that it would be a little bit like Papier Plume’s Heart of Gold, but it was much darker red (whereas Heart of Gold was a lighter and more orange red). I really have nothing comparable in my stash. Mont Blanc William Shakespeare was closer to the red shade, but of course no shimmer. Sailor Shikiori Yodaki leaned slightly more orange. And Birmingham Pen Co Mt. Washington Sunset was in the right intensity, but a bluer red. So basically this one is in a class of its own!