In Pen Review

When is a knock off worth the fun? Jinhao 82

Author Laura CameronPosted on 10 Comments

Ana and I met up this past Saturday to exchange holiday gifts, sip coffee, chat stationery and knit. She presented me with a beautifully wrapped package and the first thing I opened was a fountain pen. For a second I gasped, but then she assured me it wasn’t what I thought it was. Ana had bought me a Jinhao 82 ($8.98 on Amazon). If you don’t know anything about fountain pens, Jinhao is a series of pens from China, often made to look like other pens; i.e. knockoffs.

So I decided that today I would take the Jinhao 82 out and test it side by side with its “inspiration”: a Sailor ProGear Slim. (the Spring Rain, full review here.)

I don’t know which order I was supposed to start in, but I chose the Spring Rain first. Spring Rain was part of the Sounds of Rain series released in 2021. The body on this pen is acrylic, but don’t let it fool you – it’s full of extra details. The nib is a two-tone 21K gold nib. All the trim is in gold and the edition has special finials.

So I loaded it up with a purple ink (Diamine 150th Anniversary Purple Dream), and away we went. This one is an exquisite writer. It’s smooth and luscious against the page, it just flows. The ProGear Slim is my Sailor model of choice, fitting my small hands perfectly. And their nibs are really perfection – without compare. This one is an MF.

Next, I picked up the Jinhao 82. The body is similar though not exactly the same (a few mm difference here and there). The trim on my model is silver, although “gold” is available – I assume this is a color rather than the precious metal at an $9 price point. The trim is similar – the cap ring isn’t as hefty and the clip doesn’t contain the same striations, but they definitely look somewhat alike.

I can’t diss the writing on the Jinhao 82. The nib is a steel one in Medium (although other sizes are available) and so it isn’t nearly as light as the gold one. It’s stiffer with less variation. But it’s still pretty darn smooth across the page. Really it gives a much better performance than I would expect of an $9 pen (and it exceeds the Jinhao Shark pen!). Ana and I had a good chuckle that the very cheap knockoff comes with an ink converter, whereas in the original you have to buy the converter separately.

Are the two pens the same? Heck no. There is definitely a big difference in quality between the two. But there’s also a HUGE price difference. For someone getting into the hobby, or even someone who loves collecting pens, Sailor ProGear Slims are a $3-400 minimum investment, and that’s before you upgrade nibs. Conversely, I don’t think the Jinhao 82 really takes anything away from Sailor. Although it’s a “knockoff,” the logo on the cap ring and nib is Jinhao – they’re not trying to pass themselves off as Sailors. I think they write pretty well and I’d totally recommend them to someone who loves the look, but not the price, of Sailors.

What do you think?

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 Planners & Organizers

Let’s Start 2024!

Author AnaPosted on 7 Comments
Let’s Start 2024!

Happy New Year! I hope 2024 is starting well for you (or at least appears to be on the upward trajectory). Mercury went direct today which will hopefully help us feel like everything isn’t a long, slow ride on the struggle bus this month. Last month though?… let’s just leave the past in the past.

If you’re like me, you look forward to the start of the New Year so that you can officially start your new planner or journal.

I have hacked/mastered/settled-on a format for planning and journaling that works for me so I was delighted to start setting up my new planner last night (because homebodies are gonna homebody!)

I started by using my existing leather cover from Bassy & Co in the B6 size (starting at $95) then I added a new Stalogy B6 Editor’s Series 365Days notebook ($21.60-$24) inside the now gold foil decorated cover.

Inside, I added a page for my goals for the year. These are not resolutions rather things I want to accomplish this year.

I’d like to improve my physical activity after being sick this year. I need to get my stamina and endurance back up since convalescing for over a month. Other goals include organizing a yard sale this spring to clear out even more stuff from the basement and a few things I am not ready to share publicly yet. For me, writing these goals down give me a chance to protect these goals and make time to accomplish them.

No matter how silly or mundane you think your goals might be, write them down. You are the only one who will see them and regardless, the first step to making anything real is writing it down or saying it out loud. So if you want to change jobs, go back to school or just clean out the gutters, write it down. Remember that it was important to you when the day-to-day tries to encroach on your dreams. Clean gutters are a total valid dream!

I use a page-a-day system similar to what is established in the standard A6 Hobonichi planner. I add my own month-on-2-pages at the beginning of each month and add personal holidays and important dates to the monthly calendar. In the past, I’ve used the single page Midori dated and undated sticky calendars but this year I disassembled another undated planner and saved the monthly calendar pages which I tip-in or paste in to the Stalogy.

I also added a ribbon book mark that is exactly the same shade of citrus green as my Sailor/Nagasawa Pro Gear Slim. I glued it to the outside of the cover and covered the somewhat wonky attachment method with a bit of book binder’s tape (see the cover photo to see the printed book binder’s tape at the top edge).

After a year of using this process for logging/journaling, I have set up a bit of a system for maintaining my stride and not overwhelm myself. I start each month by I choosing a few seasonally appropriate colored markers for writing my headers and if I add any bullet journal-style list pages like “Books to Read” or “Podcasts to Check Out”, a few rolls of washi tape in coordinating colors/themese, some stickers and pair of scissors and glue stick.  I paste in my monthly view calendar at the beginning of the month and add a tab with the month written on it. I have a Kitta Washi Tape Folio and a massive collection of Kitta Tapes which I am hoping to start using up this year. They are small pre-cut strips of washi come in little matchbook-style covers which are great for on-the-go planner jazzing. I slide one into the pocket in my leather planner cover. The strips can be used to cover up an oopsie, FYI.

Everyday, I just write the day on the top of the page. Some days require multiple pages. Some days get skipped completely. Some days get missed and I go back and then retrospectively filled in.  But by making writing the date each day, I give myself permission to make it a big day or no day at all. It’s a lot less pressure than those endless blank pages that I ended up with in the Hobonichi when I tried it. Now if I fall of the journal bandwagon for a week, I don’t have seven blank pages staring back at me. I have NO blank pages.

Overall, my journal/planner is not as pretty or fancy as many YouTubers but I like how it looks. I am using up the massive amount of washi tape and stickers I’ve accumulated over the years which makes me happy.

I use Austin Kleon’s logging method which is more bullet list of activities than a long form written journal or diary. I log the podcasts I listened to,  the people I saw or places I went. I will sometimes note “still reading ____” if I’m in the middle of a book or the season of a series we are watching on television. If the weather is particularly notable, I might add a note about that. I also started pasting in the occasional receipt so that some day I can look back and marvel at either what I purchased or how much it cost.

I will sometimes insert a photo printed from my phone using a mini printer (mine has been discontinued but there are lots of others still available that will print your photos on stickers or as mini polaroids). I prefer to use a mini printer that prints photos about the size of a playing card and does not require ink cartridges. While the paper is a bit more expensive, I don’t have to purchase or worry about ink cartridge availability.

I plan to add a “word of the year” or other bits of inspiration. I’ve found that the advantage of using an undated planner/journal is that I can use more than one page when necessary or cram two or three days on the same page when not much occurred. Then insert a list or idea page randomly and just put a tab marker or book dart to mark a page as being special. Maybe this year, I’ll add an index and number my pages to make it easier to locate the chaos.

Really, the bottom line is that my journal/planner has become an “everything book”. It’s a commonplace book, it’s a journal, it’s a diary, it’s a brain dump.

I have been tickled to hear that last year’s planner has inspired others (including my husband!!!) to try their hand at keeping a planner or journal for this year. I will try to continue to share my progress both good and bad to hopefully continue to encourage others to keep on trying!

What’s your method of remembering, archiving or planning?

DISCLAIMER: Some items included in this review were provided free of charge by JetPens for the purpose of review. . Other items were purchased with funds provided by the gracious support of our amazing Patrons. You can help support this blog by joining our Patreon. Please see the About page for more details

In Pen Review

Marker Review: Uni Posca Glitter Paint Marker Set

Author Laura CameronPosted on 2 Comments

Review by Tina Koyama

This seems to happen at least once or twice a year: I find myself craving some kind of glittery, sparkly product even as I insist that I’m not that kind of girl. At least this time I have the holidays as an excuse.

I’ve lately been using standard Uni Posca Paint Markers to sketch with, so the seven-color set of Posca Glitter Paint Markers (7 for $16.50; $3.30 each) caught my eye. I got the 3ML (line width measured at 1.0mm) fine point size; the set is also available in the 1ML (measured at 0.7mm) extra fine point size.

The barrel and section are as glittery as the paints.

To make test swatches, I used three types of paper: a black Stillman & Birn Nova sketchbook, a Col-o-ring Oversize book and a sheet of Sakae TP Iroful paper. As always, the tough part is photographing the swatches to show optimal shimmer, so I hope you can see that these pens deliver the sparkle. Although they look best on black, they still shine on white, too, and remain especially glossy on the Iroful.For a test sketch, I looked across the street before the sun came up, where our neighbors had wrapped the trunk of their small palm tree in festive lights.

For a test sketch, I looked across the street before the sun came up, where our neighbors had wrapped the trunk of their small palm tree in festive lights.


Although the nocturne appeals to my minimalist esthetics (especially when it comes to holiday lights), it didn’t feel like enough bling to see what these Poscas can do. So I channeled my inner seventh grade self to do what we used to call “balloon writing” for a holiday greeting. That’s some nice sparkle and shine! This closeted glitter gal approves.


(For the record, this is the only form of glitter I will knowingly and willingly bring into my home. Whenever I open an envelope and see that a card has glitter on it, I remove the card gently from the envelope over a wastebasket, peek to read, then put it back in the envelope slowly to keep as much glitter contained as possible. I then tape it shut for storage. It’s the only way to get ahead of Satan’s dandruff.)

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

In Link Love

Link Love: Three Weeks of Content (so get a cup of tea)

Author AnaPosted on 1 Comment

Because of Inkmas, we postponed Link Love for the last few weeks so this is the epic, curl-up-in-a-blanket-and-get-comfy edition of Link Love.

There are lots of “best of 2023” and “plans for 2024″ posts so we collected them into one category and gave it pride of place. So, if you’re looking to see what you might have missed in 2023 or looking for enthusiasm to jump start your 2024 with better plans, new running shoes or just a more focused approach, you’ll find something worth reading here.

Hope that you had a joyous holiday and had a chance to rest and recuperate — ready to face 2024 with a renewed sense of enthusiasm. If not, maybe these posts will help!

Looking Forward & Looking Back:

Pens:

Ink:

Pencils:

Notebooks & Paper:

Art & Creativity:

Other Interesting Things:

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In Planners & Organizers

Boxing Day Musings: 2024

Author Laura CameronPosted on 2 Comments

We hosted Christmas this year, so today I’m recovering from lots of cooking, dishes, entertaining and more. But now that the holiday is over, my thoughts turn to the next big milestone, the end of the year.

This year I had some successes and failures in the planning, journaling, & stationery world. I loved my Effin’ Birds Planner and it was a highlight each and every Monday morning. My 5-year Midori diary? Not so much. Some months I was great, but I don’t think I’ve written in it since October so that’s gonna fall squarely in the fail column. So as I ponder 2024, I want to set myself up for more successes than fails.

In the planner column, I’m giving the Timeless Planner from Paper Republic a whirl. I purchased 2 undated booklets which should get me all the way through the year, and I popped them into my Chic Sparrow planner cover which I love (but admit is too heavy to lug around!).

In the journaling column, I decided I’m sort of in love with Ana’s beautiful journals. While I don’t think I’ll end up being quite that creative, I selected a special notebook out of my collection, the Tsuki Bullet Journal from Notebook Therapy, to start my journey with. I’ve already prepped Jan 1’s page for notes on what I do, what I’m reading and watching, knitting on, fun things that happen, and thoughts as I mean to go on throughout the year. My hope is that a slightly more flexible bullet journal format will have me writing more often.

I’m going to give these two a go and I’ll report back in a few months.

Also, I thought you might like to see what’s currently inked on my desk:

Have you narrowed down what you’ll be using in 2024?

In Ink Review

Inkmas Day 12: Vinta Sirena 1952

Author AnaPosted on 2 Comments
Inkmas Day 12: Vinta Sirena 1952

I’d like to close our 2023 edition of Inkmas with one of my favorite inks: Vinta Sirena 1952 ($14.50 for a 30ml bottle). This ink is all the mermaid-y vibes I could possibly imagine. It makes me want to sing a sea shanty!

Sirena is a complex, multi-chromatic ink with a base of mossy green that can shift to a sandy pink or a darker green depending on how heavy the ink application is. There’s even a little hint of aqua. Once dry it has an aged mossy look.

This ink definitely benefits from a wider nib in order to take advantage of the range of color it creates. Flex nibs, folded nibs, brushes and wide calligraphy nibs will show off this sea witch ink to its best seaweedy, watery light.

Like Armada, finding ink comparisons was a challenge. All three swatches that I pulled lean more green or grey and don’t have the hints of blue that Sirena has. Sirena definitely stands in a class by itself.

From top to bottom: Ferris Wheel Press Moss Park Green, Kala Asbtraction Pigment Ink Sierra Mist, Lennon Tool Bar Atmospheric Firmament and Vinta Sirena 1952.

This color always makes me happy for its unusual quality. It warms my seawater-soaked, mermaid heart.

And with that, another year of Inkmas is in the books. I hope you all enjoyed our deep dive into our ink stashes. Hope you all have a fabulous holiday and we will see you next week!

Tools:

DISCLAIMER: Some 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.

Inkmas 2020 Header

In Ink Review

Inkmas Day 11: Vinta Aegan Armada 1944

Author AnaPosted on Leave a comment
Inkmas Day 11: Vinta Aegan Armada 1944

I remember the fervor and excitement when Vinta released their first inks. The colors were some of the first multi-chromatic inks and the colors were unusual, complex and relatively inexpensive. One of my favorites from the first release was Vinta Aegan Armada 1944 ($14 for a 30ml bottle). The color is a steely blue grey with hints of pinky-lavender and, with heavy application, a deep purply eggplant. There’s also an undercurrent of sea green.

The close-ups above show some of the variation possible with Aegan Armada 1944. Its not just me, right? You want to lick the page too? Such a sugarplum fairy sort of color.

Trying to find an ink color comparison was a challenging. Probably the closest comparison is Troublemaker Petrichor. The hints of green can be found in J. Herbin Vert de Gris and the rare Colorverse Standard Model W Boson. The color accuracy in these photos just does not capture the range of subtlety in all these inks.

In photos, Vinta Aegan and Troublemaker Petrichor look more purple than they appear in real life. This ink is such a mercurial color. Really, your best solution is to order a bottle (or a sample) and try ti for yourself. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did.

Tools:

DISCLAIMER: Some 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.