In Link Love

Link Love: Apple Spice Ink Party

Author AnaPosted on 1 Comment
Link Love: Apple Spice Ink Party

It’s finally getting cooler here in the Midwest and that makes me pull out all my sweaters, drink spice teas and even crave the occasional pumpkin spice latte. Even my ink cravings start leaning more autumnal: browns, russet reds, pumpkin oranges and dusky greens.

Oh, and have you seen the monrach butterflies migrating? We ooh-ed and ahh-ed at lunch today as butterflies flew over our heads. It was magical.

Are you ready for the change in the season wherever you are?

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In Pen Review

Pen Review: Uni-ball One Gel Pen 3 Color Set

Author Laura CameronPosted on Leave a comment
Pen Review: Uni-ball One Gel Pen 3 Color Set

Even though I don’t get to attend all the pen shows, Ana does sometimes bring home fun products to try. So I was excited last week when she handed me a Uni-ball One Gel Pen 3 Color Set (Limited Edition: Miyabi). Ana purchased the set at Mai Do at the San Francisco Pen Show, but it doesn’t appear on their website. I did find it available on JetPens (3 Color Set, $6).

Many folks say that Uni-ball gels are their favorite kind of pen, and after trying these I can see why. The 3-color set comes with smooth plastic barrels and comfortable rubber grips. They are clickable, and sport a clip that easy holds onto the front cover of a notebook or a small stack of paper. The gel pens are available with either .38mm or .5mm tips. I got the .38mm ones, and the lines are thin and precise!

The packaging denotes that the ink is water-resistant, and pigment based. It lays down cleanly and is quick drying. While it’s referred to as “vibrant colors” the Miyabi is really more of a bit of a pastel set. The Orange (Loquat fruit) is fairly vibrant but the Purple (Bellflower) and Gray (Mamedifuku) are softer colored, while still being legible. I happen to love gel pens (I favor them over ball points and roller balls) so I’m pleased to have some fun new colors in my pen cup!

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 Paper Review

Planner Review: Yoseka Labs Two-Month Weekly Planner

Author AnaPosted on 3 Comments
Planner Review: Yoseka Labs Two-Month Weekly Planner

I cannot believe that someone hadn’t thought of doing this sooner but Yoseka created the Yoseka Labs Two-Month Weekly Planner sampler ($9.50) and it is genius. (There’s your TL:DR. Go buy it now.)

In a lovely B6-sized (12.5cm x 17.6cm / 4.9in x 6.9in) cahier-style notebook with 68gsm Tomoe River paper are an assortment of differnt weekly page layouts to try. Most weekly styles include two weeks of the layouts but a couple just have one week to try.  There are also a couple options for monthly overview pages as well to test out. Honestly, Yoseka, you had me at B6.

The monthly spreads include a month-on-two-pages (classic monthly view calendar), Vertical Gantt (based on Bushimen’s PAL), and Horizontal Gantt (based on Art Print Japan’s Visualife Planner). The Gantt style calendars blow my mind a little but find them useful for Habit Tracking. It’s definitely a different style.

This was one of the few layouts that left me a little stumped. Maybe for longer project planning?

The weekly spreads include:

  • Vertical Schedule
  • Horizontal + Memo
  • Vertical + Memo
  • Horizontal Quadrant
  • Vertical Quadrant (Divided)
  • Vertical Quadrant (Memo)
This is very similar to the layout in the Jibun Techo.

This is one of my favorite planner layouts. I don’t need a ton of space for specific time tracking but like to have a large area for notes, lists and to do’s.

This layout was similar enough to the previous one that I didn’t fill it out. I do like the blank area and lines at the bottom. I think it would be good for a more creative planner — sketch, lettering or ink swatch at the top, notes at the bottom?

Of the weekly layouts, the horizontal + memo and vertical + memo are my favorites. I don’t use my planner for time keeping as much as task lists and logging activities from what and where I ate to activities I did and media I consumed. I like bbeing able to got back through the year and see what movies were watched, books were read and which podcasts were keeping my attention during different moments in the year.

Yoseka, then included a printed sheet with a chart of which planners they sell that feature each of the different styles of layouts as well as the sizes available. It’s a great cheat sheet for finding which planner aligns with your favorite layout at a glance. So efficient!

Since the notebook is undated, you can try all these different layouts right now and still have tie to find your perfect planner for 2024. With a full 10 weeks of weekly planner pages, that’s enough to get you almost to the end of the calendar year too.

I think, depending on feedback from customers, Yoseka should offer some of the most popular options as full undated planners. The size is great, the paper is great. Honestly, blank B6 Tomoe River cahiers would be amazing to offer too! Please!!!

DISCLAIMER: Some items included in this review were purchased with funds from our amazing Patrons. You can help support this blog by joining our Patreon. Please see the About page for more details.

In feature

Shop News: Pen and Ink De-stash (and new products!)

Author AnaPosted on Leave a comment
Shop News: Pen and Ink De-stash (and new products!)

Over the last week or so, I’ve been slowly updating the shop. First, I have added more pen clean out and ink destashing. Patrons get advanced notice when I do stationery cupboard clean outs so if you join the Patreon, you too can get first dibs when I clear out my ever-expanding pen, paper and ink stash. I’ve been a little stressed by my collection — that feeling of having too many things to keep track of, etc — that I’m probably removing items from my collection that are from the core of my collection, not the fluff. My loss is clearly your gain.

Lots of stamps have been restocked in the shop as well as our stamp cleaner (also on Etsy). We are even stocking refill bottles of the the stamp cleaner (8oz bottle for $14) if you have a spray or dauber bottle that needs a refill.

The pen and ink destash is only available on our Big Cartel site which ships to the US only. Sorry to our international readers but shipping ink out of country is very complicated.

And finally, we have created the first products in our new Tiki Collection. Bob and I have been cocktail fans and tiki collectors for years. In the heat of this summer, we wanted to capture the joys of delicious cocktails and that retro vibe of a Trader Vic’s or Beachcomber Don’s bar. When you live in the parched, land-locked part of the country, its fun to dream about the sea breezes and sounds of tropical birds cawing from a nearby tree. Jot down your favorite cocktail recipe on our new notepad (40 lined pages, fountain-pen friendly paper, $10) and put your icy cocktail glass on one of our absorbent coasters (8 coasters, 2 of each design $12). Aloha, friends! See you at the bar!

The Tiki Collection is available on both our Big Cartel and Etsy shops.

In feature, news

Show Recap: Orlando Pen Show

Author Jessica ColesPosted on 2 Comments
Show Recap: Orlando Pen Show

Do people write posts analyzing second year pen shows? 2022 was the first year for the Orlando Pen Show and I have seen plenty of posts looking at the event – did it live up to the hype? Did it have any new events or features? But I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a post specifically looking at a second year show.

Well, this won’t actually be a post analyzing a second year show. Not from the perspective of one who attended the first year, at least. I did not attend the first year Orlando Pen Show in 2022 but I did work at the Orlando Pen Show 2023 with the Dromgoole’s crew.

The show began Thursday evening for weekend pass holders – I know there was plenty of fun at the Thursday night pizza part and many items were raffled. However, Thursday night was set up night for our booth.

In my experience, the Dromgooles attempt to bring most of their store stock with them to a show. This is fabulous for individuals looking for items that are harder to find but can be tough on the backs of the people setting up the booth! But all tables were set up the evening before the show started.

I love the vast amount of ink on display at the Dromgooles table. And the display quality of these inks is incredible! Day 1 dawned with a nice volume of attendees looking for the wonders held within the showroom. The entrance room had tables for sitting and resting, a table full of donated ink for testing and playing, and a pen show exclusive ink for purchase. I do admire the pen show for their choice of theme colors – purple.

I wasn’t able to take many photos at the Orlando Pen Show this year, but those I did take have plenty of character. After a first day at the pen show, Marty and Kimberly (who help with Retro 51 and Rickshaw products) were happy to have time to sit down to a good meal and visit.

Christine and Michael Dromgoole were also happy to sit and eat. Michael loves his Dromgoole’s shirt enough to wear it even after hours!

My favorite Rickshaw fabric is this that I call Scruffy Kitty. I love his little pink toe beans! This pattern has been very popular in all styles of cases.

I was lucky enough to get a surprise visit from a famous pen star – Brad Dowdy. I asked if he would autograph a notebook but no one could find a pen…

The end of the second day of the show brought a large raffle to the show room floor with everyone gathered around. Pens created by independent pen makers were given away with the funds donated to the Reef Relief charity.

One downside of working at a vendor table is staring at a product all weekend. I was forced to purchase the Panda Hobonichi cover in the “Love It” pattern because I couldn’t bear to leave Panda behind. He now has a good home.

With a show so near Walt Disney World, there will be plenty of Disney products seen in the wild. My favorite siting was a Little Mermaid wallet disguised as a video tape cover!

The Orlando show was well-run from the point of view of a vendor. The presence of fast food nearby helped, cold water was always available, and attendance was managed well.

Did you go to the Orlando show as an attendee? What is your opinion on the show?

In Link Love

Link Love: Cracks in the Sidewalk

Author AnaPosted on 1 Comment
Link Love: Cracks in the Sidewalk

Can I tell you how mesmerized I am by the guerrilla crack repair done by the aritst Ememem (see the link below in “other interesting things”)? I love random acts of art like this. I love trees wrapped in knitwear, sidewalk chalk paintings and beautifully created murals. I love when the neighbor decides to repaint the garage door with flowers painted by their children. I love yards covered with statuary. I love the Watts Towers. This is art for the sake of art and for making the world a more beautiful place. Its like planting flowers in an abandoned field. What random acts of art making can I do? Or you?

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In Pen Review

Pen & Nib Review: Schon DSGN Monoc Nib & Anodized Aluminum “Pocket Six” Fountain Pen

Author AnaPosted on Leave a comment
Pen & Nib Review: Schon DSGN Monoc Nib & Anodized Aluminum “Pocket Six” Fountain Pen

Hidden inside the simple paperboard tube is a pen of exquisite quality and with a nib like no other. It’s the Schon DSGN “Pocket Six” Anodized Aluminum ($165) with the mind-blowing Monoc Nib unit (starting at $385).

The nib is custom made by Schon DSGN in their Philadelphia workshop and is formed from a single piece of titanium. There is so much thought and consideration in the development of this nib that I could prattle on about how it was created but I won’t do it nearly the justice it deserves. I recommend reading the details directly from Schon DSGN and even take time to watch the video.

 

 

I mean, I couldn’t even get a good clear photo of the full depth of this nib what makes you think I can talk eloquently about it?!?! But dig that star engraved on the back side of the nib! Such a nice touch!

For a comparison in size, the Pocket Six is similar in size to the Kaweco Sport but the aluminum material feels weightier and sturdier.

While the Monoc nib will fit into any pen that takes a JOWO nib unit, putting this unique nib in one of Schon DSGN’s awesome anonized aluminum fountain pen designs seems like the best way to show off its unique looks.

In writing tests, I used the pen on both Tomoe River paper and a Nakabayashi Logical Prime notebook. I purchased the fine nib but it is definitely a European fine and more comparable to a MF or medium nib for me. It’s silky smooth to write with and can be used in a wide variety of angles. The nib can be flipped over and used upside down and it writes with a slightly finer point. It can also be angled from a low- to high-writing angle without any issues. If you’ve ever had issues with fountain pen nibs do to an unusual writing angle, the Monoc nib might be the perfect option for you.

Overall, I am thrilled I can support (with help from my Patrons!) Ian and his crazy adventures in nib making. The looks and overall quality of his pens in next level. They are modern and echo to our fountain pen history at the same time. The term visionary gets thrown around a lot but what Schon DSGN is doing really is visionary.

The Monoc nib is expensive but it is made in the US using premium materials and is tested before its sent out. If you are more interested in the Pocket Six, I also can’t recommend them enough. This galactic look Pocket Six is my second Pocket Six.  The original has been a daily carry since I got it and I suspect the new galactic Monoc will join its sister, the “Ferrara Rocher” hammered brass with a custom nib from Franklin-Christoph.