The Well-Appointed Desk

Shop RESTOCK!

AnaOctober 27, 2014Leave a comment

Finally! The rubber stamps in the Shop have been restocked. Lots of designs are now available in wood handled models as well as classic wood “art blocks”. Prices are the same so you get to choose!

There are just a few sets of vintage airmail envelopes left and packets of vintage stars so act fast. These items are vintage and will not be restocked. When they’re gone, they’re gone.

View the whole Desk Shop here. And thanks to everyone who was patient with me waiting for restocking and have so kindly supported the shop. You are all the best!

In Ink Review

Ink Review: J. Herbin Vert Réséda

AnaOctober 26, 20144 Comments

J. Herbin Vert Réséda and Kaweco Skyline in Mint

Jet Pens recently started carrying the 10ml small bottles of J. Herbin ink and I’m absolutely mad for the little things. They are just the right size for my insatiable appetite for inks. I can fill pens several times with the quantity but it won’t stick aroud indefinitely like larger 30, 50 or bigger bottles. They remind me of bottles of nail polish — little colorful treats!

Sometimes an ink color was just meant to be paired with a pen. J. Herbin Vert Réséda is just such a color. Its a turquoise green-blue (not a blue-green) and it immediately made me think of the cool glacier mint color of the Kaweco Skyline in Mint. So, a pen/ink match was made. I bought the dainty 10ml bottle, slightly more than a sample but not the full commitment of a full 30ml bottle. I’m running out of place to store all my ink bottles anyway!

J. Herbin Vert Réséda

The color is a little bit lighter when wet then it is when its dry. So, at first, it seemed almost as light as the pen but it dries much darker and frankly, looks fantastic once dry. I did notice that in the fine nib of the Kaweco Skyline, the ink was a bit too light, even dry but when I dipped my vintage Parker Vacumatic with a slightly flexy 14K nib into the ink, I got a deeper color that I just loved.

The Vert Réséda is similar to De Atramentis Mint Turquoise but the Mint Turquoise is a bit more blue and darker. If you’re looking for a minty color that is good for finer nibbed pens, then I’d probably recommend the Min Turquoise over the Vert Réséda. Diamine Soft Mint swab is as light as the writing sample of the Vert Réséda with a fine nibbed pen so I suspect it would be too light for anything but a stub or calligraphy nib.

J. Herbin Vert Réséda

This is definitely an ink I’d recommend for nibs in the medium width and above for best results but if you’re looking for a light, bright turquoise green, it will even look pleasing in a finer nibbed pen.

($4.75 for the 10ml bottle, $12 for 30ml bottle)

DISCLAIMER: This item was sent to me free of charge by Jet Pens for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

In Fashionable Friday

Fashionable Friday: In The Pink

AnaOctober 24, 2014October 24, 20141 Comment

Fashionable Friday: In The Pink

This week, I discovered I was carrying a pink clutch, filled with a pink-edged Miro notebook and a pink case on my old iPhone 4s. I was feeling “In The Pink”. Then I noticed that its October which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a predominance of pink ribbons and such around. So, I went with it. This week we can all feel PINK!

Render K in Anodized Pink $45 (via Karas Kustoms)
Miro 5×8″ Hardcover Notebook with Pink Edging $13.99 (via Franklin Mill)
Sailor Professional Gear Transparent Series Fountain Pens $156 (via Pen Chalet)
Leather Pocket Monthly Planner $15 (via Gallery Leather)
Leuchtturm Medium Notebook Bicolore Pink-Green A5 14,96 € (via Fontoplumo)
Kokuyo Kadokeshi 28-Corner Eraser – Small – Pack of 2 – Pink and White $2.50 (via Jet Pens)
Pilot Prera Fountain Pen – Medium Nib – Yellow Body $49.50 (via Jet Pens)
Lamy Turquoise (50ml) Ink $10.50 (via Goulet Pens)
Pink Pencil Charm on Silver Plated Chain Necklace $5.74 (via TheBeadyBangles on Etsy)
Audrey Hepburn “Happy Girls are the Prettiest Girls” Pink Pencils (via LifeisRosier on Etsy)
P+G Nuu Silicone Multi Pouch – Orange $12 (via Jet Pens)
Ring True Desk Phone in Yellow $59.99 (via Modcloth)
Diamine Hope Pink (80ml) Ink $12.95 (via Goulet Pens)

(Photo of Jessica Alba in her The Honest Copany office from Elle Decor)

In feature, Link Love

Start As You Mean To Go On.

AnaOctober 24, 2014May 27, 2017Leave a comment

start as you mean to go on

Thanks to everyone who commented on the Pen Habit post. I never intended to scare anyone into thinking I might cease publication or anything. I just wanted to think out loud about the blog. I love doing this and I think I’ve been putting invisible pressure on myself to do more, more often and bigger. In reality, I think I have been my own worst enemy.

All the comments and messages on Twitter have been hugely uplifting and I am so grateful to have such kind loyal readers. I’ll say it over and over again, pen (and pencil) people are the best people in the world.

When I started the blog over four years ago on Tumblr I posted twice a day, five days a week. The content was less involved then than it is now but I have never really tried to taper the pace even though most posts take a lot longer to produce today. The Monologue Journals is a great example (a huge pile of notebooks in different paper weights, sizes and configurations required lots of photos, testing and a lot of specifics transposed into the post) compared with a “look at this beautiful office” post of four years ago.

As it stands right now, there are no plans to change the blog. There will continue to be Link Love posts almost-weekly*, Fashionable Friday, and From The Archives. I will continue to write ink, pen, pencil and notebook reviews as well as publish news, Kickstarter announcements and the occasional Art of The Day post or work space photos. There just might not be two posts everyday. Maybe just one. If I don’t post for a day or so, don’t worry. Sometimes, it gets a bit busy and sometimes or its just a slow news day (whether I’m responsible for the slowness or there just doesn’t seem to be much going on).

I’m always looking for new products, something different, something well-loved or just something beautiful. I hope I can keep bringing these finds to you in a thoughtful and timely manner.

If there’s anything you’d like to see more (or less), please leave a comment.

*It’s hard for me to keep Link Love on a specific day but I get one out every week or so, usually on Wednesday but I’m off this week. AGAIN.

In From the Archives

From The Archives: Pilot Envelope Pen

AnaOctober 23, 2014October 22, 20143 Comments

Pilot Envelope Pen Writing Sample

from-the-archives I have been using the Pilot Envelope Pen in both the Fine and Extra Fine models for many years. These are rolleball pens. I’d most likely compare them in feel to a Pilot Precise V5 but a little bit slippier. The ink is silky smooth but because of the ink, the tip can get a little gunky. So why suffer a gunky tip? Because these pens are fine line AND waterproof and not prone to feather like a Sharpie Marker. In my writing test, the water test portion was wet with a water brush and dried. Not even a smudge!

The ink does have a bit of an odor but no worse than an alcohol-based markers and there may be some show through or bleed through on some papers but for envelopes or file folders, its not a big deal.

These do use ink quickly so buy two at a time. Stock up now before holiday card season.

Pilot Envelope Pen

I like the extra fine better for addressing envelopes since its easier to write long addresses small and neat. The fine is quite a bit broader.

Each model is just $2 and there is also a broad version and available from Jet Pens.

In Art of the Day, news

Feeling a Little Royal

AnaOctober 23, 2014October 22, 2014Leave a comment

Everything in Kansas City, and in my office, is swathed in blue and all things Royals so I see no reason why I should not inflict this on everyone else.
Here goes:

First, I wanted to show you this wonderful video of retired Hallmarker, Shannon Manning, talking about designing the Kansas City Royals logo. I found the article with the video on Todd Radom’s blog about the development of the Royals logo.

Then I wanted to show you this wonderful chalk mural created by the lettering staff at Hallmark this week:

Go #Royals! Check out the #timelapse of our chalk mural. #crowntocrown #takethecrown #worldseries #instakc #instavideo #hallmark

A video posted by Hallmark (@hallmarkcards) on Oct 10, 2014 at 5:48pm PDT

And then there’s been a slew of doodles and messages of support:

Our hometown @KCRoyals are headed to the #WorldSeries! It's taking over sketchbooks like this one from lettering artist @rogerslisablue. Keep an eye out for more throughout the week! #BeRoyalKC #sharehallmark #crowntocrown

A photo posted by @think.make.share on Oct 10, 2014 at 10:00am PDT