The Well-Appointed Desk

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

AnaSeptember 11, 2023September 11, 2023Leave a comment

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.

In Ink Review

Ink Preview: Robert Oster Frankly Walnut (Federalist Pens Exclusive)

AnaSeptember 8, 2023September 4, 20233 Comments

Federalist Pens released their latest ink collaboration with Robert Oser: Frankly Walnut ($18 for 50ml bottle) which was unveiled at the DC Pen Show this year.

Frankly Walnut looks reddish brown on Col-o-ring paper but on Tomoe River it looks almost purply. Fascinating.

When compared with other brown inks, many Robert Oster were similar but different. Robert Oster Chocolate is probably the closest but is a bit more red orange in undertones where Frankly Walnut is a little more reddish in undertone.

Everyone looks for different characteristics in a brown ink: some prefer cool browns, others a warmer brown. Some want a more orangey color, or lighter or darker shades. Some might want a brown closer to black. Frankly Walnut provides a new option in the ever-growing rainbow of browns.

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

In Link Love

Link Love: Long Weekend, Short Attention Span

AnaSeptember 6, 2023September 4, 2023Leave a comment

Long weekends throw my whole schedule off. Don’t get me wrong, having an extra day off from the jobby-job is great but everything else gets scrambled. Is it Taco Tuesday yet? When is Knit Night? Is it Link Love day already?!?! Where did the week go?

What’s your best technique for getting back on schedule after a long weekend?

Enjoy this week’s links which include recaps from both the DC and SF Pen Show, planner reflections and tips for fixing your typewriter carrying case. That’s all you need, right?

Pens:

White: Déjà Vu All Over Again (via Fueled by Clouds & Coffee)
Pen Porn: Dotted Sea Urchin (via Rachel’s Reflections)
News: M600 Red-White Special Edition (via The Pelikan’s Perch)
What’s so special about specialty nibs? (via Leigh Reyes. My Life As a Verb.)
Fountain pen face-off: Kasama vs f-inks (via Pen Noob)
Four fun ways to use brush pens (via The Pen Company Blog)

Ink:

Ink Review #777: Dominant Industry Manschurian Violet (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist)
Cult Pens Tiverton Rust (via Inkcredible Colours)
Robert Oster Scorpion on Maruman Mnemosyne (via Inkcredible Colours)

Pencils:

Student-Grade Caran d’Ache Pencils (via Fueled by Clouds & Coffee)
A.W. Faber-Castell Vintage Pencil Tin (via Writing at Large)
Back to School with Colored Pencils (via Fueled by Clouds & Coffee)

Notebooks, Paper & Planners:

Itoya Oasis Line Friends A6 Notebook Review (via The Pen Addict)
Guest post series – ‘Filohax’ No.7 – Paul (via Philofaxy)
Boundaries I: Identifying Boundaries (via Bullet Journal)
Planner for 2024 (via Stationery)
PAPER REVIEW: AJOTO POCKET PAPER NOTEBOOK (via The Pencilcase Blog)
planners and life (via too many options)
120 Col-o-dex Cards (via Olive Octopus)
Kokuyo Jibun Techo Covers Archive (via JetPens Blog)

Art & Creativity:

Experiments from March 2023 (via Drewscape)
Boulder Colors Food Waste Watercolors Review (via Doodlewash)
N.C. Wyeth Painting Bought at Thrift Store for $4 Could Sell for $250K (via Hyperallergic)

Pen Show Recaps:

DC Pen Show, Part Two – It’s All About the People (via Pen Boutique Ltd)
2023 SF Pen Show – The Funnest Pen Show, aka Not A Quick Recap (via The Pen Addict)
San Francisco Pen Show 2023: A Weekend Whirlwind (via Dime Novel Raven)
Unpacking the San Francisco Pen Show: A Deeper Dive into What I Brought Home (via The Gentleman Stationer)
2023 San Francisco Pen Show Recap: Could It Get Even Bigger Than D.C.? (via The Gentleman Stationer)

Other Interesting Things:

This week’s scribble squad is an exercise in twos (via mnmlscholar)
One weird trick for fixing your typewriter case handle (via The Typewriter Revolution blog)
How to promote and build your creative business without using social media (via Creative Boom)
The Man Who Made Everyone Look Famous: Richard Bernstein and His Iconic Interview Covers (via Design You Trust)
Drying your plates with stationery (via Bleistift)

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In Paper Review, Planners & Organizers

Paper/Planner Review: Paper Republic Timeless Planner

Laura CameronSeptember 5, 2023September 5, 20231 Comment

Last week was Hobonichi day and the kickoff to planner season! Did you get what you wanted?

As I mentioned last week, I’ve been taking a look at what I’ve been using for the last few years, and while I really like it, I’m always interested in seeing if the grass really is greener over on the other side. I also cleaned out my stationery cabinet recently (an Ikea Alex unit) and found a Chic Sparrow A5 cover that needed to be used.

So I set off on a hunt for planner pages to fill it with. I quickly stumbled on Paper Republic, an Austrian company focusing on leather covers and paper. I looked at a few of their offerings and settled on the Timeless Planner – 2 x 6 months ($18).

The Timeless Planner is just a fancy way of saying its pages are undated. The set comes with two 6 month notebooks, enough for a year, making the $18 pretty economical. The paper in the notebooks is fountain-pen friendly 100 gsm paper in a creamy white. It’s not ivory, but I’m not sure it’s 100% pure white either. The notebooks have cardstock covers in an olive/sage green.

The layout of the notebook is perfect for me – week at a glance. Each week you simply add the month, fill in the dates and you’re ready to go. You have a vertical column for each day and the weekend is a single column split into two. The columns aren’t preprinted with numbers, though you certainly could add those in if you wish. And the pages are blank and clean – ready for you to add anything.

I tested out a spread for next week including washi and stickers, noting important appointments and things to do (can’t forget my Tuesday post!). The paper is fountain pen friendly. I tested a couple of different inks, albeit mostly fine nibs, and there is no bleed and absolutely no show through. The footprint of the A5 planner, even when open, isn’t too big for my desk and enables me to keep a clear eye on what’s coming in the days ahead.

For me, this feels like a good solution for what I should do this year. I’ll revisit it early-mid next year and let you know if it’s working out. Have you decided what you’ll use next year yet?

In Pen Review

Pen Review: Anterique Ballpoint Pen

AnaSeptember 4, 2023September 4, 20234 Comments

I worked at a table next to Gentleman Stationer at the SF Pen Show and that gave us time to talk shop and to just shop. One of the pens that surprisingly got a lot of attention was the Anterique Mach Ball .5MM Ballpoint Pen ($5.50). It is available in 26 colors and Joe had them stored in small jars. The bright colors were like candies to passing attendees.

The Anterqiue ballpoint pens feature standard ballpoint ink and a fine point and a classic retracable ball point pen design. The click end is wedged rather than round giving it a slightly more modern look but, from a distance, it could easily be mistaken for a classic.

I, of course, got a lime green model but I am sure you can find your favorite color.

I tested the Anterique on Tomoe River paper first but it extended the dry time causing the dreaded lefty-smudgy hand.

On Nakabayashi Logical Prime paper, the ink dried in a reasonable amount of time and performed well. So, the ink dry time issue was specific to the Tomoe River paper, not the ink or pen. (I used a B5 sized notebook. Gentleman Stationer stocks it in A5.)

I was impressed with overall build quality of the pen. The knock works well, there is no rattle or shimmy when writing. The quality is surprising for a budget priced pen. Definitely worth adding to your next order from Gentleman Stationer for sure.

If you want an even more premium model, Anterique is available with a brass barrel section ($29) and a plastic clip section which look even more retro..

The refill is a standard butterfly refill — its like a D1 with wings. It would be easy to replace and Gentleman Stationer stocks them ($2.80 each).

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

In Link Love

Link Love: Super Blue Moon Edition

AnaAugust 30, 2023August 30, 20231 Comment

Today is a Super Blue Moon and a BIG edition of Link Love. There are 5-year diary posts (two of them!), pen show recaps and some fun art supply reviews. Our Interesting bucket is overflowing with weird and wonderful posts like Austin Kleon’s college radio show playlist, a video of printed props for film with Adam Savage, fancy pigeons and more. It’s a big list this week so enjoy and if you’re anywhere near inclement weather today, stay safe. xoxo, Ana.