In Link Love

Link Love: Dead Week

Author AnaPosted on 2 Comments

When I read Austin Kleon’s substack newsletter this week about Dead Week, I knew that would be my theme for Link Love this week. I love the idea that the week between Christmas and New Year’s is a “dead week”. Whatever needed to be done for the year was either completed before Christmas or can wait for the start of the year.

Since I started a new job this fall, I haven’t accumulated any vacation time yet so I am going into the office this week. It’s a bit of a ghost town since most people took the week off to fully embrace Dead Week. Those of us going into the office are living out a different sort of Dead Week where we can only accomplish so much without the majority of the decision makers available to sign off on projects.

Embrace Dead Week. Whether you are working this week or taking some time off, take the pressure off yourself this week to be productive or effective. That can wait until next week. Spend an extra hour in bed or take a long hot bath, drink cocoa for breakfast and eat cereal for dinner.

Link of the Week:

Year End Wrap Ups:

Pens:

Ink:

Pencils:

Notebooks & Paper:

Art & Creativity:

Other Interesting Things:

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In Planners & Organizers

New Year’s Resolutions 2023

Author Laura CameronPosted on 5 Comments

Do you make New Year’s resolutions? Part of me LOVES the idea because I like setting goals and achieving them. And then the other part of me is ready to just enjoy this last week of the year and not clutter it up with expectations for the new year.

This year I do have a few ideas in mind on how I’d like to start 2023, and you know they say “start as you mean to go on.” So here’s what I’m thinking about:

  1. Record more of my daily life. I talked about starting a common place journal a few months ago, and two weeks ago I bit the bullet and bought a Midori 5-Year Diary ($42). I don’t know quite yet what I’ll record, but I’m thinking what I’m knitting, reading and watching, plus any general thoughts or quotes I’m enjoying. I don’t plan to specifically record my inky adventures, but I do plan to use whatever pens and inks I’m digging at the time.
  2. Use more of what I already have. This has been a goal for a few years running now. I am lucky enough to have a wonderful stash of pens, inks and papers, along with crafting supplies. Though I don’t like to admit it, I suffer from FOMO and “oooo shiny” and add to my collections each year. I have so much that sometimes I forget what I have, and I certainly don’t delve into it as often as I’d like. Don’t worry – I’ll still find new things to share here, but I’d like to enjoy what I have.
  3. Explore new authors. I love reading. This year I was part of two book clubs, one of which was specifically geared towards more diverse voices. Even if I don’t always love the books that the groups pick, I am constantly pushed into new genres and new voices and I enjoy getting outside of my comfort zone.
  4. Be more active. I don’t want to make a fitness goal because that’s very cliched and also not very interesting to me. What I would like to be is more active. I’d like to take more breaks with a walk outside, get more comfortable riding my bike, and generally try and up my daily activity level.
  5. Enjoy the good times more. Let’s face it, sometimes the state of the world can be pretty overwhelming. But there are still so many wonderful conversations to be had, books to be read, hobbies to be enjoyed and time to spend with family and friends. I’m no Pollyanna, but I want to savor the good times even more and hold them close when things are less fun.

What are your thoughts on the new year?

In Paper Review

Notebook Review: Midori Soft Color Grey A5 Notebook (Dot Grid)

Author AnaPosted on 2 Comments
Notebook Review: Midori Soft Color Grey A5 Notebook (Dot Grid)

Just when I thought there couldn’t be a new notebook that would entice me, the Midori Soft Color Notebooks arrive on JetPens.  These A5 dot grid cahier-style notebooks come in five pastel colors and white for $3.50 each. There are 28 sheets (56 pages) in each book. I decided to try the gray but it was hard to pick just one color.

The notebooks feature a light cardstock cover that matches the interior pages. The graphics on the cover are minimal and not too distracting.

The interior pages feature a light grey 5mm dot grid and paper with a slight tooth. It’s not super smooth like Rhodia but not as textured as Col-o-ring paper.

Above is a comparison between a white sheet and the color of the Soft Color Notebook in gray. The gray creates a nice backdrop for early morning writing and note taking when your eyes aren’t ready for eye-searing bright white stocks.

When testing the paper, the slight tooth seemed to be calling for colored pencils and lo and behold, colored pencil colors POP on the grey. Even if you are not inclined to draw much, adding a bright colored pencil to your writing tools will be a great way to underline key notes, or add titles or callouts to your pages. At the bottom of the page, I did some ink swatch test to see if the color would sheen or bleed through.

The paper did not feather with fountain pens and was fun to use with an array of gel pens. I think gel pens, particularly Dual Metallic or Pastel colors would look great on this paper.

While the inks didn’t show sheen, some of the shading and color shifting properties were visible but not to the same extent that they would be on Tomoe River or Endless Regalia paper.

From the back of the same page, you can see there was no bleed through which is a great bonus.

These little Soft Color cahier notebooks from Midori might not be for everyone. However,  if you are looking for a small, fountain pen-friendly notebook for projects or specific topics, and have always wanted to try colored paper stocks, then this notebook might be for you.  The ability to color code via the whole notebook is great and, for the price, you could easily purchase the whole rainbow which makes these hard to resist.

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

In Ink Review

Inkmas Day 12: Vanness Inc Sweet Tater Pie

Author AnaPosted on Leave a comment
Inkmas Day 12: Vanness Inc Sweet Tater Pie

On the last day of Inkmas, we ate Sweet Tater Pie ($14.75 for 30ml bottle). Okay, we’ve discussed this before. Do NOT eat or drink the ink no matter how tasty it looks or smells. Though it is hard to resist an ink that you want to top with toasted marshmallows and dig into with a giant spoon.

When I look at Sweet Tater Pie, I can smell the pie spices (it’s not scented, they are phantom smells.). Maybe it should have been scented? nah.. I’d rather imagine the smells. The color though reminds me of pumpkin pie for sure. OR sweet tater pie, if you prefer that as a holiday treat. Either way its a bright orange that’s not too garish, there’s a nice warm undertone that keeps it from searing the retinas. Depending on the tool you are using the ink with shade from a bright orangey to a deeper baked orange color.

When compared with some other russet oranges in my stash, I would say the closest similar ink color is Callifolio Inti which may be ever-so-slightly more brownish. Robert Oster Campfire is close as well and since that was a Phidon Pens exclusive, Sweet Tater Pie might be a good alternative for those of us south of the Canadian border. Lamy Bronze isn’t even in the ballpark colorwise.

Tools:

DISCLAIMER: The 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.

In feature

Inkmas Day 11: Scribo Vert Prato

Author AnaPosted on 4 Comments
Inkmas Day 11: Scribo Vert Prato

We are getting close to the end of Inkmas! Today is frigidly cold here (a high of -6 degrees F) so I’ve chosen a bright and cheerful ink that makes me warm inside.

Scribo Vert Prato is a bright yellowish green ink that makes me smile.

Scribo inks come in huge, heavy glass bottles that could break a toe but also stack nicely on top of one another, making a beautiful and eye-catching centerpiece. The bottles are hand blown glass and contain a full 90mL of ink. I love how they look in the sunlight.

Bright green ink isn’t terribly common in the ink world. One popular bright green is Akkerman #28 Hofkwartier Groen. Pen Chalet also has a store-exclusive Robert Oster ink, Paulo Verde, that is close to Vert Prato, but more of an olive tone.

As you can see below, Vert Prato is very close to Hofkwartier Groen, but a bit less of a yellow undertone. To me, Vert Prato wins because it just looks a bit more cheerful.

This is an ink that has been in a pen since I discovered it – a matching pen that also glows in the dark (the pen, not the ink). I’ve had this Benu filled with Vert Prato for about a year now – I might not ever change this duo.

Which bright green ink do you prefer? Why aren’t there more bright green inks around?

 

 

 

In Link Love

Link Love: Yule Be Glad It’s Link Love

Author AnaPosted on 1 Comment

Today is Winter Solstice, AKA Yule, which means it is the shortest day of the year. It’s a good time to embrace the dark and prepare for longer days, even if, for many of us, we will be facing many more cold, dark days as January will bring snow and cold.

We wish you a Meowy Christmas

I plan to light ALL THE CANDLES today, turn on my electric fireplace (concessions to my asthmatic self) and make something warm to drink and reflect on a year that was not without its ups and downs. I am thankful for all my good friends and will be thinking of those who are no longer with us. May there be love and light wherever they are now.

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In Ink Review

Inkmas Day 10: Dominant Industry for Wonder Pens (Tuna Grey & Ginger Chicken)

Author AnaPosted on 1 Comment
Inkmas Day 10: Dominant Industry for Wonder Pens (Tuna Grey & Ginger Chicken)

If there’s one thing I love more than fountain pens, it would have to be cats. So, when I heard about the Wonder Pens signature ink collaboration with Dominant Industry to immortalize their beloved cats with ink, I could not resist.

(I must paws — pun! —  here to admit that these inks are already sold out but it took awhile for me to get them all the way from Canada! So I apologize for tempting you with feline-inspired inks that are no longer available. I couldn’t, however, let an opportunity to talk about ink and cats pass me by.)

Dominant Industry Ginger Chicken ($17 for a 25ml bottle) was inspired by the first cat to wander into the Wonder Pens world. The ginger tabby, named Chicken, has been a loyal companion for the family and shop since 2016. Since the Desk HQ also has a loyal ginger tabby, I have been a follower of Chicken’s adventures and a lover of that particular shade of orange that is the classic ginger cat.

In writing, I find that the Ginger Chicken ink is a bit darker than I expected. It reminds me more of ground ginger spices, or nutmeg. Maybe the spices blended for a Pumpkin Spice Latte. And there’s nothing wrong with that toasted orange color at all. But it’s not the color of a ginger cat, IMHO. Maybe in a finer nib pen, the ink will look a little lighter but in my wider stub nib, the ink is not what I was hoping for.

In comparison, Ginger Chicken is in the same family as J. Herbin Cafe des Iles, Monarca Tierra Colorada and Diamine Roasted Chestnut. Since these other inks are readily available, maybe you won’t be so sad that Ginger Chicken is sold out?

Dominant Industry Tuna Grey ($17 for 25ml), was inspired by a stray tabby named Tuna that arrived at Wonder Pens in 2021. Once Tuna worked his way into Chicken’s heart, the Chans had another family member. And we get the chance at a beautiful grey ink. Tuna is similar in color to several of the furballs that take up residence here at Desk HQ so I knew it would be a color I loved. Not to mention a general penchant for grey ink. Who knew grey inks would be one of my favorite colors?

Tuna Grey leans neutral with subtle hints of both purple and a hint of brown — it can almost appear multi-chromatic depending on the paper. Where some popular grey inks are clearly warm or cool (Nick Stewart Twilight Black is warm, Diamine Earl Grey is purply cool grey, Organic Studio Arsenic Grey is blue grey and Kaweco Smokey Grey leans slighty greenish). Isn’t it crazy how unique each grey is?

While I would never play favorites between the two cats, I will have to say that I prefer Tuna Grey ink to the Ginger Chicken color only because I had a preconceived idea about what color Ginger Chicken should be.

I am jealous I didn’t think of creating inks inspired by the shop interns here at the Desk too. If anything, I feel like the revenue generated might help to pay their epic food and litter bills! Maybe next year? Pepper Black? Ollie Orange? Lucy Moonbeam? Zoey Stardust? Hey, Robert Oster, Colorverse or Dominant Industry, give me holler! Let’s make this happen!

Chicken & Tuna photo borrowed from the announcement post on Wonder Pens’ blog.

For more adventures of Wonder Pens shop cats, check out their Instagram. Maybe they will even announce a re-release of the inks?

Tools:

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