In Link Love

Link Love: Planner & Bags & More (Oh, my!)

Author AnaPosted on 2 Comments
Link Love: Planner & Bags & More (Oh, my!)

As we move into the first official week of September, new planners are being unveiled left and right and its time for us all to get back to work or back to school. Whether you work from home or travel to an office, workshop, warehouse, shop or other locale, you need a place to stow your precious pens, planners, notebooks and other tools. What’s your favorite bag, tote, or backpack?

I waffle between my Rickshaw Bagworks Soho Tote and a Fjällräven Kånken Totepack.  I can fit my laptop into the Kånken Totepack but it’s an entirely black bag so it is a deep black hole where many items get lost at the bottom. The Soho Tote is easier to find items with all the pockets on the inside and the more horizontal shape but its not big enough when I need to schlep my laptop around. How often do you switch bags?

Pen Show Recaps:

Don’t forget to check out our own SF Pen Show Recap and we will have a guest post on Friday covering another experience.

Pens:

Ink:

Pencils:

Notebooks & Paper:

Art & Creativity:

Other Interesting Things:

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In Ink Review

Ink review: Anderilium Inks Flying Squid Blue

Author Laura CameronPosted on 4 Comments

I haven’t been able to attend a pen show this year yet, but I’ve seen some coverage of the shows and one of the new inks that intrigues me are collections from Anderillium Inks. Ana purchased the Cephalapod Series collection and let me play with it. Today I’m taking a look at Flying Squid Blue ($14.50 for 1.5oz).

You know I love a good blue, and if it’s got a hint of teal to it, I’m always in! Flying Squid Blue is a rich, deep, dark ocean blue.

The ink is lovely. It’s very Goldilocks-like, not too wet, not too dry. At points it is very, very dark, but I do think you could get some shading in this one, as you can see a bit in my tests of different dip nib sizes.

In terms of comparisons, there are many that are close, but nothing that is quite right? Robert Oster True Blue is a bit of a match in the lighter sections, but doesn’t have the same depth. Colorverse Supernova is bang on in the lighter sections, but it’s dark aren’t rich enough. Robert Oster Soda Pop Blue is not quite right either. And Organics Studio Nitrogen Blue obviously has the sheen going on, but it comes close. It may be hard to tell, but I don’t have anything that’s exactly the same shade.

The Cephalapod Series has a bunch of other wonderful colors – I’m going to swatch Flapjack Octopus Orange and Bobtail Squid Green before I give them back to Ana. The only color I would love to add is something purple!

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 feature

Product Review: Rickshaw x NockCo Sinclair Model R

Author AnaPosted on 4 Comments
Product Review: Rickshaw x NockCo Sinclair Model R

I’m sure if you are a regular listener of the Pen Addict podcast, you are well aware that Brad recently announced a new partnership with Rickshaw Bagworks to create a new iteration of the much-loved Sinclair pen case (introductory price $40, regular price $59). The cases were unveiled at the San Francisco Pen Show last week and, while I was not able to attend the show, Mark Dwight, founder of Rickshaw Bags, was kind enough to send this absolutely PINK edition to me to review.

The first thing I notice about the new Rickshaw x Nockco Sinclair Model R is the external pocket which is perfect for slipping ephemera or maybe a phone. Oh, and that the PINK version perfectly matches my Soho Tote.

There’s been a lot of debate around the loop on the back of the case. Is it a boy thing to carabiner things to your belt? I am just not entirely sure what I’d do with it.

When compared to an earlier Nockco edition of the Sinclair, it’s easy to see that the earlier edition is about a half an inch or so smaller. The corners on the older edition are also much more square.

Inside, the new Sinclair features Rickshaw’s plush fabric which feels awesome and protects your pens in this cozy bed of softness.

There are the same three divided pen slots on one side of the case and a full pocket on the other that will hold a Field Note-sized notebook or smaller. I have a Leuchtturm1917 A7 pocket notebook in the open pocket which left room for one more pen.

Mark also sent a beautiful Pink Cherry Blossom 2-Pen Plush Coozy. This particular colorway is not currently available but there are lots of other options as well as the option to custom build your own with dozens of fabric color starting at $25.

The 2-pen Coozy includes the same PINK plush material so it matches my Caran D’Ache 849 fountain pens perfectly.

The placement of the tags on the inside differ as well.  And Rickshaw added a trim at the top of the pockets for durability.

I think this new iteration and partnership is a perfect opportunity for the popular designs from the Nockco catalog to live on. They are definitely tools for the pen community and have been very smartly designed.

This PINK color combination of the Sinclair Model R is not one of Brad’s Picks color combinations. If you would like this wholly Desk-approved color combination, when ordering, choose the “special request” and choose PINK Cordura, PINK Plush, FLO PINK Paracord, FLO PINK Label. OR send them the link to the video on Instagram and tell them you want the Well-Appointed Desk version, they’ll know which one that is.

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

In feature, news, photo

Show Recap: 2022 San Francisco Pen Show

Author Jessica ColesPosted on 5 Comments
Show Recap: 2022 San Francisco Pen Show

You may have already seen a few San Francisco Pen Show recaps, wrap-ups, posts, or photos. So many people have covered the show from many different angles, but I wanted to show San Francisco from a slightly different viewpoint.

I’ve been working with the Dromgooles at shows this summer, setting up a rack with only ink (a LOT of it). This allows Michael and Larry Dromgoole to sell pens while I get to do one of my favorite things – talk about ink all day. It does give pen shows a different twist. I’m not able to wander around or shop during the show, I have to purchase items before the morning start or after we have closed for the day. It is, however, a great way to limit spending!

My pen show weekend started mid-Thursday. I flew into the San Francisco airport and posted briefly on Slack to see if anyone else was at the airport and looking to share a ride. Before long, this crazy sign was spotted!

I made sure to thank my driver. With coffee.

Kimberly was running between the airport and the pen show hotel. She was able to squeeze me into her very complex schedule, plus I got to see a friend first thing!

I checked into my room but I was called into the bar before I could put my suitcases away. More friends, with a cold beer waiting for me.

I’m never sure what color Jonathan Brooke’s hair will be at a show.

I haven’t been staying up late at pen shows this summer. With active kids at home, this is my chance to get more sleep.

7 am Friday I am setting up the ink shelves. So much ink.

At first, the show is quiet. A few early risers trickle in and I never have the correct inks out yet. But everyone is understanding and comes back an hour later. My current ink shelf setup takes 2-2.5 hours to get organized.

The show picks up speed quickly. By 10 am the show feels like it is full-swing, but it is only getting started.

People are everywhere. For the entire day, there are at least two customers looking for ink at the same time but typically four or five.

I fit in a few quick chats with other vendors. This is Sean from Pilot.

The first day passed in a blur. Suddenly I find myself in the bar again.

The Dromgoole’s group heads off campus to a swanky restaurant nearby. Parking seems to be an acquired skill in California!

A brief sleep and Saturday is overwhelming. There are so many people everywhere! The main ballroom is hot and stuffy, especially when you have the sun shining on your table all day. But it makes sparkly inks gorgeous.

I found my friend Greg roaming through the show with this sign – oddly he wasn’t actually buying pens. Every pen show brings a different mix of friends that I can only see at that show and Greg is one of them. The last time I was able to attend the SF show was 2019!

Other friends (like Kenro Cary) are at most pen shows throughout the year, but they are always a welcome sight as well.

On Sunday I was thrilled to see Kaoru at the Bungubox table along with her new husband! I snuck away from the ink table for a few minutes to make a quick purchase and steal a picture.

Before I know it, the pen show is done! The ink is packed up and on its way back to Houston with Larry Dromgoole. Just showing up at the bar, I find plenty of friends, pens, and paper. The food was excellent as well.

I love the shirt Angela wears to shows (inkyconverters).

I met the true love of my life at this show: Broccoli. She is the sweetest little puppy!

Unfortunately, my camera didn’t like the lighting at the bar. I took plenty of blurry photos, but I’m happy to have them. I’ve learned to appreciate every minute I get to see friends.

Even if they are goofy.

The big tables in the bar were all filled with pen people. The common themes wereexhaustion, laughter, and drinks.

And Leigh being mischievous.

Kimberly and Marty usually sell Retro 51 pens at shows but mixed it up in San Francisco with Rickshaw.

Franz and Daryl were spotted giggling at stupid text messages nearby.

And over in a corner, I spied someone trying to work on a post.

Angela nearly fell over trying to get photos of the group. Boxes in the background are a common site at the end of a show – I think I’ve seen the box at the bottom at half a dozen shows now.

I once again hitched a ride on the Pen Show Uber with Joe Crace and Jonathan Brooks. I’m not actually that much shorter – there was just no other space on the curb.

Safely on the plane, I watched checked luggage being handled with the utmost care.

This is why I hate checking bags.

Time to say goodbye to another San Francisco Pen Show. It is an amazing show with lots of work going on behind the scenes – thank you to everyone who made it such a success! My fingers are crossed that it won’t be another three years before I return – hopefully there are no more pandemics keeping us away!

In Link Love

Link Love: Back-to-Business

Author AnaPosted on 2 Comments
Link Love: Back-to-Business

Here in the US, this is the last official week of summer. Next Monday is Labor Day, the official start to Fall in most people’s minds. All the kids are back in school now, universities are back in full swing and the evenings have started to have a sweet cool breeze harkening the break in the unrelenting heat.

So, what do pen people do? We stock up on composition notebooks and other office supply gems (Do I need more Sharpies, just in case?) at our local big box stores, revel in the SF Pen Show (live or vicariously) and start planning our 2023 planner set-ups. What’s your back-to-school/back-to-business routine?

Pens:

Ink:

Notebooks & Paper:

Art & Creativity:

Other Interesting Things:

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In Planners & Organizers

Notebook Cover Review: Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter

Author Laura CameronPosted on 6 Comments

Back in June when I went to a work convention, I wanted a somewhat slim, not too heavy notebook cover so I could carry a utilitarian notebook to record meetings I had, notes to myself and such. At the time, I had Ana’s Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter in a stack of items to try and review. So I added a Midori notebook and headed out on my way.

And that Roterfaden was gosh darn handy, and fun too! The inside felt pockets were perfect for business cards, swag and other accoutrement. The pen loop was perfect for adding an inexpensive fountain pen. The metal tabs that secure the notebooks in place weren’t bothersome to me at all in writing. Overall it worked great!

Except when Ana saw me using it she remembered how much she loved it and asked for it back. What’s a girl to do but order one of her own? The Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter isn’t an inexpensive proposition. JetPens carries a few of the standard models in professional (read: a little boring) colors for between $120 and $180 depending on materials.

However, if you want to design your own, you can do that at the Roterfaden website. (Be sure to select EN at the top if you’re not a German speaker for an easy English translation!). The Taschenbegleiter comes in a variety of sizes (small, medium and large) which include A5 and A6. There are a variety of covers: leather, suede, recycled leather, and my personal favorite: danceflooring. There is a design your own option which offers you lots of choices on covers, interior felt colors, extra pen loops, elastic colors, additional pocket features and engraving. It’s easy to click through the menus and assemble the one you want, within their parameters.

There are also a variety of other fun combinations that they’ve put together. For instance, I chose the Taschenbegleiter – DL_22 in a size medium (approximately A5) with a cover made out of a purple printing blanket and an interior of magnolia felt. Apparently I entered my pink and purple phase in my mid-40’s?

Buyer beware – if you choose to order from Roterfaden directly it does take a bit to arrive. Mine took approximately 2 weeks to ship, and then another 2 weeks or so to find its way to me. I had a tracking number, and never doubted it would arrive, but it’s definitely not overnight (although they might have that as an option). I will say though, Roterfaden added in lots of cards, info and a bit of swag including a pencil (destined for Ana of course) declaring it Mein Roterfaden!

Now I guess I need to buy more A5 notebooks to put inside?

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were purchased with my own funds for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

In feature

Col-o-ring Update: Cover Colors & FOLIO!

Author AnaPosted on 4 Comments

Col-o-ring Chipboard Cover Comparison

I just wanted to provide a little update on the current Col-o-ring Ink Testing Book chipboard covers. Chipboard, by its nature, is a recycled material often used for backing boards, filler, dividers in shipping, etc. In that regard it’s a lot like corrugated cardboard. As a result of being a recycled material, the color can shift from batch to batch and from manufacturer to manufacturer. Our most recent stock of chipboard arrived and was a much warmer shade of brown. I think the color is pretty and actually matches the paper stock used on our new Col-o-ring FOLIO tablet (more details below).

Bob spent weeks trying to find a different manufacturer who had a similar color chipboard to our previous batch but it became a bit absurd the more we researched it. Chipboard is not like other papers. It’s not dyed to be a specific color. It is the color it is because of the materials that go into making it. I finally had to tell Bob to stop killing himself trying to find a “perfect match”. I just wanted to make sure that you were aware that the color of the chipboard covers may not be the same from time to time due to the nature of the material.

We want the interior paper to be perfect and beautiful and consistent. The covers are just there to protect the inner pages. Right?

Also…

The Col-o-ring FOLIO is now available in our shop.

This is the largest product we’ve made containing our signature Col-o-ring paper. The Col-o-ring FOLIO ($40 per tablet plus $10 shipping because this is HEAVY!) is exactly the same paper that is available in our original Col-o-ring Ink Testing Book, Col-o-dex, Dippers and OVERSIZE. The FOLIO is 12 x 16″ and has a lightweight kraft paper cover wrap to protect your creations without crating too much bulk. The cover will easily fold over and tuck behind the sturdy, chipboard backing.  It’s just now available in a 40-page, glue bound tablet perfect for drawing, doodling, ink testing or turning into your own creations.

The back of the Col-o-ring FOLIO tablet

At the moment, the Col-o-ring FOLIO will exclusively be available on Big Cartel and, as a result, only available for US and territories shipping.  My apologies to our international customers but the shipping is prohibitively expensive.

Interior of the Col-o-ring FOLIO with the cover folded back