In Link Love

Link Love: Stamps, Stickers & Stars

Author AnaPosted on 2 Comments
Link Love: Stamps, Stickers & Stars

In my world this week, the big news has been the photos from the Webb telescope photos which Bob watched live yesterday morning. nd I placed an order for some stamps and stickers from JetPens this week and while I’ve been anxiously awaiting their arrival, I discovered that I’m not the only person who’s decided to up their journal/planner game with some fancy doodads.

I feel like July is the perfect time to spice up your planner or chosen analog tool with a little something extra. If you’ve been using the same system all year, you might be feeling a little restless. So rather than starting over with something new, this is the perfect time to add a little more pizzazz. This doesn’t mean going all the way over to the super decorated bullet journals. Just add some washi to the edge of pages to indicate the beginning of the month or a regularly referenced page (to be watched? to be read?). Or stamp the date at the top of your page. Easy peasy and it might make getting over the mid-year planner slump a little easier!

Pens:

Ink:

Pencils:

Notebooks & Paper:

Art & Creativity:

Other Interesting Things:

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In photo, Tools

Analog Tools: Spinning wheels and the Tour de France

Author Laura CameronPosted on 7 Comments

If’ I’m being really honest, my first love is not fountain pens and stationery; it’s knitting and yarn. But since many of us love analog tools, today I thought I’d share what I’m up to.

Every year there’s this little bike race in France over the summer. And many years ago (early to mid 2000s), spinners (of yarn) decided that during the Tour de France, they would spin and make yarn on their spinning wheels. And they called it Tour de Fleece.

I learned to spin yarn back in 2010. Basically to make yarn, you take fiber (wool is the most common, but there are other animal and plant-based fibers you can use) and you combine both drafting (pulling apart the fibers to create create the thickness you’d like) and then add twist to make it stronger. The first thing you spin is a singles – a single strand of yarn. If you choose to, you can then twist these singles on each other to create stronger, plied yarns. I typically spin 2-ply yarns, but 3-ply yarns are quite popular, and you ply quite a few strands together (my biggest was a 9-ply and it looks like boat rope!)

But I digress. When I first started spinning I used a spindle. This is the most analog of spinning tools – just a stick, with something to weight it and keep it spinning (a whorl) in your hands.

Once I decided I was hooked, I got a spinning wheel. Despite the name and the engineering, this is another analog tool. My spinning wheel doesn’t look like a Rumplestiltskin replica, but it has the same functions. There are two foot pedals (treadles) and a wheel which through the use of some strings and springs makes a foot-powered system that adds twist to fiber and allows it to collection on a bobbin.

TDF 2021 Day 2

Most recently I have taken a bit more of a leap and actually bought myself an electric spinning wheel. This wheel uses a motor and either battery-power or electricity to eliminate the foot treadling and yet still add twist. I do go back to my analog wheel quite a bit though – there’s something so soothing and meditative about creating something with my hands (and feet).

The Tour de France started on July 1 and runs through July 24, which means I’m spending lots of time at my spinning wheel (while watching men on one of the most analog of a tools – a bicycle). I haven’t been playing with pens as much, but I’m digging creating just the same!

TDF Patchwork Kit

TDF 2022

In Fountain Pen Review

Fountain Pen Review: Hinze Pen Co. L12 Erste

Author AnaPosted on 6 Comments
Fountain Pen Review: Hinze Pen Co. L12 Erste

Hinze Pen Company is known for creating unique but LARGE resin pens. But never one to stay in their own metaphorical lane, Hinze has created a smaller pen body in an effort to got straight for my wallet.

The initial offering of the L12 Erste models ($159.99) that Hinze has been bringing pen shows are solid resin colors compared to their more elaborately poured resin pens. The solid material colors help to keep the overall cost of the pen lower than the more elaborate resin patterns in some of their other designs.

While the barrel colors might not be all swirly, there is still depth and interest in the materials. The two models I picked up were the Pink and the Sea Foam which are delicious, candy colors. The Pink Erste has glitter embedded in the resin and the Sea Foam appears to have a slight hint of shimmer but mostly a solid resin that reminds me of jadeite dishes.

There are six colors to choose from in the Erste (L12) line: Turquoise, Lavender, Yellow, Plum and the Pink and Sea Foam.

The Pink Erste (L12):

Hinze L12 Erste Fountain Pen

In this close-up image you can see the embedded glitter which looks like an iridescent pink glitter so its a little bit sparkly but blends in with the color of the resin so its not in your face sparkly. Its restrained sparkle. If that’s actually a thing.

Hinze L12 Erste Fountain Pen

The Hinze Pen Co. pens ship with No. 6 JOWO nibs that are available in an array of anodized electroplated colors ($20 upcharge). When I say array, I mean a full freakin’ rainbow (12 colors plus stainless and gold)! So, even though the Erste is supposed to be their entry level pen, you are given the opportunity to make your pen special and unique by choosing your nib color. Or not.

Hinze L12 Erste Fountain Pen

For the Pink Erste, I chose a Teal EF nib. Amusingly enough, Jesi purchased the exact same combo when she selected her Erste pen.

The Sea Foam Erste (L12)

Hinze L12 Erste Fountain Pen

The above image shows a close-up of the material and it’s distinctly mermaid-y vibes. Is there a shimmer or is it a creme de minte color? You decide.

Hinze L12 Erste Fountain Pen

What anodized nib choice would look best with this pen? That’s a tough call but I chose purple and I think its just the right amount of pop.

Hinze L12 Erste Fountain Pen

Compared to Other Pens:

From left to right: Pilot Custom 912, Lamy AL-Star, Platinum 3776 Kumpoo, The Erste Seafoam and Pink, Pelikan M205 Star Ruby and a Sailor ProGear Slim (specific colorway unknown).

When describing the Erste (L12), Hinze specifically cites that their goal was to create a “gateway to custom pens” but “keep the size in the general range of a Pelican M205 or Platinum 3776”. So, of course, it only seemed fair to compare the size of the Erste to these pens. The Erste is definitely closer in size overall to the Platinum 3776, Lamy AL-Star and Pilot Custom 912.

When posted, the Erste is as long as a Lamy AL-Star which I find a bit long. Unposted, the Erste, like the Lamys, are much easier to manage.

Capped, the Erste measures approx. 5.25″. Uncapped, it’s 5″ and posted, it’s 6.75″ long. The Erste, thanks to it’s resin material is not a very heavy pen, weighing in at just 17gms capped/posted and filled with a converter and 12gms uncapped.

Pen Weights

The Writing Samples

Hinze Erste Writing Samples

 

Hinze Erste Writing Samples

The EF nib on the No. 6 JOWO is a pretty fine line in a stiff nib. If you like writing with rollerball or gel pens in 0.5mm or smaller, then writing with an EF JOWO nib will be right in the sweet spot for you. Obviously, Hinze offers the full array of JOWO nib tip sizes so if you are more inclined for a broad or stub nib, they have those in these awesome anodized finishes as well.

Final Thoughts:

The Hinze Erste (L12) is a smaller pen more suited for folks looking for a “regular-sized” pen. Hinze, being from Texas does like to do things BIG but I think the addition of the Erste (L12) is just the pen to help make the Hinze brand more accessible to a wider audience. Clearly, Hinze is set to take over the small maker pen world.

Stay tuned. There will be a giveaway for your very own Hinze Erste (L12) Fountain Pen later this week.

DISCLAIMER: Some of the items included in this review were provided free of charge by Hinze Pens for the purpose of review, others were paid for by the generous contributions from Patrons. Please see the About page for more details.

In Fountain Pen Review

Fountain Pen Review: Pilot Custom 912 FA Nib (Falcon)

Author AnaPosted on 18 Comments
Fountain Pen Review: Pilot Custom 912 FA Nib (Falcon)

The Pilot Custom 912 with the FA (Falcon ) nib ($240) is unique pen. While it’s often compared to the Namiki Pilot Falcon fountain pen, they are not the same beast. For starters, the 912 only comes in black and features a 14K gold nib with side cuts to help increase the range of flex. The Namiki Pilot Falcon is available in several colors or metal body and an unusually-shaped 14K nib. Prices for the Falcon are $180-240 depending on barrel material.

Pilot Custom 912 FA Fountain Pen

 

The nib shape is clearly visible  in the images above and below. The side cut looks like a hole punch took a bite out of the nib.

Pilot Custom 912 FA Fountain Pen

from Parka Blogs

I borrowed the photo above of the Pilot Namiki Falcon from Parka Blogs. I don’t own a Namiki Falcon Fountain Pen so I can’t do a side-by-side. But after doing my own copious internet research, I came to the conclusion that it wasn’t worth purchasing both or saving a few dollars and buying the Pilot Namiki Falcon over the 912 with FA nib.

Pilot Custom 912 FA Fountain Pen

Inside, the 912 includes the Pilot CON-70 converter which is the pump action converter. The Namiki Falcon ships with a standard CON-40 twist converter.

Pilot Custom 912 FA Fountain Pen
Writing tests on Rhodia paper with Robert Oster Bora Bora Waters ink.

The real magic of the Custom 912 with FA nib is obviously the way that it writes. There is very pleasant bounce and flex with the FA nib. To be honest, it flexed more than I expected it to do.

As a lefty, I tested the nib in overhand and side writing as well as traditional under writing. All directions worked but the side and overhand writing lost a good deal of the line variation because I was pushing the nib on the paper rather than pulling it (which is what causes the tines with open and create the desired thick strokes). At some angles, since the nib is so fine, there was some scratchiness — more so with over writing tha side writing. To get the most out of a flex nib like the Custom 912, you really need to be able to write from below so that your down strokes are thick and your upstrokes are thin.

While the 912 FA is not a “wet noodle” in terms of flex, it’s a good option for using a light touch and adding some thicks and thins to your everyday writing rather than pushing it to extremes. Part of this stems from the fact that the plastic feed will not keep up with the amount of ink necessary for excessive flax writing. As seen in my writing sample above, too much flex writing with cause the nib to be depleted of ink until gravity forces more ink into the feed fins.

To increase the ink flow, I think I will invest in an ebonite feed from Flexible Nib Studios (approx. $42). Do you own a Namiki Falcon or the 912 FA? Have you upgraded the feed in yours?

Final Thoughts

Overall, I am pleased with the out-of-the-box performance of the Pilot Custom 912 with FA nib. To be honest, I am more pleased than I thought I would be. While there are some ink flow feed issues with regular flex use, its not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. Do I wish the 912 was available in other finishes? Heck, yeah I do. But for a workhorse, off-the-shelf flex nib, the 912 FA is probably the best quality for the price. I’ve had a couple other modern flex pens (Aurora. pardon the pun, springs to mind) and they have been stiffer nibs overall. If you have a heavy hand, I wouldn’t recommend the 912 FA because it is a light, fine nib but if your goal is to find a modern flex pen, the Pilot 912 FA is the best I’ve tried thus far.

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

In Link Love

Link Love: World Watecolor Month or One Book July?

Author AnaPosted on 2 Comments
Link Love: World Watecolor Month or One Book July?

I consistently forget about all the monthly challenges that happen throughout the year (Letter Writing Month in February, Inktober, etc) until someone else posts about it and I think to myself, “When am I going to remember to put these events on my calendar so I don’t forget?”

So, even though it’s the 6th of July, I say pick a monthly challenge and start today. Starting a few days late mean you and I only have to do 25 days of the chosen challenge. Will you pick the ink swatch-a-day (ongoing challenge) or World Watercolor Month or even One Book July? Maybe you will pick something completely different?

Pens:

Ink:

Pencils:

Notebooks & Paper:

Art & Creativity:

Other Interesting Things:

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In feature

Ink Review: Pennonia Balaton-kék

Author Laura CameronPosted on Leave a comment

Today I’m sharing the final ink sample that I purchased when looking for inks that matched Pantone’s Very Peri color of 2022. This once is a little tricksy.

I purchased Pennonia Balaton-kék (4mL sample for $2.90) because the swatch card was perfect over at Vanness Pens. When I pulled it out to swatch, I was confused. It looked almost tealy-blue and I wondered what I had been thinking. And then the sheen hit.

Balaton-kék is a “pastel cotton candy blue” with what looks like pink shading, giving me a bit of that periwinkle I so longed for. In truth, though I love the way this one shades, I don’t think it’s practical for regular use because it comes out so light in the nib. The dark dots are gorgeous and almost that slate/periwinkle I was craving, but much of my text ended up unreadable.

I did compare it to my other 3 contenders that I’ve already reviewed. I have to say that I think my favorite of the batch is Vinta Fairy Tale in Salimbay. That one just has the bluish-pink I was looking for. Which one ended up being your favorite?

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

Notebook Review: Inky Converters Traveler’s Notebook

Author AnaPosted on 4 Comments
Notebook Review: Inky Converters Traveler’s Notebook

When I saw the Ink Bottle Traveler’s Notebook ($40) from Inky Converters at the St. Louis Pen Show I bought it without a second thought. I love Angela’s illustrations and she just so fun.

The Features:

Inky Converters Traveler's Notebook

 

 

There are some fantastic details beyond the darling ink bottle pattern Angela created for the cover. There is a metal slot detail on the cover with a slot to keep the elastic in place. The cover itself is made from a PU material (vegan-friendly!)

Inky Converters Traveler's Notebook

Inky Converters Traveler's Notebook

Inky Converters Traveler's Notebook

 

Inside are two plastic card holder sleeves, one is all card slots and the other has a zip pouch to hold miscellaneous ephemera. The cover itself only has one elastic  stitched into the cover but it ships with an extra extra-thick elastic to loop around the notebooks and attach to the cover elastic.

Inky Converters Traveler's Notebook

The cover comes with two notebook inserts: one graph and one dot grid. The covers of the inserts are warm kraft cardstock with ivory paper. Dots and grid are printed in a blue-grey color and the inserts have 72 pages each.

The Paper Quality:

Inky Converters Traveler's Notebook

When I bought the cover, the inclusion of notebooks was a bonus. I had intended to load the cover up with custom inserts but I thought I’d go ahead and test the paper just to see how it performs.

Inky Converters Traveler's Notebook

With my flex nib Pilot Custom 912, I did get some feathering and show through with some of my wetter, wider nibs and even some of the rollerball pens. For everyday work notes where I might be jumping back and forth between gel pens, pencil and fountain pen, the paper isn’t terrible. Sadly, it’s just not great.

The Bad News:

Inky Converters Traveler's Notebook

The inserts are 190 x 105mm (7.4375″ x 4.25″). This is an unusual size which came as a surprise to me when I started doing my research. This cover is not a standard size like A6, B6 Slim or classic Traveler’s Notebook . The images here show the cover and inserts compared to a standard Traveler’s Notebook insert from Galen Leather which measures 210 x 110 mm.  The difference in width is negligible but the height difference is disappointing. A Midori MD B6 Slim is 174 x 106 mm so it’s about the same width but a bit shorter. The B6 Slim size would probably fit better but I could not find my B6 Slim notebooks to show a comparison. If you have A5 notebooks you’d like to use with this cover, they would need to be trimmed to fit.

Inky Converters Traveler's Notebook

Inky Converters Traveler's Notebook

Final Thoughts:

I really like this cover and would love to find a way to make it work with paper that I genuinely like so I’m going to try some Cosmo Air Light in B6 Slim ad see if it pairs well with the cover. I love the idea of a non-leather cover designed by an artist I truly want to support.

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were purchased with funds from our generous Patreon subscribers for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.