Link Love: Dead Week Reflections

I often hear the week between Christmas and New Year’s called “Dead Week”. With the crazy prep leading up to Christmas behind us and it’s not the “get back to work, Johnson!” of January 2, there’s often not a whole lot to do. Heck, most of us don’t WANT to do anything. For bloggers and other online folks, this is when we write our wrap-ups, best-of’s and resolution-type posts for the new year.

This week, we have an array of end-of-year posts plus several planner set-ups and goals for 2024 scattered throughout.

I have also been interested in the Inkvent (purple edition) reviews and overviews this year because I was too sick in November to remember to order an Inkvent for myself so I’ve been living vicariously through everyone else.

No matter what else, I feel safe in guessing that most of us hope to use more of our pens, inks and notebooks in 2024. Am I right?

2023 Highlight Reels:

• Closing Out 2023 and Starting 2024: Five Ways I’m Getting Ready for the New Year (via The Gentleman Stationer)
• Reviewing My 2023 Purchasing Habits (via Rachel’s Reflections)
• My Recent Media Diet, the End of 2023 Edition (via Kottke.org)
• End of Year Favourites – Episode 33 (via Gourmet Pens)
• The Best Podcasts of 2023, According to Podcast People (via Vulture, tip ‘o the Hat to Kottke.org for the link)
• 2023: some of my fountain pen highlights. (via Fountain pen blog)
• The Best Movie Posters of 2023 (via Kottke.org)

Pens:

• My Pen Collection Stats – End of 2023 (via Rachel’s Reflections)
• The 44 Best Pens for 2024: Gel, Ballpoint, Rollerball, and Fountain Pens (via JetPens Blog)
• Laura’s Five Favorite Fountain Pens — $50 & Under (via Pen Boutique Ltd)

Ink:

• Ink Review #793: Robert Oster Charred Hickory (via Fountain Pen Pharmacist)
• Van Diemans Solar System Ink Review: The Sun, Earth, and Mercury Inks (via Pen Chalet Blog)

Inkvent 2023 (Purple Edition) Special Coverage:

• Inkvent Calendar 2023: Purple Edition (via Dime Novel Raven)
• Diamine Inkvent 2023 Summary (via Writing at Large)
• Diamine Inkvent 2023 Days 21-25 (via Mountain of Ink)

Pencils:

• More Thoreau (via pencil talk)

Notebooks & Paper:

• Unwrapping a writing rhythm for 2024 (via mnmlscholar)
• 2024 Journal, Planner, and Notebook Setup (via The Pen Addict)
• Beyond bullets book review (inspiration for bullet journal layouts) (via All About Planners)
• The Ultimate Black Notebook Comparison: Moleskine, Leuchtturm1917, Rhodia, and More (via JetPens Blog)
• A planner and a plan (via Pete Denison)

Art & Creativity:

• Year in Sketchbooks – 2023. (via Apple-Pine)
• Windows vs iPad and Android tablets (artist perspective) (via Parka Blogs)
• The most common challenges when sketching with watercolour (via Liz Steel)
• Sketching Goals for 2024 (via Liz Steel)

Other Interesting Things:

• Astonishing: A Wartime Zine Made in 1943-45 by a Jewish Man Hiding From the Nazis (via Kottke.orgh)
• We Got Robbed (via Wonder Pens)
• Working with Budget Art Journaling Supplies (via Comfortable Shoes Studio)
• New Favorite Products (via An Inkophile’s Blog)
• There Is No Way To Exceed the Weight Limit of a Small USPS Box (via My Modern Met)
• Thousands of Classic Films, Books, Illustrations, and Just Entered the Public Domain (via Colossal)

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