Alternative Ink Tools: Hits & Misses

Alternative Ink Tools: Hits & Misses

I’ve been spending a lot of time swabbing inks recently. Maybe it’s because it’s a good creative break from writing my dissertation or because I’ve been inspired by InkyRocks videos about the “ink swamp” or “ink fever” phenomenon in Japan. Maybe it’s because there are some new nib stamps on the block that I can’t…

Swapping Nibs with Flexible Nib Factory Feeds

Swapping Nibs with Flexible Nib Factory Feeds

I’ve been using a lot of dark and pastel inks lately, and earlier this week I suddenly decided enough was enough. I needed some pink. And not just any pink… I wanted bright, in-your-face, rebelling-against-your-bad-day pink. It also occurred to me that I didn’t have a single Sailor inked up, but I didn’t really feel…

Pen Review: The Procyon’s Place in the Platinum Line

Pen Review: The Procyon’s Place in the Platinum Line

I’ve been carrying the Platinum Procyon around for almost an entire week trying to figure out what to make of it. Let’s start from the beginning, which is well before the Procyon showed up in my mailbox. Pre-Procyon, my experience with Platinum was limited to my Platinum Preppies ($4 pen) and my Platinum 3776s (nearly…

Ink Review: Jacques Herbin Essential Inks

Ink Review: Jacques Herbin Essential Inks

Back in 2018, J. Herbin released a new line of inks and other stationery items under a Jacques Herbin branding. At the time, the line was exclusive to Le Bon Marche/ Boisnard (Paris), Itoya (Tokyo), and Milligram (Australia). Recently, it was brought to my attention that the inks are now being sold at a variety…

Ink Review: Colorverse the Mini Collection & the Johannes Kepler Set

Ink Review: Colorverse the Mini Collection & the Johannes Kepler Set

Colorverse recently released a line of tiny inks called The Mini Collection. Nearly all of the colors in the line have been previously released in their regular seasons. However, some of the colors were only accessible as part of a traditional Colorverse ink set which includes one 65mL bottle and one 15mL bottle. Where as…