The Well-Appointed Desk

Inkmas 10: Diamine Shimmer-tastic Enchanted Ocean

So even though I’ve been concentrating on what I have in my ink stash, I did buy one new ink this year to see if it would fulfill my holiday writing dreams. I picked up a sample of Diamine Shimmer-tastic Enchanted Ocean from Vanness Pens a few weeks ago (4ml sample for $4.15).

Enchanted Ocean was part of Diamine’s 2016 release of shimmer and sheen inks, and looked to be perfect for dark, starry nights. It’s a dark blue (check) that is supposed to have red sheen and silver shimmer.

While I do see the silver shimmer in the ink vial, and very lightly on the page, I don’t see the red shimmer at all. I had high hopes for this one, but found it a little disappointing.

It is a lovely blue though. I will note that this ink also seemed drier to me than most – it dried quickly on the page and I didn’t feel like it was excessively wet on the nib either.

In looking for comparisons, I found it’s a little similar to KWZ’s special Meet me in St. Louis edition, as well as Anderilium Ink’s Flying Blue Squid, although both lean more teal than Enchanted Ocean. Akkerman #7 Konninginne Nach-Blauw is also similar, but somewhat lighter. Everything else in my ink stash leaned too blue or too teal.

While I enjoy the shade, I can’t help but wishing I could see more of that beautiful shimmer! (and that might be solved by buying a full bottle?)

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.

Paper: Crossfield Journal ($24.00) and Maruman Mnemosyne N182A Inspiration Notebook A5 ($10.50)
Pen: Delike Glass Signature Pen ($37.80)
Swatches: Col-o-Dex Rotary Cards ($15)
Ink:Diamine Shimmer-tastic Enchanted Ocean (4ml sample for $4.15)

In Fashionable Friday

Fashionable Friday: Winter Solstice

AnaDecember 20, 2024December 16, 2024Leave a comment

On the longest night of the year, I like to marvel at the stars in the sky, the chill in the air and the official start of winter here in the Midwest. Frosty ink colors, a hot mug of tea and listening to quiet tunes with my headphones on so the sounds of the city fall away.

Wearingeul Lost Ink (via Vanness Pen Shop)
Sailor Shikiori Double-Sided Brush Pen – Shimoyo (Frosty Night) (via JetPens)
LAMY AL-Star Fountain Pen – Aquatic – Medium – Special Edition (via JetPens)
ILNP Snowkissed Nail Polish (via ILNP)
Mighty Leaf Winter Solstice Tea (via Peet’s Coffee)
8pc Winter Chocolate Collection (via Christopher Elbow Chocolates)
Ceramic Ice Blue Mugs (via Etsy)
Snow Wonder (Women) pattern by Heidi Kirrmaier (via Ravelry)
Benu AstroGem Fountain Pen – Christmas (Limited Edition) (via Atlas Stationers)
Penlux Masterpiece Delgado Fountain Pen in Snowflake (via Goldspot Pens)
Snowflake Fountain Pen Ink (via Birmingham Pen Company)
Winter Woodlands Sticker Sheet (via Well-Appointed Desk Shop)
APICA CD A5 Notebook- Light Blue 7mm Ruled (via Vanness Pen Shop)
Midori 3 Year Diary – Gate – Kyo-Ori – Light Blue – Limited Edition (via JetPens)
Bose QuietComfort Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones in Moonstone Blues (via Amazon)

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DISCLAIMER: The item in this review include affiliate links. The Well-Appointed Desk is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. Please see the About page for more details.

In feature, Ink Review

Inkmas 9: Sailor Shikiori Kasasagi

AnaDecember 19, 2024December 19, 2024Leave a comment

Inkmas day 9 is an ink I have a tough time showing in a way that brings out its true beauty. Sailor Shikiori Kasasagi.

Kasasagi came out in the Shikiori line recently but never to much fanfare. It is a dark blue-teal that leans towards a dark gray with a understated black sheen.

Kasasagi is hard to show well unless you are in person – the color is very close to Teranishi Guitar Smoky Navy or Montegrappa Ravenclaw Blue. In writing, it looks dark gray or black until suddenly… it doesn’t. Suddenly you stop and admire that there is… something… different about the ink.

The shading properties of Kasasagi show up particularly well in a finer nib or a pen that tends to feel dry. The ink will shade from black to a light gray, going through a range of teals in-between.

Using Kasasagi at a recent pen show to test pens, I saw the huge color range of this ink and the number of times someone asked for a bottle to be added to their order. I chose Kasasagi as today’s Inkmas in appreciation of the understated hidden gem that has gone unnoticed.

You can buy Kasasagi at any retailer that carries Sailor inks for $18 for a 20mL bottle.

DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were paid for by me for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

In Ink Review

Inkmas 8: Vinta Tabuan Purple Sea Star 2022

AnaDecember 18, 2024December 18, 2024Leave a comment

Today for Inkmas, we are taking a look at a rare beauty: Vinta Tabuan Purple Sea Star (2022) ($18 for 30ml bottle) , an exclusive ink from Enigma Stationery. Sadly, this ink is currently unavailable. I don’t know if the ink will be reproduced but I thought I’d share it just to show this unique, shading ink.

On Tomoe River paper, Tabaun Purple Sea Star is a good writer. It works well in a wide variety of pen widths. The color is vivid and unique. The watered down sample in the lower right shows some of the undertones which are notably more purply and bluish than I would have guessed from the solid sample.

When comparing Vinta Tabaun to other inks, Monteverde Purple Mist is probably the closest in color. I included a few others that are similar in value (lightness) but lean a little more reddish-purple or bluish violet. I also wanted to compare Tabaun to Maskara and Tabaun is darker with less pink undertones. So, if you’re a fan of Vinta inks its worth searching for or requesting a reorder of Tabaun since its different and a standout color.

Though Monteverde Purple Mist looks similar in hue overall, I think in finer writing, Purple Mist appears a little lighter.

Close-up comparison of Tabaun (top) and Maskara (bottom)

When compared with Maskara, Tabaun is more of a shading than a multi-chromatic ink.

Overall, I really like Tabaun and I hope it will be available again soon.

Tools:

Paper: blank Tomoe River 52gsm with Ink Swatch Guidesheet
Pens: Tachikawa T-40 dip nib holder with Zebra G titanium nib, Sailor Hocoro Dip Nib Pens (in various sizes with additional feed units), Pilot Iro-Utsushi Dip Pen (F)
Swatches: Col-o-Ring Ink Testing Book ($10) & Col-o-dex Rotary Cards ($15)

In Link Love

Link Love: Inkmas Paused While We Inkvent

AnaDecember 18, 2024December 18, 20241 Comment

Today’s Link Love is full of folks’ review and reveal from the various Inkvent and Ink Advent calendars so we will take a little break from Inkmas this morning — our own holiday ink review spectacular — to give you a chance to read some other recaps, reviews and ink dumps.

Enjoy and Inkmas will continue this afternoon!

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In Ink Review

Inkmas 7: Reds, Rudolph’s Nose to Mulled Wine

AnaDecember 17, 2024December 16, 20242 Comments

I started with greens, but of course the next candidate for a holiday ink overview is reds right? Whether you want something as bright and cheery as Rudolph’s red, red nose to something as delicious as mulled wine, I’ve got the range!

Tomo & Lims Kaleidoscope Maboroshi is that bright delightful red, along with some sparkle and sheen. Monteverde Ruby and Pilot Iroshizuku Momiji lean just the slighted bit red, orange. Pelikan Star Ruby and Colorverese Lights on Ceres add a little bit of pink to the show. And Pennonia Mustvoros, Colorverse Red Shift and DeAtramentis Deepwater Obsession Red/Black stray into full on mulled wine territory. Which screams Christmas to you?

Birmingham Pen Co Dusquense Incline Station Red leans sort of brick red/brown, and Mont Blanc William Shakespeare and Corn Poppy Red are intense dark reds.

3 Oysters Dancheong and Colorverse Kepler’s Law veer into the browns again, while Kyo-No-Oto Adzukiro leans wine. Ferris Wheel Press Wondrous Winterberry might be your perfect holiday shade – deep dark red, with gold sparkle.

So which wonderful reds did I miss?

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

Inkmas 6: Top Inks for 2024

AnaDecember 16, 2024December 16, 2024Leave a comment

Over the course of 2024, I ended up using a few inks more than other and they were not all inks I would have said were my favorites or most-used previously.

Since I have been trying a more seasonal theme for my planner/journal this year, I used a lot of warm browns and orange-y colors in the latter half of the year that I would not have normally chosen.

My fall-focused inks were the Robert Oster Campfire (limited edition, no longer available) and Kaweco Caramel Brown which were used in my journal in September and October. Callifolio Andrinople was my go-to for February. Monteverde Birthday Cake has unexpectedly become my everyday ink. Sailor Chu-Shu is one of my favorite not-black inks that I use whenever I want a dark natural color but don’t want to go all the way to black.

The last three colors are, of course, shades of green. The Pen BBS No. 342 is no longer available but is one of my favorite yellow-green inks. I used it for Spring as well as for the holidays. Vinta Karnival is such a joyous, ocean inspired blue green. And Diamine Olive Swirl is the ink that has lived in my TWSBI Eco that I use to sign invoices. The dark yellowy olive green has iridescent blue sparkles and give its such charm!

With the exception of the Diamine Olive Swirl, all these inks worked extremely well in my fine Japanese nib pens. The shimmer in the Diamine Olive Swirl is used in a 1.1mm TWSBI only and has worked all year without a clog or hard start issue, even in the hot dry months of late Summer.

If you want to watch me painting these swatches, enjoy the video below!

Tools:

Year End Wrap Ups:

Pens:

Ink:

Notebooks & Paper:

Art & Creativity:

Other Interesting Things: