In Tools

Pencil Case Review: Sonic Kodawari

Author AnaPosted on 3 Comments
Pencil Case Review: Sonic Kodawari

Review by Tina Koyama

One distinctive characteristic of the popular Palomino Blackwing pencil is its trademark large, flat eraser and ferrule that make the Blackwing about an inch longer than conventional woodcased pencils. While I have many pencil cases, most are not quite long enough to accommodate new or freshly sharpened Blackwings. I’ve been looking for a trim case to neatly tuck away the several Blackwings I regularly have in rotation. The Sonic Kodawari ($22) seemed to fit the bill, especially since (according to JetPens) the word kodawari means “fastidious”!

Available in pink or black, the plastic-covered case is lightly textured. When the case is closed, it does, indeed, look fastidious. (I like to keep it on my desk upside-down, as shown in my photo; according to JetPens’ photos, the clasp would be on top.) The case stays secured with both a magnetic closure and a clasp.

I appreciate details such as the red top-stitching on the black case and the retro design element inside.

Inside are sensible compartments that keep things from shifting around too much and becoming disorganized. A hinged upper compartment holds six pencils.

The small compartment on top is just right for most bar erasers. I was eager to see how the Blackwings would fit, so I filled the lower space with six. Standard pencils would fit better below the eraser space, but the longer Blackwings lean against the eraser compartment wall with no problem.

I filled the hinged, upper compartment with six standard-length pencils. Although the ends lie on top of the Blackwings, the cover still closes adequately (there’s a tiny gap, which would be eliminated if all pencils were standard length).

Just for fun, I also tried filling the upper compartment with a few colored pencils. (This would be a sweet minimal portable sketch kit for me!)

Then I tried a different setup: several pens in the lower compartment and Blackwings in the upper hinged compartment. Everything fits better in this arrangement, with no gap when the cover is closed. (Pens will not fit in the hinged compartment’s slots.)

So – Blackwings, other pencils, a few pens, and an eraser, all in a sleek box that’s secure enough to toss into a backpack or large bag. Looks good – but if I were really going to take it with me, I’d want a small sharpener, too. Sadly, a KUM Blackwing 2-step sharpener does not fit, but a one-hole or two-hole wedge sharpener would easily fit in the eraser compartment.

I am using this on my desk, though, instead of taking it with me, so the sharpener doesn’t have to fit. The Sonic Kodawari is a tidy place to store a few favorite pencils.

(When I was a kid, I had a small box for my “special” pencils and erasers – back when I had so few special pencils and erasers that they would all fit in a small box. Not so anymore – I need a storage bin for all my “special” pencils and erasers and pens and . . .! But sometimes I long for the days of such simplicity. The Kodawari box gives me that illusion.)

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

tina-koyamaTina Koyama is an urban sketcher in Seattle. Her blog is Fueled by Clouds & Coffee, and you can follow her on Instagram as Miatagrrl.

 

In feature, Ink Review

Ink Overview: Taccia Lip Color inks

Author Jessica ColesPosted on 1 Comment
Ink Overview: Taccia Lip Color inks

By Jessica Coles

Lipstick ink? What on earth does that mean? Taccia recently unveiled a new line of inks called Lip color ink, available in six colors: 01 Coral Pink, 02 Pink Beige, 03 Corinth Pink, 04 Burgundy, 05 Sunset, and 06 Rose Pale.

*Photograph from Vanness Pens

When I saw the lineup, I wondered why on earth someone would come out with inks that were so geared towards women and lipstick. Not that this tactic is a new one!

However, I was intrigued. This group of inks didn’t actually seem to be pointed at women but rather to the wide variety of shades available in lipstick as an inspiration.

I was pleasantly surprised by the variety in color with the Lip color inks. The names (along with the numbering system) were obviously inspired by classic lipstick colors and Taccia did a wonderful job recreating the colors of the named lipsticks.

Pink Beige is a Salmon colored – strong undertones of orange. Good shading and no sheen.

Taccia Coral Pink is one of my favorite shades. The undertones are less orange than Pink Beige, but as the pooled ink dries, a bit of the orange moves to the edges. Shading is more subtle and there is no sheen although there is a faint dark outline where ink pooled heavily.

Corinth Pink is very close to Coral Pink although it leans more toward brown undertones rather than just orange. Corinth Pink shows less shading and again no sheen. The same dark halo is present in Corinth Pink and shows slightly darker.

Sunset is my favorite of the Taccia Lip color line.  The color is bright pinkish-coral ink, darker than Diamine Flamingo Pink. Gold sheen is present in the swatch as well as in writing but shading is minimal.

Rose Pale is darker than Diamine Hope Pink but looks very similar. A small amount of shading is present but no haloing and no sheen.

Taccia Burgundy is a rich rose pink, plenty of blue undertones. I was surprised to find that it was such a good match for a vintage ink – Sheaffer Persian Rose. Persian Rose is tough to find since Sheaffer discontinued it decades ago. Burgundy shows shading the the swatch, but I didn’t see shading in writing. A gold sheen is present although light.

The Taccia Lip color ink line is not water-resistant (no waterproof lipstick available!) but doesn’t bleed or feather on fountain pen friendly paper plus they are all easy to clean out of a pen (typically pinks and reds are not quick cleaning colors). All Taccia inks that I have used (including the Lip color line) are low maintenance inks that are neither wet nor dry.

I enjoyed the image that I was using lipstick in writing – Taccia did a great job matching these inks to actual lipstick colors.  A few of the colors (Coral Pink, Sunset, Burgundy) are ones that are not commonly found – I already have a couple bottles ordered!

 

Tools:

DISCLAIMER:  All materials used in this review were purchased by me. Please see the About page for more details.

In Planners & Organizers

Planner Update: Out with the Old, In with the New

Author AnaPosted on 7 Comments
Planner Update: Out with the Old, In with the New

With the start of the new year, it’s time to look at the planners that worked and the planners that didn’t. Some techniques worked better than others.

Out with the Old

For 2019, I used the Mark’s Edit planner for my work planner and the Hobonichi Techo A6 for my personal logging.

Mark’s Edit planner

The Mark’s Edit had nice paper but I don’t think the format worked as well as I’d hoped. As you can see from the photo above, I didn’t really fill in much each week. I occasionally included some daily logging info to transpose into my Hobonichi. But clearly, this was not an effective tool for me. My work calendar is held hostage in Outlook and meetings get shceduled and rescheduled and moved so frequently that within a month or so, it became pointless to write them down. I ended up jotting the occasional note and list but mostly, the calendar was left blank.

Mark’s Edit planner

The grey ribbon book mark indicates where the calendar ends and the blank “notes” pages begin. I didn’t use even one of the blank pages so I carried around a half-used notebook. I decided not to buy another one.

Hobonichi + Coal Creek cover

For the last month or so, I’ve been carrying my Hobonichi in a new Coal Creek leather cover. The material is lovely and the cover is well-constructed. The interior pen loop is not very effective. Even with a thin pen like the Caran D’ache 849, the cover doesn’t close. A pen loop on the right side would probably be more effective. The tolerances on the cover are really tight. If you over-stuff the Hobonichi, the cover will not lay flat either. It might work better with the Avec version as it splits the year into two smaller books. Cover aside, I actually logged my daily activities with the Hobonichi with very good regularity. I only ever missed a day or two and was usually able to back track and add in the activities from those days. I used Austin Kleon’s logging method to track my daily activities. Rather than using the Hobonichi for journaling or daily scheduling, I used it to write down things I did, what I watched or listened to and if I did anything or spent time with anyone. I like the method a lot and plan to pursue the same technique again this year.

In with the New

Simplicity Sewing Planner

For my planner this year, I found this Simplicity Vintage Sewing Planner at Joanns. It caught my eye because of the vintage sewing illustrations on the cover and the discbound rings. The covers are thick plastic. I swapped out the plastic discs with more durable copper metallic rings. The calendars are undated but include the months at the top of each page. There are also pattern planning pages, swatch pages and a few other craft/sewing specific pages. The pages are half-letter/A5-ish in size. The tabs and cover extend further out so it’s definitely a larger planner than I used last year. The advantage of this planner is that I can remove pages I’m not using and add in new pages. The tab divider pages are inspiring to me with vintage illustrations and pithy quotes which I find super inspiring. I pulled out the weekly pages for the last half of the year and just left the monthly calendars to lighten the weight of the planner.

I don’t normally like spiral binding but there’s something super appealing about the discbound system. I have a hole punch I can use to add different pages and additional papers too. This means I can adjust the system as needed throughout the year.

Knock Knock planner

As a replacement to my Hobonichi, I found this Knock Knock “You Got This” Journal. I had intended to buy another Hobonichi but when I saw this book, I couldn’t resist. The top of each page has a place to write the date and each page has dot grid in fluorescent orange. In the bottom corner is a “Productive Procrastination” square with a fill-in-the-blank question or word search, etc. Between the grey-on-grey, paper-covered hardcover with orange elastic and the puzzles, I was willing to take a chance on this notebook.

Knock Knock planner writing sample

When I tested my favorite everyday pens, I was thrilled to discover that the book withstood fountain pen ink as well as an assortment of felt tip, rollerball and pencil.

Knock Knock planner writing sample reverse

No bleeding on the reverse of stock and I discovered a cache of inspirational quote stickers. Hopefully, this book will be as inspiring to use as the hobonichi. The pages are a little larger than the Hobonichi so I’ll have more room to log my daily activities.

What is your planner set-up for 2020?

In Link Love

Link Love: Onward to 2020!

Author AnaPosted on 3 Comments
Link Love: Onward to 2020!

As the previous decade ends and the new decade and year is welcomed, pen and stationery fans celebrate with lists, new notebooks, planners and journals and plans to make this the best year ever. I love starting new planners and journals at the start of the year. While I think “resolutions” in the traditional sense create unrealistic expectations, I love planning for the new year with goals and plans, be they big or small. I choose my reading challenge for the year (Goodreads) and pick new projects I want to complete (knitting, sewing and art). I can write down my projects and goals in my new planner while I still feel like I have a chance to pause and consider before the rush of my day-to-day steamrolls me. Do you make plans or resolutions for the new year?

This is also when we officially say good-bye to the Letter Writers Alliance as they close up shop and move on to new adventures of their own. Did the end of 2019 lead you to say good-bye to any projects, activities or commitments?

Love, Ana I like Kelly Rae Roberts (and others’) habit of selecting a word for the year. She chose “ease.” If you were to pick a word for the year for yourself, what would it be?

Pens:

Ink:

Notebooks & Paper:

Art & Creativity:

Other Interesting Things:

In Planners & Organizers

Planner Review: The Knitter’s Planner 2020

Author Laura CameronPosted on 1 Comment

Review by Laura Cameron

When I saw the ad for The Knitter’s Planner ($48.95) late last year, I knew I needed to buy one to review for The Desk. With the tagline “Knit More Be Happy” how could I not?

The Knitter’s Planner is a somewhat customizable planner designed with knitters in mind. You can choose your cover from 9 available options and receive it spiral bound with some choice on your inserts. Or you can choose it unbound, if you have the perfect cover to fill. Next you can choose your layout; whether you want your weeks to start on Sunday or Monday.  Lastly you can choose any extras you like: page clip ins, gauge rulers, zippered pouches, habit trackers, pen loops and ballpoint pens.

I ordered mine in a fall rush, and received it in mid-December, perfect to get a start to planning the year.

One of the things that appealed to me most about The Knitter’s Planner was the spiral binding. I love that you can open the book to lay flat (even better for lefties!). The pages themselves are approximately 7.5″ x 9.25,” plus the 1″ spiral which means when the planner is open flat it lays approximately 16″ x 9.25.” It’s also approximately 1.25″ thick, which means this isn’t a small book. I confess I’m not sure that it would really feasibly become an EDC for me, but on my desk, I don’t mind the size.

Each month begins with a beautiful shot of knitting or yarn, and an inspirational quote. The months themselves are tabbed, with a monthly spread at the front, followed by weekly spreads. A perk for knitters is that the monthly spreads are pre-populated with important knitting events for 2020! Each monthly spread also features sections on the left for monthly goals, personal projects and knitting projects.

The second reason I chose to try this planner is because of the space allotted for each day (including separate Saturday & Sunday blocks!). I tend to write down my meetings, as well as any daily to dos, and the spots seemed large enough to accommodate my needs. The weekly spreads also allow for washi tape and other decorations as you like as well as a spot for the weekly featured pattern stitches and knitting tips (which the planner provides)!

 

 

Each month ends with some knitter’s graph paper, the perfect place to sketch knitting project ideas!

Following December of 2020, the planner features a few additional sections. There’s a pattern section with 4 patterns from well-known designers, a Projects section where you can plan and track your projects, and a Reference section with some basic knitting reference information. There’s also more graph paper, as well as blank paper and an a pocket at the back of the book.

The cover is laminated, as are the monthly tabs, creating a planner that feels sturdy enough to stand up to a year of use. However, I know what you’re most curious about is the paper and whether it’s fountain pen friendly. The type of paper in the planner isn’t specified, however I can testify that it’s fairly fountain pen friendly. I used a few different pens without significant feathering or bleed through. There was some show through, which I don’t always care for, so I suspect I’ll stick to my ballpoints and fine liners, but the paper will work with fountain pens.

Overall, I think this planner fits into what I need it to. For the past two years I’ve been using the Ruff House Art weekly desk planner every week; it’s the clear winner for something that fits my lifestyle and usage. While the format of The Knitter’s Planner is different, the bonus monthly spreads and tabs, in addition to the similar amounts of space allotted each day lead me to think I’ll get a lot of use out of this one too. Will it replace my Ruff House? Only time will tell, but I’m willing to give this one a try!

DISCLAIMER: The planner included in this review was purchased with my own money for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

In feature, Ink Review

12 Days of Inkmas: Day 12 – Sailor Studio 264

Author AnaPosted on 2 Comments
12 Days of Inkmas: Day 12 – Sailor Studio 264

By Jessica Coles

I have written several posts about the beautiful Sailor Studio inks over the past few months. These tiny bottles pack so much color inside, plus there are 100 inks in the line! These inks are incredibly fun to collect as well – the minimal packaging and color-coded labels look great lined up together. I received my bottle from Dromgoole’s in Texas (20mL for $18).

Today I’m reviewing Sailor Studio 264 – a light turquoise to teal ink.

I love these glass bottles – the entire Studio line comes in identical square bottles with the color on the label. No wasted space on the shelf, no guessing which ink or the color inside. Simple and functional.

The color of the ink on the lid seems to be a bit more green than the label, but the two seem close in tone.

Sailor Studio 264 is a medium teal that has a touch of a halo in writing.

264 is very close in writing to Pelikan Edelstein Aquamarine although the shading is a bit lighter and 264 has a more subtle sheen.

264 has beautiful shading – not in-your-face type of shading, but very present. I love showing off heavily shading inks to non-fountain pen users since the effect is so noticable.

In heavy swatches, Sailor Studio 264 seems to show more green as it pools. In areas where ink took a longer to dry, a dark halo formed.

On closer inspection I found a hint of sheen in these accumulated pools. I never did see any sheen during normal writing.

Sailor Studio 264 is not watre-proof and dries a bit faster than average, even on Tomoe River paper. I never saw smearing, feathering or bleeding with this ink either.

As with all other inks in the Sailor Studio line, I love 264. I have other inks that are close to this color, but none that shade quite like this in writing.

Tools:

DISCLAIMER: The ink in this review was provided for free for the purposes of this post. All other materials used in this review were purchased by me. Please see the About page for more details.

In Fashionable Friday

Friday Faves: Ana’s December Picks

Author AnaPosted on 1 Comment
Friday Faves: Ana’s December Picks

Friday Faves Dec 2019

  • Fave read: Sourdough by Robin Sloan. I loved Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore and though, at first glance, Sourdough seems like a very similar with its love to something analog in the high tech world of San Francisco.
  • Fave watch: The Mandolorian. I love Star Wars so it was only a matter of time before I freebased the series to date. Since the episodes are only 30 minutes long, it only took two nights.
  • Fave listen: Mostly, I’ve been listening to podcasts. It’s been an eclectic mix of late but my favorites have been The Anthropocene Reviewed and Dolly Parton’s America.
  • Fave eat: Vegan Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats. I modified this recipe slightly. Instead of brown rice syrup, I use Lyle’s Golden Syrup. I think you could replace any thicker sugary syrup, thicker than maple syrup, that is. So, if you have a favorite substitute, I think the recipe will still work fine. I’ve made these with just a drizzle of chocolate on the top but I prefer the chocolate/peanut butter “frosting” layer. I do recommend storing these in the fridge in an airtight container as they can dry out and get crumbly if its really warm. They warm up in room temperature in about 5-10 minutes.
  • Fave drink: Bubly Blackberry. I’ve been trying different sparkling waters as a way to have something “fun” to drink in the middle of the day that is not laced with chemicals. Some sparkling water flavors are better than others. I do own a SodaStream so really, I should make my own but for work, it’s nice to have it in pre-packaged containers.
  • Fave fountain pen: I am currently using two of my fountain pens more than any others. The first is my tried-and-true Caran D’ache 849 with EF nib. I keep it loaded with cartridge roulette and it’s long enough to have a cartridge loaded and a spare in the barrel. It’s perfect for work because it’s a pop top so capping and uncapping is quick for short notes and the cartridges make it easy to refill mid-meeting without too many funny looks. The other pen is my new-to-me Montblanc Rouge et Noir with custom nib grind by Gena of Custom Nib Studio. I remember thinking “why would I ever want a snake pen?” and now I have two. Go figure.
  • Fave ink: I’m still loving the PenBBS #224 Tolstoy It’s hard to acquire this color these days but PenBBS 159 Bitter Herb is pretty close.
  • Fave gel pen: Pilot Hi-Tec C Slim Knock This extra small gel pen fits perfectly inside my Baron Fig Guardian or in the Moment wallet (see below) so that I always have a pen with me. It’s the closest I have to a Fisher Space Pen-style EDC.
  • Fave paper/notebook: Is it self-serving to say that the pocket notebook I use most frequently is my Col-o-ring Oversize? It’s true. I use it to quick swatch new inks, doodle or sketch out various things and surprisingly, after years of thinking I didn’t like spiral bound notebooks, the Oversize is uniquely appealing. The size and form factor make it great tool testing of all sorts, quick visual experiments and the spiarl allow for additional elements to be glued or taped into it without adversely affecting it.
  • Fave EDC bag: Moment Crossbody Wallet I have to thank Jaclyn at Inkpothesis for making me lust after this wallet.
  • Fave analog activity: I’ve been sewing lately. I’ve made some pajama pants, two tops and have been working on a dress. I even made a mini quilt for my cats. CJ loves the mini quilt.

Thanks to my sponsors for providing some of the images I use for Friday Faves. Please consider making your next purchase from one of the shops that support this blog and let them know you heard about them here. Thanks for your support and for supporting the shops that help keep it running.