In Link Love

Link Love: Write It, Sketch It, Ink It, Plan It, Then Photograph It

Author AnaPosted on 1 Comment

rp_link-anaPens:

Ink:

Pencils:

Paper & Notebooks:

Planners & Organizers:

Art & Art Supplies:

Other Interesting Things:

In news

Housekeeping: Keeping My Head Above The Rising Ink

Author AnaPosted on Leave a comment

housekeepingJust wanted to post a quick “housekeeping” post to let you know what’s going on around here.

First, I added some new links in the Guide Sheets to some other awesome resources from Leigh Reyes and Ink Journal. GO now and check them out! I plan on adding more guide sheet options in the future but Leigh and Tom have created so cool things that are definitely worth trying out.

Next, I reclaimed my mini GorillaPod from Bob so I’m hoping to add some videos to Instagram in the coming weeks. I’ll try to remember to post them here too but you may want to make sure you’re following me on Instagram to see any videos, stories and pen show silliness as it happens.

Finally, I know I am WAY behind on product reviews but have faith, as soon as I’m back from San Francisco there will be an avalanche of reviews. I have a metric ton of inks to review, about a gross of pencils, some fountain pens (both my own and loaners), some notebooks and sketchbooks and many Ask The Desk questions queued up to be answered. I have not forgotten, I’ve just gotten behind on EVERYTHING from laundry to work to life itself. So, don’t despair. I’ll get back to a more regular schedule in the next couple weeks.

If you have any questions, Ask The Desk topics or things you’re dying for my to review ASAP, drop me a line at chair (at) wellappointeddesk (dot) com and I’ll put them on the top of my list.

In Ask The Desk

Ask The Desk: Karas Kustoms RETRAKT/Cross Selectip Hack

Author AnaPosted on 3 Comments

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My favorite pen is the superb Cross Selectip rollerball. Sadly, all but two of the Cross pens that take this refill (and I’ve got a BUNCH) require you to uncap it to use it. Only the diminutive Cross Click, which is too small for my hand, and the Cross Edge, which I find impossible to open with one hand, operates without a cap. I’m looking for a pocket pen I can operate with one hand – either push-button or twist – that takes the Cross Selectip rollerball refill. Does anyone else make one? Thanks, Gary

The new Ti Arto Kickstater project from Big Idea Design claims to accommodate 200+ refills would be perfect but it, too, is a capped pen. So, I turn to the Karas Kustoms RETRAKT and a little refill hacking to solve your problem. The RETRAKT is available in aluminum and brass and is a wider barrel pen body, comparable in width to a Sharpie permanent marker so should feel quite substantial in the hand. I use and aluminum barrel version which is weighty but can be opened and closed with one hand. My husband has a heavier model with a brass grip section if you want something even more substantial. Prices for the RETRAKT start at $55.

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When you purchase a Cross Selectip rollerball refill, it comes with a little plastic cap. Keep this! It is the key to my little hack. Though I suspect a rubber band or string could be used as an alternative. I cut the wide part off and used about 1/8″ or 3mm of the plastic sheath as a spacer between the base of the refill and spring to provide a bit more length to the refill barrel for the spring to travel along. I also needed to shave a little bit of the nubs off the blue cap in order to fit into the barrel of the RETRAKT. You might find a little more plastic is better (or a little less) but there is more than enough left from the cap to experiment a bit.

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This last photo shows the Cross Selectip rollerball refill fully extended, with my little plastic mod and the spring inside. Voila! As Tom at Goldspot Pens likes to tease, I’ll hack any pen and any refill.

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In feature

DC Pen Show Goodies Round-Up & SF Pen Show Prep

Author AnaPosted on 13 Comments

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I can’t believe how long it’s taken me to finally be able to write up the “haul” part of the DC Supershow post. I really didn’t buy a lot of stuff in DC. Amazingly, it was mostly inks and paper. I still came home with a ton of goodies!

Ink:

Paper:

Pens:

Swag & Misc. Goodies:

  • Aurora Pocket Notebook
  • Aurora Pen Nib Paper Clip
  • MurberDraws Printed M&Ms
  • Fountain Pen Day Button
  • Fountain Pen Day Bookmark
  • Pen Addict Button
  • Music Note Tea Spoon Infuser

Not Pictured: Robert Oster Aqua Ink (I left it at work) that I bought from Federalist Pens and my Cross Century II Selectip Rollerball which was laser engraved with “The Well-Appointed Desk” by Goldspot Pens that took a walk at the KC Comic Con last week. It was a lovely shade of supersuit blue too.

Thanks to all my friends who brought me treats and goodies and everyone who brought treats and goodies to Brad, Lisa, Father Kyle and Matt as well which were graciously shared amongst us all throughout the weekend. The doughnuts were particularly amazing!

I’ve started the “packing” part for the San Francisco International Pen Show. It’s all happening so fast! I will be hopping on a jet plane (or two) on Thursday morning and heading to San Francisco for the SF Pen Show this weekend. I’ll be attending the Pen Addict Meetup on Friday Night (7-9pm) and helping out the Anderson Pens table on Saturday but this trip will be mostly leisurely. Since I’m working on Saturday, I’ll miss the Planner Meet-Up on Saturday afternoon so I hope someone attends and takes lots of pictures. I would love to see what everyone is using. Or at least, bring your planner, Traveler’s Notebook or Bullet Journal to the bar later so I can live vicariously later. I’ll be checking in with the Pen Addict Slack Pen Show thread so feel free to PM me there or earburn me if you’re looking for a doodle buddy at the bar.

I’m bringing what’s left of my red/blue pencils to SF, so if you would like one, find me at the Blogger Meet-Up on Friday and say “weirdo” to score one. I don’t have a ton left so find me early to get one.

On Sunday, Amanda McKay is hosting a letter writing social which sounds fun. And Michael Sull will be teaching Spencerian Script. If you have the time and the chance, take his classes. He’s amazing. You can find the whole seminar schedule here.

My shopping plans for SF are not extensive. There are a few vintage pens I’d like to look for and I’d like to play with the ink testing station. This year the ink testing station will have 686 inks to try! But mostly, I’m looking forward to meeting people and spending time with like minded people. It really does make the miles and the long hours or work that I put in worth it.

Leave a note in the comments if you’ll be at the show and let me know if there’s anything you’d like me to bring for you to check out.

Also, if you would like anything from my shop to be hand delivered place your order before Wednesday at 10pm CST and use the SFPICKUP for free shipping thanks to my luggage (fingers crossed that SWAir gets me and my bag to SF in a timely fashion).

PS: My suitcase will also be transporting other artistic awesomeness for the pen show so be prepared!

Some items were gifts. Other items were purchased with my own money. Links are provided to vendors where they were either purchased or from whom they were provided (when available) as a courtesy should you want to purchase them yourself. When I do more extensive reviews I will be more specific as to which items were purchased and which were gifts. Mostly, I just wanted to show all my fun stuff.

In Fashionable Friday

Fashionable Friday: Back To School 2016

Author AnaPosted on 1 Comment

FF-B2S

Whether you’re going back to school or you’re just nostalgic for a fresh bunch of sharpened pencils and a new backpack, maybe a few of these items will get you into the mood to slam a locker door and complain about fourth period geometry and Mr. Miller.

  • Foot Traffic Pencil Knee High Socks $9 (via Amazon)
  • Kaweco Student Fountain Pen in Yellow € 47,50 (via Fontoplumo)
  • Tombow 2558 Pencil in HB $1 (via JetPens)
  • Teach for America T-Shirt $39.50 (via J.Crew)
  • Montblanc Golden Yellow Ink Bottle 30ml $17 (via Pen Boutique)
  • Everyday Notebook Set in Warm Colours $12.00 CAD (via Uppercase)
  • Seoul Laptop Bag in Sailor Blue $79.99 (via Kipling USA)
  • Pilot Vanishing Point Blue Matte Medium Point Fountain Pen with Medium Nib $148 (via Goldspot Pens)
  • Monteverde Tool 60 Ballpoint Pens in Platinum Grey $32 (via Pen Chalet)
  • Custom Circle Monogram Wax Seal Stamp $59.95 AUD (via Kustom Haus)
  • Akkerman #01 Passage Blauw Fountain Pen Ink (60ml Bottle) $29 (via Anderson Pens)
  • Mitsubishi No. 850 Colored Pencils (set of 24) $22 (via Fresh Stock Japan)
In news

Kickstarter: Ti Arto – The Ultimate Refill Friendly Pen

Author AnaPosted on 3 Comments

The new Big Idea Design Ti Arto Kickstarter project features the most ambitious Ti pen yet. This one will allow for over 200 different refills without any hacks or tip wiggle. How could I not support a project like this? So, if you, like me have a favorite refill or six, then this is a pen you’ll need to add to your collection. One titanium pen is $65 when backed through Kickstarter and there is still more than 30 days left in the campaign to get in on the project. They have already exceeded their goal about 20 times over so its pretty safe to say this project is a go. Its also the twelfth Big Idea Design Kickstarter project so these guys know what they’re doing in terms of meeting deadlines and shipping requirements.

I had the pleasure of meeting Chadwick Parker (half of the Big Idea Design team) in Chicago this spring and he is as passionate about pens and craftsmanship in person as he appears in the video so I am delighted to back this project myself. That’s right, I’m putting my money where my mouth is.

So I’m looking forward to having one of these pens in hand and putting the 200+ refill claim to the test — and you know I will.

Good luck to Big Idea Design on their newest venture and congrats to them on creating another amazing looking project. I’m so excited to try it out. Will you?

In podcast

Podcast: Art Supply Posse #11

Author AnaPosted on Leave a comment

Its time for Episode 11 of Art Supply Posse: Using the A-Word. This week, we nerd out about Harry Potter and KC Comicon and then we tackle the serious topic of, if and when, we call ourselves “artists.”

Hop on over to the website to listen, or you can load us up on your favorite podcast app by searching for Art Supply Posse and clicking SUBSCRIBE so you’ll never miss an episode.

Enjoy! And thanks for listening!