Set sail with the new inks from Robert Oster out of Australia. I scoured the DC Pen Show in search of someone who had them in stock as I knew they were on their way to the US shores but the only vendor who had any in stock yet was Federalist Pens and Paper. I got a bottle of Aqua which ended up being the absolute right choice for my first bottle of Robert Oster Signature Fountain Pen ink because it is gorgeous!
In the past, I suggested that KWZ Menthol Green might good a good alternative to J. Herbin Emerald of Chivor if you’re looking for that deep teal green but would rather skip the pen-clogging sparkles. I hereby amend my recommendation to Robert Oster Aqua which is a perfct color match to J. Herbin Emerald of Chivor sans sparkles. Seriously.
Add to that the exquisite red halo and lovely shading and you have an exceptionally fabulous ink.
Other folks have suggested that some Oster were dry. I was using this in my Lamy Scala with EF 14K nib and had no issues with hard starts or skipping and Lamy nibs tend to be a little dry so I didn’t notice any issues. If anything, I found the flow on this ink particularly good.
This is my first Oster ink, and it certainly won’t be my last, so I’ll let you know if I find any of the other inks dry. The Aqua seems quite smooth and has been in my Lamy for several weeks with no issues. It’s even flown back from DC and on to SF and back without any problems.
Overall, I really like this ink. It might usurp Ku-Jaku as one of my favorite teal inks once I’ve seen how it performs in a few more pens but so far I’m most impressed with it.
UPDATE: Erik and Bradley both mentioned in the comments some color comparisons that I neglected to include so, for their benefit, I’ve added them above. Diamine Teal is darker and greener. It actually looks brighter in my photo than in real life. The Oster Aqua is much more vivid. and the red sheen and shading is far more apparent. The Edelstein Aquamarine is a pretty color but its lighter overall. There is a bit of a halo at the edges but not nearly as pronounced as the Oster Aqua which is almost metallic and again more vivid and saturated overall. There is a more faded denim quality to the Edelstein Aquamarine, a little more subdued. And the Diamine Teal is downright reserved in comparison. I hope that helps!
This ink was purchased from Federalist Pens and Paper at the DC Pen Show. It can be purchased online through their web site for $18 per bottle plus shipping.
This week’s inspiration comes from a beautiful, tropical scarf from J. Crew that will help carry a little bit of summer and adventuring into fall along with a few beautiful pens, inks and accessories to inspire new adventures.
Bandana in Ratti Into The Wild Print $22.50 (via J. Crew)
Royce 1-Slot Leather Single Pen Carrying Case in Light Blue $20 (via Pen Chalet)
Thanks to all my sponsors for providing some of the inspiring images. Please help support this blog by purchasing your next pen, ink or paper product 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.
Ana is back from the SF Pen Show with a gravelly voice, but we talk about color theory and Heather thinks Pantone are just little “chippy things”. Feel free to mock us both at Art Supply Posse.
Okay, gang, now I need your help! Sometimes, questions come into my inbox and I ponder and query and google and I come up with nothing. So, I’m hoping that the massive collective hive mind of stationery genius out there can help out. Maybe you use or have seen something to help Linda.
Linda is begging for help:
The notebook I have used since 2008 is now out of print. I bought all the stock I could find and am down to my last two. I need a suitable replacement but haven’t had much luck. Perhaps the Desk can advise?
What I Need:
Hardcover
B5 or a tad bigger, but not A4
White pages, not cream or ivory
Thick pages that do not bleed (Sharpies excluded, of course)
Dot grid, graph, etc. Even lined, maybe if the lines are unobtrusive
Smooth paper
I’m a fan of Apica, Kokuyo’s Campus notebooks, Rhodia dotgrid. But I can find nothing both hardcover and B5.
Any tips?
Please?
I’m getting stingy with my notetaking and brainstorming in order to make my current notebooks last.
I am at a loss to find a good replacement for you, Linda. B5 size is close to a US Composition notebook and, for some reason, this size notebook always seem to have a flexible cover, whether they are US, Japanese or European. Moleskine’s XL size is a B5 but the paper is warm white and not everyone’s favorite. The only bright white options I could find were Leucthtrum 1917 but I couldn’t find that they offered this particular size configuration in hardcover. Only softcover. So, I’m rallying the troops! Do you have a recommendation for Linda?
I got to spend the final day of the SF Pen Show being a legitimate visitor, shopper and participant which was a pleasure. I was able to wake up a little later than usual, chat with friends and visit with vendors and sellers. Several of us were a little hung over too so a slow start was nice. Shhh… can everyone talk a little quieter? Thanks. Those Aurora pens are so lovely in the morning light of the atrium.
Vanness Pens Wall of Ink
The best thing about shopping on a Sunday is that the pace is slower. Most vendors made their money on Saturday so there’s a genuine feeling of relief on Sunday. If they make money on Sunday that’s great but the busiest part is over and Sunday is gravy. For shoppers, its not as crowded and most folks are making their second, third or 12th pass over the tables seeing if they missed something or if something they saw earlier in the weekend is still there. Or if maybe a vintage seller might be willing to make a deal on Sunday if its still there. Sometimes they will, sometimes they won’t. And sometimes its a chance to try a new style or type of pen because sellers are not as busy and have more time to talk through a filling system or brand of pen you might not be as familiar with.
I like Sundays at shows. Its a more familial environment by that time as everyone starts to recognize each other but there’s a bit of melancholy too as you know it will all be ending soon and it will be time to pack it all up and go home.
My favorite pen show clown, Mr. Brad Dowdy
And then you get goofy, fun moments like this and they remind me why I love pen shows and pen people so much. I got expressions like this from lots of people, I just didn’t have my camera out for them. Who loves ink and pens? WE DO!
The amazing aisle of ink testers
Even on Sunday, the ink testing station was still busy and pens still had ink. There were some folks who were disappointed that not all inks were available for sale at the show but I think it was hard for the organizers to know which inks were limited edition, discontinued and be able to provide a list to vendors to be able to cross reference. The whole thing is pretty epic. Any way you slice it, the chance to try all those inks, discontinued, rare or easily available is awesome and worth the price of admission right there. I know how much work it was to clean and fill all those pens and I tip my hat to the folks who put in nights and weeks to filling all 600+.
Peter Pan fountain pens with one Pelikan stuck in the middle for scale
I loved seeing this tray of Peter Pan fountain pens. The vintage dealer selling them kindly let me rearrange his display to put a Pelikan in the middle for scale for my photograph. Pretty amazing, huh? And most of them had flexible 14K nibs too. Swoon.
The amazing and ever-dapper Michael Sull, Spencerian calligrapher extraordinaire.
Once again, Mr. Michael Sull was amazing. Kind, generous, dapper and epically talented. Watching him work is mesmerizing. Like those ice skaters who spin and jump so effortlessly, he makes Spencerian look so easy and effortless. Then I pick up a pen and I feel like I’m all thumbs — or toes or something.
Actual oak galls
I met Greg Weddig who got a wild hair to make his own iron gall ink because he found oak galls on the trees near his house. I had no idea that galls were things that grew on trees but I’ll go into more details when I write a more detailed review about the ink. How cool is this?!? Its dip pen ink only but Michael Sull has taken a shining to it so, of course, I had to buy a bottle. I’m hoping it will imbue some Sull Spencerian magic on me. Think it will work?
Testing the iron gall ink from Greg Weddig, AKA Hugo’s Writing SuppliesWriting a letter at the Letter Writing Social
In the afternoon, Amanda McKay hosted a letter writing social which she called the “anti-social social” as we all settled in to quiet contemplation with our paper and pens and envelopes. Amanda provided lovely stationery, postcards and envelopes plus stickers, hand cut rubber stamps and stamp pads for folks to use. She even had a pile of pens so you really didn’t need to bring anything but your address book.
It was a lovely break in the day, dotted with occasional conversation and pen, ink and tool swapping, and I hope that it is an event that will be added to the dockets of other pen shows.
Juliavdw worked on some watercolors for a traveling sketchbook at the letter writing social.The darling Joanna working on a letter as the Letter Writing Social hosted by Amanda McKay, AKA LetterLetter.com
After the social, there was just an hour of shopping time left before the boxes and crates came out and the vendors had to pack everything back up and load up the vans and head home. I wrapped up my ridiculous quantities of ink and crossed my fingers hoping that Southwest Airlines will deliver them to KC without any damage. Cross your fingers for me too because I finally got a bottle of KWZ Honey and I want to review it this week. You want that too, right? Collective finger crossing starts now!
Brady Dowdy, Mike Vanness and Matt Armstrong packing up the Vanness Pens booth as the show winds down
Boarding my plane in ten minutes and will be back to real life soon. Miss all the folks I met in SF already and I look forward to chatting with everyone online — both those who didn’t get to a show yet and those I’ve met this year.
Pens:
