In photo

Wish you were here: Scotland travel edition

Author Laura CameronPosted on 1 Comment
Wish you were here: Scotland travel edition

By the time you read this my husband and I will be running through the highlands and sight-seeing in Scotland. We’re on another adventure with Race2Adventure. (My husband is the runner… I’m more of the jogger or walker).

But that means I had to put together a kit for the trip! For the last few trips I’ve been keeping a travel log in a Paperblanks notebook that Ana gave me. This time I’ve decided to up the game and add some stickers, washi and a few pens. All the better to catch the ephemera of the trip with!

Here’s a quick rundown of what I’ve got going on:

I’ll be back soon with photos and hopefully some stationery adventures!

In Ink Review

Ink Review: Sailor x Dromgoole’s Apricot Jam & Mint Jelly

Author AnaPosted on 1 Comment

I don’t know why I waited so longer to pick up the Sailor x Dromgoole’s collaborative inks: Mint Jelly and Apricot Jam ($20 each for 20ml bottles). These were released last year around the holidays inspired by Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner accompaniments.

At the last pen show, I grabbed bottles of both and have fallen in love with these. I am not normally a fan of orange inks (too bright usually) and I’m super picky about greens (too bright, too blue, too green, too dark — I said I was picky) so that might have been what made me wait to pick these up. I’m so glad I gave them a try.

Writing Samples:

Once I started writing and playing with these two inks, I fell in love with them. I actually love the food apricot jam and so I’m so glad that Apricot Jam really embodies the color and look of the jam. It captures that delicious glowy, slightly dirty orange-y/coral color.

Mint Jelly, as a food, is not something I like so I had a knee-jerk reaction to it initially. Once I started playing with the ink, the color is more sage-y — it’s a light, low-saturated muddy green. It’s unique, complex and lovely. The color works okay in fine nibs however it is much more impactful in a wider nib.

Ink Comparisons:

I did find a few similar inks in my collection: Lennon Toolbar Atmospheric Firmament, Kala Nostalgia Abstraction Sierra Mist (pigment ink) are the closest but both are a little more saturated/brighter.

Lennon Toolbar Atmospheric Fimament and Kala Nostalgia Abstraction Sierra Mist are both pigment inks so they are water-resistant and would serve different use cases than Mint Jelly which is a water soluble ink.

Ferris Wheel Press Moss Park Green in a similar saturation but is more green-brown and is also being discontinued so if you prefer this color, grab it quick. If not, Mint Jelly is close.

The first ink I though to compare with Apricot Jam is an ink that is most coveted: Robert Oster Campfire which was an exclusive for Phidon Pens in Canada and no longer available. Campfire is one of the only orangey inks I have kept in my collection and Apricot Jam is very close, just a little less saturated which would make this a perfect ink for the fall months. Can you say “pumpkin spice latte”?

Other inks I had that were close but different are Callifolio Inti which is a little lighter and slightly more yellow and J. Herbin Ambre de Birmaine is more yellowy/amber.

Final Thoughts:

Sometimes inks can surprise you and Mint Jelly and Apricot Jam surprised the heck out of me. I love these colors and look forward to using Mint Jelly as a delightful seaweedy color for my July planner theme and Apricot Jam is going to be my new go-to for October and November — ginger spice, pumpkin pie, bring on the spice!

Remember, these are limited edition exclusive colors from Dromgoole’s so grab them while they are still available.

Tools:

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

In Planners & Organizers

July Planner Set-Up: In My Mermaid Moment

Author AnaPosted on
July Planner Set-Up: In My Mermaid Moment

This month my theme is Mermaids, the beach, the ocean and cool aquatic vibes. I hope this video and planner/journal set-up inspires you to stay cool and beachy all month long.

The Basic Supplies:

First, are my planners and cases that I am currently using.

Pens & Ink:

I chose four fountain pens but I am still using the Kobe Nagasawa Fresh Green for June so it was not in my case (I wander around with a pen in my hand and then set it down somewhere and spend hours trying to remember where I set it down — on top of the mantle? on the kitchen counter? WHERE?!?!) The other three pens were selected for their mermaidy-ness. Two Kaweco Sport models: Sage and Iridescent Pearl which were both limited edition models and are getting hard to find in shops anymore. But they sure are pretty. And the star of the show is the Sailor Pro Gear Slim “Follow the Mermaid”. I mean, how could I resist?

I filled the pens with inks in shades of greens, blues and a sandy, driftwood brown. (I forgot to photograph my sea blue color choice: Robert Oster Morning Mist — even the name is perfect!)

Pens & Ink:

Stickers, Washi & Ephemera:

Most of the washi tape and stickers I am using this month is leftovers from my stash. I believe in trying to use what I have at the moment, and only pick up one or two new things just to keep things interesting each month. If you want ocean-y washi, I recommend looking at some of the MT Tape solids and patterns. The Kitta Starry Sky washi sticker kit has been discontinued but there are lots of other fun Kitta tapes available full of blues and greens.

Planning the Planner:

Finally, there is the actual process of laying out the pages. There’s a full walk through in the video above but I thought a few still photos might help show how I prepare my pages so they feel fun and I can avoid that whole “fear of the blank page” issue.

The whole Mermaid theme started with the printable this month. I am embracing my inner mermaid, even if I can only live vicariously through watching MerPeople on Netflix.

I worked out about two weeks of pages so that I am ready and can get down to being salty or siren-y, as needed.

What’s your plan for July? Do you set up your pages in your journal/planner ahead of time?

In Ink Review

Ink Review: Esterbrook x TheCoffeeMonstersCo Forgotten Iced Coffee

Author AnaPosted on 1 Comment
Ink Review: Esterbrook x TheCoffeeMonstersCo Forgotten Iced Coffee

(If at any point in this review, I accidentally call this ink Forgotten Iced Tea, I apologize in advance. The color reminds me more of iced tea than iced coffee so I have it in my brain that that’s what its called.)

Along with the release of the much-coveted Esterbrook Estie collab with TheCoffeeMonstersCo, Esterbrook also released some companion products like the Forgotten Iced Coffee ink ($16.95 for 30ml bottle).

The “ingredients” on the back of the box are a bit misleading. As far as I can tell there are no sparkles or shimmer in this ink. The presence of actual coffee, ice and oat milk are up for debate. Seriously though, the ingredients are charming but this is a standard, shading ink with no shimmer or scent so don’t worry.

In my full color swatch, the color of this ink looks brown-er  than it appears in person. There is a lof of shading and a slight green cast to the brown tone. Its a complex, low saturation color.

Writing Swatch:

The ink shades beautifully and even looks legible in a fine nib pen. The more I write with it, the more I enjoy the range of color, shading and the slight hints of grey, green, purple in the color.

Ink Color Comparisons:

I’m a little shocked that I keep finding inks that I can’t find any dupes of inks lately. I found inks that feel like they are in the same family but different. Sailor Rikyu-Cha is more yellowy-green undertones, Mont Blanc Swan Illusion (no longer available, don’t shoot me) is more brown which makes it easier to see how Forgotten Iced Coffee is more cool brown-ish. Melon Tea is darker, more saturated but was the first ink I thought to compare — tea vs. coffee!

Final Take:

I was iffy about this color when I originally saw it thinking it was a little dull (low saturation) and maybe too light for fine nibs but after playing around with the ink, I really like. It’s different and I’m really into brownish inks these days. I don’t think this ink will be around forever so grab it while you can.

Tools:

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

In Link Love

Link Love: Mermaids & Postage

Author AnaPosted on
Link Love: Mermaids & Postage

Hoo boy its hot here in the Midwest this week. Everything is sweaty, lazy and in search of ice cream, air conditioning or cold brews.

But here in Desk-land, it’s Mermaid Season for me. For my Patrons, this month is Mermaid month for the printable calendars. For everyone else, you can hang out in my kiddie pool and I’ll bring you a yard beer.

Full block image of the 250 Years of Delivering Stamps stamp sheet by Chris Ware

Big news in the USPS is the 250 Years of Delivering Stamps stamp sheet which will be available on July 23 and is a connected block of twenty stamps designed by comic book legend Chris Ware. I am going to get as many sheets of this stamp set as I can. So amazing.

An individual postage stamp illustrated by Chris Ware

While we are on the topic of all things postal, the USPS First Class shipping rates will be increasing on July 13. Thanks to Portland Stamp Company for this handy-dandy graphic.

Typewriter written airmail envelope with changes in the USPS first class stamp rates start July 13, 2025.
Image via Portland Stamp Company

Pens:

Ink:

Pencils:

Notebooks & Paper:

Art & Creativity:

Other Interesting Things:

Be one of us! Be one of us! Join our Patreon and get free printables, an exclusive podcast and more, like bragging rights. You help us keep this site going! Without you, we could not continue to do what we do. Thank you!

In Fountain Pen Review

Fountain Pen Review: Sailor Fude De Mannen

Author Laura CameronPosted on
Fountain Pen Review: Sailor Fude De Mannen

While I’ve now been writing for the Desk for a while, one thing I have completely stayed away from is fancy nibs. I stick with my EF, F, M and occasionally a broad or a stub. I’ve never had a nib ground for me (I’ve had a few smoothed and tuned, but that’s it!) and I typically don’t play with anything beyond the standard.

So a few weeks ago when I was browsing through Yoseka Stationery, the Sailor Fude De Mannen caught my eye. ($16).

The pen comes in acrylic bodies in pearlized colors (featuring just a hint of sparkle), and feature stainless steel gold plated nibs. Some of the colors have different nibs:

The Green (-55 degrees) version is best for those who write upright, while the Dark Blue, Pearl White, Pearl Pink, and Pearl Brown (-40 degrees).

I opted for the Pearl Pink, so mine came with a -40 degree Fude nib. The fun of a Fude nib, besides it’s interesting shape, is the ability to create varying line thicknesses. As you can see, I can get anything from a thinner fine line to a thicker broad line. I find it most comfortable to hold and write somewhere in between, but it’s fun to play with the angle and see where it lands.

I used the pen as a dip nib while I was playing with it, but it is a full pen. It takes either Sailor cartridges or a Sailor Converter. This pen is long! 6.625″/17cm capped, and 5.875″/15cm uncapped. The cap posts (although not very tightly), but that would make the length and balance ridiculous. It’s a lightweight pen though coming in at 15g.

Overall this was a fun experiment and I think I’ll continue to use it for nib/ink testing and maybe even just to play with calligraphy and varying my line thickness. If you’re interested in branching out from traditional nibs this seems like a fun, cost-effective way to do so!

DISCLAIMER: Some of the items in this review were purchased with my own funds and some may have been sent to us for review. Please see the About page for more details.

In Ink Review

Ink Preview: KWZ St. Louis Pen Show 2025 Meet Me in St. Louis – 314 Blues(@stlpenshow)

Author AnaPosted on 1 Comment
Ink Preview: KWZ St. Louis Pen Show 2025 Meet Me in St. Louis – 314 Blues(@stlpenshow)

KWZ 2025 St. Louis Pen Show Meet Me in St. Louis – 314 Blues ($20 for 60ml Bottle) is the limited edition ink available at this year’s St. Louis Pen Show. Each bottle is 60ml and there will only be 200 bottles available. The ink will be sold exclusively at the show (this weekend Friday through Sunday!).

If there are any bottles left, they may be available for sale upon request (customer will be responsible for shipping costs, tariffs and taxes).

My handwriting is atrocious today! Apologies!!

The name for this year’s color is a combination of the St. Louis area code (314) and St. Louis’s rich blues music history, hence “314 Blues”. Also, the color of the ink is blue. The name is not at all related to Pi (3.14…) or Pi Day. Really a shame.

When compared to other inks, Pilot Iroshizuku Kon-Peki is the closest in hue but a little deeper color. Pennonia Torokkeo is the next closest. Waterman Inspired Blue and Lamy Pacific Blue/Turquoise are similar hue but are a little lighter and brighter.

I do love the way KWZ ink smells but this ink is similar enough to others in my collection that I’m not going to kill myself to get a bottle. But it does remind me that I need to look at other KWZ inks for the sweet vanilla scent.

Tools:

DISCLAIMER: Some items included in this review were provided free of charge by St. Louis Pen Show for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.