In Fashionable Friday

Fashionable Friday: Use The Force

Author AnaPosted on 3 Comments

FF-use-the-force

In a strange twist down the internet rabbit hole this morning, I discovered that Dooney & Bourke makes specialized handbags and wallets for Disney Parks across the world. There is, of course, a healthy secondary market in selling particularly rare and unusual items like today’s inspiration, the Special Edition Star Wars Half Marathon Satchel from the race run January 16, 2015. Handbags, Star Wars and pens?!? This is a challenge I accept.

  • Star Wars Limited Edition notebook (via Moleskine)
  • Star Wars R2D2 Floating Pen $9.76 (via Amazon)
  • Lamy Safari Limited Edition Copper Orange €18,50-26,90(via Fontoplumo)
  • Pilot Iroshizuku Ink in Fuyu-gaki $28 (via Jet Pens)
  • Fisher Space Pen Bullet Pen in Lime Green $23 (via JetPens)
  • Noodler’s Dark Matter Ink $12.50 (via Goulet Pens)
  • Field Notes Pitch Black Notebooks 3-Pack for $9.95 (via Pen Chalet)
  • Ceramic Stormtooper 3D mug with Lid $55.85 (via Etsy)
  • Star Wars Enamel Keychains $4.99 each (via Think Geek)
  • Star Wars Itty Bittys CHEWBACCA Plush $6.95 (via Hallmark)
  • Diamine Steel Blue Ink $12.95 (via Goulet Pens)
  • DIY Death Star Globe (via Our Nerd Home)
  • Pilot Metallic Vanishing Point Fountain Pen in Mountain Blue $140 (via Goulet Pens)
  • Darth Vader Desk Tidy £19.99 (via Zaavi.com)
In Link Love

Link Love: Orange Inks & Traveler’s Notebooks

Author AnaPosted on 4 Comments

Link Love Link MascotPens:

Ink:

Pencils:

Notebooks and Paper:

Handwriting & Penmanship:

Planners:

Other Interesting Things:

In Ask The Desk

Ask The Desk: DDC Factory Floor and Pen Cleaning

Author AnaPosted on 2 Comments

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Lori asks:

Two questions for you. First how often do DCC Factory Floor editions come out at Draplin’s site?

And when to you expect to get air mail rubber stamps back in stock?

From what I understand, the DDC Factory Floor Editions are intermittently available. Your best bet to keep track of these collectible Field Notes, keep an eye on the Draplin site and join the Field Nuts Facebook group to keep informed.

And to your second question, I am reproducing stamps today and should have them in the shop within ten days.

Dena asks:

Hello, I am new to fountain pens.  To even try to rank myself as novice would be laughable.  I purchased a Kaweco Classic Sport and fell in love with it, and now have a Pilot on the way.  My question is fountain pen care.  I’ve unsuccessfully searched your site but have not found a care/cleaning section.  Do you have a tutorial or is this something your could post on soon?  Very much enjoy your postings and it has become a daily stop for me!

I’m as surprised as you that I haven’t included any cleaning information. My system for cleaning is pretty simple. I use a plastic container (previously contained hot and sour soup from my favorite Chinese take-out restaurant) and water. I disassemble my pens and remove the cap and body so that I only wet the nib, feed and cartridge converter. I use the converter to suck water in through the nib and feed and then squeeze it out into the sink and repeat until the water looks pretty clear. I will also use a bulb syringe to help push water and dried ink out of the feed and nib if necessary. If the water doesn’t run clear, I will attempt to disassemble the nib from the feed and drop them in the water to soak.

If I was using a cartridge rather than a converter, I will use a syringe to flush out the cartridge so that it could be reused later.

Brian Goulet created a great cleaning video that can demonstrate cleaning techniques better than I can explain it:

In Desk Set

The Desk Set: Kind Of Blue

Author AnaPosted on 3 Comments

The Desk Set Header

kindofblue-1
Photos via Pinterest,  Pink Little Notebook, Decoist  and Pinterest.

Maybe I’m dreaming of blue skies and warm breezes but I’m enamored with blue desks, blue workspaces and blue, blue, blue!

kindofblue2
Photos via Pinterest, Online Fabric Store,  HomePolish and My Design Chic.
Photos via _____, ______, _____, and _____.
Photos via Decorista, Furniture With A Soul, Pinterest, and Because It’s Awesome.

 

In Fashionable Friday

Fashionable Sunday: RIP Rex Ray

Author AnaPosted on 2 Comments

FF-Rex-Ray

  • Field Notes Cherry Wood $9.95/3-pack (via Field Notes)
  • Edison Collier Fountain Pen in Persimmon Swirl $149 (via Anderson Pens)
  • Eco-Essential Pen from $50 (via Ishuja)
  • Rex Ray Deluxe Notecards $14.95 (via Chronicle Books)
  • Aqua Pebble Eraser $2 (via Poppin)
  • Pilot Iroshizuku Fuyu-gaki Ink (Vermilion Red Orange) $28 (via Jet Pens)
  • Streaking Paper Notebook $14.95 (via Productive Luddite)
  • Midori Brass Bullet Pencil $21 (via Jet Pens)
  • De Atramentis Black Edition: Deepwater Obsession – Black-Blue $12.95 (via Goulet Pens)
  • Palomino Graphite Drawing Pencils $11.95/dozen (via Pencils.com)
  • Rex Ray Mini Journal Set $14.95 (via Chronicle Books)
  • Kaweco Sport Skyline Fountain Pen in Mint €17,95 (via Fontoplumo)
  • Pink Paperclips $3 for 50 clips (via Poppin)

It took awhile to compile this post and its based on an artist whose work I love, Rex Ray. He passed away last week and I was very sad to hear he had passed.

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If you’re not familiar with his work, this is a wonderful video interview with Rex Ray and shows an array of his work and how he moved from being a graphic designer to a fine artist.

Your artwork, you vision and your passion will be missed, Mr. Ray.

http://www.youtube.com/watch/?v=JK_7fTHTGSg

In feature, Ink Review

Ink Review: Kaweco Summer Purple

Author AnaPosted on 4 Comments

Kaweco Summer Purple Ink

Kaweco Summer Purple is one of my absolute favorite ink colors. It’s a dark, muted, complex, plum-y purple. More eggplant purple really. When watered down, it reminds me of lilac blossoms. At full-strength, its a subtle, sophisticated purple-black. The closest color comparison I could make is the Rohrer & Klingner Scabiosa. However, with the Kaweco Summer Purple, there’s no concern about the iron gall and potential damage to your pens.

Summer Purple doesn’t have a ton of shading but with wider nibs, you get a little color variation. You may decide this is a good thing or not. When writing notes and project planning, I’m less inclined to want a lot of shading as it can affect overall readability. But a little bit of shading can be nice. I think Summer Purple hits a pleasing balance between feeling too flat and being too shading-y for everyday use.

Kaweco Summer Purple is a color that is not too fussy but still adds a little pizazz to your writing. If you’re just dipping inky toes into colors beyond blue, black or blue-black, Summer Purple is a good option.

Kaweco Summer Purple Comparison

I think the closest comparable inks are Rohrer & Klingner Scabiosa and Private Reserve Ebony Purple. J. Herbin Poussiere de Lune, Noodler’s Purple Heart and Diamine Grape are all a little bit more reddish purple — less violet, more true purples. If you like your purples with more red, than I recommend these instead.

Isn’t it amazing how much variation exists in ink colors? From subtle to shocking differences at every hue in the rainbow. This is why I love inks!

DISCLAIMER: This item was sent to me free of charge by Kaweco Pens for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.

In feature, Ink Review

Ink Review: Kaweco Midnight Blue

Author AnaPosted on 9 Comments

Kaweco Midnight Blue ink

Kaweco Midnight Blue is one of the blue-blackiest blue-blacks I’ve ever used. At first glance, it appears to be nothing special since its a dark blue black with little-to-no pizazz. But on second glance, this is a workhorse ink. Its not the hot, new color or the “in” ink for 2015. Its a classic. It’s trend proof. Its a beautiful alternative to black ink or a plain blue. Its deep, dark and true to its purpose.

Even on Rhodia paper, Midnight Blue dries pretty quickly. The longer I used it, the more I warmed to this ink. Its like a good comfortable cardigan. It might not be the flashiest thing in your ink closet but I suspect you’ll find yourself coming back to it again and again because it works well and in lots of situations.

Kaweco Midnight Blue Ink Comparison

I used to think that Lamy Blue-Black was my go-to blue black but when I see it side-by-side with Kaweco Midnight Blue, I have to say I prefer the bluer hue of the Midnight Blue ink over Lamy’s more violet undertones.

Kaweco Blue Black is quickly moving into my favorite blue-black and, with its reasonable price (approx. $17.50 for a 30ml bottle), it might just stay there.

My only gripe is the funky label wrap on the bottle. No matter how many ways I try to remove the wrap sticker, I end up with unsightly label residue or weird bits. I keep ink bottles for a long time and I like to keep my favorites on display but the unslightly label shards mean the Kaweco inks are going to be kept out of sight until I find a good method for removing the labels. Which is kind of sad because I like the shape of the Kaweco bottles a good deal.

DISCLAIMER: This item was sent to me free of charge by Kaweco for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.