The Well-Appointed Desk

Crystal Bridges Museum Paintbrush Pencil

My husband drove down to Bentonville, AR to visit the Crystal Bridges Museum and meet up with his parents. The museum focuses on American art and was founded by ALice Walton, daughter of Sam Walton, founder of the Wal-Mart empire. The museum is actually pretty amazing. It sits on 120 acres with lots of nature trails as well as the museum which is housed in a building designed by Moshe Safdie. Not at all what you’d expect to find in Arkansas, is it?

Crystal Bridges Museum Paintbrush Pencil

So, how does this relate to the blog? Because I acquired a unique pencil for my Pencil Tourism collection. Its a paintbrush mounted onto a round pencil. So I can sharpen the other end and have a paint brush and a pencil. Pretty cool, huh?

Crystal Bridges Museum Paintbrush Pencil

In Paper Review

Review: Lokta Paper Goods by Monk Papers

AnaSeptember 22, 2014September 21, 2014Leave a comment

Lokta paper is made from the fibrous inner bark of the high-elevation evergreen bushes in the Himalayans. This paper is often just called Nepali paper. Pen Boutique has started carrying a wide variety of lokta-based paper good from a company called Monk Papers including journals, notebooks, and stationery sets.

I received a packet of deep violet printer paper cut to 8.5×11 to fit into US printers and copiers, an A5-sized hardcover journal and a boxed photo album.

The cut sheets are a deep vivid purple. I thought the dark color of the purple screamed for an opaque white gel pen and it looks fantastic.

Monk Paper printer sheets letter size

One side of the paper is smoother than the other and probably better suited to holding ink jet inks than the more textured side. Unfortunately the purple paper is too dark to be legible but I think other colors would work well and be great for invites, resumes or a typed letter.

Monk Papers Photo Album

I was also sent this festive photo album and matching storage box. Its about 8″x8″ in size. The dots are colored dots of paper attached to the cover. I think this is one of the best uses for this paper. It looks fabulous, durable and totally unique.

Monk Papers Hardcover Journal

I was also sent an A5 hard cover journal. The cover is the same color as the interior pages and the spine is covered in a contrasting colored paper . The binding is a traditional stitched binding that lays flat easily.

Monk Paper Journal writing sample

I experimented with a lot of different tools with this paper because my standard habit of using super-fine pens just did not work on this paper. The super-fine gel pens and fountain pens stabbed into the soft, fibrous paper. Brushes, pencils and wider rollerballs and art tools work best on this paper. There doesn’t appear to be any sizing on the paper so wet tools like brush pens and watercolor absorb quickly. I think heavy water coverage would warp the paper pretty severely.

Monk Paper Journal reverse of stock

From the reverse of the page, there’s some bleed and show-through as I would suspect from such a soft paper.

The Lokta paper is unusual enough that I think everyone should have a chance to try it but it is like other specialty papers, not all the tools you normally use will work but other things might.

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

In Ask The Desk

Ask The Desk: A Fine-Tipped Refill for a Hex-o-Matic

AnaSeptember 20, 2014May 24, 20184 Comments

I have a Retro Hex-o-matic and looking for a refill with a fine point. Looking for something like the Schimdt easyflow 9000 but in fine point. What would you recommend?

Since the Retro 51 Hex-o-Matic ballpoint takes a standard sized Parker-style refill, you have a lot of options. According to the Epic Refill Guide, there are lots of options but since you are specifically looking for a fine point refill, let’s see what I can find…

Fisher Space Ballpoint Refills are available in a fine point. Monteverde makes a soft-roll needle point refill and a “capless” fine point gel refill. Schmidt makes the P900 fine point ballpoint refill. Visconti offers a gel refill in fine as well.

I’m sure I overlooked a gem or two from the Epic Refill Guide but these should get you started. Check you local big box office supply store as they may carry Monteverde as well as other possible options or search Amazon.

Happy writing!

For a review of the Hex-O-Matic ballpoint, check out The Clicky Post.

(Image from Pen Boutique)

In Fashionable Friday, feature

Fashionable Friday: Breakfast at Tiffany’s Inspired

AnaSeptember 19, 20145 Comments

Fashionable Friday: Breakfast at Tiffany's

I don’t know why but, this week, I got “Moon River” stuck in my head and it always reminds me of the film that made it famous, Breakfast at Tiffany’s. So, that is the inspiration for this week’s Fashionable Friday.

Audrey Hepburn’s portrayal of Holly Golightly is ingrained in my mind so clearly. The gorgeous dresses and the kooky eyelash eye mask. And, of course, I could not forget Cat, her faithful companion.

You will have to acquire you own coffee and sticky bun.

China Glaze For Audrey Polish $7.50 (via Ulta)
Pilot Prera in Soft Blue $49.50 (via Jet Pens)
Filofax Classic Personal Organizer Personal $103.50 (via Pen Boutique)
Pelikan Souveran 320 Fountain Pen in Pearl $484 (via Pen Chalet)
J. Herbin Diabolo Menthe $10 (via Goulet Pens)
Pilot Stargazer Fountain Pen – Pearl White, 14k Fine $152 (via Goulet Pens)
Exacompta Club Leatherette Refillable Journal (via Jet Pens)
Baker’s Jar $24 (via Anthropologie)
Parisienne Pencil Case (via Anthropologie)
Feline Finery Necklace $14.99 (via Modcloth)

In feature, Ink Review

Review: Pelikan Edelstein Ruby Cartridges

AnaSeptember 17, 2014June 11, 2020Leave a comment

Pelikan Edelstein Ruby tin

I’d been very interested in getting some of the Pelikan Edelstein ink cartridges. They come in a lovely tin and I like having a pack of cartridges at work so that, in a pinch, I can quickly refill a pen without making a big mess. The tin means I could keep it in my daily kit so I have cartridges handy all the time. I bought the Ruby color from my local pen shop.

Pelikan Edelstein Ruby cartridges

What I didn’t realize is that the Pelikan Edelstein cartridges are European LONG cartridges. Most of my pens, that take standard European cartridges, are not big enough for the long cartridges. I finally found one pen that could accommodate the longer cartridges, my Kaweco Student.

Pelikan Edelstein Ruby ink

Inked and ready to go, I was finally able to test PE Ruby. Its a pinky-red color with some nice shading, even with the extra-fine nib in my Kaweco Student. Its a bit lighter color than I had expected. A Google image search for “ruby gem” reveals that rubies are a bit pinky in color when light shines through them so the name is appropriate for the color. Just, in my head, I always thought of rubies as a darker red.

Edelstein inks are good quality and flow smoothly and feel lubricated which helps validate the steeper price point.

Pelikan Edelstein Ruby ink writing samples

When compared to other reds in my stash, it does fill a gap. Diamine Wild Strawberry is a bit more orangey, and Noodler’s Mandalay Maroon is darker and probably more what my head thought of as “ruby”.

Six LONG European-style cartridges are available in each tin for $7.95 from Goulet Pens since my local pen shop does not list them on their online shop. If you’re in KC though, stop by The Pen Place in Crown Center and pick them up in person.

In feature, Ink Review

Review: DeAtramentis Apple Blossom Ink

AnaSeptember 16, 2014September 18, 20142 Comments

DeAtramentis Apple Blossom

DeAtramentis Apple Blossom ($12.95 for a 35ml bottle) is sort of an “in between” color. Its not quite red, pink, burgundy or purple. I would best describe is as a smoky red violet. Its a scented ink, its a slightly sweet, powdery smell that is supposed to be reminiscent of apple blossoms. It was most noticeable when I was filling my pen from the bottle and less so in the pen or on paper. Once dry on the paper, it was unnoticeable.

DeAtramentis Apple Blossom

I tested this ink with my Pilot Prera which has become my go-to pen for ink samples because I can switch on the nib, mid-test and see the ink in a fine nib and a italic nib as well. With the italic stub, there was more evidence of shading but the color didn’t shift dramatically due to the wider nib.

I tried to find a similar color in my collection but I came up with a pinkier-pink (Edelstein Turmaline) and a deeper, more burgundy color (Montegrappa Bourdeaux). So, that makes me feel like the Apple Blossom really is a unique color and does remind me of those pinky centers on white apple blossoms. I like it in the same way that I like the old Noodler’s Black Swan in Australian Roses in that its a subtle, complex color.

In feature

Maire-Chantal Children’s Diary 2015

AnaSeptember 16, 2014September 15, 20141 Comment

Marie-Chantal is a London children’s clothing and gifts shops that was started in 2001 under the creative direction of Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece. For 2015, Marie-Chantal created a children’s diary designed to record the adventures and growth of your child, from first steps to sports activities and school days.

The Children’s Diary starts in September of 2014 and is filled with care and advice of children’s clothes and shoes as well as interesting places to visit with your children in London and NYC. The diary measures 21cm x 26.5cm (approx 8.25″ x10.5″), with gilt-edged pages. The diary is available in blue or ivory leather covers. Its beautiful, well-designed and very posh. It’s a very expensive however at $159 so this is a splurge for mom and dad or a keen gift friend or family. Every child should feel so royal.