More Inexpensive Fountain Pen-Friendly Paper: Wheat Straw Printer Paper

Laura14 Comments

Step Forward Wheat Straw paper

Okay, I am not someone who delves deeply into the paper end of the fountain pen hobby, admittedly, but I was surprised by this one. Wheat straw paper?

Yes: wheat straw has been turned into paper.  Initially, this was puzzling. But my dad used to eat shredded wheat cereal for breakfast. That stuff definitely tasted like paper.

Thus, wheat straw paper. It works nicely with fountain pen inks, appears to be better for the environment than regular paper, and it’s inexpensive. So I’m going to give this a try.

(click Page 2 below to continue)

Pages: 1 2

Pen Snippet: Platinum Classic Maki-e Fountain Pen

Laura2 Comments

Platinum Classic Maki-e fountain pen

This is the Platinum Classic Maki-e Fountain Pen from Pen Chalet that I’ve been using recently. It’s such a pretty pen, with such a great nib.

Pen Chalet very nicely gave this to me so we can give it away to a blog reader. Before we do that, though, I’ve been putting it through its paces. And I wanted to highlight the pen a little, now that I’ve been using it for a month.

(click Page 2 below to continue)

Pages: 1 2

Date, Marry, Kill: My Least Eligible Ink Bottles

Laura7 Comments

ink bottles

Ink bottles were on my mind last month. Two bottles came into my possession that were extra attractive: a Graf von Faber-Castell and a J. Herbin 1670. At the same time I got three new Sailor inks, reminding me that Sailor bottles could make a saint curse. I needed no reminding that I am not a saint.

I’ve never been one to prioritize the aesthetics of an ink bottle. For me the main point is the ink inside. However, I try to use up my inks, so I do care how useful and practical a bottle is.

So, I’m going to play “date, marry or kill” with a few ink bottles. The first is a bottle everyone hates, except me. The next two are bottles everyone loves, but I am on the fence about. The last is a bottle that I loathe.

Join me, then, as I play ink bottle bachelorette. But it’s just for fun. No ink bottle design seems to stop me from buying the ink. It just lets me perfect my cursing.

(click Page 2 below to continue)

Pages: 1 2

Fountain Pen Favorites for August 2016

LauraLeave a comment

calendar image

Think of a middling movie franchise. The first movie does well, so they come up with a sequel, which isn’t exactly good, but sells enough tickets, so they can’t resist slapping together a third. Which is just chum. And that was my August — the Jurassic Park III of months.

But hey, Laura Dern and Sam Neill were in Jurassic Park III. Nothing is irredeemable. So let’s focus on the bright side of August.

1. Weather. It did not rain every minute of every day. Okay, nearly. But there were a few minutes where you could see the sun still existed. Bonus points: no need to worry about a beach body. And I found some very water-resistant inks.

2. Pen Shows. Many people I know had fun at pen shows in August. Not me, but I lived vicariously. And I was lucky because a very sweet friend brought me back a present from DC. I hope you either went to a pen show in August, or got something nice.

3. Inks. I loved my August inks. There wasn’t a “meh” ink in the bunch for me. The new-to-me inks were simply wonderful: KWZ Thief’s Red, KWZ Rotten Green, Graf von Faber-Castell Cobalt Blue, Kaweco Sunrise Orange, Kaweco Smokey Grey, and J. Herbin 1670 Caroube de Chypre. I could be happy with just those. That was a real light in August.

 

——————

Photo by Dafne Cholet, Flickr, used under Creative Commons license.

Why I Like an Ink That Is Easy to Clean

Laura5 Comments

fountain pens needing to be cleaned

I had this on my counter the other day: nine pens, all needing to be cleaned out.

You know how there are people who love cleaning things? Who find it meditative or restful or enjoyable?

Yeah, I’m not one of those people. So I love inks that are easy to clean.

Most of these were, actually. Montblanc William Shakespeare was the only exception. Not a total surprise. And I survived. “Come what come may, time and the hour runs through the roughest day.”

 

Ink Review: Kaweco Smokey Grey

Laura3 Comments

Kaweco Smokey Grey writing sample

Kaweco Smokey Grey. This is an attractive light gray ink that is surprisingly legible and features a surprising amount of water resistance. It is a Kaweco ink, so it’s not surprising that Smokey Grey also is easy to clean from a pen and has excellent lubrication and flow.

(click Page 2 below to continue)

Pages: 1 2

Found Some Inexpensive Fountain-Pen Friendly Spiral Notebooks

Laura3 Comments

Mead 70 Sheet Spiral Notebook

Back-to-school time is the most wonderful time of the year for those of us who are parents of teenagers. Our beloved progeny will once again be occupied for at least seven hours every weekday, in a building somewhere else, under the supervision of someone else.  Thank you, compulsory state education.

Also, school supplies are on sale! I always try to pick up some low-price paper when the superstores and office supply stores bring it in at low prices. This year I tried some Mead 70-sheet spiral notebooks made in the USA, on sale at Target for $3 for four notebooks.

(click Page 2 below to continue)

Pages: 1 2

Our J. Herbin Caroube de Chypre Winner

Laura2 Comments

J. Herbin 1670 Caroube de Chypre ink bottle

September 10, 2016 update:  Nicola did not claim the ink, so Caroube de Chypre is on its way to the second-place finisher Raffaello Palandri.

We have a winner for the giveaway for J. Herbin 1670 Caroube de Chypre, thanks to the Random.org, and that is Nicola. Congratulations to Nicola, and thanks to everyone who entered. This ink comes from Pen Chalet. We’re giving away a Platinum pen next, so watch the blog for that, too, in the coming days.

Nicola, please use the Contact menu at the top of the page to send me your full name and mailing address.