Fountain Pen Favorites for July 2016

Laura4 Comments

calendar image

This July was not my favorite month ever, in either fountain pens or real life. In fact, if this July were a movie, it would get one star from me. But even the worst movies have highlights (or else how could anyone make a trailer?). So let’s focus on the positives and put together a trailer for July 2016.

1. Montblanc Shakespeare Ink. The leading man. I love this ink. Of course I was primed to love it: a red ink, from Montblanc, named after Shakespeare. Hearing that this ink existed was, for me, like hearing Matt Damon was making a new Jason Bourne movie. I’m in. And Montblanc Shakespeare ink did not disappoint.

2. KWZ Thief’s Red Ink. I love this one, too. Partially because of its great red color, and partially because of its name. And sure: partially because it’s not blue. But because our movie has some thought-provoking moments, too, I’ll mention that KWZ Thief’s Red also reminded me not to overlook inks that don’t happen to have a great name.

3. Two Empty Ink Bottles. Emptied, really. There was so little ink left in Pelikan Edelstein Topaz or in J. Herbin Bleu Nuit that I’ve transferred what little remains to sample vials. I’ll miss having these two inks around. But a blue ink I like has the approximate life expectancy of anyone in the Jason Bourne movie series not named Jason Bourne.

Pelikan M600 Green o’ Green with KWZ Rotten Green

Laura4 Comments

Pelikan M600 Green o' Green with KWZ Rotten Green

Pelikan M600 Green o’ Green with extra-fine nib. This is basically a disguised Ink of Day post about KWZ Rotten Green, an ink that I’ve been enjoying a lot. It’s an attractive dark green, but I mean very dark and with very little shading.

Rotten Green seems excellent for work, because it slides through as an almost-black. But it is green, so between this and KWZ Thief’s Red, it’s like Christmas in July here. I guess a Bad Santa kind of Christmas, what with the rotten thieving going on.

Rotten Green is a very wet ink, so an extra-fine nib is a good match.

KWZ Rotten Green ink writing sample

And here’s the pen, because it is Pen of the Day, after all. I’ve always liked this unusual resin.

Pelikan M600 Green o' Green fountain pen closeup

Red Wednesday

Laura7 Comments

KWZ Thief's Red ink

Better than a Red Wedding, am I right?

I’ve been using a new-to-me red ink recently, because I want to review it. And I don’t mean Montblanc Shakespeare, but a second red ink. Which then prompted me to ink a third red, for comparison. And I have a J. Herbin “Rouge” going as well. So, four reds.

Apparently red is the new blue for me.

I wonder if I could spin that into a t.v. series? Perhaps a lucrative sponsorship opportunity? Or the chance to meet Bono. Any of those appeals. So, you know, call me.

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House Rules: Ethics

Laura8 Comments

Caran d'Ache Chromatics ink bottle boxes

Okay I’ve gone all Scarlett O’Hara, wishing I could flounce out of an internet fountain pen forum because of a thread where a number of people were implying, if not stating outright, that fountain pen and ink reviews are necessarily biased, useless and unethical.

So let me just make a statement here about what I believe, and how I behave.

I use things and talk about them on the blog. Sometimes I do a formal review. Sometimes I do less formal pieces.

Here’s how that works.

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Ink Snippet: Montblanc William Shakespeare Velvet Red

Laura13 Comments

Montblanc William Shakesepare Velvet Red ink and bottle

My Montblanc William Shakespeare Velvet Red ink just arrived, which makes for a happy Thursday at Fountain Pen Follies.

I could be all laid back and cool, and pretend I haven’t been checking the front porch since Monday for my order from the lovely people at Pen Boutique. But that would be a lie. And anyway, no one would believe me.

Here are some first impressions and some quick photos.

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Ink Review: Diamine Gerbera

Laura5 Comments

Diamine Gerbera writing samples

Diamine Gerbera. This is an interesting and attractive orange ink from Diamine’s Flower Set, which looked so different in the two pens I tested it in that I am tempted to dramatically subhead this review A Tale of Two Pens.

Admittedly Diamine Gerbera isn’t really “it was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” It’s too nice an ink for that. And I’m from the Midwestern US, which is like being from Canada; we’re not that dramatic

But A Tale of Two Cities is slightly more exciting than the average ink review, what with the Reign of Terror going on, tumbrils rolling through the cobbled streets of Paris, and heads rolling into baskets. Heck, that’s the sort of atmosphere and tone that would liven up any ink discussion.

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Ink Snippet: Pelikan Edelstein Topaz

Laura4 Comments

Pelikan Edelstein Topaz bottle

I am gingerly stepping back into the blue pool with Pelikan Edelstein Topaz. This ink is an old favorite of mine. It’s a nicely flowing, nicely lubricated ink, with great shading and a lovely color. And it cleans up easily.

I’m almost at the end of the bottle, which brings up the usual mixed feelings. It’s always nice to use up a bottle. But I’ll miss Topaz until I replace it, which won’t be until I’ve worked down my stock of blue inks some more.

Aurora Optima 360 Monviso

We’re going out on a high note, however. Pelikan Edelstein Topaz makes a very nice match for the Aurora Optima Monviso. The ink flows so smoothly that the Aurora stub nib writes like a dream. And in turn, the stub nib’s line variation makes the most of Topaz’s color and shading.

Pelikan Edelstein Topaz writing sample

This was my second bottle of Topaz. I have given friends samples, and recommended it, and used it in a Mystery Ink round. I still recommend it. And I’m enjoying it while it lasts. It is perfect for summer.

Pelikan Edelstein Topaz nearly empty bottle