From Tea to Ink In Just Ten Links

Need a break from the holiday stress? Here ya go!

• 35 Most Creative Tea Infusers (h/t Chris Meisenzahl)
• OpenCulture.com: Sir Isaac Newton’s Papers & Annotated Principia Go Digital (h/t PeaceableWriter JD Eames)
• Writer’s Bloc: The Clairefontaine Clairing notebook has a revolutionary disc binding system.
• Fountain Pen Geeks: Thanks to the Waterproof Notebook I Can Take Notes While Scuba Diving
• Brain Pickings: Edward Gorey’s Letters(h/t Lady Dandelion)
• Mattias Adolfsson: A night at the opera (Great use of a fountain pen.)
• Gentian puts walnut ink to good use.
• Book Of Joe: Oxymoron List
• Writer’s Bloc: What is fountain pen friendly paper?
• Just Putzing Around The Kitchen: Frozen Hot Chocolate (h/t Oops. Forgot where I saw this one first.)

Platinum Mix Free, The Perfect Custom Ink

Finding the perfect ink just got a whole lot easier with the release of Platinum’s Mix Free set. Make a simple blend of two colors or go all mad scientist and whip up a complex brew with this chemistry set for inkophiles.

Knowing my penchant for ink, samples arrived two days ago, a gift from The Pear Tree Pen Company. Nine colors, reducer fluid, empty vials, syringe, plus an empty ink bottle to house my signature ink is a lot to review so this product’s tale will get told in stages.

One major caveat before you view my images. The color reproduction is not as accurate as it should be. The ink’s real colors are clear and lively if not vivid. Gentian’s images show that well. Even the image from Platinum in which the bottles are pictured is more true for the base colors than mine. On my monitor the Platinum color chart is less accurate but you would be mixing those colors to your specifications anyway.

Bowing to Gentian for color representation, what remains is how well these inks stand up to use. While each ink is slightly different in performance, none should disappoint unless you have a pen with special needs. Flow and lubrication are average so a very dry writer may not be a great match. In this respect I found Mix Free to be similar to other Platinum inks.

There was no bleed-through or show-through on either Rhodia or Clairefontaine paper. However, there was feathering on Moleskine and to a lesser degree on cheap paper and envelopes. Coverage is good with some degree of shading but no outlining. The images tell the tale.

Except for the samples written with a True Writer, all other writing was done with a dip pen. The Brause has become a particular favorite and will most likely find its way into future reviews.

Can’t wait to create new colors? Check out the Platinum Mix Free Ink Recipes at FPN. AltecGreen jumped right in with a huge selection. There are even some images of what the reducer/dilution fluid can do. Just the right stuff for an inkophile.

Platinum Mix Free Ink Samples

Platinum Mix Free Ink Written Sample

Platinum Mix Free Ink Aurora Blue Sample

Platinum Mix Free Ink Aqua Blue Sample

Platinum Mix Free Ink Aurora Blue Water Test

Platinum Mix Free Ink Aqua Blue/Silky Purple Fusion

Platinum Mix Free Ink Color Circle

Can You Link Tea To Haiku To Moleskine?

This list of links is a real potpourri from food to haiku to Moleskine art. The last link is to a poll about cursive so do make your vote count.

• Many suffer from the incurable disease of writing – maharg
• 429 ‘skines by Ziza (I love his use of color.)
• Haiku of the Week
• The June Carnival of Pen, Pencil and Paper Hosted by Note Book, Esq.
• Provençal Vegetable Soup or Soupe au Pistou (Basil in summer? Yum!)
• Blue Moon Tea (This is my U.S. source for British tea.)
• UnCollege
• Loose Sheets of Paper from WritersBloc
• Christian: Curtains for cursive? (Inkophile was the first voter!)

Links to Artists Who Put Pens to Good Use

Need a mid-week boost? Mostly pen use related links this time but a few other tidbits as well.

• Notebook Loves Pen has some beautiful and artistic journals here, here and here.
• Leigh Reyes – Ink ménage à trois
• Javi Alfonzo – Calligraphy Collaboration
• Mia and the Calla Lilies
• Writer’s Bloc has Clairefontaine French Ruled Notebooks (my fave for practicing calligraphy)
• Platinum Mix Free Ink will land in the U.S. soon.
• Have you met Quora?
• The Pen Addict has a new gig.
• Are you a fan of fountain pen artist Mattias Adolfsson?

Links to Brighten a Winter Weekend

There is a mishmash here but definitely themed for the coffee drinking writer…

• Exaclair catalog for 2011
• Twitter-Enabled Coffee Pot
• Moleskine Meets Pac-Man
• Steampunk Pen
• Noodler’s Ink 2011 artist prize
• Pocket Blonde hosts the January Carnival of Pen, Pencil and Paper
• LaPlumaFuente: a Pilot fountain pen and a 1,5mm Pen
  Kalligrafiefüllhalter
• THEREALQUILLSKILL: Rhythmic Calligraphy
• LaPlumaFuente: Wing Nibs – Montblanc fountain pen

Inkophile’s Favorites for 2010

Some new, some old, here are a few of my favorite things…

• Rohrer & Klingner Ink – Two colors have been in my cabinet for years so this was not a brand new find. However, when Pear Tree Pens began to offer it this year, I started to expand my collection and am happy to report R&K has earned several places in my regular rotation. Solferino, Verdigris, Alt-Goldgrün, and Magenta are my current favorites but Morinda and Blau Permanent are not far behind. The palette is a well-round offering with something for every need. At $12.50 for 50ml the cost is in my acceptable range especially considering the quality.
• Iroshizuku remains the ink that tops my guilty pleasures list. For color and performance this one is hard to beat. Ku-jaku joined my collection this year and instantly won a place on my favorites list displacing several turquoise and aqua inks.
• J. Herbin Ink continues to be my mainstay. There isn’t a dud in the bunch plus they are exceptionally easy to clean from a pen. Lie de Thé is my favorite and most-used brown with Poussière de Lune in my rotation nearly as often.
• A sample of the Rhodia dotPad (courtesy of Karen at Exaclair) quickly earned a place in my paper arsenal along with anything from G. Lalo now that I’ve tried various weave samples from Jean Elie at Pen and Co.
• For calligraphy or flex nib practice, Clairefontaine French-ruled paper rules here. Thick, juicy ink lines dry slowly but it is definitely worth the wait.
• This was a lean year for me when it comes to new pens but a Noodler’s Fountain Pen was a nice addition to my collection. I am fond of ebonite so that added to its appeal.
• Courtesy of the generous Peggy Love (who also insured I have a lifetime supply of Apica Journals), I got my hands on a trio of Levenger True Writer Rollerballs with Fiber Tip refills. They won’t replace my fountain pens but they certainly are convenient and very easy on my hand. These pens are useful for writing situations that include frequent stops and starts since they do not have to be capped as quickly as a fountain pen. I have enjoyed filling pages with doodles and even managed a bit of line variation by playing with the angle at which the nib contacts the paper. A girl’s gotta have fun, you know?
• An old favorite has taken up residence in the number one position in my rotation and it isn’t a fountain pen. Shocked? Well, sometimes you’ve just got to go with what’s convenient and a mechanical pencil is hard to beat. No uncapping, no flow issues, no muss, no fuss. While I only use it for notes to myself, that is what I write most often so why not use the best tool for the job? Besides anything that works on a Post-It gets high marks from me. After trying several mechanical pencils, I’ve concluded that my old Autopoint Jumbo All-American Pencil, with a 0.9mm HB lead, is just right. Because the wide lead does not dig into paper, it erases easily. Unlike my other MPs, the lead has never broken. Not once! While that is in part attributable to the chunky lead, it is also a result of the design of the pencil. Years ago I bought the ivory and the red. The former blends in while the latter stands out. Both are winners in my book.

 

Inkophile's Favorite Products for 2010

 

So that’s my list of new or rediscovered items for 2010. Unlike in years past my regular rotation remained the same led by a Sailor Sapporo, a 1911 and a couple of Pilot Pocket Pens. The Pilot 742FA and Montblanc 220 OB are off for repair so we shall see how they work out on their return in January. There is one Lamy Safari with a custom cursive italic nib that is always inked with Montblanc Racing Green. It remains my #1 writer though I wish the nib had a snazzier body. Two Namiki Falcons with soft fine nibs are always close at hand and a Levenger True Writer is usually inked as well. That makes my core rotation total seven pens, give or take a True Writer or two.

Inks come and go but I am consistently pleased with Waterman Blue Black in my vintage pens especially those with flexible nibs. At the price point and with its easy availability, WBBk is an excellent match for pens that go through a volume of ink. It is also a good one to include with a gift pen. It won’t cause damage and it writes well from any nib. If the recipient loves it, a new bottle can readily be found.

Rhodia, Clairefontaine, Quo Vadis Habana, and Apica continue to be my favorite brands of paper. Triomphe and G. Lalo are excellent stationery though often I use a lined Rhodia pad for casual letters. For variety I have a few pads of Japanese paper that are lovely with even the roughest nibs. Lastly my stock of the long discontinued Exacompta Black Block is waning so I don’t use it as often as I would like though it has a softness that suits me perfectly. If you run across this one, do let me know. I would love to add a few tablets to my reserves.

So that’s my list of favorite things. Rumor has it that Santa just might have on his sleigh one of the new Noodler’s flex nib pens with a bottle of Noodler’s Black Swan in Australian Roses. Yeah, I know. That’s a mouthful but can you picture that pair? The demonstrator (clear) model with plum ink should be lovely. Hopefully, it gets delivered to the right home. I don’t think any of my neighbors would appreciate this dynamic duo but I could be mistaken…maybe…

A Few October Links

More reading…

• Writer’s Bloc: Environmentally Friendly Writing Tools
• Writer’s Bloc: Should Children Learn Cursive Handwriting?
• Bookseller.com: Faber unveils digital alliance
• Calligraphy DVD by Caliken
• Leigh Reyes: Stub and Music Nibs
• Got a blog? Make it pay with Powells.com Partner Program
• From JournalingArts.com: Gigante Embossed Leather Journal
• Fountain pen links from Amateur Economist
• For the watercolor journalist: Gentian Discovers the Pentalic Aqua Journal
• Julie at the Whatever blog has found a new ink called Wancher Original Inks

Namiki Falcon Meets Diamine Ink

Namiki Falcon nibs come up often in pen discussions so here is a closer look at one of my favorite pens. The pen works well with all of my inks so this is intended as no slight to other ink makers. It just worked out that both Falcons have Diamine in them.

Namiki Falcon

There is a difference between my two Soft Fine (SF) nibs though the samples don’t reflect the sharpness of the finer of the two. It is only evident when writing with it. The nib doesn’t drag exactly but may catch on laid or textured paper. Otherwise it works well on my usual selection. In this case an Apica 6A10 Note Book shows what a Falcon can do. However, a less absorbent paper like Rhodia or Clairefontaine will produce a finer line. Triomphe is a great stationery for the Falcon as are all the Japanese papers I have tried.

Are you interested in line variation? The Falcon offers a little of that but only with effort. Though the nib will soften slightly with use, it is tiring to produce much variation unless I limit instances of it to the occasional stroke and my signature. However, it is fun for a flourish here and there.

As an all around pen, the light weight and comfortable balance make the resin model of the Namiki Falcon a very good choice for long sessions. If you are so inclined, it is really fun for doodling and drawing where a little variation makes for lively line work. Check out Mattias Adolfsson for some serious inspiration.

Namiki Falcon with Diamine Violet

All things considered the Namiki Falcon is a versatile pen that is always in my rotation and one I very much recommend though with one caveat. It may not be suited to heavy-handed users. The fine nib might get sprung with too much pressure.

Otherwise, it’s a terrific pen in the over $100 category. Used ones can be found for less but may not be as satisfactory if the former owner worked it too hard. As in everything purchased used, “you pays your money and you takes your chances.” If you prefer new pens, Oscar Braun Pens carries both the acrylic and the metal versions. Stateside, that’s the place to start.

Rohrer & Klingner Verdura

Bright, true green is one of my happy colors. Orange ranks close behind but that’s another story. On a dull or boring or difficult day, either color will produce a respite that is far more healthful than any vice should be. Yesterday I needed a jolt and popped the top on Rohrer & Klingner Verdura, a sample from Ryan at Pear Tree Pens.

Rohrer & Klingner Verdura Ink

Verdura is a nicely balanced green though slightly more blue than yellow. It isn’t exactly emerald but close. Waterman Green and Iroshizuku Shin-Ryoku have more blue while J. Herbin Lierre Sauvage and Diamine Kelly Green are decidedly more yellow.

Though it may not be as evident in my scan as it is in the real sample, there is a lot of shading with the Pilot Elite on Clairefontaine brushed vellum journal paper. The drying time was faster than I expected though admittedly the pen is a somewhat dry-writer. In fact it was nearly instantaneous except for dots where slightly more ink was deposited.

Verdura is not highly lubricating though the flow is fine. It is more similar to J. Herbin inks than Iroshizuku. On 24# printer paper with the Elite, it wrote a bit dry but exhibited no feathering. Only under magnification were a few instances of slightly rough outlines visible.

If you love Iroshizuku inks, Verdura might be disappointing since it lacks the flow and lubrication associated with Iroshizuku and the color is quite similar to Shin-Ryoku. But if that high priced ink isn’t your cuppa, Verdura will do nicely for a lively color that will fit your green needs from St. Patrick’s Day doodles to Christmas card signatures and all the summer grass in between.

If you are a fan of J. Herbin or Diamine, Verdura should work well for you. Although I haven’t seen all of the Diamine green inks, online swatches of Ultra Green look similar to Verdura. None of their other inks come close. Herbin does not offer a blue-based green like Verdura. However, if you love Lierre Sauvage, Verdura may not be different enough to become an instant, must-have addition to your collection.  But do consider it as your next green ink purchase for a subtle, bluish change of pace.

While the Rohrer & Klingner no-frills bottle does not offer a well or insert, it is tall with a wide mouth and suitable for the chunkiest of pens. At around $12 per 50 ml bottle, this brand fits well within the acceptable price range for most fountain pen users.

With the quality and varied range of colors, Rohrer & Klingner is certainly worth adding to your list. Hit up Ryan for samples if you are not yet convinced. That sure sold me.

More at Without Ink.

Inkophile Is Two Years Old!

Yes, this week Inkophile rolled into its third year. It’s been a fun ride and I am grateful for those who have returned from time to time to read about my inky adventures.

Last year An Inkophile’s Blog was slanted towards reviews thanks mostly to the generosity of Karen Doherty of Exaclair. Not that there weren’t reviews of other products but Karen gave me the opportunity to try all of the J. Herbin inks. In addition Ryan of Pear Tree Pens sent a number of Rohrer & Klingner samples all of which turned out to be worthy of recommendation. Rumor has it some Diamine ink will be headed this way in the coming months and there are a couple of samples of Sailor on my desk that deserve some remarks. So there are lots of inky posts headed your way.

Waiting for the spotlight are a variety of paper products including items from Clairefontaine, Quattro, Myndology, teNeues, Daycraft, and four G.Lalo pads from Jean Elie at Pen and Co. Paper reviews take the longest time while I test a variety of inks and pens but a few should be completed soon.

Fountain pens certainly rank first in my arsenal but there are other writing instruments worthy of inclusion in paper tests. To help things along Pentel sent a couple of pens and I’ve picked up a few others for variety. Karen sent some Brause dip nibs that deserve a post though for now they are getting more attention as convenient ink testers than true writing tools.

It may seem like there is a constant turnover here and indeed there are often new items to test. As certain as there will be new things to try each month, you can count on my discovering new favorites or even rediscovering old ones.  So look for more posts about Inkophile Raves and Faves.

Lastly watch for more links to relevant articles and websites along with the occasional Inkophile post about writing, doodling, and drawing. After all isn’t that what ink, paper, and pens are all about?

Ink and Pens for an Inkophile

Pictured are bottles of Rohrer & Klingner Solferino, J. Herbin Vert Olive, and Iroshizuku Ku-Jaku, pads of G. Lalo and Rhodia paper, a 1970′s Montblanc 220 fountain pen with an OB nib, an Ebonite Dipless Dip Pen from AllWriteNow.com, and a pen wrap from HisNibs.com.