G’bye 2013 – Hello 2014

Pens, inks and paper make a terrific hobby, but you already know that. Writing about them is my way of sharing the fun of using these tools. You make it worth the effort and for that I thank you.

Some names and numbers…

• Growth over 2012 – 145%
• Who visited – Readers from 165 countries
• Most read post from 2013 – Moleskine Paper Meets Ink And It Ain’t Pretty
• Most read watercolor post from 2013 – A Doodle Kit Because … Fun!
• Most popular image – My Doodle Kit
• Most read post of all time – The Rhodia Webnotebook vs Moleskine Journal Showdown
• Most comments – Beth Treadway, justdaveyb, La Plume Etoile,  kp
• Top referrers – penaddict.com, fieldnotesbrand.com, wellappointeddesk.com, rhodiadrive.com
• Top clicks – leighreyes.com, fountainpennetwork.com, fpgeeks.com, jetpens.com
• Product contributors – Jet Pens, Luxury Brands, Noodler’s Ink, Stillman & Birn, Paper for Fountain Pens, Paperblanks, Jackson’s Art Supplies, Sheaffer, and friends who sent gifts that clamored for recognition and review.

Thank you for the generous donations that helped keep Inkophile going last fall. My hobby has become a financial challenge. Really. Who wouldn’t want the newest colors of ink and several pricey pens every year? Sometimes retailers or manufacturers offer their newest creations or items they want to move off the shelf for review and that’s very much appreciated. When that doesn’t happen, I would like to purchase new items. Sponsorships and other sources of funding would allow me to do that. So moving forward, there will be some changes at Inkophile. Hopefully, that won’t estrange too many readers, but if you fancy an unsupported pen blog, there are plenty in the sidebar from which to choose.

As my interests have evolved, so has the content of my blog. Watercolor painting plays third fiddle to writing and using fountain pens, but painting in my journal has made it an integrated hobby. If nothing else, the addition of lively color to my wordy journal entries is a creative embellishment that is both intriguing and satisfying. More to come.

This is my favorite doodle of the year. It started as two comma shaped lines at the top and the rest was pure luck.

Gene Kelly in Rose Ink

May your new year be filled with joyful dancing and colorful friends. Hello 2014!