Making The Weekend Fountain Pen Friendly

Giving the rotation a little exercise…

Do you have a weekend pen ritual? Mine includes giving the kids exercise and baths if needed. The Pelikan M215 ran out of ink before it could write a second line so it’s the perfect time for a cleaning along with five other pens I pulled out of rotation. Three will return to duty after inks are selected making a dozen ready for the paper tests ahead. Won’t that be a good way to begin the week?

Links For Your Perusal

Sunday should never be boring…

• The violin and the elephants
• How Siri became a 10-year-old autistic boy’s best friend
• Are you seeing red?
• 27 of the Most Beautiful Small Towns to Visit in Europe
• Montegrappa and DC Comics have joined forces
• Ed Jelley and Massdrop
• Premium pen survey with Pelikan prizes

 

 

Fountain Pen Inks That Celebrate Autumn Colors

Sometimes the inks in my rotation do a little ink dance in my daily journal. The steps consist of the ink name plus a doodle that shows the ink color to good advantage.

My most recent ink and pen duos were chosen at random and include a few favorites plus several inks that warranted testing in pens different from their last outings. None of those former couples were wedded but rather suffered ill-fated flings. Time to be a bit more successful at matchmaking.

To my surprise and without planning, my rotation took on the colors of autumn. I have no idea how that happened but the result is quite pleasing.

Autumn Inks

Pens in order from top to bottom:

• Pelikan M215, custom cursive italic
• Levenger True Writer, Masuyama stub
• Lamy Safari, custom fine cursive italic
• Levenger True Writer, Masuyama cursive italic
• Namiki Falcon (resin), Soft Fine
• Pilot Elite Socrates pocket pen, Fine
• Levenger True Writer, Fine
• Lamy AL-Star, Oblique Broad
• Lamy Vista, 1.1mm italic
• Lamy AL-Star, custom fine italic

Notes: Montblanc Racing Green has been discontinued and Noodler’s FPN Dumas Tulipe Noire was a limited edition release. Noodler’s #41 Brown is the original formulation – not the one currently available. The Pilot pocket pen was made in 1976 but all of the other pens are current models. The paper is Strathmore Windpower Sketch. It’s a bit toothy for fountain pens but excellent for swabs and doodles.

Inky Links and Other Treats

Need a little distraction? Some inky links should do the trick.

• 8 Pens with Alluring Style and Design from Journaling Arts
• Creating the Space for Journal Writing from Journal Addict
• The Artist’s Survival Kit from Keri Smith
• Whatever Artsy Stuff: Tangled Canvas Bag
• Heart Bottle Herbin plus Herbin Box from Pen and Co.
• How its Made – Fountain Pens
• Pelikan Souverän (deutsch) via Pendemonium
• The adorable Pingo from Anachroneironaut
• National Parks Infinite Photo via Amateur Economist
• Akkerman Ink here and scroll down here.
• If you thought ink was just for use in fountain pens…

Pelikan’s New Edelstein Ink

Pelikan has announced a new addition to its lineup called Edelstein Ink. In German edelstein means jewel or gemstone. No word on the properties but it is a premium line so it should be very good quality. Retail is expected to be around $20 for 50 ml.

The colors are called Topaz, Ruby, Onyx, Jade, Mandarin, Sapphire, and Aventurine. If you like jewel tones, this could be just the thing to dress up the fall season.

Pelikan’s standard inks are widely available so I expect the same will hold true for the new line. This should set Edelstein above the other premium inks that have struggled with limited distribution. Check with your favorite retailer for availability.

Pelikan Edelstein Ink in Sapphire

More at Nancy Olson, Ink.