Pelikan Edelstein Jade
INK SWAB: 184/365 – Pelikan Edelstein Jade
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INK REVIEW: Diamine Blue Velvet
Blue Velvet is part of the Anniversary Collection from Diamine to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the brand. 150 years! The collection is comprised of eight different inks in these fancy wedge-shaped bottles.
I’m just going to put it right out there – I LOVE Diamine Blue Velvet. Big love.
Letting the pictures do the talking here . . .
Bottom Line – amazing color, some shading, great saturation, flow is excellent from the Pilot Elite I tested with (more on that pen another day). Big love. Big honkin’ love.
INK SWAB: 183/365 – Pilot Iroshizuku Ajisai
Pilot Iroshizuku Ajisai
As time goes on, I’m becoming more a fan of blue inks. I used to think they were boring, but now I am seeing the differences in all of the fantastic blue inks out there. Horizons are broadening!
Are you a fan of blue inks? Which is your most favorite?
INK SWAB: 182/365 – Private Reserve Ebony Purple
Another Private Reserve ink for today. This time, Ebony Purple. I love the deep dark richness of it. Goulet Pens included this ink in their January Ink Drop. Thinking about picking up a bottle of this one. So many purple inks, so little time.
Will It Write?
As I mentioned yesterday, it’s been a busy season. Between work, travel, birthday celebrations, more travel, and general busy-ness, I’ve not had much time to tend to my fountain pens.
In fact, everything you see above has sat unused for at least two weeks. I thought it would be a great time conduct a small experiment: Will it Write?
Here’s where things ended up . . .
J Herbin Rollerball – after a slow start, it started writing wonderfully
Jinhao Dragon Eyes (I have no idea what the real name of this pen is) – started right up! Want to get one of these for yourself? Amazon has them for under $15 right now.
Nakaya – this was my birthday pen from Mr. Pentulant this year. It’s gorgeous, but I’m having trouble with the flow and it’s going to have to go back. Ugg. More on this another day, but for today – it didn’t write – not even a little. Disappointing, but I’m sure it will get fixed up and be perfect.
Parker Duofold Demi – started right up!
Montblanc Solitaire – perfect!
Franklin-Christoph Model 20 – I really thought this big wide music nib would have dried out over the two weeks that I didn’t use it, but – no! It wrote like a champ! So happy about this.
Pilot Elite – Gah, I love this pen. I’ll review it soon. Until then, go buy one for yourself. This one started right up, too.
Montblanc Boheme Large Edition – I received this pen as a gift from Mr. Pentulant last Christmas. It didn’t write at all after having sat for two weeks. I’m not surprised, there is clearly an issue with nib – and perhaps with the twisty mechanism. I’m going to need to find someone to have a look at it. Ug.
Lamy Safari – no surprise, it started writing the instant it was touched to the paper.
TWSBI Mini (Rose Gold) – I was having trouble with this pen before it sat. It’s no surprise that those issues didn’t fix themselves while sitting in the pen tray. I think the issue is baby’s bottom and I have an urge to try to fix it myself. Will you posted on how that turns out!
Jinhao 159 – review coming soon – it started right up! A happy surprise. (I got this one from Goulet Pens.) It comes in black, orange, and yellow. The yellow is on sale as of this writing.
Monteverde Artista – one of two pens that kinda sorta wrote after having sat for the two weeks. I kept feeling like it would start writing well “any second now,” but that just didn’t happen.
Montblanc Solitaire Geometric – Another pen I’d been having a little trouble with before my break. It started right up, but the hard starts on some letters remains an issue. I’m going to need to take this one back to the MB Boutique for a look.
Finally, the TWSBI twins – red and green – they wrote wonderfully!
Overall, I’m pretty happy with how this went. The Nakaya is definitely the biggest disappointment – unfortunately, though, I wasn’t terribly surprised as I’d been having trouble with it.
Those Jinhao pens (the dragon and yellow) surprised me in the best way by starting right up.
I’m sure it’s not lost on anyone that some of the cheapest pens started up right away and some of the most expensive pens are an issue. I’ll let you draw your own conclusions from that.
I’m hoping life is at pleasant lull and I can get back to enjoying my pens. How is your summer so far? Busy, busy like mine? Relaxing and calm?
INK SWAB: 181/365 – Private Reserve Buttercup
Man, I love Private Reserve Buttercup. It’s very difficult to use for writing because it’s so darned hard to see on the page. But it’s really pretty. Here’s my review on it from 2013.
FOUND AROUND FRIDAY: The Late Edition
It’s a busy season – at work and life. I’ve fallen way behind on my blog reading – looks like Feedly is telling me that I have 289 unread posts.
Let’s catch up today, shall we?
WRITING INSTRUMENTS
- Ed Jelley wrote about affordable fountain pens for beginners. It’s a good list.
- From the Pen Cup told us about the very slick Lamy Studio.
- My Coffee Pot reviewed a couple of Parkers – a ballpoint and rollerball. Beautiful pens.
- Gourmet Pens showed off the Lamy Joy Calligraphy Set. Annnnd..this. I need it. Need.
- The Pen Addict demonstrated the Edison Menlo Pump Filler. He loves it. I don’t think it’s the pen for me.
INKS
- Do you like Vert Pre? I can’t decide.
- Georgeous Ink reviewed several Super 5 inks. I have samples, but haven’t had the opportunity to check them out in detail yet. Have you?
- Montblanc Blue Hour! Yes.
- Inkdependence liked Montblanc Pink – I’m a fan, too.
KICKSTARTER
- PenPad – not for me, you?
- Perfect for Bic Pens – you know, if you’re into those.
OTHER FUN STUFF
The Purl Bug is moving! When Mr. Pentulant moved to NY, he did it in just one (little) car. And when we moved to California, we only had the clothes on our back for awhile (what a story that is!). I’m craving minimalism lately.
That’s it – have a great week, everyone!
xo
INK SWAB: 180/365 – Rohrer & Klingner Smaragdgrun
R & K Smaragdgrun looks like a nice average green. I have to be honest – this is one of the very few ink swabs that I’ve posted this year that I have absolutely no memory of seeing, swabbing, or scanning.
Kinda makes me want to dig it up and ink it up!
INK SWAB: 179/365 – Sailor Kobe Kaigan Stone Gray #31
Sailor Kobe #31 – Kaigan Stone Gray
INK SWAB: 178/365 – Scribal Workshop Siren
Siren is one of the blue inks from the discontinued line of Scribal Workshop inks. I heard awhile back that they may return in a smaller way? Or maybe they already have? I’m not really up on the latest news.