I really need to do a catalog of my inks or something, because they are just a bunch of bottles in a cupboard. I have a vague idea of the ones I have, but since crossing the line of 40 bottles (which isn't that many, but I forget things easily), I am forgetting more and more. I use an ink rack full of tubes as my
working stock, to prevent contamination or spillage of a full bottle. And in some cases, it's easier to work from a tube than the bottle - like with J. Herbin bottles - they are lovely, but they're also
a pain.
But as I amassed more tubes in that rack, I had to lift each tube out to find the one I wanted and that would take awhile.
In swoops these tiny adorable little labels which I have now stuck on the tops of each tube to indicate what that tube is holding. Much better for picking through the entire rack now.
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| One half. |
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| The other half. |
Unfortunately, I need a second rack. (Note: I got a second rack. And a third.) Such a tragedy, isn't it? How do you guys keep your inks sorted and organized? Do you work straight out of the bottles?
wow! 40 looks like luxury to me, I have a bottle of black ink...no rack necessary LOL :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a good idea. Although I only have about 10 ink bottles, my ink sample inventory is getting a bit out of hand. I may have to come up with a numbering system instead of the full name because I don't think I can write that small! Plus, I really like the idea of using the small vials as your working stock.
ReplyDeleteI am definitely not as organized as you. I work straight out of bottles and since I rearrange my cabinets, now all inks are just turn of a body away. The only organization I did was the cataloging I blogged about awhile back.
ReplyDeleteoh my! i've not played with my new inks yet but that is a great plan... though on my ink rack with the samples i've gotten from the goulets, i've them grouped by color :) ya im slightly anal
ReplyDeleteBuahahha hey, organizing by color is pretty tidy!! I haven't done that because what happens when you have a purple-blue color? Does it go with the purples? Or the blues? Or the purple-blues? :|
ReplyDeleteit then depends on is it more purple or blue.... shrug i have a weird organization system going.. since i mostly ahve samples.. i need to buy a few vials so that i can do what you did... but i dont have nearly as many inks as you do.
ReplyDeleteOoooh you must do a post about your desk/ink set up!! All my bottles/samples/vials are in the cupboard of my desk (keep them out of the light) so they're all handy!
ReplyDeleteI know, I'm totally spoiled. Hehe. I have acquired 40 over several years - though most have been in the last year. It's hard to pass up good sales... I'm a sucker. Do you only like black inks?
ReplyDeleteDarn. I didn't even think of a numbering system that would correspond to a catalogue. That would be a great idea!! I think the small vials come in very handy... there have been times where I need to dump the ink back into the bottle and I prefer having a separate tube for that instead of putting it into the actual bottle - just in case!
ReplyDeleteBloggggg itttttt I love seeing other peoples's set ups hehe. Isellpens has these vials for $2 for 10 instead of $3!
ReplyDeleteyes, black is my main colour, they are sort of costly and I can never quite decide what colour I might want to try, green, sepia...sooo many :)
ReplyDeleteVery organised. I do a similar thing with my Noodler's ink bottles but I just write their ink number that I use in my database instead of the name.
ReplyDeleteThe ink are in a bamboo box, set on top of the cabinet. That is it. It is definitely not as extraordinary as your lab set up :p
ReplyDeleteThat is great storage! Mine are in ziploc baggies... hidden in a drawer :( *hangs in shame*
ReplyDeleteAnd sheesh, 40 bottles of ink is nothing! Granted, I have only one full bottle of ink -black LOL-, but I'm close to 70 bottles of nail polish. I know, my priorities are all screwed up.
LOL hey I used to do ziplocs too!! Then a box. Then I realized I couldn't find anything ever. You totally win with 70 bottles of nail polish though. Your nail polish trumps my ink!
ReplyDeleteAwesome, I think I'll have to start doing that. Clearly fitting "Noodler's Black Swan in Australian Roses" onto these tiny little labels is a challenge!!
ReplyDeleteOrganised my Noodler's into a box just now. http://justdaveyb.com/2012/08/15/hit-the-fifty-noodlers-ink-bottles-and-organised/
ReplyDelete