Sunday, December 31, 2017

Sunday Reads: December 31. 2017

Sunday Reads


Stuff I Looked At Elsewhere

If you're doing any browsing and shopping, please do check out my sponsors in the side bar, because they help make all this possible. Some of these links are affiliate links, which provides me with a small commission but does not add any extra cost to your purchase. Some links are just referral links, but there is no obligation to purchase through any of these links. Your purchases through my links help support this blog and allows me to fulfill review requests. Either way, I appreciate your readership and your support so much, so thank you!
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Saturday, December 30, 2017

Magpie Syndrome: My Favorite Pens of 2017

Over the last two years, I have been trying to 'refine' my pen collection. It's not even a collection. I've been trying to pick and choose my favorites - swapping nibs and bodies and moving things around to create the perfect combination of pens for my taste. Doing summary posts like these also help me to decide what pens can be removed from my collection.

As I said last year, I have different reasons for selecting these, and I'll do my best to include a short snippet about each, and why I love that particular pen (it may be the same as last year, of course). Don't forget, these are MY favorite pens. Not the best pens on a budget, or pens with great value. I enjoy writing, I love practicing my handwriting, and I like shiny things. Here is my selection for this year:

Magpie Syndrome My Favorite Pens of 2017 4

Left to right:
* indicates a pen that was in My Favorite Pens last year.
*Classic Pens LB5 Midorigi + Nagahara Cross Point nib
Large and silly expensive, but I thoroughly enjoy the unique nib. It can be used for hand lettering and the line variation is outstanding! I also appreciate the craftsmanship and creativity of the nib.
*Classic Pens LB5 Kouseki + Nagahara King Eagle nib
It's large and silly expensive. I wouldn't enjoy it as much without such a unique nib, which is great for hand lettering and making ink look really great. I also appreciate the craftsmanship and creativity of the nib.
*Namiki Yukari Nightline Skyline + Medium nib
At this point, I discovered I love pens with raden. It's a solid pen because of a brass liner, it's easy to clean, and it feels great in hand. The medium nib is springy and wet, and I like the shape of the pen a lot. I also spend a lot of time rolling it around, enjoying the glitter. 
*Namiki Yukari Nightline Moonlight + Pilot Custom Heritage 912 FA nib
I acquired this one after the previous, and I was taken in by the deep black and glowing raden. It came with a medium nib, but my Pilot Custom Heritage 912 FA nib fit, and I love it even more - flex and a gorgeous pen all in one.
*Montblanc Meisterstück 146 90th Anniversary + Bespoke Music Nib
This was a gift from Stephen. It's not about the status or anything of the sort - I love the classic shape and the rose gold trim is perfect for me. The double broad oblique nib is stubby and it's so comfortable, which I used a lot last year. I still use it, but it's on a different pen. Now this nib is the Bespoke music nib. A killer combo.
*Omas Paragon Arco Celluloid (Vintage) + Triple broad nib
I acquired a BBB OMAS nib that obviously had to go on this pen. It's an insane, stubby, wide gusher and I absolutely love the writing experience. The material is beautiful, this one being a particularly stunning specimen, and I love the shape and size. 
Ryan Krusac Legend L14 Custom Pet Portrait + 1.1 mm stub nib
This is special to me for many reasons. First, it's a tribute pen to my cat Ellie (aka Dik-Dik). Ryan captured her essence perfectly on this pen. To say I love it is an understatement. This one holds a special place in my heart. I am so grateful to Ryan and Stephen for coming up with this one.
Nakaya Cigar The Milky Way + Soft medium elastic nib
Perhaps a little less practical and a little more pretty - the Nakaya Cigar in The Milky Way finish was one of the first pens I saw many years ago and fell in love with. I am fortunate I was able to acquire the exact model I wanted at Sakura Fountain Pen Gallery, with an elastic nib for springy fun.
*Pelikan Souverän M1005 Clear + Triple broad Masuyama formal cursive italic nib
One of the first pens my dad gave to me - of course, I picked it and he paid for it, but still. It was also one of the first expensive pens I ever got, and I love how it feels, writes, and how ink looks in it. The formal cursive italic nib is perfection, created just for my hand by Mike Masuyama.
Pelikan Souverän M1000 Sunrise + Double-broad nib
Shiny. Juicy broad nib. Enough said. There's just no justifying some things.
Pelikan Souverän M1000 Sunlight + Double-broad nib
Shiny. Juicy broad nib. Enough said. As I said, there's just no justifying some things. 
*Ken Cavers Cigar Green Swirl + Franklin-Christoph Music nib
This is the first custom pen I ever purchased, from a pen maker in the city I grew up in - Winnipeg, Manitoba. Ken Cavers made this gorgeous pen with a matching pen rest (not pictured). It's simple but solid, comfortable, and it takes #6 nibs so I usually eyedropper it. Last year I had it paired up with a fude nib but this year it's been sitting with the FC music nib - a divine, affordable nib!
*Pelikan Souverän M400 White Tortoise + Double broad Mottishaw stub nib
A pen I bought years ago because I loved the tortoise barrel with the creamy white, and I had the nib ground to a stub by John Mottishaw (nibs.com). Great line variation! It's small and comfortable, the nib is interchangeable, and the pen is easy to maintain. It will always be a keeper.
*Waterman 94 Steel Quartz + Ideal #5 music nib
This was a gift from a kindred spirit! My first music nib and the one that started it all. The pen isn't all that outstanding, but the music nib is wet, smooth, and flexible. It has wild line variation!

Magpie Syndrome My Favorite Pens of 2017 2
Magpie Syndrome My Favorite Pens of 2017 1

That's it for this year. I'm trying to only keep pens I'm madly in love with for whatever reason. They may be sentimental reasons, or Magpie Syndrome reasons.

What are your favorites?

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year! Thank you for a fine year of your support and readership - here's to many more years together!

Friday, December 29, 2017

Whiskers & Paws: December 2017 Edition

Whiskers & Paws December 2017 Edition 1
Whiskers & Paws December 2017 Edition 2
Whiskers & Paws December 2017 Edition 3
Whiskers & Paws December 2017 Edition 4
Whiskers & Paws December 2017 Edition 5
Whiskers & Paws December 2017 Edition 6
Whiskers & Paws December 2017 Edition 7
Whiskers & Paws December 2017 Edition 8
Whiskers & Paws December 2017 Edition 9

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Wordless Wednesday

December 27. 2017 - Wordless Wednesday 1
December 27. 2017 - Wordless Wednesday 2

Tuesday, December 26, 2017

Ink Shot Review: @Montblanc_World William Shakespeare Velvet Red @couronneducomte

This ink was all over the place - Montblanc seemed unable to supply it properly. I don't know what the deal was, but I was finally able to secure a bottle through La Couronne du Comte... only to finish up my review and find it's no longer available on their webshop. So, I present this review of a beautiful color but I silently curse Montblanc for making this one so weird to acquire.
Ink Shot Review @Montblanc_World William Shakespeare Velvet Red @couronneducomte 1
Ink Shot Review @Montblanc_World William Shakespeare Velvet Red @couronneducomte 2
Ink Shot Review @Montblanc_World William Shakespeare Velvet Red @couronneducomte 9

ABOUT

Ink Shot Review @Montblanc_World William Shakespeare Velvet Red @couronneducomte 6
Color: Red
Bottle: 35 ml
Price: ?
Where to buy: La Couronne du Comte (sold out!)
Ink Shot Review @Montblanc_World William Shakespeare Velvet Red @couronneducomte 3
Ink Shot Review @Montblanc_World William Shakespeare Velvet Red @couronneducomte 4
Ink Shot Review @Montblanc_World William Shakespeare Velvet Red @couronneducomte 7
Ink Shot Review @Montblanc_World William Shakespeare Velvet Red @couronneducomte 5
Ink Shot Review @Montblanc_World William Shakespeare Velvet Red @couronneducomte 8
Ink Shot Review @Montblanc_World William Shakespeare Velvet Red @couronneducomte 10
Ink Shot Review @Montblanc_World William Shakespeare Velvet Red @couronneducomte 11

PROS 

  • Shades well.
  • Beautiful deep red.
  • Bottle has a wide mouth that is easy to fill even larger pens from.
  • A pretty safe red ink.
  • Well behaved - no funny business with feathering or anything.
  • A great ink to use if you love Shakespeare, obviously!

CONS

  • Montblanc typically does funny things with supplying their special and limited edition inks. 
  • Not an inexpensive ink.
  • Red inks can stain or be difficult to clean out of finicky pens. I haven't had any issues, but I always leave a warning with red and purple inks, or super saturated inks.

OVERALL

It doesn't really matter what I think now, does it? Hee hee! Anyway, it's a really nice color. A deep, luscious red that reminds me of cake but it's not supposed to be about cake. Shades well, pretty well behaved, especially for being in the red category. If you find a bottle, I'd suggest you snap it up!






I received this item free of charge for the purposes of this review. I was not compensated monetarily for my review. Everything you've read here is my own opinion.

Monday, December 25, 2017

Serious Nibbage Italix Commodore's Credential

Thank you to Mr. Pen for sending this pen for review! Reviews, writing samples, and previous Serious Nibbage episodes can be found on the Fountain Pen Reviews page and Serious Nibbage page!

Sunday, December 24, 2017

Sunday Reads: December 24. 2017

Sunday Reads
Merry Christmas to you and yours!


Stuff I Looked At Elsewhere

If you're doing any browsing and shopping, please do check out my sponsors in the side bar, because they help make all this possible. Some of these links are affiliate links, which provides me with a small commission but does not add any extra cost to your purchase. Some links are just referral links, but there is no obligation to purchase through any of these links. Your purchases through my links help support this blog and allows me to fulfill review requests. Either way, I appreciate your readership and your support so much, so thank you!
Patreon

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Ink Shot Review: @RobertOsterInk Direct Sun @MilligramStore

Did you know Notemaker has changed their name to Milligram Store? Same great stuff, new name! Milligram sent over six Robert Oster inks for me to review and share with you here. Direct Sun!
Ink Shot Review @RobertOsterInk Direct Sun @MilligramStore 10
Ink Shot Review @RobertOsterInk Direct Sun @MilligramStore 8
Ink Shot Review @RobertOsterInk Direct Sun @MilligramStore 7

ABOUT

Ink Shot Review @RobertOsterInk Direct Sun @MilligramStore 3
Color: Orange/Red
Bottle: 50 ml
Price: $15.62 USD
Where to buy: Milligram

Ink Shot Review @RobertOsterInk Direct Sun @MilligramStore 9
Ink Shot Review @RobertOsterInk Direct Sun @MilligramStore 1
Ink Shot Review @RobertOsterInk Direct Sun @MilligramStore 4
Ink Shot Review @RobertOsterInk Direct Sun @MilligramStore 2
Ink Shot Review @RobertOsterInk Direct Sun @MilligramStore 6

PROS



  • Easy to fill from bottle.
  • A nice, deep orange with red tones.
  • Easy to clean.
  • Excellent for art work and hand lettering.
  • A really interesting color with great shading.
  • Looks so good in a clear pen!
  • The label on top of the cap of the bottle has the name of the ink printed on it, as well as a tiny ink swab so it's easy to spot in your ink drawer/cabinet.
  • Easy to store bottles.
  • Robert Oster is a really nice guy, so I feel happy to support his creations.


  • Ink Shot Review @RobertOsterInk Direct Sun @MilligramStore 5

    CONS

    • Oranges can need some extra attention because they are so saturated.

    OVERALL

    Direct Sun is an interesting name - it makes me think of a really bright sunset that is burning and you can't look at. And you shouldn't. A gorgeous color. 



    I received this item free of charge for the purposes of this review. I was not compensated monetarily for my review. Everything you've read here is my own opinion.

    Wednesday, December 20, 2017

    Wordless Wednesday

    December 20. 2017 - Wordless Wednesday

    Tuesday, December 19, 2017

    Ink Shot Review: Diamine Anniversary Lilac Night @AppelboomLaren

    Thanks to Appelboom for sending this set of ink!
    Ink Shot Review Diamine Anniversary Lilac Night @AppelboomLaren 1
    Ink Shot Review Diamine Anniversary Lilac Night @AppelboomLaren 8
    Ink Shot Review Diamine Anniversary Lilac Night @AppelboomLaren 11
    Swabbed at full saturation on the Col-o-ring Ink Testing Book

    ABOUT

    Ink Shot Review Diamine Anniversary Lilac Night @AppelboomLaren 5
    Color: Blue
    Bottle: 40 ml
    Price: €7.85
    Where to buy: Appelboom
    Appleboom Banner
    Discount code: 10% off with 'friend'
    Ink Shot Review Diamine Anniversary Lilac Night @AppelboomLaren 2
    Ink Shot Review Diamine Anniversary Lilac Night @AppelboomLaren 3
    Ink Shot Review Diamine Anniversary Lilac Night @AppelboomLaren 6
    Ink Shot Review Diamine Anniversary Lilac Night @AppelboomLaren 4
    Ink Shot Review Diamine Anniversary Lilac Night @AppelboomLaren 7

    PROS

    • Very legible. 
    • Work appropriate.
    • Pretty bottle!
    • Bottle is easy to fill from.
    • Easy to clean.
    • Shades well.
    • Looks best in the full pie of eight bottles!
    • Shows some water resistance.
    Ink Shot Review Diamine Anniversary Lilac Night @AppelboomLaren 9
    Ink Shot Review Diamine Anniversary Lilac Night @AppelboomLaren 10

      CONS

      • A lone pie shaped bottle looks sad and funny.
      • Kind of a meh color for me.

      OVERALL

      I left this color for last because it was the one color that didn't do much for me, aside from the Tudor Blue. I was expecting a softer, sweeter color than this dusky blue-purple. It's not that it's ugly, it's just not the kind of color I go nuts for.


      I received this item/these items free of charge for the purposes of this review. I was not compensated monetarily for my review. Everything you've read here is my own opinion.
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