What does an empty ink bottle look like? I watched in amazement in 2018 as people on my Instagram feed actually finished bottles of ink. The #emptyinkbottlechallenge seemed to me as crazy, admirable and impossible as running an ultramarathon. As of today, I have 166 full-size bottles of ink (excluding sample vials and duplicates), and … Continue reading 12 inks for 2019
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Magnificent seven: Black Friday edition
I swore to myself: no new pens before Christmas. But (predictably) I failed. The Black Friday discounts got the better of me. I'm undecided how I feel about this ultimately consumerist holiday, and what it means for the small retailers and brands that I try to support. But my actions speak louder than my words. … Continue reading Magnificent seven: Black Friday edition
A very special blue-black: “Randall” by Nick Stewart
I'm a sucker for blue-black inks. So when Nick Stewart offered me the chance to try a sample of his new ink, Randall (named after one of Nick's aquatic adventurer friends), I jumped at it. I don't claim to the mastery of ink and lettering that Nick has, but even I can see that Randall … Continue reading A very special blue-black: “Randall” by Nick Stewart
New arrivals: Sheaffer Legacy, Montblanc Red Fox, Galen Writing Box and more
It's been a truly wonderful week for new arrivals landing on my desk. Sheaffer Legacy Heritage I'll review this separately in due course, but I wanted to get some of my excitement out before I burst. I've always thought that Sheaffer's inlaid nibs were pretty, but never picked one up. I'm kicking myself now. The … Continue reading New arrivals: Sheaffer Legacy, Montblanc Red Fox, Galen Writing Box and more
Pure Pens inks: Celtic colours
In the UK we're blessed with a number of wonderful stationery shops. Pure Pens, based in Wales, is one of them. They're a fixture at pen shows and a stockist of unusual Noodler's inks (I bought my bottle of Tianenmen from them back at the LWES). And, like me, they're Pelikan addicts. Pure Pens has … Continue reading Pure Pens inks: Celtic colours
Blackstone Sydney Harbour Blue
I'm a terrible ink reviewer. There, I've said it. Because ink reviewing is all about two things: consistent methodology and fabulous photography. I can't be bothered with the first, and I lack the skill for the second. What I have plenty of is opinions (not so good) and experience (more useful). I've used about 100 … Continue reading Blackstone Sydney Harbour Blue
The UKFP 2017 awards
The end of a year is a great time to reflect. I thought it would be fun to give some playful awards based on my experiences of a LOT of money spent in 2017. The Inky Fingers award for best ink brand goes to... Birmingham I have 10 bottles of Birmingham inks and I turn … Continue reading The UKFP 2017 awards
To boldly go: Colorverse Inks
I like discovering new brands, particularly ones that approach well-trodden ground from a whole new angle. Colorverse is a Korean ink manufacturer that I encountered on Instagram a couple of weeks ago. I immediately got in touch to ask for some review samples. What caught my eye? Space theme — done thoroughly All of Colorverse's … Continue reading To boldly go: Colorverse Inks
The 10-ink challenge: set one
For a pen geek like me, few things are as agonising as choosing between inks. Picking one means consigning a dozen others to the shelf for weeks. I can prevaricate for a ludicrous amount of time choosing inks. So I thought it would be a good test of my decisiveness to pick 10 inks from … Continue reading The 10-ink challenge: set one
Currently inked: November 2017
I've got 11 inked pens. Right now, that's feeling like an achievement. With new pens and new inks to try, I'm fighting to keep to a manageable number. But I'm pretty happy with this loadout. Not quite my usual loadout. Where's the turquoise?! 1: Visconti Homo Sapiens — Aurora Black I admit, I'm struggling to … Continue reading Currently inked: November 2017
