Still Around
It’s been ten years since my last post. In that time I've experienced a few of ups and downs. While I still have all my fountain pens, I don’t buy any more. I still buy ink and paper, but mostly I buy art supplies.
Fountain Pens / Ink / Paper / Pen Photography / Art
It’s been ten years since my last post. In that time I've experienced a few of ups and downs. While I still have all my fountain pens, I don’t buy any more. I still buy ink and paper, but mostly I buy art supplies.
Posted by Laurel at 7:00 am 1 comments
Well, it's been a few months, so here's a look at what I've been busy with:
Posted by Laurel at 10:08 pm 7 comments
A couple of weeks ago I attended a 2-hour bookbinding class. It was rushed, slightly stressful, and showed a very quick-n-dirty approach. No written instructions, no precise cutting or time to take care, just 18 people frantically trying to keep up with a harried instructor who had a plane to catch. At the end of it, though, I had an intriguing little book, and had learnt (more or less) how to do a multiple-needle coptic bookbinding stitch.
I went home with another bookbinding kit in my bag, and googled around for some instructions I could work along to (the multiple-needle coptic / chain stitch *is* complicated at first). This time I carefully cut everything with unerring accuracy, worked at my own pace, and found the whole process throughly enjoyable.
I made some mistakes, and will be re-stitching the book with different thread, but for my second attempt at making a book from scratch, I was very pleased. I had decided to make a fabric-covered book, as I have some taupe suede which makes very pretty fountain pen cases, so I figured a matching book would be nice. I also stitched on some little floral motifs using contrasting thread for some added interest.
The cover:
Posted by Laurel at 12:05 pm 9 comments
Labels: Artistic Pursuits, Bookbinding
Last week I picked up a nice set of 8 Rotring Isograph technical drawing pens on eBay. The last time I saw a set in an art store it was near $300, but happily I paid only a third of that.
Because I used to be a Cartographer, technical pens aren't new to me. I have dozens... my own from when I was in college, and also most of my mother's (she used to be a Geographical Draughtsperson). I also have a stash of Rotring tungsten carbide points in many sizes, right down to 0.13mm. I don't like to take my Rotring Rapidograph or Isograph pens to any of my art classes in case they get lost or damaged, but I have a sweet set of old Rotring Variant pens from the 60s or early 70s which are ideal to take along.
I'm looking forward to putting my new Isographs to use on some ATCs this weekend. :)
Posted by Laurel at 10:45 pm 1 comments
Labels: Artistic Pursuits, ATC, Rotring
Two of the four new Sailor LE inks arrived in my mailbox today - Waka-Uguisu and Sakura Mori. You can see below how Waka-Uguisu compares to a couple of other yellow-green inks in my collection (click to enlarge):As you can see, Sakura Mori showed some interesting orange-pink colour separation when I brushed the samples out onto 160gsm CP watercolour paper. The ink does not show this much of a duo finish in a pen, but it is slightly noticeable. Dropping the ink onto a paper towel will instantly show this effect as the dyes absorb at different rates.
I have inked up my Sailor 'Snow White' LE with this ink, and I must say that they make a very pretty pair. :)
(I believe Uguisu translates to "olive green", and is often associated with the colour of the Japanese bush warbler or nightingale.)
Posted by Laurel at 8:55 pm 3 comments
I tried my hand at a "Artist Trading Card" last night. I was given a pack a little while ago, and decided to see what they were all about. These two sites will give you a pretty good idea:
Posted by Laurel at 3:55 pm 3 comments
Labels: Artistic Pursuits, ATC
I have some nice pens in the rotation this month. There are the regulars, and then some which I feel I haven't used in ages.
Regular selections:Lamy Lady, 0.4 Cursive Italic Nakaya Piccolo, Elastic SEF Nakaya Piccolo, EF Pelikan M640, XXXF | Changing selections:Aurora Optima Mini, XF Stub Esterbrook J, 2550 EF Montegrappa Micra, XXXF Pilot Capless Décimo, F Sailor Smoke Green, EF |
Posted by Laurel at 10:20 pm 6 comments
Labels: Monthly Pens
Just a quick note to announce a new paper review which I have posted at the Fountain Pen Network!
You can read it here: Il Papiro of Italy - Luxury Writing Paper and Envelopes.
Posted by Laurel at 10:05 pm 0 comments
This afternoon I spent some time tidying up pens which had been inked for far too long. After much soaking and gentle cleaning, the first batch of pens are drying nicely:
Posted by Laurel at 3:25 pm 0 comments
Well, after a dry spell ink-wise, I have two nice Sailor Spring Limited Edition inks on their way to me:
Posted by Laurel at 1:50 pm 1 comments