Fountain Pens – Page 5 – Loose Endings Studio

Yesterday felt like all the gifting holidays wrapped into one when four packages arrived at the same time for me. Sure, I ordered everything but it was pure happenstance that it all showed up on the same day.

The first thing I opened was from Amazon. It contained chromatography paper strips which I ordered to use with my inks. I may have fallen down a rabbit hole looking at an artists Instagram (Nick Stewart – @quinkanandbleach) that explored fountain pen inks chromatography properties to create beautiful images. I was already interested in the thought of exploring fountain pen ink chromatography for fun (and science!) but using fountain pen ink for something other than writing is fascinating and another thing I would like to explore. These chromatography papers strips are the first step.

The second package I opened was an Etsy order I placed from Oblique Love Letters.

All the goodies from Oblique Love Letters – Dinky Dip Ink Holders, Glass Ink Well, Pen Rest and Ink

I came across this store looking for cute things to keep ink sample vials from falling over. I’d seen a few really adorable ones in some ink swatch videos and realizing that it might be a helpful thing to have when I start my own ink swatch cards I went looking for one. While I wouldn’t say these are actually cute I will say they were more of an added bonus. What I was really interested in and taken by was the glass ink well and the flower pen rest. The whole parcel was a treat to open and everything was wrapped just so. I was aware of the personalization the shop owner did from other reviews so finding the tag with my name wasn’t as much of a surprise. What was was the ink. I either didn’t read the description correctly or it was an added gift. I haven’t gone back to check yet, it was definitely not something I expected to find. This makes the 12th bottle of ink…

Oh! I ended up asking Matthew if he could possibly make a stand for my ink sample vials in his shop and after looking at some images I came across he said he could absolute do so. I haven’t a clue as to when he’ll get round to it but I can wait. I have these two doohickies in the meantime.

Goulet Pens is one of my favorite sites to shop when it comes to fountain pens and such. (Though I am branching out.) As I mentioned in my last post they were who I was told to go to for ink cartridges. Not long ago I bought a Platinum Preppy Wa and a surprise me ink sample. When I received said order I found that the ink sample had leaked inside its bag. After contacting customer service they sent a replacement ink sample that happened to arrive with another I had placed a day or so after ordering the Platinum Preppy Wa.

As I mentioned, I’ve been watching a lot of ink swatching videos on YouTube and I think the Ink Swatch books are a really neat idea. In fact after I picked up a colo-ring deck I decided to make a few more swatch books from paper I actually use – Tomoe River, Rhodia, Clairefontaine. I didn’t want to use the loose leaf sheets I had of Tomoe River and I didn’t feel like wasting a large Rhodia pad that could be better used as something else. I did have a small notebook for Clairefontaine though so I started with that. Then I took a look at the sample paper pack that Goulet offers. It’s changed somewhat since the first time I ordered it, but it had the two papers I was missing plus a few others that I might take a look at later. Then while I was there I looked at my wish list. On impulse I added Pelikan Twist plus a converter and randomly chose one of two twisbi models (Twisbi Eco & Twisbi 580ALR) I have been eyeing for a while now. I added another surprise me ink sample and hit the purchase button. This parcel was probably the one I was most looking forward to because of the Twisbi. Funny. I haven’t taken it out of that case yet. Oh. It’s in the limited edition color Prussian Blue, by the way. I spent a small part of the evening yesterday creating the ink swatch books which you will see in my next post.

The final package came from Yoseka Stationary. This was my first order with them and it was mostly washi tape and stickers because I was influenced by all the journaling/planning aspects of most of the YouTube videos I’ve been watching. I’m not actually going to use them for journaling perse but I am planning on practicing and improving my handwriting by copying out poems from an old college book I have on my bookshelf. (I’m not the only one that keeps Norton Anthologies am I?) I did get a Dip Pen – the Sailor Hocoro with a calligraphy nib (this is my first calligraphy nib) I’m planning on picking up a fine nib and feed in the future when it is in stock again. I thought this would be a good addition to my glass dip pens.

I’m going to try very hard not to collect all the pretties and end up not using them.

Who knew that finding the fountain pen community on YouTube would lead to this? I’d be lying to you and myself if I said I didn’t know it would happen. When something catches my attention I tend to go the “Do All The Things” route. I’ve gone through this pattern plenty of times to know what’s happening. This time however, for right now, I am taking things as slow as possible (for me). Which means at the moment there is an Etsy order arriving in the next several days and possibly an order from Amazon again. But I’ll tell you about that in another Recent Acquisition post. Until my next post…

Much love,

Charlie

Did you know I like fountain pens? I do. I don’t use them near as much as I actually want to, however there are plans in the works to remedy this.

The other day I caught a conversation on YouTube that asked eight pen questions between @seemownay (Simone) and @lianelikes (Liane) while falling down a fountain pen video rabbit hole. Before the conversation started they invited people to participate by answering the questions as well. While they suggested writing responses in the comment section, making our own video or even sharing the answers on Instagram (primarily to make use of the hashtag #8penquestions – making it easier to search I am sure) I decided to share my answers here instead.

The Questions

1. When and how did your Fountain Pen Journey begin?

My journey started when I was young. I spent my early childhood years living in Germany and used a fountain pen in school. When I moved to the US I stopped using one when I ran out of ink cartridges. Since I didn’t know anyone else that wrote with a fountain pen I didn’t think to ask where I could find more cartridges (and this was pre-internet). I didn’t pick up my fountain pen again until 2014/2015 when I found out that one of my husband’s best friends also like fountain pens. She referred me to Goulet Pens when our conversation turned to ink. Until that moment I hadn’t even thought to do a search online for places to get fountain pen ink. I think in my mind it was always something you could only get in person as I was certainly aware of purchasing things online and had been doing so for years at this point. Made aware of my faulty logic, I immediately ordered ink cartridges and then proceeded to jump into the rabbit hole that is fountain pens.

2. Favorite inks in the beginning? What are your go-to inks now?

In the very beginning – school aged me was aware of only cartridge inks. Most notably Pelikan ink. It came in 4 shades. Blue (which we used mostly in school), black, red, and green. I loved writing in the green. I remember using teal at one point as well. And adult me – I feel like I’m still in the beginning stages of learning what inks I like. For about a year I collected samples, I went through period where I thought I would find an ink in every color. I started with black and stopped with black. (My go-to for black ink is Noodlers Heart of Darkness). I stopped getting samples when I became overwhelmed by the number of vials. I do have a handful of bottled inks though. Some I picked up because of their properties and I gravitated toward the bright colors (De Atramentis Document Ink). Even though I don’t really have a pen suited for shimmering inks I have a few bottle of them. My favorite blue ink was actually gifted to me – Pilot Iroshizuku Ku-jaku.

3. How have your ink and pen tastes changed over time?

I can’t say that my tastes in either have actually changed. While I purchased a lot of samples in the beginning I didn’t actually try them in any meaningful way. I wanted to and even meant to use them in my pens… but I didn’t. Until recently it just didn’t cross my mind to even do something like swatching. I stopped purchasing bottled ink when I started to feel like I wouldn’t be able to use all of the inks I already own.

With pens… I’ve been really passive. I have a feeling it has to do with how I currently write. Most things I write are on the computer. Technically I suppose it’s typing and not writing. I don’t actively think about using my fountain pens. Or at least I haven’t in the recent past. It’s something I have been inspired to change. While I can’t say that my tastes have changed I can say definitively that I do have a favorite pen at the moment. It’s a Retro 51 Tornado Fountain Pen. It’s the smoothest pen I’ve ever used. It feels amazing to hold and I adore the look.

The Retro 51 Tornado Fountain Pen – Lincoln

4. Are there inks & pens that you have yet to try but would like to?

The short answer is : Yes.

I’m always attracted to the shiny and new thing that is around the corner. Special edition inks and pen of the years are my kryptonite. Right now I am in that in between state of being a collector and user. On one hand I want to hoard all the pens like a dragon and on the other I wrestle with the thought of not using them in a practical sense. The conundrum of late stage capitalism at its finest. I’m still finding the balance that works for me.

Currently on my wish list is a Sailor Gear Pro and a Platinum Curidas – however I’m not willing to cross the one hundred dollar threshold until I’ve truly understand what I already own.

5. What is your Holy Grail Pen?

I don’t have one. I don’t know enough about fountain pens in any capacity to be able to have one.

6. How many pens do you currently own?

At last count I think it was thirteen. Though I’m in the process of acquiring three additional pens. Along with a few glass dip pens I have a couple of Lamy Safaris, a couple of Pilot Kakunos and Metropolitans, a Kaweco Sport, a Jinhao; and of course my retro 51. Oh, and a tiny Monteverde.

7. Do you have a limit on pens (or inks) in your collection? Is it a number? Is it a feeling? When do you know that you have reached your maximum?

A feeling? Right now I’m trying to decide what direction to go with my collection. I haven’t taken the time to sit with what exactly makes me happy when it comes to fountain pens. I just know they do.

8. Consequently, what would you do if another pen/ink came along?

My M.O. is usually stare at them longingly for a bit while arguing with myself about spending money and eventually “giving in”. Because I am a dragon. This occurs more often when I engage with social media – usually Instagram and most recently YouTube. So I just don’t interact with it a lot and try to keep my interactions very specific when it comes to these platforms.

So there you have it. my answers to the eight pen questions. A lot of introspective questions. If you had eight similar questions for your particular hobby how would you answer?

Much love,

Charlie

Category: Fountain Pens

Recent Acquisitions

Eight Pen Questions

The Questions