Noodler’s 54th Massachusetts seems to be a very popular ink. I’ve not written with it.
Maybe you can tell me – is it the color, the way it behaves, something else?
INK SWAB: 22/365 – Noodler’s 54th Massachusetts
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Monthly Archives: January 2015
INK SWAB: 21/365 – Delta Black
Delta Black
How many different bottles of black ink do you have? I think I probably have 3-4.
Oh, and hey, did you see this Double Exposure post from Ed Jelley? Love it.
INK SWAB: 20/365 – Scribal Workshop Damsel Fish
Scribal Workshop has stopped making inks and Damselfish is no longer available. Such a beautiful, rich shade of blue, too.
I sort of have a policy against putting very new or very small brands of ink into my fountain pens. Do you have the same policy?
INK SWAB: 19/365 – Pilot Iroshizuku Yu-yake
Pilot Iroshizuku is a well-respected brand of fountain pen ink. Yu-yake performs well, but is not my favorite orange ink because the color is a wee bit too muddied for me.
FOUNTAIN PEN INK REVIEW: Diamine Terracotta
Diamine Terracotta
Terracotta was released late last year as one of eight inks Diamine created to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the brand.
Over the past couple of years, Diamine released a couple of limited edition sets of inks, but they had to be purchased as a complete set. It’s nice to see that each of the eight inks in this Anniversary Collection may be purchased separately.
Here’s a picture of the arranged bottles (and swabs – always swabs!) I posted on Instagram awhile back. I love that they remind me of Trivial Pursuit wedges – collect them all!
I Love This Ink
The color is a unique and pleasing brownish-reddish-orange that doesn’t remind me too much of terra-cotta pots and their traditional chalky band-aid color.
Terracotta is well-saturated and it shades beautifully – just enough to give it some character. Flow is good from the pen and I’d say it’s on the wet side of average, but definitely not wet. There was no significant ghosting and no bleeding. All very good things.
There are two “features” of this ink that may be a deal breaker for some people . . .
- there’s no resistance to water
- dry time is longer than average (or at least it was in my bold-nibbed pen). Even at 45 seconds, there was a little smear.
I can live with both of the downsides of this ink quite easily and am finding myself using it every day for various notes.
Here’s the entire handwritten review of Diamine Terracotta.
If you’ve tried Terracotta, I’d love to know your thoughts. Or maybe you’ve tried another one of the Anniversary inks?
INK SWAB: 18/365 – Monteverde Green
Monteverde Green
I like green inks a great deal and this one is a good classic green.
INK SWAB: 17/365 – De Atramentis Antique Pink
Scanned swabs are usually an accurate representation of the ink. This is an example of when that is not the case. Check out my full review of De Atramentis Antique Pink for a more accurate view.
INK SWAB: 16/365 – Sailor Jentle Apricot
Oh, how I love this ink. Sadly, it has been discontinued. Here’s my review from a long long time ago.
INK SWAB: 15/365 – Stipula Dark Red
Stipula Dark Red doesn’t seem very dark from where I’m sitting.
Stipula is another brand that doesn’t get a lot of exposure. I’ve not written with this one and would love to hear what you think of it. Which red is your favorite?
ARTICLE: Budgeting for Fountain Pens
With January comes resolutions. Lose weight, travel more, and spend less are some of the most popular resolutions out there.
All of this has me thinking about how I find money for my fountain pen habit hobby.
TOP TEN WAYS TO AFFORD A FOUNTAIN PEN HOBBY
Budget. I’ve budgeted a small amount of money to spend on whatever I want each month. I usually choose to spend it on my pen hobby. Sometimes, I’ll buy a few ink samples and save the rest for a larger purchase. Fountain Pen Physicist talks about this in a video.
Save your pennies – literally. Loose change can accumulate quickly. Even if it accumulates slowly, it still accumulates – usually without any discomfort.
Prioritize. I have to prioritize. There are certain things that I know I’m going to want each year. If two pens are released at the same time and one of them is the new Lamy Safari, that’s the one I’m getting.
Focus on affordability. There are so many affordable options available for fountain pen lovers. Good options. I used to believe that a pen had to be expensive to be high-quality. I was wrong. It’s possible (easy!) to put together an amazing collection of affordable pens, ink, and paper.
Watch for sales. Discounts on pens aren’t nearly as frequent or as deep as discounts at Old Navy, but they are out there. Keep an eye on your favorite retailers, read blogs. Don’t forget to compare prices at Amazon; I’ve found some great deals there.
Give up something else. Take the bus, make your own coffee, stop buying so many clothes. Seriously, how much washi tape does one girl need?
eBay. Research reputable sellers, dive in, get a deal.
Sell something you don’t love. I recently sold a 2015 Hobonichi Planner that I knew I wouldn’t use. While I didn’t recoup all that I’d spent on it, I ended up with enough to get a couple of small things that I will use.
Focus on smaller parts of the hobby. Practice handwriting. Sample inks. Try new paper. These parts of the hobby are less expensive than buying a fancy new pen and can be just as rewarding – especially in the long-term.
Make friends. Choose one of the online communities dedicated to Fountain Pens, become a regular, and make friends. Friends (and yet-to-be friends) often trade ink and paper samples.
How do you afford your hobby habit? Do you budget? Play it fast and loose?