INK REVIEW: DIamine Wild Strawberry

Posted on October 21, 2013 by Christine (Pentulant)

Diamine Wild Strawberry Ink Swab

Ladies and gentlemen, it is safe to say…the losing streak of Monday reviews is OVER! (In case you hadn’t noticed, my last three Monday reviews were not inks I fell in love with.)

But this! This is an ink to love! This is Diamine Wild Strawberry. Yum!

Diamine Wild Strawberry Writing Sample

Because seriously. Look at that color! Wooooo…color like that makes me happy happy! Similar in color, but with more saturation than R&K Morinda. Very different from Noodker’s Red.

OK.it’s not perfect. There is no shading and I love shading inks. Other than that, though, it’s pretty darn perfect.

Dry time is a bit long – even with the fine nib I was using, but I can live with that.

Yep. It’s love! Yaaay!!!

Tell me, what ink are you loving on this week? Is it a red?

INK REVIEW: Private Reserve DC Supershow Green

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Christine (Pentulant)

Private Reserve DC Supershow Green Ink Swab

First, forgive the swab – not sure why it’s a bit blurry.

Second, this ink isn’t green. It’s teal. More toward the green side of teal, but still – it’s teal.

Private Reserve DC Supershow Green Writing Sample

That aside, I don’t know what I was thinking when I wrote the following…..

Was I perhaps blinded by my pet peeve? I think maybe so. Because looking at it now, DC Supershow ~~Teal~~ Green definitely has something special. Look at all of that shading. Now that the bitterness of the name not matching the color of the ink has subsided, even I can admit that there are some really great qualities about this ink.

What is my new bottom line? The one I’m writing while keeping names out of it? It’s a good ink. It writes well. The color isn’t for me.

OK…this is a trend. Three Mondays in a row, I’ve not loved the ink. What is going on here? I’m going to need to find something really terrific for next week!

INK REVIEW: Private Reserve Purple Mojo

Posted on September 30, 2013 by Christine (Pentulant)

Private Reserve Purple Mojo Ink Swab

Hello, Purple Mojo!

Words that come to mind….vibrant, in-yo-face color, PURPLE, bright. This is one screamin’ purple ink!

Private Reserve Purple Mojo Writing Sample

It writes quite well. No issues with bleeding, show through, or feathering on my Rhodia paper. There’s even a bit of shading – always nice, yes?

Dry time isn’t really an issue and the highlight test was also fine.

I keep returning to my one lingering question, though. Is Purple Mojo…

special enough?

After falling in love with Mr. President, I just don’t know. Check it out in the Compare Squares.

Bottom Line: I like Purple Mojo well enough. I don’t love it. To me, it’s not special enough in terms of color. But..that is the only thing holding me back and if you love the color, you should go for it because it really is a well-behaved ink.

INK REVIEW: Pilot Iroshizuku Tsukushi

Posted on September 23, 2013 by Christine (Pentulant)

Ink Swab – Pilot Iroshizuku Tsukushi

With the start of autumn, I thought it would be fun to review a fall color. I reached into my bag of brown inks and pulled Pilot Iroshizuku’s Tsukushi.

I’ll start by saying – it writes wonderfully.

Pilot Iroshizuku Tsukushi Writing Sample

I’m just not a huge fan of brown inks. And brown inks with red undertones? Not for me, thank you.

Tsukushi is not a super-saturated ink

Tsukushi – does it shade well? Yes, it does!

It’s really a terrific ink in many regards.

Bottom Line: If you like the color, you can’t go wrong with this ink. It’s fabulous in all regards.

Oh, and in case you want to see it next to Diamine Chocolate Brown, here you go and here’s another look at some brown inks.

INK REVIEW: Private Reserve Buttercup

Posted on September 16, 2013 by Christine (Pentulant)

Hello, Buttercup!

Yellow inks are tough. This one is so pretty in person – Private Reserve Buttercup.

The problem with yellow inks, of course, is – how do you use them? They aren’t very practical other than for highlighting (and, frankly, I just use a highlighter for that).

I used this color for about a week in my work notebooks, but it was just too hard on my eyes when I went back to look at the notes later. Too bad, really.

So..I don’t know…but, still, I am rather fond of this ink. Look at the shading . . .

It’s nice, right?

Buttercup writes well enough – perhaps a little slow-flowing even in my Lamy Safari with a broad nib. It almost GLOWS with color.

What is your bottom line on yellow inks? Love them, hate them, would never even bother with them? If you’re using yellow inks for something other than highlighting – let me know – I’d love to discover a new use for this pretty Buttercup.

INK REVIEW: Diamine Ultra Green

Posted on September 9, 2013 by Christine (Pentulant)

Diamine Ultra Green Swab

With the demise of Caran D’ache Amazon Green, I have been on the lookout for another green that I can love as much. Maybe Ultra Green from Diamine is it.

I tested Ultra Green on a variety of papers including famed Tomoe River Paper. While I have some issues with Tomoe River Paper (it crinkles like mad and needs to be treated gently for this reason), I also think it is fantastic to get a true read of the color of an ink. Rather than being absorbed into the paper, the ink seems to sit on top of the paper – there is never even a little bleed-through or feathering with Tomoe River Paper.

gorgeous color

I love the clear and crisp qualities that this ink has to offer. Great clean green with good saturation (so important to me) and even a little shading.

In some ways, maybe I like this ink even better than Amazon from Caran D’ache. Look at the highlighting test and the smearing (well, the lack of smearing).

Diamine Ultra Green Writing Test on Strathmore Cotton Paper

I love the swab below. The variation of color . . .

Diamine Ultra Green Writing Test on Clairefontaine Paper

Yep! This might be my new green – might have to do more testing first, though, yes?

Diamine Ultra Green Writing Test on Tomoe River Paper

Do you have a favorite green? Tell me all about it!

FRIDAY FOLLOW: Instagram

Posted on September 6, 2013 by Christine (Pentulant)

If you’re not on Instagram, you’re really missing something.

In no particular order, here are some of my more recent Instagram images . . .

The Waterman Edson Twins (they are not identical)

VW swag for Baby O (because, really, how cute is this?)

An inky project I’m working on

Love #inkinthesink

Right?

My TWSBI Collection makes me swoon just a bit.

Strawberry Ice Cream

Doesn’t everyone meal plan with a #wetnoodle?

My beloved Montblanc Boheme collection.

I opened Mr. Pentulant’s textbook, took this picture, and then promptly closed the book.

And here’s a listing of just some of the people I follow…

Gerald Taylor – aka MyCofeePot

Chrissy Sparks

PenAddict

What I love about Instagram is that most of the people I follow post more than just pens. It’s a real glimpse into the person and what is important in his/her life.

Here’s my Instagram link. Where is yours?

INK REVIEW: Noodler’s Heart of Darkness

Posted on September 4, 2013 by Christine (Pentulant)

ink swab – Noodler’s Heart of Darkness

Almost Wordless Wednesday

This is one crazy black ink!

Noodler’s Heart of Darkness Writing Sample

Tested on Rhodia Dot Pad.

I thought this reminded me of Invincible Black – but it’s blacker (more black?) than that and there’s nothing about this ink that felt..scary. Just perfect, perfectly saturated black. BLACK.

Revised Bottom Line: It’s love! Woooo!!

Oh..and apparently, I had more to say about Heart of Darkness than I thought I would – so much for Wordless Wednesday! Guess I’m just pentulant that way 😉

INK REVIEW: De Atramentis Alexander Hamilton

Posted on September 2, 2013 by Christine (Pentulant)

I had no idea Alexander Hamilton was so sexy.

I’m clueless as to why this ink from De Atramentis was named Alexander Hamilton, but I love it just the same.

Let’s have a closer look….

beautiful shading

deep rich purple

The full review…

Alexander Hamilton is well-behaved in the pen. Perhaps a bit wet with the broad nib, but I can work around that. In fact, I tried the same ink one other time and loved it then, too.

The color is darker than a traditional (perhaps the better term would be royal) purple and I think this makes it suitable for use in almost any setting. Of course, I work from home and no one but the dogs are judging the ink colors in my notebook.

I love it! If you’re at all into purples, you should consider Alexander Hamilton from De Atramentis. Again, look at that shading!

I used a sample for this test, but I’m definitely adding a full bottle to my wish list.

What about you? Love purple? Hate it? What is on your wish list?

Oh! Almost forgot…in case you’re curious.

GIVEAWAY: Winner’s List!

Posted on August 29, 2013 by Christine (Pentulant)

Thank you to everyone who entered to win a Brush Dance Journal. I was so happy to see so many people enter. In fact, we had so many entries that I’ll be able to give away four of these amazing Journals. So excited!

Kathryn – Collage Diva

Nancy – from St. Petersburg, Florida

Arlie

Gingin

Unfortunately, the only person I can find a way to contact is Kathryn. I’m hoping the others see their names and get in touch with me. The deadline for doing so September 15, 2013. If I don’t hear from the winners, I’ll recycle the prezzies and add them to a future giveaway.

Thank you again for entering. It was fun!