Tuesday, March 31, 2015

This week's beautiful pens: Week 14

You probably all know these times in life when everything else is more important than your precious hobby. The last few months have been such a time for me, I've had amazing and challenging times and somes that were quite a bit of both. 

However my pens have been awaiting my return patiently and they're ready for a new round of "Weekly Pens". It's weird but I've been having a hard time deciding which pens to ink - and then, which ink to use in them - so right now it's only five pens!



Also it's mostly the same pens I used last year already. Maybe that is partly because I find it difficult to choose new ones but they're also really good writers.

- Danitrio Mikado (IB) with Montblanc Corn Poppy Red: This one has been in rotation for months now. I've used it a little less for a while because it didn't work well with the inks I had chosen (Montblanc Meisterstück Diamond and Diamine Mediterranean Blue) but it works great with the Corn Poppy Red. It does need a fresh serving of silicone grease though, Corn Poppy seems to be quite runny in this respect.
- ST Dupont Olympio M Alligator (OM) with Herbin Gris Orage: This combination works really well. I love sparkly Gris Orage.
- Pelikan M1000 Fantasia (IBB) with Herbin Gris Orage: See above. Love this ink.
- Ferrari da Varese Botticelli (IB) with Rohrer & Klingner Blu Mare: spring is approaching, so it's time for some cheerful colors. Blu Mare is my go-to turquoise. It also flows quite well. I like the contrast: silver and mother of pearl, meet the Caribbean!
- Sailor King of Pens (B) with a Sailor blue-black cartridge: I traded for this one in December but then all this stuff came up and I still haven't found the time to really get acquainted with it. It has a nice, soft nib and seems to be a super reliable writer.

Time to fill up the two empty slots in the pen case until next week!

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Mother of pearl eye candy by Ferrari da Varese

Some eye candy for you! I recently sold one of my Botticellis and got another one with plain silver cap instead. Now those two could be twins.



The new one is nicely polished, its older sister has some lovely patina. I really can't decide which I like better.



They both have Bock B nibs, reground to italics. A bit on the heavy side but lovely writers.