Fresh Inks for the New Year
New Year’s Eve view.
The last day of the year always seems to set me to tidying. I wrap up what projects I can and set things up so I can spend the first day of the new year doing things that bring me joy - reading, playing video games, watching movies, and, of course, writing.
One of those tidying projects put fresh inks in my pens and fresh notebooks into my TN.
Notebooks to Start the Year
Latte drinking ghost sticker from a local artist was necessary.
Sterling Ink 260 page grid notebook - This notebook has Tomoe River paper with soft gray grid lines. I plan to use this notebook for writing, but with that many pages it will probably end up with more purposes.
Onion Skin Notebook (handmade) - This will be my capture notebook for making lists, reminders, and processing ideas/journalling on the go. I decided to start with a paper I am fond of and familiar with.
These two are joining my new 2024 Hobonichi A6 weekly insert and the Sterling Ink A6 monthly planner.
First ink colors of 2024
On Kokuyo THIN paper.
Ferris Wheel Press Purple Jade Rabbit - Kaweco Sport Macchiato 1.5 - When I was flipping through my notebooks from last year this purple caught my eye again and again. This light purple can have a blue halo where it pools and the silver shimmer makes it so delicate and magical. Very fun to play with for my headers in January.
Ferris Wheel Press Harlequin Dream - Kaweco liliput copper 14K B - One of three inks that is being carried through into 2024, albeit in a different pen. This ink intrigues me with its blurple tones and shading. I wanted to keep exploring it.
Ferris Wheel Press Land of Shangri-la - Kaweco Art Sport Terrazzo M stub - I blame the folks that keep showing off this ink on Instagram for wanting to give this one a go to start. I really enjoy the black-brown tone, green sheen, and subtle shimmer. It’s very elegant.
Bungubox Melancholic Grey (but…) - Kaweco Art Sport Tiger’s Eye 14K M ‘selvedge’ - Gave this one a refill for the new year. This is a well-behaved gray ink and I didn’t see a reason to switch it out. Pulling out the pretty bottle to refill is also a joy each time. One of my plans for the year is to always have at least one pen with black or gray ink in it so I have a neutral option to ground the rest of the colors.
Utsunomiya Gyoza Brown - Kaweco Sport Burgundy M - Spotted this ink in my 2023 Hobonichi flip-through and wanted to give it some playtime. One of my more expensive goodies that I picked up in San Francisco. This ink is a shop-exclusive from Japan. A very nice warm brown.
Diamine Pick Me Up - Kaweco liliput fireblue 14K M ‘journaler’ - When considering my previous year favorites from the Diamine Inkvent, this ink called to me. A dark brown with green sheen and a sweet smell (latte-esque). This ink got a good workout on New Year’s Day and drove so much writing I had to refill it on January 2nd.
What pens and notebooks did you start the year with?
If you need any new stationery goodies for the new year, please consider using my affiliate code at Atlas Stationers (DIME10 for 10% off) or at Ferris Wheel Press (DIME for a free ink charger set with purchase). Using my codes helps support the blog.