Project Enjoy Collection 2023: Jan - March
Diamine Polar Blue on Cosmo Air Light in my A6 traveler’s notebook.
Back in January, I shared a hobby related goal of mine for 2023. To quickly recap: I am keeping track of what inks I’ve used that are in my collection and what colors I re-ink again and again. I’m using a combination of a list of inks by colors in an A6 Stalogy and, at the moment, an A6 Midori MD lined notebook as an “ink passport” where I have a swatch, a writing sample, and a date for when I last “checked out” that ink. This is an extension of my goals from the last two years which was to curate my collection a bit to a manageable and I-actually-know-what-I-have kind of level. This year is an extension of last year’s quest to enjoy what I have and be mindful of the new things that I add.
What I’ve learned in the first quarter of Project Enjoy Collection 2023:
I used 33 different inks in the past 3 months with blue being the most common color inked up.
16 out of 33 inks were shimmer inks.
I have a tendency to play with what is newest in the collection. I think this is due, in part, with a choice I made that if I buy/obtain a sample or bottle I need to actually ink it up - not something I’m always good at… my Christmas inks are still staring at me - I think I’ve only used one of them…
Compared to Jan - March 2022, I was drawn to a lot of the same colors in my collection. Colorverse Extreme Deep Field, Robert Oster Muddy Wine, Robert Oster Muddy Crown, Birmingham Pen Co. Gamboge, Colorverse Chi-town, and Ferris Wheel Press Storied Blue were also used this time last year.
First quarter swatches.
I am actually surprised that I utilized so many shimmer inks, because I was really into shading and sheen in past years. Then again, I have figured out a better way to utilize shimmer ink and produce a better ink flow in my fountain pens, which is a combo of modding feeds to make them wetter and using a very tiny drop of Vanness Pens White Lightning Ink Additive. I think that saved a lot of shimmer inks for me.
Going into the second quarter of 2023 I plan on participating in @inkjournal’s #30inks30days challenge on Instagram in April & June (April for sure, June TBD) which will definitely expand how many inks I’m playing with significantly. For April I am planning on continuing my exploration of my blue inks and maybe throw a few purples in there for variety.
Currently Inked
Cloudy snowy clouds are back, bringing back the challenge of lighting my photos. Love the moody colors though.
Diamine Polar Glow Inkvent 2019 - Kaweco x Elite Royalty Sport Deep Red BB - This is a solid blue sheener from Diamine and fits right in that royal blue with pink sheen category. It saw a lot of use at work for random notes and drafting for staff training.
Ferris Wheel Press Blue Yosemite Falls - Kaweco Sport Mellow Blue B - This ink lauches April 7th and it’s a bright blue shading ink, definitely a little dry. I was a media ranger in Yosemite back in 2017 and I will say this color reminds me of the sky in that part of California. I’m interested to see what else will come out in the rest of their California Dreaming collection.
Ferris Wheel Press Glistening Glass - Kaweco Art Sport Tiger’s Eye 14K BB CSI - Also launching April 7th, this ink is freaking gorgeous. It’s a gray-blue with gold shimmer and has really great shading. I’ve been playing with this ink for two weeks (but wasn’t allowed to say anything until March 26th) and I’m deeply enjoying it.
Ferris Wheel Press Madam Mulberry - Kaweco Liliput Fireblue 14K M ‘journaler’ - I had been eyeballing this ink for ages while I was looking for a muted purple. Wet Paint in St. Paul had a bottle so I picked it up while I was there. I really like this ink, it’s a little on the dry side, but that leads to some nice shading. It looks delicate and elegant in this nib combination.
Ferris Wheel Press The Fluttering Heart - Kaweco Sport Macchiato 1.9 stub - I’m finally down to the feed on this guy and it did indeed make it as the header ink throughout the month. Once it darkened up in the pen a bit it is a really nice vintage pink. I am absolutely ready to mix it up though with something else for April.
Ferris Wheel Press Grand Central Skies - Kaweco Liliput Copper 14K B - Sometimes I’m surprised by the inks that I just cannot get enough of and this is definitely one of them. It’s been all over my work notes, journal pages, D&D notes, and story writing over the past week.
Overall, very Ferris Wheel Press heavy this month. They are great inks, but I look forward to mixing it up next month during #30inks30days. Are you participating?
My pens and I are ready!
Paper of the Week
Tomoe River Paper and Cosmo Air Light were the most heavily utilized papers this week since I was craving the tried and true and familiar. I am LOVING The Paper Mind Cosmo Air Light notebooks I got a few weeks ago. It’s really nice to have a wire-bound option with the thick paper.