In 2017 I wrote my first “State of the Union” where I discussed ink brands, what they had done, and what I wanted them to do in 2018. In 2018 I did the same for 2019. This year’s has been delayed, unfortunately! I really want to get these out before the new year, but sometimes other things conspire against good timing! 2017 was 3,500 words, 2018 was 6,100 words and this year is 8,600 words! I made a PDF in case people find that easier to read!
Read More
Stationery Review: Lochby A5 Field Journal, Tool Roll and Tomoe River Notebooks
Three reviews in one! Lochby, based in the US, offer three groupings of products: a Tool Roll, an A5 Field Journal, and three different A5 Tomoe River Notebooks. The Tool Roll is a pen-wrap type product that has some extra pockets and different ways of folding or wrapping; the Field Journal reminds me a lot of a Travelers’ Notebook for A5 paper; and the A5 Notebook refills are rather self evident!
I saw these products on Instagram once and thought they looked really interesting. Not too long after that Chris, founder of Lochby, reached out for me to review them, so thank you to Chris for sending these out!
Read More
Pen Review: Pilot Custom Heritage 91 (SMF - Black and Silver trim)
in Pen Review
The Pilot Custom Heritage 91 is the middle of Pilot’s mid-range range of pens (and they have a pretty huge range) sitting between the Custom 74 and the Custom Heritage 92. Pilot somewhat recently revamped the colours of this line of pens with new colours. It’s a pen that should be one of the staple gold-nibbed mid-range cartridge converter pens but you don’t see it stocked as often as the 74 or 92!
Thanks to Bookbinders Design for sending this pen for review (and the other colour options for photos). I’ll be giving this pen away for Australians in the Fountain Pens Australia facebook group.
Read More
Retrospective: Wednesday November 20
Articles I’ve read:
Reviewing The Dingbats Case Bound A5 Notebook (Write Experience) ✑ detailed review of a notebook that has been on my radar for a little while.
Schon Design “Pocket Six” Fountain Pen Review (edjelly) ✑Great looking and cute! Shame about the short-cartridge-only (for me).
review: robert oster signature direct sun (Ink Sharks) ✑ A rich Robert Oster red ink. A little too cool for my liking but how do you find it?
Review: M800 Brown-Black (2019) (The Pelikan’s Perch) ✑ I was really hoping when this was announced that the brown of the cap was lighter than the Tortoiseshell Brown and it is! So pretty!
review: robert oster signature 1980s colours honey bee (Ink Sharks) ✑ I love this colour from Robert Oster! Lovely yellow tan!
Check out my Sponsors and help out the blog:
Pen Chalet (10% off with MACCHIATOMAN) ✒︎ Some great sale prices on Montegrappa plus Pen Chalet’s Exclusive Colorverse ink set looks great and is on sale!
Standard Bindery (10% off code: StandardMacchiato) ✒︎ Are selling the surprisingly pretty Platinum Prefounte Fountain Pen (I quite like Night Sea). They also have some high quality Tomoe River Traveler’s Notebook inserts that I use for my mini reviews on my instagram! As well they released some minimalistic letters and cards.
Pen Classics ✒︎ TWSBI inks and Papier Plume and Dingbats notebooks are for sale now. I love Papier Plume but I’m interested in the TWSBI.
Pen Savings (12% off with MACCHIATOMAN) ✒︎ They have a three-piece of the Monteverde show exclusives for sale. The Blue is great and the ora age and teal look interesting! My go to place for US inks such as Organics Studio, Noodler’s, Monteverde, and Private Reserve. My favourites are Noodler’s Black Swan in Australian Roses, Golden Brown, Navy and Turquoise as well as Private Reserve Avocado!
La Couronne do Comte (10% off with MACCHIATOMAN10) ✒︎ New Montblanc inks (Disney, Cigar Scented), grab (a pre-order) or Sailor’s international exclusive inks for a great intro price, and I always throw in a paper product or two in my orders!
Desk Bandit ✒︎ Recently started stocking some beautiful Ferris Wheel Press inks and pens. Sailor’s 100 Ink Studio inks are available for international sales here! Also the only place I know that stocks Carpink! Also Noodler’s Harold’s Hearse looks interesting!
Stationery Review: Galen Leather Zippered Notebook Folio - Crazy Horse Brown
Galen Leather Co. are a family company based in Istanbul, Turkey which has been around for only 7 years, since 2012, but they feel like such a staple today having blown up in popularity. I bought my first Galen Leather product in mid 2018 and and have been delighted to buy and use more since (with another product from them on the way as I write this). They make excellent products that are evocative and nostalgia inspiring for people who love to use analogue as well as appropriating that aesthetic for the digital realm. So far I’ve loved all the stuff I’ve used (or seen in the hands friends).
Big thanks to Galen Leather for sending this Leather Zippered Notebook A5 Folio (as well as the the notebooks and brass items) for review.
Read More