TWSBI Update from Scriblets

Great post on life with a medium nib TWSBI at Scriblets.

Iroshizuku Kon Peki Review at 777PenRepair

One of my favorite inks reviewed at 777PenRepair, Iroshizuku's Kon Peki. It's a dazzling blue that does well with any nib size

Uni-ball Jetstream 3 Color Multi-Pen

I was looking at this Uni-ball Jetstream multi-pen on eBay for some time, and decided to give it a try. A three-color multi-pen, this luminous black pen has silver accents and a very heavy silver clip but it remarkably light.


The pen tips are 0.5mm, but seem like a 0.4mm or lower--the line width is quite thin, although it is very readable and doesn't get too lost on lined or graph paper. I thought I'd try it out on my dot ring binder, and definitely like the way it writes in blue, black and red.

These are some of the nicest looking gel inks I've used: the red is solid, not pale, and stands out against ivory paper. The blue is deep and rich, while the black is dark and interesting. There's a touch of blobbing, that dreaded oil-based ink problem that leads to smearing, but nothing particularly excessive that a few extra seconds of drying won't clear up.


One detail I like is that you twist the barrel to change color, with three dots labeled black, red, blue on the silver band, with a blank space in-between when the pen retracts. I like this much better than pushing down a colored tab on the end of the pen, and with this feature I don't accidentally retract the pen with I'm writing by hitting the tab. There's a small clear jewel on the end of the cap, which is a nice design detail.

The only pen I've seen available online is at JetPens, the Jetstream F* series with two inks and a pencil feature. I'm more inclined to the three inks, which Taizo may be offering again at his eBay store. They are similarly priced, so if multis are your thing take a look at this one at either store.

May Carnival Time

Economy Pens is hosting the May Carnival of Pen, Pencil and Paper, and there are a lot of great posts to read. Do stop by and take a look.

Clairefontaine Mlle No Memo Pad

One of my favorite Clairefontaine product lines is Mlle No by Jessica Ollivaud, particularly this stylish woman from the turn of the last century (maybe 1911 or so) wearing all sorts of furry animals instead of their fur.

I hadn't seen this memo pad among the notebooks, but found them at University Stationery on E. 12th Street in the heart of New York University and the Village. I liked the size immediatly, around 4.25 by 5.75 for the paper, which is wonderfully silky 80 gsm and bright white. A good size for notes and jottings, fits in the purse quite well, and is fashionable.


Here's the open memo pad next to a Field Notes for size comparison. At the bottom left of the memo pad is a wonderful pale tan silhouette of the lady on the cover, which adds just a touch of whimsy to this little book. The entire presentation is fun and good-looking, something to think of adding to your desk or bag.

Pentel Oh! Gel Retractable Gel Ink Pen

Pentel's Oh! Gel retractable gel ink pen is one of the largest pens, diameter-wise, that I've used in a long time It's a comfortable pen, the grip is soft rubber and the pen itself has great "hand feel" to it--not too heavy, not too big, but definitely noticeable next to all those skinny Pilot Hi-Tec gel inks.

Staples carries 5 packs of these pens, one pack in all black and one in a black-red-blue assortment which is what I bought. This blue is very dark, one of the darker blues I've seen in a gel ink pen that isn't a blue black. It's also got a thick, 0.7mm line width that isn't too big for my taste. The ink dries fairly quickly, so smearing shouldn't be a problem. The barrel has a nice diamond patter that's distinctive, while the clip is substantial without being heavy.

If you're looking for a substantial gel ink pen, one that you can't possibly loose among the clutter of your desk or bag, the Pentel Oh! Gel ink pen is something to check out.

Muji Double Ring Notebook

One of the Muji double ring notebooks that caught my eye was this one, a 5x8 notebook with a vinyl folder on the outside for pens and papers as well as a gray cotton elastic band to keep the notebook closed.


Inside is pale ivory paper with gray/violet dots instead of lines, very Rhodia dotPad. The paper isn't Rhodia, however, as there is quite a bit of bleed through with fountain pens ink,

I tried out a number of gel ink pens, some Sharpies and Staples OXO pens, and a few different fountain pens.

As you can see, almost all had a heavy shadow on the back side of the paper if not total bleed through. This is paper meant for pencils and ballpoint ink, or someone who doesn't mind writing on one side only.

I like this notebook, however, and plan to take it along with me for work notes and jottings. The biggest problem next to the paper is that the notebook won't lay flat if you have pens inside the vinyl folder.

So basically it's a great idea that looks good, but execution needs a bit more thought.