Journal Field Trip

Tags

cadence, earl grey latte, good earth, healing through writing, monteverde prima, paperblanks, parker urban, pierre belvedere, prayer journal, seven seas writer, staples optiflow, stations of the cross, theory of everything, twsbi eco, ventaglio rosso midi

Do you ever have those days, where you are constantly replaying conversations in your mind and carrying around an anxiety about a certain situation? Well that was me on Saturday. And I knew I had to write it out or it would just fester. But I had lots to do outside of the house so I went on a Journal Field Trip.

I packed up my messenger bag with the supplies: journals (Seven Seas Writer, Paperblanks Ventaglio Rosso Midi, Pierre Belvedere Green), pens (Cadence, TWSBI Eco, both Parker Urbans, Monteverde Purple Prima, 4 different colours of Staples Optiflow, pencil case and some markers), glue runner, paper inserts, and scissors. My aim was to figure out why I was carrying this anxiety around but I also had projects to distract me if the words just wouldn’t come.So I ran a few errands, which included returning a movie to the library (The Theory of Everything – great film). I noticed my favourite library carrel was free so I settled in. I didn’t feel ready to confront the issue in my journal so I thought I would play with paper and glue for awhile. I’m going on a spiritual retreat soon and I printed the prayers for the Stations of the Cross for my Prayer Journal (I am using the Ventaglio Rosso Midi for this purpose). I grabbed the journal and the prayers but realized I had forgotten the glue runner and the scissors. That also meant I couldn’t work in the Pierre Belvedere journal either (keeping track of the solicited reviews for the blog). I still really wanted to write so I had no choice but to jump right in to what was bothering me.

Forty-five minutes later I stopped and re-read my journal entry. I felt freer, lighter. I checked in with my anxiety and found peace. This has happened to me before, of course, as I know the power of journalling to clarify thoughts and feelings and to let resentments and upset go. But this was a complicated burden I had been carrying for a while and I wasn’t sure one 45-minute session would do it. But it did. I left the library with new resolve and a much better frame of mind.

I ticked a few more things off my list and then I was finally able to go to my favourite coffee shop, Good Earth, for an Earl Grey Latte. My reward.

This time I found myself writing about the previous evening we spent with a friend, eating spaghetti, watching a movie and laughing. And of our plans to take some vacation in September and how excited we are about a last-minute treat David and I have planned for our birthdays. I spent about an hour an a half writing. By the time I finished the latte my hand and shoulder were cramping.

Two different writing sessions, same journal, same pen even. One intense, short and focused, the other carefree, long and playful. The second wouldn’t have been possible without the therapeutic first. I am just so grateful that I have this outlet and can soothe myself with words when needed.

I hope your journal can do the same for you.

 

 

Journal Writing Wednesday: 5 pages

Tags

cadence, lg pocket photo printer, nanami paper, seven seas writer

What I’m currently using: the Paperblanks Blue Filigree journal, Winnable Executive Journal, the Believe In Yourself journal and….. drum roll please … the Seven Seas Writer! (the backstory to this is below)

Total pages written since this post (Aug 19): 5

Total pages to date since project inception (Dec 11/13): 1144

Total pages written in 2015: 304

It is time to say goodbye to the Parker Urban as the pen of the month. I never really say goodbye to it; I love it so much I use it and the blue one all the time. But – today we choose the September pen: the Cadence 3! (I have 3 Cadence pens; I distinguish between them by the number that is on the back of each nib.)

This is good because I do not have converters for these pens so this will give me a chance to use up a couple cartridges. Love these pens.

Purchases: A couple of things on ebay which will be reviewed when they arrive.

Some points covered this week in my journals:

• I’ve been running low on paper for my LG Printer so I thought I would go to Best Buy this past weekend to get some. The friendly fellow told me LG is discontinuing the packaging for the photo paper. So he checked the computer and one store, almost on the other side of the city, had some in stock. I phoned them, they put their last 3 packages on hold for me, and I sped off to get them. And they were on sale too – $8 per box of 30 instead of $16! Score.
• I recorded all of the entrants for my 500 Subscriber Giveaway in my journal, and who the winners were, and their addresses, etc. Thanks again to everyone who entered. I can’t wait to reach 1,000 subscribers to have another giveaway!
• Ok so here’s the story behind me putting the Seven Seas Writer into rotation. I have been DYING to start it but wanted to finish at least one of the three that I have going right now. But then I got an email from a subscriber asking me very detailed questions about my thoughts and impressions of using the Seven Seas Writer, and asking advice on different items available on Nanami Paper’s website. So to answer his questions I had to start writing in it. And surprise, surprise I can’t stop writing in it! I might even turn my thoughts and impressions into a review this weekend. Thanks Matthew!

Until next post, happy writing!

Guru Pen from Fountain Pen Revolution

Tags

cadence, canadian waterman junior, fountain pen revolution, gandhi, goodwriters pens, guru, lamy al-star, monteverde artista crystal demonstrator, pilot metropolitan, piston filler, richardspens.com, serenity blue, waterman

Last Sunday I wrote about my vintage Waterman Junior that I bought from Goodwriters. I actually purchased a different pen from Goodwriters before the Waterman: a Guru from Fountain Pen Revolution. It was listed in Deb’s Bargain Corner and I couldn’t resist. You can also buy these pens direct from Fountain Pen Revolution. They are very inexpensive but you get a lot of pen for your buck.

Fountain Pen Revolution is an interesting company. An American family purchase the India-made pens and market them around the world. According to their About Us page, they want to “provide reasonably priced quality fountain pens made in India and to be a blessing to our community.” They invest a portion of their profits back into the very communities that make their product.

I enjoy the quote from Gandhi on their home page, to whom the website is dedicated:

Bad handwriting is a sign of imperfect education.

And here is my Guru pen.

The pen is 13.5 cm unposted, and 15 cm posted. It has a screw cap and is a piston filler, which is another new filling system for me.

It has a medium stainless steel nib.

The nibs are rather plain-looking. FPR is stamped under the curlicues.

One of the things that drew me to this pen was the ink window. With a piston filling system, you twist the end of the pen until you see the piston moving in the ink window. The piston will push out all the ink. You then place your pen into the ink bottle so that the nib is submerged. Then you twist the end of the pen the opposite way, to reverse the direction of the piston. And presto you have a filled pen. One of the FPGeeks turned me onto this great page at RichardsPens.com, which explains all of the different filling systems and how to operate them.

Through the ink window you can see how much ink is left in your pen, and also what color it is. I tried to capture the color of Waterman Serenity Blue but I was unsuccessful. However, you can see the color in the writing sample.

I really love this Serenity Blue ink from Waterman. It’s a beautiful color. The pen started up right away; I did not have to encourage it at all. No skipping or false starts. Just as Deb advertised, it is a good writer.

And here is a comparison with some other pens on my desk. From left to right: Waterman Junior, Monteverde Artista Crystal Demonstrator, FPR Guru, Pilot Metropolitan, Cadence and Lamy Al-Star. On a sad side note, when I was arranging these pens for the photo I noticed a scratch on the finish of my Lamy; you can just see it on the right-hand side of the barrel in the photo. I thought it was a speck of dust but it isn’t. I have no idea how that scratch happened but I have since moved the pen into a pen case all its own. I was very upset by that little scratch. Oh well hopefully in its own case there will be no more!

I have added both the Waterman and the Guru to my pen/ink journal. Many thanks to World Mail Panel for the accumulated monthly dividend which covered the cost of both of these pens. I think my little buying spree is over but I say that often, don’t I? As one of my co-workers said just the other day, “There will always be another pen.” 🙂

Vintage Canadian Waterman Junior

Tags

14 ct gold nib, absolute brown, agatha christie, cadence, canada post, canadian waterman junior, fountain pen revolution, goodwriters pens, lamy al-star, lever filler, monteverde artista crystal demonstrator, monteverde paquito, pilot metropolitan leopard, royal mail, waterman, winnable executive journal, world mail panel

I stumbled across the Goodwriter’s site recently and purchased a Fountain Pen Revolution Guru pen, which is STILL in Customs in Vancouver, as I write this. About a week after I purchased the Guru I received enough points from World Mail Panel to redeem $100. So I purchased a Canadian Waterman Junior, also featured on the Goodwriter’s site, with a 14ct nib, made around 1934. I’ve been wanting a vintage pen for awhile, and I fell in love with this one on sight.

So I anxiously watched the mail for the next two weeks. The Royal Mail tracking system told me my packages were in Vancouver.  Then this past Wednesday I received notice that I had a package in my company’s mail room. When I went down I found this waiting for me.

My heart stopped. Damaged?? Oh no. I thought the delay was a big Customs bill!

But all was not as it seemed. I opened the plastic bag and retrieved the package from Goodwriters. It looked perfect; it was a sturdy paper cylinder with strong tape on both ends. It certainly did not appear damaged.

I shook the cylinder and did not hear any loose parts rattling round. So I carefully opened one end and took out the double thickness bubble wrap that encased the pen. Inside the bubble wrap was the Waterman. In pristine condition. Cue the singing angels. No idea what Canada Post was going on about with their Apology bag.

Deb, the wonderful woman behind Goodwriter’s, sent this lovely note, along with instructions for filling the pen. It is a lever filler, which I have never used before. I followed the steps she outlined, about three times, and the pen started writing immediately. Cue those angels again!

Here she is in all her glory. I think it is in remarkably good condition for being around 80 years old! The body is smooth with no visible dents or nicks. The chrome is bright but not overly shiny, like a new pen would be. The lever lifts very smoothly and snaps back into place easily. It’s certainly a new experience, that lever filling system. It’s weird not being able to get into the “guts” of the pen. But it works and Deb told me it shouldn’t need servicing for at least 10 years. It’s impossible to tell how much ink is left but that’s ok.

I now understand what the fuss about gold nibs is all about. The nib is smooth and I am so impressed with the writing. It is a smaller pen (just under 12 mm capped; just under 15 mm posted) and very light. The nib seems delicate and I know I have to get used to it; I feel like I might snap it off at any moment. It looks like a prop from an Agatha Christie movie, which is part of my delight with it.

And here’s the reason it’s called a Canadian Waterman Junior.

The Waterman company had a factory in Montreal roughly between 1905 and 1954. The nib says Made in the USA and both the barrel and cap say Made in Canada. Being a patriotic sort this really appealed to me.

Here’s the Waterman next to some modern pens.

From left to right: Monteverde Paquito; Waterman Junior; Monteverde Artista Crystal; Pilot Metropolitan; Cadence; Lamy Al-Star.

So let’s get to a writing sample.

It is a beautiful writer, very smooth and constant. I inked it with Waterman’s Absolute Brown which I got for Christmas. The notebook is my Winnable Executive.

So that’s my Canadian Waterman Junior. My first vintage pen, first gold nib. It probably won’t be my last.

Journal Writing Wednesday: 14 pages

Tags

cadence, hairstylist, tea trolley

What I’m currently using: the Paperblanks Blue Filigree journal, Winnable Leather Journal, Winnable Executive Journal and the Believe In Yourself journal (this week has definitely been more Executive Journal than the others)

Total pages written since last JWW post (Mar 11): 14

Total pages to date since project inception (Dec 11/13): 853

Total pages written in 2015: 113

Purchases:

My Canadian Waterman Junior arrived today! The FPR Guru pen was shipped first but both pens have been held up in Vancouver Customs for over a week. I am in love with the Waterman and will post about it this weekend. Maybe the FPR will be here too!

Some points covered this week in my journals:

• Feeling sad that my new pens hadn’t arrived, I decided to visit with some old favorites and inked up all three of my Cadence pens and used them for most of this week. I forgot how much I enjoy writing with them.
• For the past nine years I have been going to Great Clips for haircuts. This past Friday night I went to a real salon! My co-worker Lori recommended her hairstylist, Jessica, and she is a true marvel. It’s amazing how a little bit of pampering can really brighten your day.
• Another of my co-workers offered me a wooden tea trolley, as she is downsizing. I picked it up on Saturday and spent most of Sunday rearranging and cleaning my office so I could fit it in. It now has pride of place under the window and stores some of my favorite supplies. Thanks Barb!

Until next week, happy writing!

Paperblanks Maya Blue Filigree Ink Test

Tags

blue filigree, cadence, eclat de saphir, endpaper, hero 6021, j. herbin, jinhao x450, maya blue ultra, paperblanks, plum, private reserve, silver filigree

I have to apologize for the lack of blog posts this week (Thursday and Saturday). I’ve been quite ill with a ferocious summer cold; I lost my voice on Tuesday and I really haven’t recovered it yet. Lots of coughing with very little sleeping makes for one grumpy girl. But I wanted to write something tonight and I was reading JJ’s comment to my Stamps, Boxes and Filigree Blue post of June 1 and I thought why not do a quick ink test on my Paperblanks journal. So here it is.

I started out with fountain pen ink and then tried a few others. The Hero 6021 is running out of ink and I didn’t take the time to refill before starting to write; sorry about that. But you can still make it out.

I was really impressed with all the fountain pen ink I tried. The only one that showed the slightest feathering was the J. Herbin Eclat de Saphir in the Jinhao X450 with a broad nib.

Above you can see all the other fountain pen inks I tried showed no feathering whatsoever. I think they all look amazing, with the exception of the Eclat de Saphir in the Jinhao Broad, and even then the feathering is not overwhelming. You can disregard the small blue dots; they were the result of some scribbles on the facing page which apparently I did not allow to dry before closing the journal.

I had a happy accident with the Private Reserve Plum in the Cadence pen. I couldn’t get it to write so I coaxed some extra ink out and then a big blob came out. I quickly wiped it away but the damage, as you can see, was done. Surely that will show through! Well…

Nope! This is the back of the ink test page. You can barely see a whisper of the ink that is on the other side.

And here is a close-up of the page which corresponds to the ink drop on the back. Sorry for the blurriness but as you can see there is no sign of the ink. Amazing.

So to sum up the paper in the Paperblanks journals is very friendly to fountain pen ink. I searched for info on their paper on their blog, Endpaper: The Paperblanks Blog and found this post titled Our Paper Quality. It seems in 2008 they changed their paper to a higher quality paper to improve how fountain pen ink took to it. And as you can see from my first photo above, with one exception every ink I tried took to the paper wonderfully. Rest assured your favourite pen will take to this paper too. Try them out and let me know what you think!

Cadence Pens

Tags

cadence, fountain pen, j. herbin, pens, things engraved

So this past Christmas I found some beautiful fountain pens at a store called Things Engraved. They are also affiliated with Sears Personalized Gifts, Personally Yours, Creations Personelles and Centre de la Gravure. I bought three for myself and two for Christmas gifts.

I fell in love with this pen as soon as I held it in my hand. It has a nice weight but is not too heavy. I like my caps posted and these post securely. The cap is a snap cap, and closes with a satisfyingly loud click. They have never skipped and always start right away. There is a black band around the base of the cap and it reads “Cadence”.

I love them. But I can’t really find any information about them on the internet. At least, not about the fountain pens specifically. Cadence seems to make a lot of different pens, mostly ballpoints, in metal and plastic. The Things Engraved website lists four or five Cadence pens, but none of them are these fountain pens. I’ve tried the Personally Yours website as well with the same result.

This is the box they came in from Things Engraved.

The open box with the warranty info. The warranty info says Cadence Writing Instruments – Lifetime Mechanical Warranty. If I have a problem I should bring it in to the nearest Things Engraved store, or any store mentioned above. Standard really, but there was no card to fill out and send in.

The pens themselves are quite nice looking, I think. Burnished gold metal with silver or chrome accents, and that black band around the middle.

Here they are uncapped. I apologize for the glare; this was the best I could get, and as close as I could get without blurriness. The nibs have a curled line around the edge, say Iridium Point Germany and seem to have a daisy pattern around the centre hole.

Here are the feeds. I do not know what the numbers refer to, but from left to right the nibs are labelled 1, 3 and 4. There does not seem to be a number 2 available. No 4 seems to be a slightly finer nib, as you will see in the writing sample later.

These pens are engravable, which I did for the Christmas presents, and also one for myself.

Here is the writing sample in my Rhodia notebook. I think No 4 gives a slightly finer line and it definitely feels scratchier on the paper. No one at the store could tell me the nib size of any of the pens.

I keep these pens in a vinyl pen roll I purchased on ebay.

It’s hard to make out but the writing on the pen roll says “twilight”. Yes I think this is a movie tie-in item. I’m not a fan of the Twilight movies but I liked the pen roll.

Here is the pen roll open. The roll is also advertised to keep makeup brushes in, so that could explain the different widths of the slots.

I just like that it keeps my pens from scratching each other.

I googled “Cadence writing instruments” and found multiple listings for their ballpoint pens. When I googled “Cadence fountain pen” I found one entry on the Fountain Pen Network forum from 2011. And that’s about it. I would love to know more about these pens, if there is anything more to be discovered.

Journal Writing Wednesday: 8 pages

Tags

akkerman, cadence, j. herbin, kijiji

Journal I’m currently using: Navy Blue Cross Journal

Total pages written since last JWW post (Feb 26): 8

Total pages to date since project inception (Dec 11/13): 186

Total pages written in 2014: 131

Total number of notebooks/pens/ink bought since self-imposed spending freeze (Jan 1/14): 3

• 1 pen + one bottle of ink = 2 items in a gift set on Jan 14
  
• 1 bottle of KoninginneNach-Blauw from Akkerman on Feb 5

Topics covered since last update:

• Put an ad on Kijiji for the first time ever (I’m selling one of my purses)
• Inked up one of my Cadence pens with J. Herbin Lie de Thé (it’s been a long time since I’ve seen that ink)
• Cleaned two pens and inked them up with Akkerman KoninginneNach-Blauw (see this post for my pen cleaning adventure)
• My parking tag was stolen at work; I got a parking ticket and then it was reversed. Yay! And then I got a new parking tag. Yay!

And that’s about it. Off to write in my journal.

Happy writing.