Adapting my sentimentality to function at work
I return to work this week. And the week’s penvelope inherits six pens from last week’s collection of pens that were gifted to me. How well can I adapt my sentimental currently inked to work at school?
I need a daily driver that works reliably and strong accent colors. Two orange inks offer accent colors: Higashiyama Moonlight and Pumpkin Patch. A third, Yozakura, works just as well.
The final three pairs accent differently. Lichen Watermark is dark enough to stand out clearly against Matter. The BB and B nibs are wide enough that they’ll also easily stand out against EF lines.
Unexpected successes. And functional.
Grey/Black
TWSBI Eco-T Mint (EF). Colorverse Matter. I filled the large capacity Eco 1/4 full for my daily driver this week. No surprise after all my “half fill swagger” last weekend. Matter is a light grey. The dusty hue helps my muted accent colors stand out more clearly on the page. My everything pairing: task management, lesson plans, scratch notes, and virtual meeting notes.
Blue/Teal
Kaweco Classic Sport Blue (BB). Akkerman Koninginne Nach-Blauw. Pocket carry. This particular BB nib does not reverse write. As a unitasker, I appreciate Akkerman’s good behavior on Stalogy paper and quick dry time. Pocket notes, lesson plans, and some journaling.
Earth Tones
Franklin-Christoph Diamondcast 45 (B SIG, by Franklin-Christoph). Diamine Yuletide. I mistook my Yuletide bottle for Subzero. The result is a murky, sheeny teal instead of an icy blue. Oops. The broad SIG lines accent my Eco’s narrow EF line on its own. And the dark hue of Yuletide effectively contrasts Matter’s dust grey. Reading notes, lesson plans, lecture notes, and journaling.
Lamy Safari All-Black (B). Papier Plume Ink No. 13. The Safari’s B feed produces an increasingly wet line. 13 has begun feathering, even on Tomoe River. This pairing will be limited to accent notes during meetings and warm the bench as my backup pocket carry.
Nakaya Neostandard Heki-tamenuri (B). Kyo-iro Higashiyama Moonlight. I have evening meetings on my calendar — from home. The Nakaya’s B nib is round and forgiving when I rotate my pen distractedly while I quickly jot notes during a phone meeting. And writing at home avoids concerns about sanitizer damage while on my desk at work. Bonus. Meeting notes, lesson plans, and journaling.
Get Lathed Moonwood (F). Ferris Wheel Press Pumpkin Patch. The combination of Pumpkin Patch’s colorful shading and the Moonwood’s F nib make this combo a strong marking pen. My students’ 14th amendment decisions are due this week. Huzzah. Marking, some reading notes, lesson plans, and Hobonichi accents in that tiny 3.7 mm grid.
Visconti Homo Sapiens Silver Age (F CI, by Nibsmith). Birmingham Lichen Watermark. This pair continues to pool ink until an A5 page-worth of writing. So: longer writing sessions will be best. Journaling, reflections on my pedagogy at work, and reading notes.
Wild Cards
Esterbrook J Copper (9128, EF Flex). Sailor Shikiori Yozakura. This combo has earned a warm place in my heart. A disciplined narrow EF line for small, detailed notes? Yep. A forgiving flexible nib for when I press harder while lost in thought? Uh-huh. A shady purple-pink that accents grey ink well? You betcha. Reading notes, meeting notes, lesson plans, manuscript marking, scratch notes, and journaling.
