Unexpected discoveries for holding sample vials and pens — and a new journal
Some of my favorite and most useful stationery tools are unexpected discoveries. Lovely little surprises I stumbled into. New tools that were thrust upon me by loved ones and the universe: a sample vial stand and a wood pen tray.
First, a stable, reclaimed wood base for securely holding sample vials. The base served its first life as the exterior cap for a nail polish bottle. No longer.
The internal opening is an estimated 1mm wider than the diameter of a sample vial. So: a welcome snug fit.
Snug as a bug in a rug
Vials seat deeply within the cap, up to the 3ml line — about half the vial’s height. Further, the bottom (what used to be the top) is flat. No wiggling here.
And no extra work required. Talk about a gift.
Second, a stylish display-worthy wood pen tray. My partner’s best friend visited last week. We showed her downtown and, while out, explored a shop that specializes in crystals and handmade jewelry. For some, joy is found in pretty geodes, tie-dye and themed tarot cards.
The shop sold a cute wooden incense tray for $15. It was roughly shaped and untreated — for a roughshod artisanal look.
I brought it home, after paying for it (an important step). I took my roughest nib-smoothing sandpaper to the tray’s many edges and ridges. Special attention focused on the ridges in the middle as my currently inked pens will lay astride these ridges. The smooth ridges ensure pens can rest safely on the tray without gathering scuffs or scratches from sharp wooden bumps.
Your sacrifice will be remembered
Then I applied a single coat of linseed oil to the tray. The oil takes about 24 hours to soak into the wood. The color subsequently darkened to a mid-toned brown. All of the texture and grain remain easily visible. Character in full.
And both my new vial stand and pen tray come with a story to share. Bonus points.
This week’s Inked Tines update includes last week’s currently inked writing tools.
Toolset
Pens. I adore the combination of this Nakaya Neostandard (B) and Vert Empire. Prominent gradient shading. Reliable ink flow. Disciplined B line that is able to keep my small letters from melding together on the page. Sentimentally meaningful and a flawless writer. 3/5 ink level but 5/5 stars.
Loft Highworth (EF) — Feed. This pair grew inconsistent over the course of last week. I had cause to flood the feed on three occasions. No wonder it emptied so quickly. Reading notes, brainstorm notes and journaling.
Monteverde Giant Sequoia (M Architect) — 2/5. Hard starts upon uncapping. Once the ink flows, this pair offers fun and sharp line variation. A great pairing that brings out both Sabimidori’s green and sheen-dark sides. Journaling, end-of-year teaching reflections, reading notes.
Platinum 3776 (F) — 1/2. This F nib remains an excellent writer for working within Hobonichi’s 3.7 mm grid — especially in those close-quarters monthly cells. Task management, scratch notes, reading notes.
Franklin-Christoph 45 (B SIG) — 1/2. My go-to combo for short writing sessions. The quick 1/2 turn to uncap made for excellent meeting notes and list making. Lists, meeting notes, reading notes, and messages in cards.
Mythic Aeschylus (M SIG) — 4/5. Well-suited to headings, slow writing, and lists. Pumpkin Patch jumps off the page when next to the other unsaturated inks. Journaling, brainstorm notes, reading notes.
Notebooks. Journal. YT Bindery Yu-yo (A5). The end of the rainbow road. The sidewalk’s end. The eagles have arrived. Another 14 pages of writing finished out my journal. My second of 2022.
I wrote four entries last week. A wide variety of writing spans the fourteen pages. Two longform reflections, one set of brainstorm notes, and a list. Fun.
Monday is six pages of dual targeted reflections. I tapped the Nakaya for the first topic — sorting my headspace on my final round of meetings to end the 2021-2022 school year. The B nib and wide section combined for three pages of comfortable writing.
The Monteverde and it’s architect nib carried me through a breakdown of the second House hearing. I write to think. And writing out connections from the hearing to other scholars’ ideas is therapeutic work. Sabimidori’s fun green-blue was icing on top.
My partner and I leave one another notes. Notes hidden in bags and in closets. They now buy “notebook sized” cards for their notes since I like to save them in my journals.
What a gorgeously content penguin
I’ve outlined the three steps I use to put a journal to bed. The process takes about an hour, beginning to end.
I spent a lovely Saturday morning reviewing my entries and listing lessons for myself at the back in Verdigris. And then I listed my favorite poems and long quotes from within the Yu-yo.
Alternating colors keeps the list scannable … and easy on the eyes
Written dry. The Loft Highworth ran empty Saturday morning. The primary cause was from flooding the feed three times. I suspect there is an obstruction between the nib and the feed.
The issue manifested as alternating between ink running well and then drying up completely. Without a consistent cause I am able to discern. Investigations to come.
That said, the broad section of the Highworth pairs well with the tailored EF lines of my mnml-branded nib.
I am eager to sort the flow issues and try this pair again before the DC Pen Show in August. That way I can reserve time with a professional nibmeister if the ink flow remains inconsistent.
Plus, I would then have an excuse to attend. Beyond my current reasoning: “I wanna.”
… and I do wanna …
Newly inked. I committed to my six originally inked pens. A well-balanced slate of inked pens makes commitment easy. I found the right writing partners last week.
A veritable boy band of inked pens
The collection
Incoming / new orders. A svelt new LIFE journal arrived. This particular LIFE notebook is chock full of new experiences.
Sith Life Forever
LIFE’s paper is new to me. Not only that, the 2mm grid makes for a fun alternative to my usual 4mm and 5mm grids. Let alone from the blank pages in my current YT Bindery notebook.
Teeny tiny writing grid
Add a shift to B6 sizing. LIFE’s B6 is two centimeters shorter than YT’s A5 notebook. It’s still just narrower than the width of an A5 notebook. That combination balances compact size with plenty of horizontal writing space. Real estate.
Outgoing / trades or sales. The collection remains intact.
Currently reading and listening
Fiction. I read one more chapter in Liu’s The Three Body Problem. I stand 19 pages further along than last week.
Marked by this lovely nib paper clip
The subtle breadcrumbs to extraterrestrial activity are growing in impact. From ghostly countdowns to changes in how birds and wildlife behave, the clues grow ever more concrete.
Liu’s slowly building tension makes for exciting storytelling. I am having a blast.
Nonfiction. The great majority of last week’s reading time was spent with Jack Balkin’s excellent What Obergefell v. Hodges Should Have Said. Two chapters down. 70 pages. My nerd self is grinning ear-to-ear.
The first three chapters outline the legal history that foregrounds the Obergefell ruling and define key concepts for understanding the ruling itself. The rest of the book presents different opinions, as provided by a broad spectrum of legal experts. Brings me back to my time in higher education.
I spent time with two woodcase pencils. I first tried Caran d’Ache’s Swiss Wood pencil. The core was too unforgiving for Yale University Press’ spongy paper. The first two pages sport tears from the lead — which is simply ill-suited to recording marginalia. It’s a far better fit for longform writing on firm paper; think Rhodia or Bank Paper.
So, I switched to Blackwing’s TWA edition pencil in short order. Glorious clear lines. And I get to sharpen often to keep my writing appropriately small within the book’s margins. Easily seen progress.
Pencil progress
Music. Last week was an odd one, musically. I listened to harder music from my college days.
Until Friday.
I discovered a lovely set of hours-long videos by the great Hungarian aquarium experts at Green Aqua. They’ve filmed three of their impeccably kept aquaria and set the resulting video to chill music.
These videos have played on repeat through the weekend. A definite stress reliever.
My editor loves the fishes, aquatic plants and calming vibes.
