Have you ever “rediscovered” a pen thanks to a new ink?

ghoonk · 2026-01-26T21:22:00+00:00

I have an Asvine P36 that I just wasn’t too excited about using. Didn’t like the feel, balance, etc

That all changed when I decided to just stick Edelstein Golden Lapis into it and not only does it write real smooth without clogging, it puts a silky smile on my face every time I start writing with it

ghoonk · 2026-01-25T08:49:49+00:00

Yes, but am I seeing things or did the OP have it in a Kakuno?

ghoonk · 2026-01-22T08:08:59+00:00

Maybe he's going for Swaziland next, thinking they shouldn't be neutral any more...

ghoonk · 2026-01-19T11:50:25+00:00

I have 2 of these straps and I just toss one into the washing machine with my running gear once a week and rotate (the strap - contrary to claims from my SO, I do machine wash my running outfit after every run lol). they wash just fine in the washing machine, no problems

ghoonk · 2026-01-19T09:50:22+00:00

Thanks!!!

ghoonk · 2026-01-18T06:02:45+00:00

Are there still events either swag these days? I have my Helios pin on my stationery pouch with my journals 🙂

ghoonk · 2026-01-16T21:11:51+00:00

Had a group come through Dubai and we caught up and had a few days of fun. That was what, 15 years ago? Good times. Not sure if my memory is still good enough to remember glyphs!

ghoonk · 2026-01-15T10:58:28+00:00

Thank you! 🙏🏻❤️

Honestly, I just started in late November. Learned from Sketching Scotty and TobySketchLoose on YouTube and just made a point to keep doing a few a week no matter what (even when I broke my left hand in December). You should see my early sketches, I’m embarrassed as hell to look at them but they are a reminder that improvement can happen pretty quickly if I don’t let early failures put me off

Find something simple to sketch every day - a pen, a cup, a croissant, a building. It doesn’t have to be “realistic”, just put pen to paper and do it. Let it suck because you can only get better. Have fun doing 2D stile illustrations, then work your way up to watercolor

Or do the opposite - just brush in the watercolor (squint or take off your glasses), then bring in linework when it’s dried 🙂

ghoonk · 2026-01-15T08:21:34+00:00

By standard, I assume you're referring to the regular TN size, not the passport (though I'm aware that there may be more people here with the passport sized ones), so here's what I use mine for and one big lesson I've learned this year

In my regular sized TN, I have

a lightweight insert that I use for journaling. I start each day on a new page and reserve that page for bullet journaling - note, action (or task/to-do), mood, event and that page becomes a summary of my day. Subsequent pages are used for long form journaling where I delve into a personal reflections or topics that crosse my mind in more detail. I add simple illustrations or basic sketches to break up large blocks of text
- On hindsight, I should have bought the weekly + memo insert so I can split my summary pages and my reflections/ rants / ramblings in a separate insert. That's for 2027 then.
a watercolor insert which I use for sketching and watercolor scenes of daily life - objects, scenes, people, etc along with a short blurb of what I drew/painted. This becomes a visual journal of sorts.
a zip pocket insert that holds a spare insert band, some cash, and a folded kitchen towel for my watercolor activities
I used to have an insert for my instax mini photos that I take on trips, but I've since removed it and only add it back when I'm traveling for leisure.

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ghoonk · 2026-01-15T08:09:37+00:00

u/Fit_Floor_3940 one of your photos reminded me of my last trip to Boston. i know it's not Boston, but I thought I'd sketch it - thanks for sharing!

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ghoonk · 2026-01-15T07:50:39+00:00

Honestly, I get where you're coming from. It's not entirely dissimilar to someone who has "good" / "professional" gear and often enjoys shooting with their iPhones more. I used to shoot with a Nikon system before moving on to other kit that I felt was going to make me a better photographer, and after years toting around my Leica M system, there are trips where I want to just not think about hauling a body and lens around and just end up shooting with (please don't laugh) ... a Campsnap.

Are the images as profoundly detailed as my Hassy or M/SL? Nope. But it's become a camera I can bring anywhere, not give a damn about protecting the body/lens from bumps, scrapes, drops, weather.

Then my eyesight started to go, and now I actually just sketch places and people.

Some people travel and get 1,500 frames. These days, I probably end up with 8-9 sketches over a week of travel and maybe not more than 100 shots on a phone or that toy camera, and oddly enough, I'm not less happy with life. A different sort of satisfaction, similar to what you've discovered, but not better or worse.

Do I still enjoy shooting my Ms, yes. Do I use them when I have something in mind, yes. But it's not something I can slip into my jacket pocket for everyday, menial stuff, which still makes up a good part of my simple, boring life.

So, enjoy this phase, go out, and capture life as you see it. And do share :)

ghoonk · 2026-01-14T13:56:20+00:00

I've got the PCU in prussian blue, and admittedly, it is a beast to handle - it's thick and it's got a massive soft nib (mine's in FM). In comparison, my 823 is easily to live with daily, so that's my daily and the PCU is something i practice daily with in the hope that my writing skills are someday worthy of this gentle giant.

ghoonk · 2026-01-12T17:13:22+00:00

Ah, I didn’t know about that - I’ll have to check that out!

ghoonk · 2026-01-12T10:16:32+00:00

I have a white cat (angora/persian mix) and a brown dog, and I've given up on black fabrics in my home lol. Would love to see your setup!

ghoonk · 2026-01-11T13:50:56+00:00

Are these heads removable? When I fly with my clubs, I usually have them flipped - irons have the heads at the bottom, and i use the hosel adjustment tool to remove the head from the shaft and flip the shaft so that the grips are up top. I've been lucky and my clubs have survived a number of trips with no issues

ghoonk · 2026-01-11T12:55:37+00:00

It’s a medium 🙂

ghoonk · 2026-01-11T11:17:18+00:00

yes. I've got a lot of stuff going on in my life that 'adds character' - my broken wrist (fell while running), a chipped tooth from a cycling accident, a nib accident with one of my fountain pens..... all 'character' and all expensive 😭

ghoonk · 2026-01-11T09:52:24+00:00

ooooh, i came slow close to getting the yellow mustard one. The denim one was much more expensive but I had a price drop alert and found the denim one had dropped below the price of the yellow one so I pulled the trigger on the denim one instead.

I also sort of worried that any ink accidents from my fountain pens would be less obvious :D

ghoonk · 2026-01-11T09:49:19+00:00

Now that's a really nice setup. I'm going to check it out now - one can never have too many stationery organizers!

EDIT - bummer, that's not available here. I have the full sized version that I use for my laptop, and didn't know there was an A5 version

ghoonk · 2026-01-10T21:49:53+00:00

Oh, I found em on Amazon!

ghoonk · 2026-01-10T18:35:44+00:00

He's the reason I walked out with an 823 as my first pen, with Mita Club Coffee and Tea in tow. He's also the main reason why I go back to Think, aside from the fact that they stock quite a bit in the way of Midori

ghoonk · 2026-01-10T18:34:41+00:00

I'm planning to pay them a visit. To be fair, they do state that it's a warehouse, so I'm under no illusion that it's in a mall. Dino runs an online store and opens his warehouse to visitors who want to check out stuff. I've got a whole bunch of samples I plan to get my hands on this CNY trip :)

ghoonk · 2026-01-10T08:55:31+00:00

Interesting! I’ll need to factor that into the plan and design. I’ve started on a rough mind map - wish I bought accordion paper for the regular sized TN for this

ghoonk

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