Rachel&#039;s Reflections Posts

December 4, 2024

Paper System Changes, Update #2

Posted in Paper

I meant to write this post a couple of months ago, around the beginning of October. But, hey, better late than never, right?

I’ve divided this post into four major sections, so if you’re only interested in some of them, feel free to jump directly to them. Each section has a short update to my previous paper system changes post, followed by the new information.

Topics: Sizes & Uses | Paper | Layouts | Accessories

The short version of this post — the TLDR, if you will — is that things are going significantly better, but I still have a few issues to work out.

As a short aside, I’ve gotten used to bringing multiple binders when I go to work. It no longer bothers me. But, I rarely bring more than my blog binder with me elsewhere. I need to get back into the habit of bringing my Mini 5 (M5) binder with me more often.

2̶5̶ 24 Days of Dupes 2024 – Intro

December 1, 2024

2̶5̶ 24 Days of Dupes 2024 – Intro

Posted in Ink

We have a new calendar this year! Colorverse debuted their foray into the advent calendar world, Colorvent, and I snapped one up, because I love Colorverse ink. I’m considering duping the Inkvent Calendar sometime early next year, let me know if that’s something you’re interested in seeing. Of course, because it’s a completely different calendar, there will be some differences, but there will also be a lot of similarities.

What’s the Same?

As I have the past couple of years, I will be posting once a week with all of the inks from that week, with the day based on Christmas. Since Christmas is on Wednesday, my Colorvent posts will be on Thursdays. My first dupe post will be on the 5th, with the inks from December 1-4. My final dupe post will be on the 26th, with inks from December 19-24. And I’ll have a wrap-up/reference post on the 27th linking to the 4 dupe posts and listing the best dupe for each ink.

Changes

The biggest difference is the number of days. The Colorvent Calendar has 24 days to Inkvent’s 25. However, I don’t want to post on Christmas day, so the final weekly post, as I mentioned above, will still be on the day after Christmas.

SPS Series: Wrap-Up For Now

November 29, 2024

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SPS Series: Wrap-Up For Now

Posted in Fountain Pens

Welcome, or welcome back, to my Stanford Pen Studio (SPS) series. If you haven’t seen my previous posts, I suggest you check them out to see the amazing work the SPS collective produces. This is my final entry in this initial run on SPS. However, I will continue this series as they partner with more artists, and already have an entry planned for their newest partner, Renée Gerstner.

I also want to remind everyone that I’m not affiliated with SPS, I’m just an avid fan of the people and the work they do.

This series has tested me more than any other blog series so far. Do you have any idea how hard it’s been to scroll through so many Instagram accounts, look at so much art, and keep myself from purchasing? I want ALL the pens, and ALL the art.

OK, full disclosure, I didn’t get through this series without any purchases. I bought some art from Yulia Glas. I tried to resist, I really did, but I couldn’t help myself.

I’ve enjoyed this series more than most of my other blog posts, too. It’s been great learning more about each artist, and helping to support them. I’m also happy to know that Di and Dave are as great as they seem.

Thank you

Posted in Personal

Just a quick thank you to my readers.

SPS Series: Spotlight on Di Möhr

November 27, 2024

SPS Series: Spotlight on Di Möhr

Posted in Fountain Pens

Welcome, or welcome back, to my Stanford Pen Studio (SPS) series. If you haven’t seen my previous posts, I suggest you check them out to see the amazing work the SPS collective produces. This entry is spotlighting Di Möhr, SPS’ co-founder who you can find on Facebook and Instagram

While I don’t own any of Di’s painted pens, Jim does, and I have one of her bead-wrapped pens. As I worked through the previous 10 posts of this series, I scrolled through the SPS Instagram feed countless times, and realized just how many pens Di painted before SPS “blew up,” keeping her too busy to work on art pens herself.

I’m keeping this post a surprise to Di, so it’s not the same type of Q&A style that the other artists’ posts were, but I’m sure you’ll enjoy the pens anyway. So that there’s no confusion, Di is no currently accepting commissions, nor is she working on art pens with any regularity. However, since this series has been about the wonderful work of SPS and their artists, it didn’t feel right to me to leave her out.

SPS Series: Spotlight on Lana le Roux

November 25, 2024

SPS Series: Spotlight on Lana le Roux

Posted in Fountain Pens

Lana is the fifth SPS artist I’ve commissioned a pen from. This particular commission is still in the works, but I know it’s going to be amazing.

Lana is a quintessential Renaissance woman. She is a chef, puts together beautiful catering spreads, paints stunning traditional art pieces, mixes custom resin blanks, paints pens, shares SPS administrative work, and is learning lathe work! And those are just the things I know about.

Cheese wheel wedding cake — Photos from Lana’s Instagram feed and SPS’s Instagram feed, click on a photo to view the post.

various photos of sections made from resins Lana has mixed — Photos from Lana’s Instagram feed and SPS’s Instagram feed, click on a photo to view the post.

Inky Madness – Diamine

November 22, 2024

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Inky Madness – Diamine

Posted in Fountain Pens

This post is inspired by Theresa is Dead‘s video Why Picking ONE Blush from 32 Is the Most Dramatic Thing You’ll Watch Today! I thought it would be a lot of fun to narrow down my top ink of any given brand. Because I own the most Diamine inks, I decided to start there.

I started this bracket with colors as similar as possible to make the early choices a bit more fair/even. As I decide between any two given inks, I’m looking at my swatch book. Forgive me for not including pictures of the swatches, but I don’t have time right now to photograph and edit 44 images. I have, however, provided links to ink reviews for each ink.

Disclaimer: I pulled images from several sites to have isolated photos of each bottle: JetPens, Mann Inc Ltd, Vanness Pen Shop, Flax Pen to Paper, Cult Pens, and some Reddit posts.

SPS Series: Spotlight on Lisa Strachan

November 20, 2024

SPS Series: Spotlight on Lisa Strachan

Posted in Fountain Pens

I’m still trying to determine what pen(s) I’d like from Lisa. Several of her pens have been highly tempting, and I was too slow to get a couple that I would have liked to own, like her Bird of Paradise pen. Lisa specializes in botanical illustrations, but not just on paper and pens! She has an amazing portfolio of textile arts.

Lisa's illustration of flamingo feathers — Photos from Lisa’s Instagram feed, click on a photo to view the post.

Lisa's oil painting of the Berg river — Photos from Lisa’s Instagram feed, click on a photo to view the post.

SPS Series: Spotlight on Zelna le Roux

November 18, 2024

SPS Series: Spotlight on Zelna le Roux

Posted in Fountain Pens

I’m still trying to determine what pen(s) I want to get with Zelna’s art. I was fortunate enough to see her Zebra pen at the DC Pen Show, and it was INCREDIBLY tempting. While Zelna specializes in oil paint, she works in various media, producing beautiful works with amazing richness and warmth.

One of Zelna's paintings featuring a desert road — Photos from Zelna’s Instagram feed, click on a photo to view the post.

One of Zelna's paintings featuring a man riding a horse around a barrel — Photos from Zelna’s Instagram feed, click on a photo to view the post.

Ink Battle: Pelikan and De Atramentis

November 15, 2024

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Ink Battle: Pelikan and De Atramentis

Posted in Ink

This ink battle is between Pelikan Edelstein Golden Lapis and De Atramentis Cyan Blue Gold with a guest appearance by Wearingeul 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Golden Lapis and Cyan Blue Gold are both in a Benu Talisman fitted with an F nib. The ink splat battle is on Canson recycled bristol, the written battle is on Maruman Giuris Loose Leaf Paper.

Today’s ink battle is another bout of bottle versus sample(s), but there’s a twist. I received Golden Lapis at the annual Pelikan Hub. When I used it, I found that it wasn’t a particularly well-behaved ink, feathering and bleeding through Tomoe River paper. But, the color is pretty, and when I got samples that looked like they’d be similar, I decided to square them off against each other. Because of this, I’m also tagging this battle as an Ink Dupe.

For those unfamiliar with these inks, Golden Lapis is Pelikan’s 2024 ink of the year. Cyan Blue Gold is part of the Pearlescent line and is also available with copper, bronze, or silver shimmer. All three inks used for this post contain gold shimmer.

Reminder: You can find all of the ink battle posts on the tag page.

SPS Series: Spotlight on Brandon Lodewyk

November 13, 2024

SPS Series: Spotlight on Brandon Lodewyk

Posted in Fountain Pens

I’m still trying to determine what pen(s) I want to get with Brandon’s art, although I’ve been seriously tempted by several of his fabulous works, especially his recent cat-themed pens. Brandon specializes in pencil and charcoal, creating gorgeous photo-realistic art. Don’t let his mastery of those media trick you, though, he’s also adept at painting in acrylic.

One of brandon's non-pen artworks, Fragile — Photos from Brandon’s Instagram feed, click on a photo to view the post.

One of brandon's non-pen artworks for a women's day celebration — Photos from Brandon’s Instagram feed, click on a photo to view the post.

SPS Series: Spotlight on Kseniia Nel

November 11, 2024

SPS Series: Spotlight on Kseniia Nel

Posted in Fountain Pens

Kseniia is the 4th SPS artist I commissioned a pen from. Kseniia is a versatile artist who studied art from 14 years of age. She works in a variety of styles — both digital and analog — featuring a multiplicity of subjects. Her diverse portfolio defies the expectations of such a young artist.

a surrealistic oil painting by Kseniia — Photos from Kseniia’s Instagram feed, click on a photo to view the post.

An expressionistic portrait by Kseniia — Photos from Kseniia’s Instagram feed, click on a photo to view the post.

Pen Porn: SPS Egyptian Cats

Pen Porn: Stanford Pen Studio Egyptian Cats

November 8, 2024

Pen Porn: SPS Egyptian Cats

Posted in Fountain Pens

Disclaimer: I take no responsibility for pen envy or impulse purchases resulting from viewing this post.

Per usual, you can click on the images to view them larger. I do my best to provide you with high-quality pen porn. 😉

I’m back today with a commissioned pen, my first from Kseniia Nel. When Stanford Pen Studio (SPS) posted her snake pen, I almost bought it, but it wasn’t exactly what I wanted. After a bit of thought, it occurred to me that the style would be perfect for Egyptian-style cat statues.

Kseniia Nel's pen: gilded serpents — The Gilded Snake pen image is from SPS’ Instagram, the cats are the images I sent to them as part of my commission, found on Google. Click to view larger.

Photo of an Egyptian-style cat statue, found on Google — The Gilded Snake pen image is from SPS’ Instagram, the cats are the images I sent to them as part of my commission, found on Google. Click to view larger.

What I was expecting was basically the same idea, but with cats, and probably something cat related instead of the flowers. But, what I got was so much MORE! Kseniia really knocked out of the park.

Stanford Pen Studio Imperious Egyptian Cats

SPS Series: Spotlight on Carla Nel

November 6, 2024

SPS Series: Spotlight on Carla Nel

Posted in Fountain Pens

I’m still trying to determine what pen(s) I want to get with Carla’s art, although I’ve been seriously tempted by a few of her beautiful works.

Carla is a professional illustrator, graphic designer, and multimedia artist. She works in widely versatile styles ranging from quirky and bold to somber and surreal to photorealistic pointillism. She works digitally and analog, with stunning results regardless of medium.

one of Carla's art pieces from inktober 2022, a cartoon T Rex riding a skateboard — Some of Carla’s work from her Behance portfolio. Click on a photo to view the original post

one of Carla's art pieces from inktober 2022, a picasso-like portrait — Some of Carla’s work from her Behance portfolio. Click on a photo to view the original post

SPS Series: Spotlight on Yulia Glas

November 4, 2024

4 Comments

SPS Series: Spotlight on Yulia Glas

Posted in Fountain Pens

Yulia is the fourth SPS artist whose work I purchased, although, unusually for my SPS purchases, none of the pens I have with her artwork were commissions. She currently specializes in anything nature-related, with a special emphasis on animals. Yulia also has a delightful array of paintings on/with gold leaf.

One of Yulia's paintings of a Ukrainian woman in traditional dress — Photos from Yulia’s Instagram feed, click on a photo to view the post.

One of Yulia's sculptures — Photos from Yulia’s Instagram feed, click on a photo to view the post.

Pen Porn: SPS Delft Cats

Pen Porn: Stanford Pen Studio Delft Cats

November 1, 2024

4 Comments

Pen Porn: SPS Delft Cats

Posted in Fountain Pens

Disclaimer: I take no responsibility for pen envy or impulse purchases resulting from viewing this post.

Per usual, you can click on the images to view them larger. I do my best to provide you with high-quality pen porn. 😉

As with my other two pens by Yulia Glas, this was not a commission. But, somehow, she was able to create a pen that seems like it’s made specifically for me. And I snagged it within seconds of it posting.

To start, I’ve wanted a pen to represent my Dutch heritage for a while. While my family wasn’t from Delft, Delft Blue is certainly a famous Dutch export.

Then, she included four cats — Jim and I have four cats. And she even managed to paint personalities that match my kitties’ personalities. It’s amazing!

SPS Series: Spotlight on Val Myburgh

October 30, 2024

SPS Series: Spotlight on Val Myburgh

Posted in Fountain Pens

Welcome, or welcome back, to my Stanford Pen Studio (SPS) series. If you haven’t seen my previous posts, I suggest you check them out to see the amazing work the SPS collective produces. This entry is spotlighting Val Myburgh who you can find on her website, Facebook, Instagram, and X/Twitter.

Val is the second SPS artist I commissioned a pen from, but she bears the distinction of being the first SPS partner artist. She specializes in educational, medical and scientific illustrations, with an amazingly diverse portfolio of work. Val works both traditionally and digitally, and it looks like there aren’t many techniques she hasn’t tackled.

One of Val's non-pen artworks, digital renderings of various animal skeletons overlaid on their bodies — Photos from Val’s Facebook page, click on a photo to view the post.

One of Val's non-pen artworks, a mixed media monarch butterfly — Photos from Val’s Facebook page, click on a photo to view the post.

SPS Series: Spotlight on Hanna Farmer

October 28, 2024

SPS Series: Spotlight on Hanna Farmer

Posted in Fountain Pens

Hanna Farmer is the third SPS artist I commissioned a pen from — in this case, pens, plural. Her specialty, both in traditional and pen art, is nature-inspired zendoodles, an incredibly intricate craft, as can be seen in the photos below. Hanna’s tools of choice include Sakura Pigment Micron pens of various sizes, and that carried over into her pen art.

A zen-doodle portrait, one of Hanna's recent non-pen works of art. — Photos from Hanna’s Instagram feed, click on a photo to view the post.

One of Hanna's recent non-pen artworks in progress, a bird sitting on a branch with blue watercolor doodles behind it — Photos from Hanna’s Instagram feed, click on a photo to view the post.

Pen Porn: SPS Cats and Books

Pen Porn: Stanford Pen Studio Cats and Books

October 25, 2024

5 Comments

Pen Porn: SPS Cats and Books

Posted in Fountain Pens

Disclaimer: I take no responsibility for pen envy or impulse purchases resulting from viewing this post.

Per usual, you can click on the images to view them larger. I do my best to provide you with high-quality pen porn. 😉

I fell in love with this pen when Yulia Glas posted her first preview of it to her stories. Then, when I saw the second preview, I knew I needed to have it. Cats AND books?! Literally two of my favorite things! I turned on alerts for Stanford Pen Studio (SPS), and pounced (pun intended) as soon as they posted the pen for sale. Before you continue reading my post, I suggest watching Di’s video — it’s only 90 seconds — where she reads each book title.