Ink Trivia

You have more choices than you think. Blue writing ink is the most popular color used for pens. To simply say you want to use blue ink does not narrow it down as to your choice. As with many colors, blue ink is available in many shades such as Sapphire, Regency, Blue Velvet, Royal, Midnight, Imperial, Cobalt, Cerulean, Electric, Blue Suede and Mediterranean. Pen Boutique also carries many brands that offer blue including Waterman, Parker, Noodler’s Ink, Pilot-Namiki, Cross, Lamy, Diamine, Faber-Castell, Sheaffer, Montblanc and Sailor.

Question: What color helps you to remember?



























Answer: You are more likely to remember something if you write it down in blue ink.

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Fountain Pen Ink Trivia

Fountain pen ink is a water-based ink intended for use with fountain pens.

Because fountain pens operate on the principle of capillary action, ink for them is almost exclusively dye-based. Pigment inks (which contain solid pigment particles in a liquid suspension) tend to clog the narrow passages of the pens. Some pigmented inks do exist for fountain pens, but these are uncommon. The ideal fountain pen ink is free-flowing, free of sediment, and non-corrosive. These qualities may be compromised in the interests of permanence, manufacturability, and in order to use some widely available dyes.

Most fountain pen manufacturers also provide a brand of ink; for example Parker sells 'Quink', '. The recent resurgence of fountain pen use has also created a market for companies that specialize in ink, such as the British company Diamine and the American company, Noodler's Ink. These manufacture ink in dozens of different colors.

Trivia Question: What is the most popular selling bottled ink?











































Answer: Lamy Blue

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Penmanship for Holiday Season

Parker Red Sonnet Fountain Pen

In this fast paced world of new technology and busy days it is not often we get a reason to stop and reconnect to our traditions. Sending holiday cards allows us that excuse to connect. When carefully addressing aunt Betty's or cousin Bill's card we have the opportunity to not only use our best penmanship, it grants us permission to utilize our finest writing materials and ink. I enjoy getting into the spirit by using a red fountain pen and green ink. In the wonderful world of fountain pens there are many, many options of green ink to grace your cards and letters. Some of the most fitting green colored ink includes Diamine Evergreen, J.Herbin Vert Empire, Noodler's Polar Green, Montblanc Irish Green along with a multitude of others. One of my favorite descriptions of an appropriate green is the Pilot/Namiki Iroshizuku Forest Green: "It embodies the unchanging color of a dense evergreen forest in a long winter."

I have found my perfect pen & ink combo to script my holiday cards. The Parker Sonnet red lacquer gold trim fountain pen and Sailor Four Seasons Special Edition Tokiwa Matu Green bottled ink fit the task with bells ringing. The intensity if the green and the easy feel of the Sonnet complement each other in an exacting manner.

So take some time off from your baking and wrapping this year and choose the ideal fountain pen and bottled ink for you. If you realize that you enjoy the experience so much you decide to use it year long, for all your correspondence, your secret is safe with me. I won't tell Santa!

By Vicki M

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