Ink Trivia

Red ink

Certain images instantly conjure up this bold color: fire engines, flames, roses, rouges, rubies, rust, tomatoes, blood and valentines. Red pens have traditionally been used by teachers when grading papers – ostensibly to make their comments and markings stand out from the original work.

Red is hot. It's a strong color that conjures up a range of seemingly conflicting emotions from passionate love to violence and warfare. Red is Cupid and the Devil.

Red ink was used extensively in medieval manuscripts. It was the color of headings, titles and initials. It was also used for important days in the calendar. In the medieval Books of Hours, the days of the month written in red denoted Saints' Days - hence our saying 'red letter day.'

Put some red in your life when you want to show:

·         increased enthusiasm and interest

·         more energy

·         action and confidence to go after your dreams

There is no bolder color than red and Pen Boutique has the many hot shades your pen desires.  Check out some of our scarlet wonders:


http://www.penboutique.com/noodler-s-ink-firefly-bottled-ink.html
http://www.penboutique.com/montblanc-mystery-black-60-ml-ink-bottle-refill.html
http://www.penboutique.com/diamine-150th-anniversary-40ml-carnival-red.html

What is the complementary color of red on the color wheel?

Answer: Red’s direct opposite is green.

Read more »

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

Read more »