Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Favorite Fountain Pen Inks (In No Particular Order)






Lamy-Blue Black (discontinued bottled, iron-gall formula) is currently being used in a Noodler’s Konrad fountain pen fitted with a 1.1 mm italic Goulet Nib. I use this for journaling, some note taking, addressing envelopes and as one of my primary signature inks. This is a relatively dry ink with great shading and no bleed-through or feathering on even low quality paper. It is very water resistant. (One possible substitute for this ink is Rohrer &Klingner’s Salix.)

LamyBlue (preferably bottled) is almost always found in my blue Lamy Safari with a fine nib. Used for underlining, marginalia, jotting notes/to-do lists, sermon prep notes/ideas. This non-flashy ink is so well-behaved even on low quality paper. It has some shading. It is not at all water resistant but it is low-maintenance. Like all Lamy inks, it’s quite affordable and comes in a very user-friendly bottle complete with a built-in supply of blotter paper! (I accidently let myself run out of my bottled supply of everyday workhorse ink. Trying to be a bit more frugal this year, I elected to finish my bottle of Sheaffer Skrip Blue (Slovenia) ink before restocking Lamy Blue. Fortunately I do have a few cartridges of LB remaining.)

My Lamy Al-Star with a 1.1 mm italic nib is loaded with my favorite brown-shaded ink, Rohrer &  Klingner Sepia. This ink shades beautifully, behaves splendidly, dries quickly and resists water faithfully.  R&K Sepia comes in a sturdy, light-resistant bottle. In my opinion, it is a true sepia. Uses include journaling, letter writing or note cards to friends and some underlining and marginalia. 

StipulaCalamo Moss/Musk Green smoothly flows from a 1.1 mm italic Goulet-nibbed, Noodler’s Konrad fountain pen. It exhibits shading and performs well even on low-quality Moleskine paper. It’s a bit pricey. (I received it as a gift.) It has met all my expectations. I mostly use it for some journaling and note-taking. 

Other favorite inks currently not in rotation include Parker Quink Blue-Black, Parker Quink Black (now in my charcoal Lamy Safari (EF) and R&K Scabiosa (which is an iron-gall ink). All of these behave relatively well on a wide range of paper qualities. In fact, I generally try to only purchase inks that work well on the generally unfriendly-to-fountain-pen-ink Moleskine paper.

Swabs of all of these inks can be found at GouletPens Swab Shop. (In my opinion, the Lamy Blue actually more vibrant and has a hint more purplish tint.) 

When possible, I try to purchase my inks from brick and mortar stores, which is hardly ever. Online, I generally purchase ink (and pens) from gouletpens.com, jetpens.com and shopwritersbloc.com.

What are your favorite bottled fountain pen inks?

(Note: I have no affiliation with any of the companies listed in this post other than being a satisfied customer.)

Saturday, February 1, 2014

“Sons and Daughters, Mothers and Fathers”


Sons and daughters,
Honor and obedience to your mothers and fathers
is good, holy and rewarding.
But disobedience and dishonor
will not keep them calmer.  
For the Lord’s sake submission stop hoarding!

Mothers and Fathers,
Your children you are not to exasperate
even though they instigate
frustration in you at times.
For while they must honor and obey,
listening carefully to all that you say,
harsh pushing may lead them to crimes…
against you, God and others.
For the Lord’s sake flee ruling that smothers!  

Children AND Parents,
Let’s look to the perfect Daddy and Son
in Whose family by faith we’re made one
when obediently we’re buried in water.
For the Son, on that night
that was filled with great fright,
said, “Not my will but Yours” to His Father.

(Inspired by Ephesians 6:1-4.)

By Bart W. Newton
February 1, 2014
©2014

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Husband and Wife




“Husband and Wife”

Bride and groom
Must give Christ room,
If they want mutual love to grow.
But if they insist,
On keeping insults by lists,
Then their vows will be eaten as crow.

Husband and wife
May suffer much strife,
From their own selfishness each.
But if they want life,
This husband and wife,
Their hearts they must let Jesus teach.

By Bart W. Newton
January 25, 2014
©2014

Friday, January 24, 2014

Manhood



“Manhood”

Manhood isn't poured from a bottle.
Manhood isn’t sprayed from a can.
Manhood comes from being covered
          by the blood of the Son of Man.

Manhood isn’t convenient.
Manhood isn’t a joke.
Manhood is man always wearing
          the Son of Man’s right-fitting yoke.

Manhood isn’t having a wife for ruling.
Manhood isn’t showin’ who’s boss.
Manhood is man loving like Jesus,
          Who made manhood’s standard the Cross.

                   © Bart W. Newton, 1/24/2014