A Fabulous New 'Toy': Pilot Watercolors

Where in the heck did this week go? I think I blinked & the week was over! That just amazes me! Maybe I entered a time-warp? Where did it go? My desk at work was, in fact, more than piled with files, papers & things that had to be processed and attended to. That's the down side of having time off. By the time I got home each evening I was too exhausted to think about photographs and writing.

As most of you who have been reading my blog know by now, I love to try new things & I love to experiment. I am a gadget gal - what more can I say? This week I am trying out a great new watercolor set that I got through Jet Pens. This set is made by Pilot - of Pilot pen fame - and it is really pretty cool. There are two different sets: basic colors & custom colors. This one is the basics.

The colors or sort of like a wide lead. You advance the color by turning the top. Included with the set are 12 beautiful colors, a Pilot water brush, two small reservoirs for water & two small sponges. The colors blend really nicely - the warm colors seem a bit smoother to me but maybe that's just my proclivity for the warmer colors talking! One of the best things is that the colors are refillable --- very 'green' of Pilot don't you think? Although at first I thought that these sets were a bit pricey - after trying them out I think it is a good product for the money. The colors will last quite awhile & they can all easily all fit into a pencil case for toting around in your bag. Another 'hit' product for Pilot - and Jet Pens too. If you are not familiar with Jet Pens - you should check them out. They have so many cool products & their shipping is free with any $25.oo purchase (that's a big thing for me) plus they ship lightening fast - another plus! Lots of toys, good customer service & fast shipping - a great combination! No affiliation at all yadda yadda yadda!

Uni-Ball Signo Bit Gel Pen - Writes The Tiniest Line Around!

comfortable grip section

EDITED TO ADD:

I have decided to remain with Blogspot! Yeah!

If anyone is interested in the particulars - please email me and I will fill you in.

Quote from JetPens:
"...Introducing the world's thinnest gel pen...in new colors! The Signo Bit is the latest contender in Japan's race to make the thinnest pen. The tip is so small you can write words on a grain of rice. New colors include: fuchsia, light green, blue black, light purple, and mandarin orange. New colors, same amazing 0.18 mm microscopic tip...."


When JetPens made the announcement (above) that one of their newest pens, The Uni-Ball Signo Bit Gel Pen 0.18 could write on a grain of rice I was skeptical. Very skeptical. That a gel pen that small could write was something I had to wonder about as well. Gimmick? Overly optimistic? Since pens are a passion and I have an inquiring mind - I just had to know. I asked and they graciously sent me a pen in my favorite orange to try out. These pens come in lots of wonderful colors - and are also sold in a set. They run only about $3.oo per pen or a set is $25.00. They work equally well for tiny writing on quilts or doll's pieces - lots of things I can think of to try them on.

Jet Pens is a company that I think highly of. They always have the latest and the greatest in pen & fun technology from the Land Of The Rising Sun. Their customer service is great, prices good & shipping fast - so I had to find out if this claim would was true. Notice all of those pesky little grains of rice? Well, lo and behold it really DOES write on a grain of rice! I also discovered that rice grains are far from smooth - so writing on them is, really, no small challenge!

Some of you may also have noticed the JetPens "Pentastic Christmas" link in my sidebar. They are donating pens to needy child who want to learn ... a great program from a great company. Need a pen, pencil or fun color writing tools for Christmas? Check out JetPens - and you'll see why I recomment them so highly. No affiliation or anything - just a customer that appreciates great customer service.

the tiny little .18 nib

It really DOES write on a grain of rice!

A sleek, colorful little gem of a pen!

JetPens Pentastic Christmas: Pens For Kids: An Easy Way To Support Education in Africa

Some of you are already aware of my fountain pen fixation...well maybe it's just a fixation with pens in general. Even when I did use ballpoints or rollerballs I was rather picky. I like the perfect point and the perfect ink. Ink? Oh! I love colored inks - and color in pens & pencils. I love all of the possibilities that pens & colors promise. When I decided that it was high time to return to using only fountain pens I could only find one pen that has continued to journey with me from my youth. It's a Pelikan 120 with a still perfect italic nib. I wanted something that would work for every day use. I found Jetpens. This is a place that offers all of the best in pens of all types - a world of pens; fountain, rollerball, ballpoints & colors - oh! the fabulous lines - and many brands -of colored pens & pencils they offer! No ! I am not affiliated with this company - I just appreciate their selection & their customer service.

JetPens is also doing a great thing right now in conjunction with Pens For Kids. They hope to donate thousands of pens to children in Africa who needs pens in order to further their education. All you need to do is to join JetPens Face Book group.... have a look. It's such an easy way to get a simple, but meaningful instrument for change & education into the hands of a needy child. Check out JetPens to learn more about this program....and, while your there, have a look at all they offer too !

The A Doodler's Journey; An Improbable Romance of Pen & Ink

I have, indeed, succumbed to the fountain pen bug, or perhaps it is, rather, that I have returned to the fountain pen fold after a prolonged absence. What is new - to me at least - is that the fountain pen ink industry has blossomed in my absence. As I recollect ink was generally a matter or blue,black or blue-black. Parker Super Quink did make a beautiful turquoise that I remember fondly while Sheaffer had an amazing green. There were reds to be had at that point as wel l- I especially remember that Osmiroid made a red that I used in a calligraphy pen. In general though, there was a dearth of color in fountain pen ink....which made doodling with a fountain pen less enjoyable. No more !!! Fountain pen inks are now as beautiful & varied as any artist's medium - ink purveyors are now truly artists & their inks have become a true art medium. There are 'wet' inks, 'dry' inks, lubricating inks, inks in every color, shade and tone that you could wish for .. and did I mention that most are blendable as well?! There are even highlighting inks. Ooolala!! Check out some of the amazing colors available at J.Herbin inks (one of my favorite companies that also makes dip pens and sealing waxes), or Noodlers inks - with an amazing palette of inks available made right here in the USA. Another of my favorites is Private Reserve ink. You will be amazed at the variety!

I have, therefore, been spending an inordinate amount of time learning about pens and inks, collecting them & recently even trading them. I have also been enjoying doodling a lot - as I try out each new pen and ink in various combinations. They have become a revelation, much like using Caran D'Ache Neocolor crayons or Stewart Gill paints have been. This is the beginning of my doodling journey so I thought I would show you a couple of pages of my doodles - wrought as I try a new pen, or a new ink or various combinations of both! Inks are magical, intriguing and they have really captured my imagination. Go out and buy a fountain pen - you really won't regret it and your writing & doodling life might change - just as mine has ! I was astounded at how many wonderful pen companies are out there now- willing to help you choose just the right pen for you. Of course, because of where I live I had to depend on on-line resources - and there are PLENTY of them! I got my first pen from jet pens - they have an amzing array of pens available - Japanese pens like Pilot for instance. Their prices are very reasonable and they sell lots of cool new art supplies - like water brushes, markers, crayons, water colors etc. After that I decided I needed to do some research. I joined the Fountain Pen Network. This is a very well though out site with some of the nicest, most helpful people you will ever find in an on-line site. There are always great pens being sold through their 'market place' feature. I Sell Pens is another online site taht insures fast service, great prices and an array of reasonable priced entry level (or high level) pens. I could on - and probably will in the future - about the amazing resources for pen fanatics like I am becoming. Ink On!..and have a very happy weekend !