My Favorite Inks: DeAtramentis Jane Austen

I am a big Jane Austen fan. I have read everything she wrote multiple times, including the juvenilia, some of which is - well, juvenile. I've also read a lot of fan fiction, some very good (thank you, Abigail Reynolds) and some awful.

So, when I saw DeAtramentis had a Jane Austen ink, I bought it without having a real clue (or is that "clew?") as to its colour, other than it was dark green.

It arrived in the mail the other day - and already it's hit the favourite list for me. A forest green ink that's beautiful, serene, well-behaved - rather more like Jane than Elizabeth.

Without further ado, may I have the honour of introducing DeAtramentis Jane Austen to you?



Here's the rinse test mentioned in the review

 (As always, images have been color-corrected and look a perfect match to me, on my monitor. Your Monitor May Vary. If you have your heart set on a particular colour, may I suggest you first try a sample before buying a full bottle? That may alleviate disappointment.)


And, lastly, should you have a desire to see Miss Austen's manuscripts in her own handwriting (alas, not in green), have a look here. Enjoy!

Pen Review: The Bexley Jitterbug!

There are a few modern American penmakers of the boutique variety - smaller operations whose focus is on catering to the specialized desires of the fountain pen community. Two that come to mind are Bexley and Edison.

Frankly, I've been a little leery of purchasing from these penmakers. This is despite numerous positive comments from others on the products. I don't mean to be disrespectful of either Bexley or Edison, but somehow I had  in my head some sort of kit pen finished nicely - which can be found at almost any crafts fair these days, at least where I live, and often for a fair amount less money.

Then I saw a tweet from Richard Binder that they were taking orders for the Bexley Jitterbug! (Though, as you'll see, I am enthusiastic about the pen, let me point out here that the exclamation point is part of the product name.) I was intrigued with the idea of a modern pen with a vintage NOS clip - and a very retro looking clip, at that. I thought for less than a minute before buying one, in Boogie Woogie Black Mosaic. I kid you not. (Look out - it's that "ooooh, shiiiiny!" thing happening again.)

(As always, all photos are clickable)
And what an interesting and fun little pen it is.