2013 was the biggest and best year in Pen Addict history and it wasn't even close. Readership has grown by leaps and bounds, the podcast moved to the 5by5 Network, and I started a pen case company. Looking back all I can say is WOW!
The readers of this blog hold a special place in my heart. You are all amazing and keep me going! And seeing the pen blogging community grow like it has in the past year makes me a happy camper.
2014 is going to be great!
It was one of those "run the gamut" episodes of the podcast where Myke and I hit on a bunch of topics. Myke got a beautiful new pen while having to make the tough decision to retire one of his daily writers. Maybe the feel of lava will sooth him. I heap praise on one of my favorite new pens, the entry-level Pilot Kakuno and discuss some interesting ink performance with the Field Notes Cold Horizon edition.
The Bilberry is a wild-growing fruit found mainly in northern and central Europe and is a close relative to the blueberry found in North America. It is also the name of an extra-funky fountain pen ink made by Diamine.
While the ink is sometimes referred to as Bilberry Blue, in my short time with it I have found it to be distinctly purple. An electric purple at that. Breakin' 2: Electric Purple Boogaloo.
Like most Diamine inks I have used, Bilberry is well behaved. The color is rich, the shading is nice, and in this particular case there is a slight sheen left behind which you can see in the image below. Dry time is nothing special - average at best on my Rhodia DotPad.
When I did the handwritten part of the review I was enamored with the ink. I still am, but I haven't found it to be an every day go to ink like I thought it might be. Still, it is nice to have around and I thank Thomas for sending me this sample.
You can pick up a bottle of Diamine Bilberry at JetPens for $12.50.
As an added bonus, here is Bill Berry back on drums with some of his R.E.M. bandmates at Peter Buck's wedding this summer:
