The Pen Addict Podcast: Episode 468 - The A's got a Hat On

Did it take you a minute to sort out this week’s title? Me too, but Myke was all over it in this episode. We discuss my planning plans since returning from vacation, a Drillog update, and working on your handwriting.

Show Notes & Download Links

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Shibui A5 Life Organizer Review

(Sarah Read is an author, editor, yarn artist, and pen/paper/ink addict. You can find more about her at her website and on Twitter. And check out her latest book, Out of Water, now available where books are sold!)

It's weird to say something like this, but I love everything about the Shibui A5 Life Organizer except the design. The things I dislike about it might not bother you, in which case (pun intended) you might really enjoy this product.

For one, it is extremely well constructed. The stitching is strong and even. There are sturdy, metal YKK zippers--one for the main compartment that has a metal pull, and two interior ones with leather pulls. The whole case is made from a suede-textured genuine leather (this one is called Desert Tan). The finish of the leather takes on the character of its environment, absorbing hand oils, etc. The suede finish means it will show stains and damp fingerprints very clearly, which I like but it might drive you nuts. There's a brass snap closure inside, and a pull-to-adjust pen loop that can accommodate a wide range of pen widths. The outside is very minimal looking, and the inside has the Shibui logo embossed on the left side.

Inside, on the left, there is a small, fabric-lined zipper compartment, four fabric-lined card slots, one long vertical leather-lined zipper pouch, and a folder pocket behind that. At the center is the adjustable pen loop. On the right side there is a card slot, a snap-closure loop, and a large folder pocket for a notebook cover.

These inclusions are fairly standard for an organizer cover. I've tried out at least four other A5 cases that have similar features in the past few years. The issue I have with this case is the configuration of these features.

For one, the pen loop is placed so that any pen you put there will be aligned with the metal zipper teeth and slider. That's likely to damage the finish of any pen you place there. That may not be an issue at all if you're just carrying a disposable pen or a metal pen that's made to take a beating, but if you're inclined to carry fine pens, this is an easy deal breaker.

The other design issue I have with this cover is the snap loop closure on the inside back cover. I have a serious Princess and the Pea situation going on with that snap. Placing it behind where the notebook is supposed to sit creates a huge lump in the middle of the page. And if I were to actually use that loop to hold cords as it's intended, it would be even more lumpy. Of course, not everyone uses this space for notebooks. Some use that pocket for devices. And if you're using it for a planner where you're just jotting down quick entries, maybe that lump isn't so intrusive. But for longer writing, it's not very nice.

Overall, this is not a bad product, and it's competitively priced at around $70, which is much less than many genuine leather A5 cases cost. And for the average person, who is not as fussy about their pens as we are in this community, and who isn't as likely, perhaps, to sit and write for an hour or two in their notebook, this could be a wonderful addition to their stationery setup. It really doesn't work for me, though, and I wouldn't recommend it to a general audience in the pen community. There are people who would love it, though, and they'd have good reasons, too.

(Shibui provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Van Dieman's Midnight Series: Howl At The Moon Ink Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

It's been quite a while since I've tried any shimmering inks, so the decision to try Van Dieman's Howl at the Moon is seriously overdue. All of the shimmering inks I've tried previously were of a darker variety, which creates a fairly obvious contrast between the ink color and the bright shimmery bits. Howl at the Moon is different because it's a pale yellow ink paired with a silver shimmer that sits on top. It's a subtle effect, but I've really been enjoying it.

I really enjoy the imagery that the marketing copy calls up to describe this ink:

Howl At The Moon is a silver shimmered dark yellow ink, inspired by the iconic image of a full yellow moon illuminating the night sky, silhouetting a lone alpha wolf, and uplifting the moods of everyone beneath.

I don't know if I'd agree with the dark yellow description, but I love the image of the moon and the wolf complementing each other in an idyllic midnight scene.

To my eye, Howl at the Moon is a pale, dusty yellow that inches toward a darker hue only when the ink pools up in certain strokes. It's certainly difficult to read on white paper, and I wouldn't mind if it was just a bit darker to improve the legibility. That said, I think it's a really pretty color. It's not one that I would write with routinely, but it's certainly an enjoyable change of pace and one that always makes me smile when I see it.

There's also a fair bit of shading that occurs if you're using a nib that's large and wet enough. In this somewhat dry 1.5mm stub nib from Monteverde, I get plenty of color variation between the thick, slow strokes compared to the quick, light strokes of different letters. The shading doesn't present as prominently when swabbing, so that shows it only has a limited capacity for color variation. The small amount of variation it does exhibit, however, is quite nice.

A lovely ink is made better by the hidden mysteries is possesses. In this case, the silvery shimmer that surfaces under certain light. It's a tricky thing to catch — sometimes it only looks like a place where the ink ran thin, leaving only a hint of color behind. Change your angle of perspective just a bit, and the dusty yellow rushes back in. The silver shimmer creates such a dazzling effect in areas where the ink has pooled, and it creates a glittering starlight effect in normal handwriting. It reminds me of Moon runes in The Hobbit:

“Moon-letters are rune-letters, but you cannot see them,” said Elrond, “not when you look straight at them. They can only be seen when the moon shines behind them..." — The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

While the ink is completely legible regardless of whether moonlight is present, this subtle glimmer is such a delight in our mundane real world.

Aside from the color and shimmer, this ink is fairly standard in terms of how it behaves in the pen. It's easy to clean out, but I clumsily forgot that shimmer inks require a good shaking before inking up your pen! My initial impressions were along the lines of, "what shimmer??" But that's easy to fix by remembering to prepare the ink before drawing it into the pen. Without some gentle shaking, all the shimmery silver bits stay at the bottom of the container!

At $14.95 for a 30ml bottle, Van Dieman's Howl at the Moon is an excellent value. And, if you're not sure (or just don't want much), you can always opt for a small sample for a few bucks. It's not in stock at Vanness now, but definitely keep your eyes peeled for a restock if this is your sort of thing. I've really enjoyed my time with this ink and look forward to using it for special occasions!

(Vanness Pens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!