Itoya Oasis Line Friends A6 Notebook 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!)

I love it when adorable and practical collide. These Itoya Oasis A6 notebooks feature the iconic Korean cartoon characters from Line Friends, Brown the bear and Sally the duck. They wave at you from the cheery covers, and the inside covers are completely decorated in cuteness. These notebooks would be great even if they weren't so cute, though. The Oasis notebooks are fantastic, with great construction and good paper.

This A6 size is perfect for just about any project. There are 80 sheets of paper, or 160 pages, so you won't run out mid-project. The size is big enough that each page feels productive, but small enough to fit in just about any purse or bag pocket. The pages are printed with a pale grey ink in a unique pattern that combines the best features of lined, grid, and dot grid. Each page has space for the date and a header, and the margins contain subtle dots that can provide hour marks or other organization. It's ideal for a diary, commonplace book, bullet journal, or custom planner. Or it can be used as a simple notebook. It's versatile!

The paper itself is a coated Japanese paper that performs very well with most media. Sharpie did bleed through a small bit, and darker inks showed ghosting, but liquid inks and even a flex nib pen did not affect the other side of the paper. It would be easy to use both sides of the sheets--not just because the paper is so excellent, but also because the binding is designed for it.

The cardstock covers have sewn and taped binding over small signatures, so the notebook lies flat with no training, and the spine is strong enough to fold back on itself for easy handheld writing, if necessary.

This size of notebook, with this quality of paper and type of binding, is my favorite for on-the-go writing. It's portable, but not obnoxiously small, and I know that I'm not going to fill it up with one afternoon of writing. It's durable enough to hold up till you've finished all those pages. AND it's cute. AND it's only $11.99, which is a great price. It's inexpensive enough that it's useable and accessible. While I haven't completely used up one of these Line Friends editions yet, my last Oasis notebook was a treasured companion for months. It held up as my everything notebook, going everywhere--it was my external hard drive, my brain backup. I used every last page, and I highly recommend them. I'm looking forward to dragging my new Line Friends around on my next adventures.

(Goldspot provided this product at a discount to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on August 31, 2023 by Sarah Read and filed under Itoya, Notebook Reviews.

Lamy 2000 4-Color Ballpoint Multi Pen Review

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

The Lamy 2000 multi pen has been around for decades, but just like the fountain pen variant, you can buy them new today. I saw a Lamy 2000 multi pen a few years ago at a pen show when I was already in the midst of a multi pen craze, but I didn't jump on it when I had the chance. I regretted that decision. But then the pen became easier to find in the US, and I finally have one. It's a fantastic multi pen that just happens to have the iconic Lamy 2000 style.

I've tried out my fair share of multi pens over the years. From the basic Bic that you can find at most big box retailers, to all the sub-$30 Japanese options and even the more premium German pens that are made from metal and feature unique mechanisms for picking the refill. Each pen has its place and provides loads of value, but there's a lot to be said for style and form. I'm sure a Jetstream multi pen can do everything this Lamy can and survive almost as long, but which one do I enjoy using more? Definitely the Lamy.

When it comes to multi pens, one of the biggest options that will filter people from one side or another is whether or not the pen includes a mechanical pencil refill. Personally, I prefer my multi pens to be 100% ink refills as I don't prefer writing with mechanical pencils. But I also appreciate that there are abundant use cases where a pencil/pen combo is invaluable. In the case of the Lamy 2000, it comes with black, blue, green, and red ballpoint refills. I struggled to find the specifications for the tip size online, but a quick measurement of the line width on paper tells me that these are fairly fine tips at 0.5mm. It's a great width for my writing style, and the refills all produce a clean, crisp line once they start flowing. The ink formula in these ballpoint refills all take a couple of scribbles to get started, but they work flawlessly once they're going. I'm hoping that since these are ballpoint refills (as opposed to gel) that they'll last a bit longer.

The Lamy 2000 multi pen uses gravity to determine which refill to extend. I love this particular method because it always feels like magic when compared to the more common method of using one button per refill. How does the gravity system work? There are 4 refills inside the pen, and there are corresponding color indicators at the top of the pen barrel next to the nock (with the Lamy, the clip acts as the indicator for the black refill). Simply orient the pen so that the color indicator for the refill you want to use is on the top, press the nock down, and the corresponding refill extends. When you're ready to retract the refill, it works just like any other retractable pen — simply press the nock down again and it releases.

Pens that use this system can be a little finicky. For example, I have an old Staedtler multi pen that needs the orientation of the pen to be exact before extending the refill will work properly. Otherwise, it jams because two refills are trying to extend at the same time. In the case of the Lamy 2000, it works flawlessly. I noticed on the first few dozen operations that it felt a little scratchy, but that went away over time. I imagine there was some roughness or burs on the inside of the nose cone that were knocked down after some normal use. At this point, it's a smooth and satisfying experience.

Writing with the Lamy 2000 multi pen is a fantastic thing. I love the feeling of the Makrolon after it's been in my hand for a minute. It has superb grip while also being smooth. It's a magical material that I never get tired of using. The multi pen has a smaller diameter body than the fountain pen version, but it's still comfortable to use. The balance is great despite the length as most of the weight is toward the writing end. It's also pretty quiet while writing. multi pens can sometimes be a little noisy due to the unused refills rattling inside the body as you write, but that's not a problem for the 2000.

The included ballpoint refills feel smooth and make crisp, satisfying lines. Like I mentioned before, they usually need a couple of scribbles if you haven't used it in a while, but they work really well once they're "warmed up." As fair as ballpoint refills go, I really can't complain. The colors are nice and vibrant, and there isn't any skipping or thinning as I write or scribble.

One of the perks of the Lamy 2000 multi pen is that it uses a standard D1 refill size. This means you have lots of options for refills outside of the included ballpoints. There are lots of gel, hybrid ballpoint, and ballpoint refills to choose from, as well as plenty of colors. In the future, I'll probably swap in some gel refills in this pen to change things up. Sure, they don't last as long as ballpoint ink, but I like having the option of using different tip sizes and colors.

The Lamy 2000 is such a good design, and it's no wonder that Lamy translates the design to so many other types of pens in their lineup. I have several other non-fountain-pen versions of the 2000, but I think the multi pen might be my favorite of them all (except for the fountain pen, of course). At $79, it's also more affordable than the fountain pen and offers a lot of versatility with the instant color changing ability. If you're either a fan of the 2000 design or a fan of great multi pens, this is worth checking out. If you're a fan of both, this is a no-brainer!

(Vanness Pens provided this product at a discount to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Posted on August 30, 2023 by Jeff Abbott and filed under Lamy, Multi Pen, Pen Reviews.

Meet Your Maker: Jacob Pawloski, Mad Science Pen Company

(Caroline Foty's first fountain pen was a 1970s Sheaffer No Nonsense that still writes perfectly. Since she discovered pens by independent makers, she wants "one of each, please" and wants to meet all the makers. Maybe you do, too. She lives in Baltimore with pens, cats, and all kinds of fiber arts supplies.)

For Jacob Pawloski the path to this analog craft led through both the internet and his grandfather.

After collecting pens from the mainstream brands for a few years, Pawloski discovered the “maker” side of the pen universe and it captured his interest. At the same time, the early COVID shutdowns happened, leading to him spending all day alone in a building doing retail order shipping, without even any windows to break up the monotony. To enliven the hours, he watched YouTube videos about pens and pen making, and stumbled upon the iconic video of Jonathon “Carolina Pen Co” Brooks working with David “Figboot” Parker to make resin blanks to match several photographs.

As he began to contemplate making materials himself, his mother brought to his house in Indiana the old lathe that belonged to his grandfather. Since wood crafts also interested him, he began dabbling with the lathe and looking for the right use for it.

Pawloski started with kit pens, and found that the manager of the local wood store was his neighbor, so he got some tutoring to get started. However, he quickly became frustrated with the repetitiousness of kit pens. “I tried a hybrid approach with the kit pens but it was much too complicated.” So he invested in the tools and equipment, and began making both materials and kitless pens.

“The community of makers is very helpful and supportive. When I see that someone does a particular thing very well, I ask for tips from them, and most everyone is happy to help.”

Pawloski’s designs evolved quickly to the point where he is known today for a group of distinctive and recognizable styles. Taking note of how Figboot reviews always mention the effect of cap threads on the user’s grip, he focused on that aspect of pen shaping. “The primary drive for my design approach was to reduce interaction with the threads, to get rid of them from being a problem.” Two of his pen designs address this issue in two different ways. The Ranger model lengthens the section so that the threads are moved far up the pen away from where the writer’s fingers go. The various flavors of the Beta model place the threads inside the flared area at the bottom of the section so that there is no need for the writer to touch threads anywhere.

He also tries to be on the “wilder side” with his materials, and makes use of neon bright colors. All this experimentation resulted in him naming his company Mad Science. “I love science, I went to school for science…. When I was starting making pens, you’d go to the bank and see people in face masks, just like in the shop, looking like mad scientists. Casting can look like a mad scientist pouring potions.” It seemed like a complete fit.

What’s a favorite pen you didn’t make yourself? “Any other maker pen!” Pawloski particularly values a pen made for him by Shawn Newton from a Mad Science material. “Shawn has been a big inspiration for me, both in how he thinks and in his philanthropy.” Because he writes on bad paper so often, his most used nib is a well tuned fine, but he also likes “crazy nibs” and making a mess with a ruling pen. One of his current endeavors involves developing a nib, about which more could not be said at this time, but it might be crazy.

With a full time job, a pen shop, and two kids, the extra time Pawloski does have is spent getting out of the house to travel or be outdoors. This crowded schedule also means that he doesn’t do pen shows, although the idea is appealing. He is working on a large exclusive order for a retailer scheduled to come out in late August or in September, which is a great thing but does involve “making the same pen over and over.” Like many other makers he has gotten away from taking unlimited commission orders, because having to work through a long list of them reduces the amount of time he can spend developing his designs and materials. Currently he runs a commission lottery and limits the number of commissions he will accept.

“Inspiration” is almost not a relevant concept for Pawloski. “I never really stop thinking – my brain keeps thinking about this stuff. An idea will pop into my head and I’ll go home that day and try it out.” Some ideas come from customers. He is cautious about inspiration from other makers: part of his respect for the pen maker community manifests as a desire not to imitate anyone. “If you’re too closely in tune with what other makers are doing, you end up doing the same thing.”

A quick look at his work makes it clear there is no risk of that. Pawloski’s submission to the 2022 “Super Most Awesome Pen of the Year” (SMAPOTY) annual award competition run by the As The Pen Turns podcast was declared the winner by a jury of his peers. His periodic pen drops (announced on Instagram) result in the immediate disappearance of all his stock. All of this success has not taken the fun out of the work: “there are a lot of dents in my ceiling” from using too much air pressure to remove blanks from the mold. Launching tubes of resin toward the moon seems in keeping with a company named Mad Science.

Jacob Pawloski’s work can be seen on Instagram @madsciencepencompany and at MadSciencePenCompany.com.

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Posted on August 29, 2023 by Caroline Foty and filed under Meet Your Maker.