Miss Karma has been snoozing next to the crinkle bag the past couple days. Not even the cooler floor can deter her fascination with the hidden bird. ;)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxtRUfjSFtQuGdQqzGc2NUDwjKtcfHnHDkPGUUW2Y0d3qypibbj8YyzqOoqErTm2Z4o-tkwjagXHhB6t76mtg-yavoWNeY5UgOmJTkkB_xyJwed4QE6JCIl-Jm3yZmMcYRtyIvg/s320/IMG_3930.JPG)
I did get out the dip pens--tada!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVD_Y23EW0R4nkkoPobnR64Iy270OD3QUHvlhpYSMGntmt7xzZtdq_aF19yE0reVLrGuhF3TcmH2TypiveW63e-oME_p3_UjzlLMLh1Cc95h_qlaoqXMoG13HFL445acuPqIaPw/s320/IMG_3931.jpg)
Have I mentioned before how much of a pen nut I am? ;)
I had some of these supplies long before I took the calligraphy class--let's see, must be about 17-18 years ago now. Here's all my dip pens--or pretty nib holders.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHEsxtrvdC15vf2muOie7ZgWO6PI2JWwHhI-H_zK2ioPzlxPVG6k2lu9s-TAAI6GLHcw3g7UlSnpr6LMqmEdr6IGl3JKO55R7zzHTJV25sUuNGVw0PgrgF96V9B0cPZlzO_ZEX3Q/s320/IMG_3945.jpg)
I also have some plain, utility-type nib holders that I used for practice, but these are all the cool ones.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpKRXR701A0qKUOejRMZNTI7AMiOAbD_dmxLW3AU8JBA3qm2FcXie2kzsELVXgw_5ZXTOm1tJg0KQec5MSnJQB43P-ArwmYv0A9ov6Bx0UsWOLYf7k9s_shef0kBQl5VYpfF73Sw/s320/IMG_3946.JPG)
Left to right, 2 metal, 2 glass, 3 wooden, a hand cut quill, and my all time favorite the feathered one with the brass nib holder.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYcQX8awzQ8vQlEjOb6Q57Jbow_G9qYCp4XuLshwJmmCnSFv3S_cA86utYzqsrfXcBMwLWzea3j9GO6NnbwHLzrXKxbnnQcGyXvkQEvryHcaqIKjaKYzeEPqqZfPm9e-nELnkkw/s320/IMG_3947.JPG)
Next I had to pick an ink bottle. I have this entire drawer filled with a variety of inks. Some are for drawing and art only. A lot of them can be used for dip pens and some of them can be used in fountain pens.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBiZVdf0CedWEEcF5rtXF6sWBJixZRCcsNaNNiFOG0F8odfmp6mf078yI2H8RFJzAx0Zh1kxDYgNI-tVGZPbVk3l5rAPOqwnnGtCHHmil5vqDcUjs_cNOjNgB092Tlx47yMiYcWA/s320/IMG_3973.JPG)
I also have these two Levenger boxes I keep in my desk hutch...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdT2tJA2mNeE8LrMj1VqGPV1FSg-pWWOuYEHgTMAxilWp6XZgiS2fZdRQd25rK089ssU82Jps_Y8RhcQPpkQS7Zgqd4q4jEremi5RBQTRVjK0uifVlR07vMgKCqwVJVcRsBwSTOg/s320/IMG_3979.JPG)
...that are sets good for fountain pens.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWoXfCya0lLmrQlJEHwdjqsEqaEOYv_8N2qShyphenhyphentGij9I1TBeRU675Le9olwY6vWDNkdwdV-ZvWQenJaliaj_uBhzUgCTM2PPi_02d3jlLUshMYAHQ8RNM3ipxx7co-U3pWSnZhPA/s320/IMG_3980.JPG)
I picked a new brown J. Herbin ink bottle.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMkQM1cWn8_FRwC-b3dBOLuzglhupWdW0U6Zzs-U_38b3n46Ea02yA3oF17ofPgnWqS89QkE0H8h6tE88PJX3KHE8mmioij8sZOHTFEJ-swZEpZuAQegw4dVKnqIq8AjF5eaB-4A/s320/IMG_3949.JPG)
Love the few bottles I have with the built in pen holder.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF-lPSAoK1787OQXDczZnyPMIuCV3SGJvPfKq8QSQKz9bFoAZEh-RRD-rQfzoZzdWXBf6Yw27nyWVfmDoHzkRyShwiMu1wtJbrj44Pkm858BWZzPBRoznBYxiaVtSQhcDZ_2_VUw/s320/IMG_3950.JPG)
Of course, I needed my wooden ink blotter.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvSyVu1pZ6iIJsImR4Fh4EAWBctTv1XSaScjQtU3n9IKAve_Z3sMY7mXRb1-9Ruy7LXui4Dn36Oz_pVT9gHgbPgmqqabqNmNy5eoBDZfkDSCEWsum5H7W6UViuZaH4KPXpCoIVbQ/s320/IMG_3944.JPG)
And after I pick a pen, I have to pick a nib. I have this little plastic container that holds the used nibs (I picked from there). The ink eats away at the nibs, so I keep the used ones separate from...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57RnWCRCIgDAtNDMzMH_1VRZkAtszl_jqJTWiN1WejeDjzE0tIbQ6v-L3y-mT1Nf3fIXs7DgBEDTg6vFNHV71WeLxNXXdiF4NZG45HTugPeXVNnuqci4lxv5QKfuDN0OrGuA4Fg/s320/IMG_3937.JPG)
...my bigger container of nibs.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv97cngPljQqtwHRBDUISgeeMvbiPhGsIc099cSzGMHzZLCPY3ozSoJiMcuFdhpVJ8xnW_SQcJrX9_wm8rlOU7TVhSGupSiLpBIGANqaDB-uuD25Idzc8BZ2dkkvAMPYEgES1V8w/s320/IMG_3936.JPG)
I labeled them or I'd never remember which was which when it comes to reordering.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaHja-fUtPkzdVNP5dg2yHheHXhO8Xl3DHfhZ4AFOwnBtYoOYtRN9dtWqR46DqMhtYrWmOgFqiT7yeYHdXDSRz3JEVe1AyfXx9ip-1gXTaUjWfiLij84qpMoL8JccFzAi0L8SM8w/s320/IMG_3935.JPG)
Out of all the nibs, I have only reordered three--this blue Brause...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5SQZaJg7OAZes_ivLxwRQaqOw-F18kOmBhmzKeag0k681fY7AlS50apWGQouOaCJZ0QBFXhBmohqz77l5TWm7z0803k3hWsVQj7CmcPS1SERSMsaI-T7VjNXdSD5Wdw-E8fbiUQ/s320/IMG_3959.JPG)
...this blue Hiro...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcef5QPoMb-6I6zaqd8OGvgPTDzSSwhyphenhyphenJOlYe-nq8FUwVmrR03Q9wqmCzPp2XDarcliXJgW2wrBPssJHseG8aIZN6cVeM_A63atAWbdtYEOeZGuOCxG8nrntaxjylRVnKx-bmLQ/s320/IMG_3963.JPG)
...and my all time favorite for letter writing--this Brause nib...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj9STypWqcp3mUJCULVFSHXpyY6kFvAcFOMgZ4n2gG56e83nY8Dp0sa9A8ydj_iNzfpfTuxEURy5AjVRPXVlelZ8NbPeWRLta5YfwheYQL-yB13qUcIWrWYSjcH4NHE1TzkfPSzg/s320/IMG_3958.JPG)
...I have reordered twice. :)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCDMF0_QvgPCqGBcz9r76JgpOaJldbPYTfytAiK5rC5SdVQ8kIp5YonF74WGR_1x96jybaHM8t43ZePNTTCtsayUbbcLWoSA7TFLlkFsFipVM2wy5-9gd_Qee-EfbRLqNqkJiqOQ/s320/IMG_3955.JPG)
It has a reservoir to hold ink so that you can write and write for quite a while before you need to get more ink. Talk about a thin calligraphic point, too. Love these!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimG9F_pD3EuWheZ0wGLl1yFvUGXRHEGUJyp7PD1TGnB1UBF0Za86GHwIp60nwuwUuI0TDDq0tgD3kULEcUShmUdBjc_tRnrZ8aUI65608o_0cew45mBdrp-6OE7ARSXn9junfVAg/s320/IMG_3956.JPG)
If I am in a very contemplative mood I use one of the blue nibs. There is a soft rhythm to dipping and writing--dipping and writing--that comes with those nibs that need constant refilling. And they do tend to look even more like they are written with a dip pen--at least in my hands--hehe! The thick to thin handwriting--the occasional small blobs of ink...ahhh! Transports me to another age. :)
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But I chose my favs since I am out of practice, after all.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU5QBFTLgAeYGoQylUcm74NbLnHsYOYGlQvc4Nk9Xq50FiTH5UdiRV5525w5zEP9k_DDT6Az-TUvQekaqf4FdV4y5SVnhBupm-PhfOiDcRw8uRpS93Ro3B4vejjZhhZS9ZV3qDIQ/s320/IMG_3948.jpg)
I always have a scratch pad nearby, too, so I can check to see that the ink isn't going to be coming out too fast after I first dip it.
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Anyways, it was marvelous! A slower pace to savor. :)
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Well, we have a day off tomorrow from the class. A perfect time for a break since we just finished up on "the past", which was a rough and enlightening week for me. I have lots of concepts to absorb and ponder. And since they won't post the Wednesday audio call and mediation until Thursday, I have a good long time to think about all of the things we covered the past week. (With my irregular hours I just wait till they post the following day.)
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Today Caroline comes to clean--but to me it feels like the weekend because I have two days off from class--ROFL! I don't want to lose my basic focus, tho--so I'll still be working on a little class stuff every day. ;)
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Happy, happy Tuesday!!! :):)
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"The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live."
Flora Whittemore