Friday-10am

When I saw the theme for this week's challenge at the Artist's Play Room--well, I chuckled with delight! 

 Ink, Pens, Paper!!  

I have been fascinated by and collecting these precious items ever since we could use pens in school and I got my first pen pal (from Italy!) at around 9 or 10 years old.  Whoohoo!

****

Then the week got away from me...again.  (I am still four days behind reading blogs--LOL!) So I cheated and grabbed an old sketch of me holding my red Lamy pen I drew for the EDM yahoo group weekly challenge list about five years ago.  

Danny Gregory wrote the book Everyday Matters about just drawing anything and everything around you that you see every day.  (Another attempt at my becoming a loose woman--lol!)  The group has weekly challenges that have been going on for about six years now, I think.  I only got up to number 44--got off track and forgot all about it, to be honest.  Sketching has been a real struggle for me, too.

****

Recently Danny Gregory has started going through the challenges from the beginning on his blog--but almost daily, I believe.  EDM says you don't have to start from the beginning, can join whenever you find them, skip whatever you don't want to do, and that the challenges are just suggestions and all of that.  But OCD me wanted to start from the beginning, of course.  I had to skip the challenges that were to be done outside of my apartment, but there aren't many of those.  Anyways, I was proud of this drawing of my hand because--even though I did a pencil sketch first--the ink drawing is more sketchy and loose!  :)

****

So...did somebody say ink, pens, and paper????  Those of you who already know all about my writing fetish can skip the rest of this post--LOL!  But maybe some of you who recently met me might want to see how crazy I really am?

****

My most recent purchase was this wood cabinet...that still has room for expansion!

Bottled inks! 

And there are a few more that are too tall over in the desk hutch.  The smaller row--those are for my Rapidograph pens.  The front one on the right that looks yellowish is actually invisible ink.

Back to the cabinet...and the fountain pens.  The drawer on the left--those are the pens filled with inks where I own the bottled ink.  The fountain pens in the drawer on the right are filled with samples from Goulet Pens.  I'm in their Ink Drop club.  

This left hand drawer holds calligraphy pens (some are missing because I've been using them with my mixed media art journaling) and the invisible ink pen & special lights.  On the right are the few scented ink sample filled pens. 

Left--empty Preppy fountain pens.  [You can buy them for 3-4 dollars each and that's why I have so many of them.  Perfect for the ink samples.]  Right--flex pens and my set of Rapidographs. 

Then in the larger drawers I have my nibs, plain dip pen nib holders, bottles with eyedroppers, small dipping glasses, and a huge stack of hand-cut blotting paper (for my beautiful wooden blotter you'll see at the end).  

All my refill cartridges, converters, and in the box are pen parts, syringes, silicone grease, rubber rings, and assorted fountain pen paraphernalia.  That leaves one large drawer empty and waiting, too.

In my triple dresser there's a small drawer where I keep all my ink samples from the Ink Drop club.  I should have been more organized and kept all the cards that come with them each month and taken notes...ah, hindsight.  I just have bags by color...greens, blues, reds, etc.  And don't know why I have saved a bunch of empties on the left? 

Besides fountain pens...I have cups of pens all over!  Left--Sharpie thin pens (don't bleed through), black microns, LePens, and Staedtler Triplus Fineliners.  Right--Hi-Tec Cs and Sliccis.  Behind the two front cups over on the turntable is a cup of colored microns.  

You'll note I also have scissors and small rulers in my pen cups all over the apartment.  Of these four cups the one in the far back closest to the kitchen is the one open to the public (meaning Dagan and Leah or anybody can grab a pen or pencil from there without asking-lol!), the one on the left in the front is an assortment of gel pens, and the one on the right front are disposable calligraphy pens.  Hard to see but there's one right in the middle of all of these that has highlighters, Sharpies, and a big black marker.

This is my cup I keep next to the couch with an assortment of pens and markers I use frequently--and a back scratcher--LOL! 

There are also more pens in these labeled plastic containers in one of the art & craft bookcases. 

Then--the good dip pens.  

Besides the plain handles in the cabinet--the fancier, prettier ones are up here on top of the desk hutch.  The two turkey feathers are from Dagan and Leah (they have turkeys along the river behind their place).  I plan to make an attempt to cut my own quill pen one day.  If it works, fine.  If not, I just like the feathers.  ;)

My very, very favorite dip pen that I bought in a little shop in Minneapolis around 1996-7. 

The heavy weight of the brass nib holder makes the pen balance just perfectly in my hand.  I love-love-love this pen!

And...paper??

I'm sure she didn't mean paper for making cards...but I have plenty of that, too.

To me, card making is synonymous with letter writing.  I rarely ever send a letter that isn't tucked inside a handmade card or at least inside a handmade envelope.  Now you can see why my triple dresser cannot be moved without removing the drawers.  Paper is heavy!

****

Writing paper and store-bought card stock. 

More card stock--mostly cut and folded by me and Leah--and card parts. 

Journals and notebooks. 

Envelopes and the odd box of boughten cards. 

Envelopes and small legal pads (which I used to tuck letters for many years). 

In the bookcase under the card stock I have a box of parchment paper and on top of that sits... 

...one of the new boxes... 

...filled with letter writing papers I have cut for tucking into cards.  If I cut a 8 1/2 X 11 inch paper in half it is the perfect size for an American A-2 greeting card envelope (also called an announcement or invitation envelope).  Although, European paper is longer (see low center of stack) and needs a different size envelope/card. 

I also have a black metal rack over on the desk that holds more letter writing paper and odd sized European tablets (except for that one shelf of computer paper). 

This plastic file box (that Leah didn't like) holds my handmade cards and envelopes. 

Ahhhh!  Ink, pens, and paper.  :):):) 

I forgot my cup of pens and pad of paper I keep by the bed and a few other spots...but you can readily see that I am more than well supplied for all my letter writing...and card making.  Too bad you couldn't pop by right now for a cup of coffee or tea and some card making...oh, but I have to start painting shelf boards...... Well, maybe another day.  ;)

****

Hope you enjoyed the writing tour!  :)

****

"Today is your day.

your mountain is waiting,

so get on your way."

Dr. Seuss