Caran d/Ache Sunset

In my later years, I'm starting to see that although I had previously loathed pink inks, there are some that are quite nice.  Caran d'Ache's Sunset is at the top of that list for me.


There is nothing I don't love about this ink.  It's well behaved on Rhodia and CF paper, and has amazing shading.

Overall, I can't say enough good about this ink.  The main downsides are that it is fairly expensive (usually about $21 USD + s/h for 30mL) and that it is discontinued (though it seems to be an unpopular colour of this brand, so there's lots left still online).

I will leave you with some writing samples to show off the yummy shading.  

Caran d/Ache Caribbean Sea

I like a lot of inks, I do, but this is definitely in my top five favourites.  It's got this shifting blue/green undertone that makes what you write seem enthralling and shading that keeps it interesting.  It looks AMAZING on Rhodia dotPad & CF paper.

Overall?  I definitely love it.  

Caran d'Ache Saffron

I have an extreme soft spot for orange inks. I try out a million different shades looking for the perfect one and have now come up with a few that I really love. This one may have almost taken top prize when I sampled it a few days ago. I love shading in inks, and this orange shades more than any other I've tried. I wrote in the below review that writing with this ink is like writing with a flickering fire, and it really feels that way. I bought a bottle of this immediately after trying this sample.

The way the shading looks, it's almost as though you're using two different coloured inks at the same time, because the change in colours in the shaded areas is so dramatic.

Here are a few final writing samples:

Caran d'Ache Blue Night

The Colours of the Earth series has a few of my absolutely favourite inks.  This one is fine, but definitely not a big winner in my eyes.

As blue-grays go, this one seems a little bland to me.

Mainly because the colour in the areas where it shades lighter is SO washed out.

On papers that bring out the shading, it can look nice.

But generally I find it kind of boring.

As far as blue-grays go, there are plenty of other options with more pizzazz out there.

More writing samples:

Ink Reviews

This has been a long time coming, but I'm finally going to start working on migrating all my old ink review images over from Photobucket to this blog.  Ultimately, my goal is to update all the ancient ink reviews on FPN - those dead photobucket images are driving me nuts, and I put a lot of work ink ink reviews all those years ago.

So here goes ...

A potential new printer?

I've been working so hard for so long to get Tomoe River paper reliably back into my shop.  Tomorrow I'm going to see a used printer that I could purchase that might do the job.  Fingers crossed!

In other news, my cat April that has almost totally bankrupted me with her care in the last 9 months has finally had an upswing - steroids are working to keep her liver inflammation down, and now it looks like we are moving towards $220 blood work every three months instead of every two weeks.  Not only that, but the medication costs only $50 a month versus $350.  Yay!

In the meantime, my current, unreliable printer seems to be working for small batches of TR paper.  What I'd like to do is this - message me if you'd like to buy TR stationery, and I'll print up your order in advance.  If the printer works and your order is ready, you can then buy the items from my etsy shop.  That way I won't have to turn anyone down.  Sound good?

And hopefully I'll have an idea about whether or not I'll be getting this new printer by the end of the week.

The tentative return of Tomoe River paper

Finding a printer that works with 52 gsm Tomoe River paper has been a complete nightmare.  I've bought and returned at least five printers, all of which I confirmed in advance WOULD work with TR paper.  When I got each of them home, set them up, and gave it a whirl, every one jammed.  I called tech support, who would then laugh in my face at the idea that the printer could possibly print on 52 gsm paper.  Telling them they the spec sheet, the manual, the sale reps, AND another tech support employee had all confirmed in advance that it should work did nothing to quell their laughter.

In desperation, I even tried an inkjet printer.  It does work with TR paper, but the print quality is far below a laser printer. I'll keep it for personal use, just in case, and also because I bought it at Henry's where apparently printers are final sale (UGH!), but I don't feel comfortable selling what comes out of the inkjet printer.

However, today my old printer decided to start working again.  I honestly have no idea why.  I'm going to start small - only selling a few TR sets per week to start, and making sure to give lots of down time to the printer so as not to overwork it.

I'm still working on  finding a printer that is reliable for TR paper.  I've got a few leads, but every day, another lead comes up short.  Just like it did today.  At any rate, for now, I'll just make a few sets available whenever it looks like the printer is working.  Add this listing to your cart, one for EACH SET you'd like on TR paper.  Then in the notes to seller, please let me know which sets you'd like on TR paper.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/513490062/make-mine-tomoe-river?ref=shop_home_active_1

I've also listed a few new sets that I've had designed for months.  I've been sending them out as freebies to customers, but hadn't gotten around to listing them yet.  I've got a few more designed already as well, and I'll list them this week and next.

Thanks!