Thank you for another wonderful video! I've never seen anyone else do this. You're a breath of fresh air in the foundation pen community. I might need an acrylic round. I was blown away by the spoon!
Oh my word Aishah! What beautiful words. Thank you so much 🥰 And, uhm...go get you some acrylic rounds to play with. Btw, I used the spoon today to swatch some new inks. Dang! So good and smooth.
Yes! The bubble wrap AND the spoooooon! (isn't the spoon just a good time?!) 🙃 - loved ALL of these swatch tools and seeing them all in one place like this, how fun!
Loving the spoon as a swatching tool so much so that I didn't swatch the new inks I got in with my acrylic block (who dis?). I used my spoon! 🤩 Btw, thank you for that addition to this video. So cool!
What a really fun video! Some of those swatching tools are so creative - big fan of the spoon and the plastic baggy! Thanks for all the time and effort you put into these.
Kristi ever since I did this video I've used both the spoon and the baggie quite regularly to swatch. Been collecting a few more "quirky" tools so another video is in the works. One of them for part 2 absolutely blew me away! 😁 No lie.
Ikr! I didn't expect the variances would be so distinct. Seeing the tools swatched inks altogether I'm surprised how "lacking" the cotton swab is in showcasing properties, compared to some of the other tools that is. Unless it's a standard ink of course. Also, thank you for you contribution to the list!
As usual, up until that point I had no clue while how so much ink got on my hands. And I try to be so careful. Obvi not! 😆 Love the scream-laughing tho cause I know you know. Heehee.
@lianelikes Thanks Liane! I was and still am amazed at the swatching tools we end up using. Have had a few ppl reach out to tell me about the knife (😲), different variations of such, that they use. Now THAT blew my mind. Btw, thank you for your contribution to the list!
9:20...I use that to fill my eyedropper pens 9:23...I use the syringe to flush out my ink cartridges & converters , to flush them out for recycling...also good for flushing out the Fountain pen's barrels. I also use the syringe to transfer bottle ink into a sample bottle. The Syringe is fantastic to reaching the bottom of the ink bottle. 21:02..OUTSTANDING Idea...I have dozens of recycled plastic ziplocs...I never thought of using them in this manner....I LOVE IT !! Thank you for sharing your great ideas with us, Grace...Have a Blessed Day 😍👍💓💗💖
I love the Wearingeul ink drop cards! I keep them in an inexpensive book that is made for things like baseball cards or pokemon cards, perfect size pockets for the cards. I like that there are lines for writing the brand/color name below the droplet shape.
@@wildlyimaginable agreed! Also since I usually end up watching inks during boring work meetings, having a mostly goof-proof medium comes in quite handy! 🤭
Your swatching videos are like ASMR for color, so fascinating and enjoyable. I ordered the folded nib and speedball B because those do interesting things. I have used q-tips, glass dip pen, kakimori brass, ink syringe, pipettes, paint brush, & fude nib. My fav is the col-o-ring cards which I have now put into a 3-ring binder with clear plastic playing card sheets so I can see similar colors at a glance and they can be easily moved around.
Oooh, I love that description "ASMR for colour"! yes! I am all for that!!! Plus it sounds like you’ve got a fantastic collection of swatching tools already! I feel like we collect the tools as much as the pens and inks we buy 😆 I cannot wait till you swatch your 1st ink with the folded nib. It swatches G L O R I O U S blobs of colour! Mmmh! Mmmh! Mmmh!
OMG!, You know I had to go and watch you swatch with the pocket knife. What the???!!!! I'll put it on the list to try but...oh my. Think I gotta be careful. 😂
@@wildlyimaginable I love that I can easily stick it into the sample vials and bottles and you don’t need to pay attention like with the Pipette.. one or two drops can make a big difference! I’m also still scouting the house for new options! 😂😜🤓I did do the back of the glass dip pen last week.. so many possibilities!
My literal favorite swatching "tool" thus far is......a smooth plastic chopstick from a kids' set that's too small for my daughters anymore. ROTFL. It's perfect! The slim shape can fit into ANY ink container (even the tiny sample vials!) and it smears the ink so smoothly. Whatever works, right? 😂
I’m always looking for a unique way to swatch my inks. Contemplating using my kitty’s paw to make a footprint. Shimmer particles caught between toe beans might be a problem.😉😂
This analysis is wonderful, ma'am!! Such fun! I'm in the midst of planning an "Inkcyclopedia" and a "Pen Log." I'm new to the fountain pen world and fell into the rabbit hole fast and hard. I now have enough pens and inks that it's time to get the info and swatches on them out of my journal and into dedicated books. This video was just what I needed. I had wanted to do several types of swatches (q-tip, acrylic block, etc.) on each ink spread in the "Inkcyclopedia" as well as dry time and water resistance tests. This gives me lots of options to play with. I'm off to watch the PIP sheets video next. Sounds like it's very close to what I'd envisioned for my Pen Log. Your enthusiasm is just plain contagious! I love it! I had to laugh... I'm using the Wearinguel droplet cards for my inks and was just thinking, "I need to do a Col-o-ring, too, so I can fan out the cards and see them close together." It was good to see someone else who thinks having multiple swatch cards isn't excessive. LOL! Thank you!
Awesome Lisa! I'm a data geek and this swatch tools video has been nagging at the back of my brain to get made. Glad it'll help with your "Inkcyclopedia". Sounds intriguing and I would def love to hear more about it, maybe thru email with pics of what you've come up with (the pen/ink geek in me is so excited!). Sounds like you are like me, wanting to know more and, if can't find it, make it. 🥰 Thanks for watching!
@@wildlyimaginable I'd love to share, Grace! And, yes, I think we approach playing with our toys similarly! 🥰 I'd really appreciate your input on this project. I'm going to be a bit tied up for a couple of weeks but I've pretty much got the formats ready. Once I'm freed up, the next step will be to do a pilot in a "scratch" notebook with a few pens and inks, to see if the formats work as I envisioned them, before I commit them to the "official" books. Not that I am adverse to changing things on the fly, but I might as well see if the concept has any major hitches before I go all in on the formats. I'll shoot over some photos via email when the pilot is underway. Thanks, again, for the inspiration... I'm excited to trade ideas!
Thanks! Ok....so I have to tell you something. In my teens I coveted an etymology notebook that I wrote all new words in, including their origins. Have never heard of the word pulchritudinous and immediately I was transported back to that time in my life and wanted to know everything about the word. Crazy that, huh? As for the swatched results, some surprised me and others intrigued me more. Good stuff nonetheless.
@@wildlyimaginable I learnt about the word as a teen when I had an aquarium hobby. The Pretty Tetra, Latin name Hemigrammus pulcher, sounded intriguing, and I discovered the English equivalent then. I couldn't tell you when my next scheduled doctor's appointment is, but I'm great at recalling Latin names and assorted useless trivia.
What is this thing with the knife? You are the 4th person to tell me that they use some type of knife. Whoa! It's a thing! Definitely seeing another video coming. 😉
Hey Lela! The SF Pen Show is the only other one I really, really, really want to attend this year, That and the one in my city, PDX Pen Show. So I'm 🤞🏽 I can put it in my schedule this year. If I do I'll announce so we can meet up. 😀
Someone just recently told me about that method. So fascinating! We are all geniuses I think 😂 Btw, love the "plop down colour". Something I would def say. 😊
Oh this was so much fun!!! My 2 favorites were the spoon and the baggie!!! I used to make art wirh the TomBow markers and a water bottle plus baggie ... do im surprised i never thought of that! Im off to look for a clear plastic spoon I'm pretty sure we have some lol!!!❤ Thank you for the super fun video!
Me too Chris!!! I kept seeing the baggie being used in videos but also kept forgetting to try it when I swatched new inks. Old habits die hard I guess. The spoon swatch you'll get is gonna blow your mind. Just saying. 😊
I really enjoyed this video. Swatching inks is one of the joys of this hobby. A few thoughts. (1) I have been watching you use the round acrylic blocks and think the see-through feature is an advantage. I'm going to see if I can find some at a local scrapbooking store. (2) One of my favorite swatching tools is the Kakimori dip nib, but I don't use it to draw lines. I turn it in its side to make broad swatches. They are similar to the swatches from cotton buds, only a bit more defined and with less waste. One of my favorite ways to swatch. (3) I recently got a round brass seal -- the kind you use with wax -- with no pattern on it and a handle. I picked up that idea for making circles from Snarky Wordsmith, who makes pen and ink videos. I haven't gotten the hang of it yet, but her circles come out great. Check her out! (4) I have a glass swizzle stick that works like the end of a glass dip pen, but may be a bit more reliably rounded and slightly larger, depending on the pen. You also aren't destroying a nice nib if you drop it.. (5) Finally, I'm now scouring my cabinets for a clear plastic spoon!
I just saw Snarky Wordsmith using the waxing seal, but too late to include in the video. I was so taken by it too. I've used the Kakimori nib for swatches but don't enjoy for that as much as the acrylic round these days. I still write with it tho. As for the spoon, try the metal. It actually works quite well.
@@wildlyimaginable I found the brass seal and handle on sale at Pen Chalet for a very good price. It's a fun technique but I haven't mastered it yet. I will definitely try a spoon soon. For me, it's all just playing around, as my "formal" swatching system for cataloging uses the side of the Kakimori dip nib on Col-o-dex cards.
I enjoyed this video so very much! It is so interesting to me how we all use so many different “out of the box” ways or items to essentially do the same thing! So cool to see so many options in one video! Great job Grace! I personally use a glass dip pen (both ends) to swatch and write out the ink info..I currently have them in a standard TN monthly insert (I use the monthly boxes, each monthly by brand) so that I can easily take it with me to be sure I don’t purchase a duplicate 😉 I’m seriously considering cutting up some tomoe river paper to use similar to the coloring system but haven’t dedicated the time for that just yet! Looking forward to more videos along these lines, I always enjoy seeing your pen/ink videos 🫶 hope you are doing well!
👋🏽 Bridgitte! Thanks! It was seriously fun to gather the tools and record it. Have already seen and also been told about 4 more already, totally different from the ones I included 😲 , so will prolly do another video soon. It truly is fascinating the swatching process we devise for ourselves and the tools we choose to use. Btw, I do the same as you in terms of swatching on monthly pages. I like to know what inks I use in a month (currently inked) plus I swatch the inks I purchase in that month. Thanks for sharing.
I often use a palette knife which ends being a lot like the back of the dip pen. Also, I like to combine the sandwich bag method (also use different kinds of plastic) and Azizah's nasal aspirator method (blowing it on drops of ink or what's pooled after the sandwich bag is lifted). It's all loads of fun, isn't it? If I'm not mistaken, Snowy Studio (Klarissa) started the sandwich bag method. She does lovely work.
@@wildlyimaginable Started out using swabs, but felt like they used too much ink and didn't show off properties. Gave them up quite awhile ago. Saw someone use the palette knife - can't recall whom. Main concern for me is ease of cleaning. Don't like cleaning out pipettes. Do use the palette knife to put drops onto the paper, too, as well as making circles.
@@oldladywithacamera Sounds like I have another swatching tool to put on my list to try. I don't enjoy cleaning out the pipettes either if I don't do it right away while I'm swatching. As for blowing the ink around on the paper...I used to use a straw when I was into mixed media artwork, blowing thru it to spread alcohol inks. Might dig one out from somewhere and try that as well.
@@wildlyimaginable May be good to exercise the lungs, but I prefer the aspirator. Have tried blowing with a boba straw, and didn't like it. Looking forward to seeing what you do.😀Also, still willing to send you a sample of Monteverde Olivine and others if you like.
@@wildlyimaginable ahaha! I have a glass marble and one day when I was swatching I was lazy and just grabbed it caz it was near me and dripped some ink from the pen on paper (also too lazy to get a pipette), and just smooshed the ink around with it. It gave a result very similar to your spoon test, with a bit of the end of glass pen look... experimenting is fun :P
@@pilesofthings How fricken awesome! I’ll be doing a 2nd quirky searching tools video so you know I I’ll have to include this one. Am totally intrigued about the results but def am game to give it a try. Thanks for watching and sharing your tool!
👋🏽 Karen! Thanks! The Frog Green Shimmer I got gifted to me. Not sure Organic Studios are producing inks anymore (😢), other than Nitrogen and Ralph Waldo Emerson that some stores still stock.
I stopped using Q-tips (a.k.a. cotton buds) to swatch shimmer inks because the cotton holds onto too many of the shimmer particles (deposits less shimmer onto the paper compared to other methods of swatching).
Thanks Shannon! I got it in my local paper & ink store but you can also find it on Amazon. I've left a link in the description to make it easier to find.
Hey Yureli...sure. It's called Kinokuniya. There is also a fantastic pen shop here as well, Oblation (love that place!). I have a few trips coming up in next few months but if I'm here when you visit (and you're up for it) maybe we can visit it together.
@@wildlyimaginable thank you so much!! I’m planning on going to Oblation in May when Kirk Speer visits so I can get some nib work done. Will you be going as well? I might try to stop by next weekend on our way home from the coast, but as I’m traveling with a toddler, I really have to go with the flow. 😅💜
@@yureliplans I visit that shop way too often...how did I not know that Kirk Speer would be there??? It's in my calendar now.💃🏽Hopefully we get to meet up on one the days in the shop. If you're game, let's exchange numbers to coordinate times. My Ko-fi page is the best for private messaging, btw.
Thank you for another wonderful video! I've never seen anyone else do this. You're a breath of fresh air in the foundation pen community.
I might need an acrylic round. I was blown away by the spoon!
Oh my word Aishah! What beautiful words. Thank you so much 🥰
And, uhm...go get you some acrylic rounds to play with. Btw, I used the spoon today to swatch some new inks. Dang! So good and smooth.
Hi! I actually have an ink swatching product in development right now! Stay tuned... It's good!
How exciting!
Ooooh! Wendi, Wendi, Wendi!!! Gonna put it out there now, today....I'm volunteering to be a beta tester. Just saying 😉
@@wildlyimaginable I have added you to my list!
@@salamaat I'm SO excited about it!! I even came up with a name for it this week!
Oh, that sounds amazing! Can‘t wait to see it. Hopefully it‘ll ship internationally!
Yes! The bubble wrap AND the spoooooon! (isn't the spoon just a good time?!) 🙃 - loved ALL of these swatch tools and seeing them all in one place like this, how fun!
Loving the spoon as a swatching tool so much so that I didn't swatch the new inks I got in with my acrylic block (who dis?). I used my spoon! 🤩 Btw, thank you for that addition to this video. So cool!
What a really fun video! Some of those swatching tools are so creative - big fan of the spoon and the plastic baggy! Thanks for all the time and effort you put into these.
Kristi ever since I did this video I've used both the spoon and the baggie quite regularly to swatch. Been collecting a few more "quirky" tools so another video is in the works. One of them for part 2 absolutely blew me away! 😁 No lie.
Such a great video Grace! Thank you for doing this comparison. So great to see how each method is slightly different!
Ikr! I didn't expect the variances would be so distinct. Seeing the tools swatched inks altogether I'm surprised how "lacking" the cotton swab is in showcasing properties, compared to some of the other tools that is. Unless it's a standard ink of course. Also, thank you for you contribution to the list!
How I scream-laughed when you realized how inky your hands were while showing the kakimori nib. Girl, I can relate. 🤣🤣😅
As usual, up until that point I had no clue while how so much ink got on my hands. And I try to be so careful. Obvi not! 😆 Love the scream-laughing tho cause I know you know. Heehee.
I so loved this video and appreciate the level of attention to your process, from the printouts to the variety of swatching methods showcased!
@lianelikes Thanks Liane! I was and still am amazed at the swatching tools we end up using. Have had a few ppl reach out to tell me about the knife (😲), different variations of such, that they use. Now THAT blew my mind.
Btw, thank you for your contribution to the list!
9:20...I use that to fill my eyedropper pens
9:23...I use the syringe to flush out my ink cartridges & converters , to flush them out for recycling...also good for flushing out the Fountain pen's barrels.
I also use the syringe to transfer bottle ink into a sample bottle.
The Syringe is fantastic to reaching the bottom of the ink bottle.
21:02..OUTSTANDING Idea...I have dozens of recycled plastic ziplocs...I never thought of using them in this manner....I LOVE IT !!
Thank you for sharing your great ideas with us, Grace...Have a Blessed Day 😍👍💓💗💖
The syringe is a handy little pen hobby tool. Thanks for watching Kan-zee!
I love the Wearingeul ink drop cards! I keep them in an inexpensive book that is made for things like baseball cards or pokemon cards, perfect size pockets for the cards. I like that there are lines for writing the brand/color name below the droplet shape.
I might have to get me some of those cards, they showcase ink so perfectly.
@@wildlyimaginable agreed! Also since I usually end up watching inks during boring work meetings, having a mostly goof-proof medium comes in quite handy! 🤭
@@amyfeigt6715 Ha! makes sense.
Your swatching videos are like ASMR for color, so fascinating and enjoyable. I ordered the folded nib and speedball B because those do interesting things. I have used q-tips, glass dip pen, kakimori brass, ink syringe, pipettes, paint brush, & fude nib. My fav is the col-o-ring cards which I have now put into a 3-ring binder with clear plastic playing card sheets so I can see similar colors at a glance and they can be easily moved around.
Oooh, I love that description "ASMR for colour"! yes! I am all for that!!! Plus it sounds like you’ve got a fantastic collection of swatching tools already! I feel like we collect the tools as much as the pens and inks we buy 😆 I cannot wait till you swatch your 1st ink with the folded nib. It swatches G L O R I O U S blobs of colour! Mmmh! Mmmh! Mmmh!
The pocket knife, Grace, the pocket knife! I do it all the time on my channel! However, no circles ever! 🤣🧐😁🤷♀️🖋🙌🏻
OMG!, You know I had to go and watch you swatch with the pocket knife. What the???!!!! I'll put it on the list to try but...oh my. Think I gotta be careful. 😂
@@wildlyimaginable I love that I can easily stick it into the sample vials and bottles and you don’t need to pay attention like with the Pipette.. one or two drops can make a big difference! I’m also still scouting the house for new options! 😂😜🤓I did do the back of the glass dip pen last week.. so many possibilities!
@@ziawoolzstudiobuzz313 ikr! Anything is fair game right now. If I look at something sideways for long enough, who knows 🤣
My literal favorite swatching "tool" thus far is......a smooth plastic chopstick from a kids' set that's too small for my daughters anymore. ROTFL. It's perfect! The slim shape can fit into ANY ink container (even the tiny sample vials!) and it smears the ink so smoothly. Whatever works, right? 😂
Jessica! Whoa!!! I need to see how you use it. Whatever works indeed! Now you have me intrigued enough to try to find one and get to smearing. 😉
@@wildlyimaginable I do use the non-eating wider end--I think the pointy end would be difficult to smear easily. lol!
@@jessicaburris629 Ahhh…okay that makes sense now. Ha!
I’m always looking for a unique way to swatch my inks. Contemplating using my kitty’s paw to make a footprint. Shimmer particles caught between toe beans might be a problem.😉😂
🤣 😆 🤣 😆 🤣 😆 🤣 😆 ...cracking me up over here. Let me know how that goes.
Back of the spoon is my fav.. I’ve seen a letter opener used as well. Of course the Kakimori nib is great. Fun vid, great color choices.
The spoon is fast becoming one of my faves as well. Thanks for watching Guilietta! 😊
This analysis is wonderful, ma'am!! Such fun! I'm in the midst of planning an "Inkcyclopedia" and a "Pen Log." I'm new to the fountain pen world and fell into the rabbit hole fast and hard. I now have enough pens and inks that it's time to get the info and swatches on them out of my journal and into dedicated books.
This video was just what I needed. I had wanted to do several types of swatches (q-tip, acrylic block, etc.) on each ink spread in the "Inkcyclopedia" as well as dry time and water resistance tests. This gives me lots of options to play with. I'm off to watch the PIP sheets video next. Sounds like it's very close to what I'd envisioned for my Pen Log.
Your enthusiasm is just plain contagious! I love it! I had to laugh... I'm using the Wearinguel droplet cards for my inks and was just thinking, "I need to do a Col-o-ring, too, so I can fan out the cards and see them close together." It was good to see someone else who thinks having multiple swatch cards isn't excessive. LOL! Thank you!
Awesome Lisa! I'm a data geek and this swatch tools video has been nagging at the back of my brain to get made. Glad it'll help with your "Inkcyclopedia". Sounds intriguing and I would def love to hear more about it, maybe thru email with pics of what you've come up with (the pen/ink geek in me is so excited!). Sounds like you are like me, wanting to know more and, if can't find it, make it. 🥰 Thanks for watching!
@@wildlyimaginable I'd love to share, Grace! And, yes, I think we approach playing with our toys similarly! 🥰 I'd really appreciate your input on this project. I'm going to be a bit tied up for a couple of weeks but I've pretty much got the formats ready. Once I'm freed up, the next step will be to do a pilot in a "scratch" notebook with a few pens and inks, to see if the formats work as I envisioned them, before I commit them to the "official" books. Not that I am adverse to changing things on the fly, but I might as well see if the concept has any major hitches before I go all in on the formats. I'll shoot over some photos via email when the pilot is underway. Thanks, again, for the inspiration... I'm excited to trade ideas!
@@littleword1 💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽 Cannot wait to help.
This was super useful, and the results pulchritudinous.
Thanks! Ok....so I have to tell you something. In my teens I coveted an etymology notebook that I wrote all new words in, including their origins. Have never heard of the word pulchritudinous and immediately I was transported back to that time in my life and wanted to know everything about the word. Crazy that, huh?
As for the swatched results, some surprised me and others intrigued me more. Good stuff nonetheless.
@@wildlyimaginable I learnt about the word as a teen when I had an aquarium hobby. The Pretty Tetra, Latin name Hemigrammus pulcher, sounded intriguing, and I discovered the English equivalent then. I couldn't tell you when my next scheduled doctor's appointment is, but I'm great at recalling Latin names and assorted useless trivia.
@@StaticCling99 Love that! I remember none of what I wrote down all those years ago but so cool that the Latin you retained.
I haven't done much ink swatching myself, but one I didn't see represented here was a knife / letter opener.
What is this thing with the knife? You are the 4th person to tell me that they use some type of knife. Whoa! It's a thing! Definitely seeing another video coming. 😉
Thank you for sharing these searching tools. Will you attend the San Francisco Pen Show? I'd love to meet you. I enjoy your energy.
Hey Lela! The SF Pen Show is the only other one I really, really, really want to attend this year, That and the one in my city, PDX Pen Show. So I'm 🤞🏽 I can put it in my schedule this year. If I do I'll announce so we can meet up. 😀
This was so fun!
Glad you enjoyed Naaja! 😊
I've seen people use the plastic syringe to plop down color then use the squeezed air to push the color around to swatch
Someone just recently told me about that method. So fascinating! We are all geniuses I think 😂
Btw, love the "plop down colour". Something I would def say. 😊
Oh this was so much fun!!! My 2 favorites were the spoon and the baggie!!! I used to make art wirh the TomBow markers and a water bottle plus baggie ... do im surprised i never thought of that!
Im off to look for a clear plastic spoon I'm pretty sure we have some lol!!!❤ Thank you for the super fun video!
Me too Chris!!! I kept seeing the baggie being used in videos but also kept forgetting to try it when I swatched new inks. Old habits die hard I guess. The spoon swatch you'll get is gonna blow your mind. Just saying. 😊
Love this. I have just started swatching and love the idea of following a pen’s journey. Thinking about your pen sheets.
It’s been a game changer for me my PIPs sheets, especially affecting my choice in pens I now purchase.
I really enjoyed this video. Swatching inks is one of the joys of this hobby. A few thoughts. (1) I have been watching you use the round acrylic blocks and think the see-through feature is an advantage. I'm going to see if I can find some at a local scrapbooking store. (2) One of my favorite swatching tools is the Kakimori dip nib, but I don't use it to draw lines. I turn it in its side to make broad swatches. They are similar to the swatches from cotton buds, only a bit more defined and with less waste. One of my favorite ways to swatch. (3) I recently got a round brass seal -- the kind you use with wax -- with no pattern on it and a handle. I picked up that idea for making circles from Snarky Wordsmith, who makes pen and ink videos. I haven't gotten the hang of it yet, but her circles come out great. Check her out! (4) I have a glass swizzle stick that works like the end of a glass dip pen, but may be a bit more reliably rounded and slightly larger, depending on the pen. You also aren't destroying a nice nib if you drop it.. (5) Finally, I'm now scouring my cabinets for a clear plastic spoon!
I just saw Snarky Wordsmith using the waxing seal, but too late to include in the video. I was so taken by it too. I've used the Kakimori nib for swatches but don't enjoy for that as much as the acrylic round these days. I still write with it tho. As for the spoon, try the metal. It actually works quite well.
@@wildlyimaginable I found the brass seal and handle on sale at Pen Chalet for a very good price. It's a fun technique but I haven't mastered it yet. I will definitely try a spoon soon. For me, it's all just playing around, as my "formal" swatching system for cataloging uses the side of the Kakimori dip nib on Col-o-dex cards.
@@marilyngardner4269 That wax seal blank is my next purchase. Gotta try it.
I enjoyed this video so very much! It is so interesting to me how we all use so many different “out of the box” ways or items to essentially do the same thing! So cool to see so many options in one video! Great job Grace! I personally use a glass dip pen (both ends) to swatch and write out the ink info..I currently have them in a standard TN monthly insert (I use the monthly boxes, each monthly by brand) so that I can easily take it with me to be sure I don’t purchase a duplicate 😉 I’m seriously considering cutting up some tomoe river paper to use similar to the coloring system but haven’t dedicated the time for that just yet! Looking forward to more videos along these lines, I always enjoy seeing your pen/ink videos 🫶 hope you are doing well!
👋🏽 Bridgitte! Thanks! It was seriously fun to gather the tools and record it. Have already seen and also been told about 4 more already, totally different from the ones I included 😲 , so will prolly do another video soon.
It truly is fascinating the swatching process we devise for ourselves and the tools we choose to use. Btw, I do the same as you in terms of swatching on monthly pages. I like to know what inks I use in a month (currently inked) plus I swatch the inks I purchase in that month. Thanks for sharing.
The crinkle of the paper is LIFE 🥰 I’ve only used fountain pens a couple of months but I’m excited to try some of these tools!
Isn't it!!!!! Omg, I love it! I'm excited for you to try some new-to-you swatch tools as well. And welcome to the addiction...uhm, I mean pen hobby. 😬
Great video Grace!!
Thanks Tiff!
I often use a palette knife which ends being a lot like the back of the dip pen. Also, I like to combine the sandwich bag method (also use different kinds of plastic) and Azizah's nasal aspirator method (blowing it on drops of ink or what's pooled after the sandwich bag is lifted). It's all loads of fun, isn't it? If I'm not mistaken, Snowy Studio (Klarissa) started the sandwich bag method. She does lovely work.
Hey PK! Thanks for sharing. How many tools did you use before you settled on the palette knife? I'm still wavering between 4, depending on my mood 😆
@@wildlyimaginable Started out using swabs, but felt like they used too much ink and didn't show off properties. Gave them up quite awhile ago. Saw someone use the palette knife - can't recall whom. Main concern for me is ease of cleaning. Don't like cleaning out pipettes. Do use the palette knife to put drops onto the paper, too, as well as making circles.
@@oldladywithacamera Sounds like I have another swatching tool to put on my list to try.
I don't enjoy cleaning out the pipettes either if I don't do it right away while I'm swatching. As for blowing the ink around on the paper...I used to use a straw when I was into mixed media artwork, blowing thru it to spread alcohol inks. Might dig one out from somewhere and try that as well.
@@wildlyimaginable May be good to exercise the lungs, but I prefer the aspirator. Have tried blowing with a boba straw, and didn't like it. Looking forward to seeing what you do.😀Also, still willing to send you a sample of Monteverde Olivine and others if you like.
I so enjoy your videos.
👋🏽 Pat! Thanks!
I totally see Daffy! 😄
Phew ...thank you! I thought I was going mad but the further I got in the editing process, it wouldn't leave me alone what I was seeing. 😆
I like using a marble, mine is a clear one so like the acrilick block you can see what is happening :P
A marble????? What awesomeness is this that I don't know about. Tell all!
@@wildlyimaginable ahaha! I have a glass marble and one day when I was swatching I was lazy and just grabbed it caz it was near me and dripped some ink from the pen on paper (also too lazy to get a pipette), and just smooshed the ink around with it. It gave a result very similar to your spoon test, with a bit of the end of glass pen look... experimenting is fun :P
@@pilesofthings How fricken awesome! I’ll be doing a 2nd quirky searching tools video so you know I
I’ll have to include this one. Am totally intrigued about the results but def am game to give it a try. Thanks for watching and sharing your tool!
@@wildlyimaginable thanks for making the comparison! It was neat seeing all those types of swatching all next to each other 😊
Hi Grace! Loved the video and your enthusiasm! Quick question, where did you buy the OS Frog Green ink? It's gorgeous!
👋🏽 Karen! Thanks! The Frog Green Shimmer I got gifted to me. Not sure Organic Studios are producing inks anymore (😢), other than Nitrogen and Ralph Waldo Emerson that some stores still stock.
I stopped using Q-tips (a.k.a. cotton buds) to swatch shimmer inks because the cotton holds onto too many of the shimmer particles (deposits less shimmer onto the paper compared to other methods of swatching).
That makes sense. I'm favouring my folded nib more and more than the Q-tips right now but it was one of my 1st ways to swab.
Col-o-ring is 160 GSM/100 lb. (I’m obsessive about details.)😂
I knew there was a 100 in there somewhere 🤣. Made a note of it,.Thanks for letting me know.
Excellent video. Can you share where to get the Oasis Notebook and does it show sheening and shading properties well?
Thanks Shannon! I got it in my local paper & ink store but you can also find it on Amazon. I've left a link in the description to make it easier to find.
@@wildlyimaginable thank you so much. I found them at Michael’s for 40% off. Can’t wait to try them out
Hi Grace. I’ll be in Portland soon and I was wondering if you could share the name of the Japanese shop you mentioned. Thank you. 💜
Hey Yureli...sure. It's called Kinokuniya. There is also a fantastic pen shop here as well, Oblation (love that place!). I have a few trips coming up in next few months but if I'm here when you visit (and you're up for it) maybe we can visit it together.
@@wildlyimaginable thank you so much!! I’m planning on going to Oblation in May when Kirk Speer visits so I can get some nib work done. Will you be going as well?
I might try to stop by next weekend on our way home from the coast, but as I’m traveling with a toddler, I really have to go with the flow. 😅💜
@@yureliplans I visit that shop way too often...how did I not know that Kirk Speer would be there???
It's in my calendar now.💃🏽Hopefully we get to meet up on one the days in the shop. If you're game, let's exchange numbers to coordinate times. My Ko-fi page is the best for private messaging, btw.
What a great video! I do love my baggie and my Kakimori nib! And yes, I wipe my baggie in between swatches too. Thank you Grace!
Thanks Karyna! I am obsessed with the baggie now that I've done it the once in this video. 😆