Ink Review #1781: Van Dieman's Sweet Fig

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Van Dieman’s Sweet Fig is from Van Dieman’s Tassie/Seasons collection. You can find this ink for sale at most retailers including Vanness Pens.

The color:

Sweet Fig is a deep plum purple.

*For my swab cards I use a Col-o-ring by Skylab Letterpress, a medium Pilot Ishime and a Mabie Todd Swan.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink has a little bit of shading, but not much.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

*For my writing samples I use:

Dry time: 20 seconds

Water resistance: Medium

Feathering: Medium

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: Medium

Other properties: low shading, no sheen, and no shimmer.

On 20 lb copy paper there is some feathering in all nib sizes and a few dots of bleeding.

Comparison Swabs:

Sweet Fig is closest to Kobe 09 Suma Purple. Click here to see the purple inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Sailor Pro Gear Slim Purple Cosmos with a zoom nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had an average flow.

Overall, there is too much feathering and bleeding for me to love this one. I prefer Kobe Suma Purple for this color rather than Sweet Fig.

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and this post is not sponsored.

Ink Review #1780: Vinta Harlequin Bodabil

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Vinta Harlequin Bodabil is from Vinta’s Series 3 collection. You can find this ink for sale at most retailers including Vanness Pens.

The color:

Bodabil is a deep purple with lots of green sheen.

*For my swab cards I use a Col-o-ring by Skylab Letterpress, a medium Pilot Ishime and a Mabie Todd Swan.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink has plenty of sheen.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

*For my writing samples I use:

Dry time: 30 seconds

Water resistance: Low

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

Other properties: no shading, monster green sheen, and no shimmer.

On 20 lb copy paper there is some feathering in all nib sizes and a few dots of bleeding.

Comparison Swabs:

Bodabil is a little darker than Van Dieman’s Royal Starfish. Click here to see the purple inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Sailor Pro Gear Slim Purple Cosmos with a zoom nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had a dry flow.

Overall, I can see this ink being popular-it has a ton of green sheen and is well behaved. I’m not a fan of a ton of sheen so this ink isn’t for me.

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and this post is not sponsored.

Ink Review #1779: Van Dieman's Golden Orb Web

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Van Dieman’s Golden Orb Web is from Van Dieman’s Night collection. You can find this ink for sale at most retailers including Vanness Pens.

The color:

Golden Orb Web is a bright golden yellow with gold shimmer.

*For my swab cards I use a Col-o-ring by Skylab Letterpress, a medium Pilot Ishime and a Mabie Todd Swan.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink has plenty of shimmer.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

*For my writing samples I use:

Dry time: 40 seconds

Water resistance: Low

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

Other properties: no shading, no sheen, and gold shimmer.

On 20 lb copy paper there is some feathering in all nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Golden Orb Web is close to Van DIeman’s Hastings Caves except that it has gold shimmer not silver. Click here to see the yellow inks together.

Longer writing:

I used an Esterbrook Estie Sunflower with a broad nib on an Odyssey notebook. The ink had an average flow.

Overall, this is a nice yellow shimmer ink, easily readable in a broad nib.

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and this post is not sponsored.

Ink Review #1778: IWI Grain in Ear

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IWI Grain in Ear is from IWI’s standard collection. You can find this ink for sale at most retailers including Vanness Pens.

The color:

Grain in Ear is a bright sunshine yellow.

*For my swab cards I use a Col-o-ring by Skylab Letterpress, a medium Pilot Ishime and a Mabie Todd Swan.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink has some nice shading.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

*For my writing samples I use:

Dry time: 5 seconds

Water resistance: Low

Feathering: Medium

Show through: Low

Bleeding: None

Other properties: low shading, no sheen, and no shimmer.

On 20 lb copy paper there is some feathering in all nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Grain in Ear is similar to Ink Institute Circular Line. Click here to see the yellow inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a TWSBI Eco Yellow with a broad nib on an Odyssey notebook. The ink had an average flow.

Overall, the color is nice and bright in a broad nib, but can be too light in the smaller nib sizes. It also has a lot more feathering than I like to see, so it’s not a must-have ink for me.

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and this post is not sponsored.

Ink Review #1777: Kakimori Kurun

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Kakimori Kurun is from Kakimori’s pigmented collection. You can find this ink for sale at most retailers including Vanness Pens.

The color:

Kurun is an unsaturated dark green.

*For my swab cards I use a Col-o-ring by Skylab Letterpress, a medium Pilot Ishime and a Mabie Todd Swan.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink turns black where it pooled.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

*For my writing samples I use:

Dry time: 100 seconds

Water resistance: High

Feathering: None

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: None

Other properties: medium shading, no sheen, and no shimmer.

On 20 lb copy paper there is some feathering in all nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Kurun is closest to Yoseka Origin #1. Click here to see the green inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Kaweco Sport Sage with a medium nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had an average flow.

Overall, I love the water resistance but it does take a wicked long time to fully dry. Due to the pigment you do need to make sure you clean your pens well after using this ink. I don’t love the flow of this ink, it just wasn’t as smooth as most inks are. I’m just not in love with it.

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and this post is not sponsored.

Ink Review #1776: IWI Waking of Insects

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IWI Waking of Insects is from IWI’s standard collection. You can find this ink for sale at Vanness Pens.

The color:

Waking of Insects is a medium olive green.

*For my swab cards I use a Col-o-ring by Skylab Letterpress, a medium Pilot Ishime and a Mabie Todd Swan.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink has some pretty shading.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

*For my writing samples I use:

Dry time: 5 seconds

Water resistance: Medium

Feathering: Medium

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: Low

Other properties: medium shading, no sheen, and no shimmer.

On 20 lb copy paper there is some feathering in all nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Waking of Insects is closest to Tono & Lims Afternoon Tea. Click here to see the green inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a TWSBI Eco Transparent Green with a medium nib on an Odyssey notebook. The ink had an average flow.

Overall, I like the color and I love the fast dry time but there’s a bit more feathering and bleeding than I like to see. It’s also similar to Robert Oster Saguaro Green, which I like better than this one.

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and this post is not sponsored.

Ink Review #1775: IWI Beginning of Summer

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IWI Beginning of Summer is from IWI’s standard collection. You can find this ink for sale at Vanness Pens.

The color:

Beginning of Summer is a medium grass green ink.

*For my swab cards I use a Col-o-ring by Skylab Letterpress, a medium Pilot Ishime and a Mabie Todd Swan.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink has some shading and sheen.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

*For my writing samples I use:

Dry time: 5 seconds

Water resistance: Medium

Feathering: Medium

Show through: Medium

Bleeding: Medium

Other properties: medium shading, low sheen, and no shimmer.

On 20 lb copy paper there is some feathering in all nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Beginning of Summer is closest to Taccia Midori Green. Click here to see the green inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Sailor Pro Gear Shamrock with a broad nib on an Odyssey notebook. The ink had an average flow.

Overall, this is a nice ink, but there’s more feathering and bleeding than I like to see. I wish it behaved a little better.

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and this post is not sponsored.

Ink Review #1774: IWI Beginning of Spring

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IWI Beginning of Spring is from IWI’s standard collection. You can find this ink for sale at most retailers including Vanness Pens.

The color:

Beginning of Spring is a bright lime green.

*For my swab cards I use a Col-o-ring by Skylab Letterpress, a medium Pilot Ishime and a Mabie Todd Swan.

Swabs:

In large swabs on Tomoe River paper the ink has just a little bit of shading.

Writing samples:

Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.

*For my writing samples I use:

Dry time: 5 seconds

Water resistance: Low

Feathering: Medium

Show through: Low

Bleeding: Low

Other properties: medium shading, no sheen, and no shimmer.

On 20 lb copy paper there is some feathering in all nib sizes.

Comparison Swabs:

Beginning of Spring is closest to PenBBS 133 and Ferris Wheel Press Frivolous Lime. Click here to see the green inks together.

Longer writing:

I used a Franklin-Christoph 45 Kelly Green with a broad nib on a Taroko Enigma notebook. The ink had an average flow.

Overall, this is a very bright ink, but it does have more feathering than I prefer, so it’s not an ink for me.

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links and this post is not sponsored.