Currently Inked June 10, 2025

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I’ve been surprised by how many people have commented and said they like the currently inked posts I’ve been doing recently, so let’s do another one! Here’s what I’m using this week: (This post does contain Amazon affiliate links, just FYI.)

Fountain Pens:

This week I inked up a mix of old favorites and new inks to try.

The Pilot Vanishing Point Copper was a limited edition from 2014, which was before I got into fountain pens, but I was able to pick one up as new old stock a few years ago. I love Vanishing Points and have quite a few, but lately I’ve really been loving the fine nibs. I paired it with a Pilot Iroshizuku Take-sumi cartridge. I don’t often use cartridges, but when I do they are usually Pilot ones. I love that each cartridge is labeled with the ink color.

A reader was super kind and gifted me this Pilot Custom 74 Smoke in fine a while ago. Seriously, I have the best readers. I’ve used this pen almost weekly since I got it. Since I got this pen from a reader I decided to pair it with an ink a different reader recently sent in-Diamine Night Sky. This is a wonderful black ink with silver shimmer.

The Pilot Ishime Navy in fine is one of my all-time favorite pens. It’s gorgeous and feels really good in my hand. I love the color and the lovely fine nib. I used another Pilot Iroshizuku cartridge in Shin-kai. It’s such a good combo, I don’t know why I haven’t paired them up before. This combo may live in my pen case now.

I’ve had a love/hate relationship with Platinum 3776 fountain pens for years. I’ve purchased like three different ones and always end up selling them because the nib hasn’t been quite right for me. I decided to give this white one a try in a fine nib since I’ve been loving Japanese fine nibs so much right now. My nib sizes have swung widely over the last ten years since I got into fountain pens, everything from double broads and flex nibs to extra fine nibs. I’ve settled on Japanese fine/Western extra fine nibs as the current favorite. I paired the 3776 with Pilot Iroshizuku Ina-ho. I was so sad when I saw that Ina-ho was discontinued. I’ve been asked many times what a good replacement is for it, and right now the closest I can come up with are Inkebara Sand and De Atramentis Yellow Brown.

This Jinhao 80 in brown with a fine nib is full of Sailor x Tinterias Homemade Tortilla. Homemade Tortilla came as a set with Spicy Chipotle. It’s sold out now, but it’s a good shader and flows well. Sailor Maryland is similar but not a dupe.

The Kaweco Sport Iridescent Pearl is so fun and shiny. I love a good neutral colored pen, and this one is neutral while still having character. I used Sailor Tinterias Agave (thanks to the reader who recently sent this ink in!), it’s a lovely blue-grey with shading. I’ll post a review of it soon.

To continue with the Sailor Tinterias theme I’ve got going (I promise this is not sponsored), a reader also sent in Blue Corn, which I used in a Pilot Kakuno Fine. I have a serious love for the Kakuno. It’s a great pen for the price and a good first fountain pen.

Standard Pens:

I’ve gone through three Pentel Energel Clena’s in 0.5 I love how smooth they are, and they flow really well. Each time I run one dry I immediately replace it with a new one.

When I write notes and need to highlight them I reach for the Zebra Sarasa Mark On in 0.5. I love that it never smears when I highlight unlike most of my gel pens that do smear. I have been wishing for a slightly finer tip occasionally, so I’ll probably pick up one in 0.4 next.

The Sakura Ballsign ID Gel 0.5 in Pure Black is slightly chunky for a gel pen, which I don’t love, and the body is rather cheap. I do like that the ink is nice and dark though.

I’ve been trying to branch out and try new things, so I gave the Ballograf Epoca Ballpoint White with a blue medium tip a try. I wish the ink flow was juicier and that the ink was a little darker. It’s fine, but not a pen I would reach for if I had any other options readily available.

I really disliked the Pilot Acro Soft Beige with a black 0.5 tip. The pen is on the small size and the ink flow is stingy. I’m not a fan.

The Uni Jetstream Standard Ballpoint Soft Pink in Black 0.5 is okay but not great. It’s a basic ballpoint.

This Uni-ball Onyx Rollerball Micro in Black 0.5 is a lovely pen for a rollerball. It’s smooth and writes nicely.

Colored Pens:

Currently:

Last night we drove to Coulee Dam (we live in WA state) and watched the laser light show. It was a late night for my kids, but they had fun. Here’s some other things I’m currently doing…

Watching: I’m watching a lot of Youtube lately, everything from stationery to productivity videos. I’m currently juggling three jobs, three kids and lots of projects to keep our home running smoothly, so productivity is really important right now. If you have any good video suggestions, please leave them in the comments below!

Reading/Audiobook: I’m listening to Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. I read it in high school but I haven’t read it since, so it was time for another go. It’s a little different than I remember.

Listening: I’ve started working out again after a long break from it. I hurt my back recently and it’s starting to heal, so it’s time to slowly get back to it. Working out means I’m listening to a lot of upbeat music like Lady Gaga.

Drinking: Lime carbonated water. I’m trying to do better at drinking less caffeine and more water (even if it is flavored or carbonated).

Cooking/Baking: Since I’m working so much I’m doing a lot of cooking/baking/meal prep on the weekends. My kids are in love with this baked oatmeal right now. We add whatever fresh fruit we have at the moment and they gobble it up for breakfast.

Making: I’ve been sewing a ton lately. I’m already looking ahead to the fall/winter season and starting to plan my kids winter wardrobes and which patterns I need to sew up for them. I’m currently sewing a Sew Liberated Hinterland Dress using a Green Chambray Shirting from Stylemaker Fabrics.

Hating: Migraines-I’ve had three migraines in the past week and I hate them.

That’s it for me this week! What’s your favorite currently inked?

Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This post does contain Amazon affiliate links, but is not sponsored in any way.