Uploaded February 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this 3 minute video, I talk about plans for this year and what you can expect video wise from me! [Ha! this is a long overdue update to the channel trailer I last made 3 years ago and will give newcomers here a clear picture of what to expect content wise!] The major emphasis for the channel this year is school/student/child friendly fountain pen reports and explorations! I will also continue with my Chris' Inked Pens monthly and the follow on Progress Report each month. In addition to that, I typically upload first impressions videos and/or reviews when I find something that I really think is just great within the hobby and want to share it with you!
Thank you to everyone who stops by here! I really appreciate all your support over the years! It's hard to believe this is our 6th "season" we celebrated the 5 year channel anniversary in September of 2022.
This channel is like a virtual pen club to me and I am so grateful to have people like you who like to stop in and talk about pens, inks, and all things related to the hobby + quite often cats + books as well!!!! I feel we are all very blessed to have this nice community of pen friends to share the best hobby ever with! Thank you for all you've contributed - comments, subscribing, emails, letters, pens, inks, samples, notebooks, cases, ... and many more things ... ! I keep it pretty simple - but hopefully still communicate helpful and/or fun things.
Check out the awesome ink comparison website (Ink Swatch) that Matt put together for everyone to enjoy and thank you to everyone who has contributed swatch tiles for this!!!!
inkswatch.com
Here is a link to my Instagram where I tend to post a lot of cat pictures, South Texas, and also of course inky pictures:
instagram.com/snowball7470
My pen email: chris@inkswatch.com
In this 3 minute video, I talk about plans for this year and what you can expect video wise from me! [Ha! this is a long overdue update to the channel trailer I last made 3 years ago and will give newcomers here a clear picture of what to expect content wise!] The major emphasis for the channel this year is school/student/child friendly fountain pen reports and explorations! I will also continue with my Chris' Inked Pens monthly and the follow on Progress Report each month. In addition to that, I typically upload first impressions videos and/or reviews when I find something that I really think is just great within the hobby and want to share it with you!
Thank you to everyone who stops by here! I really appreciate all your support over the years! It's hard to believe this is our 6th "season" we celebrated the 5 year channel anniversary in September of 2022.
This channel is like a virtual pen club to me and I am so grateful to have people like you who like to stop in and talk about pens, inks, and all things related to the hobby + quite often cats + books as well!!!! I feel we are all very blessed to have this nice community of pen friends to share the best hobby ever with! Thank you for all you've contributed - comments, subscribing, emails, letters, pens, inks, samples, notebooks, cases, ... and many more things ... ! I keep it pretty simple - but hopefully still communicate helpful and/or fun things.
Check out the awesome ink comparison website (Ink Swatch) that Matt put together for everyone to enjoy and thank you to everyone who has contributed swatch tiles for this!!!!
inkswatch.com
Here is a link to my Instagram where I tend to post a lot of cat pictures, South Texas, and also of course inky pictures:
instagram.com/snowball7470
My pen email: chris@inkswatch.com






![Chris Inked Pens - August 2024
In this video, I show you the 8 fountain pens and inks Im writing with for August. Ill be back mid month with a progress report as to how these combos are doing and any additions to the line up!
My off topic discussion today was all about August and my love hate relationship with the month. Having grown up in Vermont and now living in South Texas ... August offers unique challenges and contrasts for sure!
Anyway, here is a list of the pens and inks I am using:
[Ink Journal is: Bond Travel Gear old stock A5 hardcover 68 gsm Tomoe River paper dot grid from pen friend PL.]
1. Kaweco Sport Mellow Blue BB with J Herbin Kyanite du Nepal (pen from pen friend BBR).
2. Jinhao 82 Pink B Opus 88 nib with Colorverse Red Shift (ink from pen friend KS).
3. TWSBI Go Clear B with Diamine Amber.
4. Benu Briolette Luminous Amber B with Birmingham Smoke Stack (pen from anonymous viewer and ink sample from pen friend Cathie).
5. Jinhao X750 Pink B JoWo with Lamy Vibrant Pink.
6. TWSBI Eco Transparent Purple B with Pelikan 4001 Violet.
7. TWSBI Eco Transparent Green B with TWSBI Forest Green (?Ink may have been from pen friend CS)
8. TWSBI Eco Transparent Orange B with TWSBI Orange (pen from pen friend DB).
Stuff I now use for nib swapping (known as grip shelf liner):
https://www.walmart.com/ip/EasyLiner-Select-Grip-Shelf-Liner-Taupe-20-in-x-18-ft-Roll/16486841
Thank you so much for watching! These colors are so happy and vibrant ... they should make August writing a real joy!
Dont forget about back to school sales and specials - I found glue sticks 2/25 cents! At my local grocery store!
What are you writing with for August? Can you believe how fast this month is going? Is August a favorite time of year for you or are you like me and cant wait for fall. :)
My pen email: chris@inkswatch.com
My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/snowball7470/ Chris Inked Pens - August 2024](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HjN7NNNSeZU/mqdefault.jpg)



![Progress Report- July 2024
In this video, I show you how my 8 (letter writing) fountain pens and inks are doing this month so far! We look in my ink journal [Bond Travel Gear old stock A5 68 gsm Tomoe River paper] and I go over the report card. This is a really nice batch of letter writing pens - the grades range from A to A+.
At the end of the video I discuss hurricane readiness and chat about my pen fast (no buy) and how things are going generally plus a few observations about the book : Seneca Letters on Ethics .
Here is a list of the pens and inks discussed:
1. Lamy Safari White + Red 1.1 - Diamine Wild Strawberry
2. Benu Scepter I B - Robert Oster Lake of Fire
3. TWSBI Go Smoke B - Laban Zues
4. Benu Talisman Sakura Cherry Blossoms Gold Spot Exc. B - Sailor 50 States Louisiana
5. Jinhao 9019 Clear/Gold M #8 nib - Pilot Irosizuku Asa Gao
6. Lamy Al-Star White/Silver B - Laban Athena
7. Jinhao X750 Silver - Goulet B nib - Diamine Moon Dust
8. TWSBI Diamond 580 AL M - Diamine Rustic Brown (ink from pen friend D.B.)
Heres a link to my video where I inked 9 TWSBIs for a walk down memory lane color wise to my pre-fountain pen days:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rF9tdg4nWaQ
Chris Inked Pens July:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXDn39QsYko
My pen email: chris@inkswatch.com
My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/snowball7470/ Progress Report- July 2024](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/J2w-wyqpy88/mqdefault.jpg)